Scenario: Terrorist hostage situation in movie theater

[seamusTX]

If you don't like hypothetical scenarios, please stop now.

Here's the scenario: You are sitting in a movie theater, in the middle of the audience, more or less. You are watching your favorite action figure stuff bad guys' heads where the sun don't shine, or maybe you're rolling your eyes at a three-hanky chick flick that your wife wanted to see, because your unarmed wife is sitting next to you.

The movie stops. A voice from some invisible location announces, "You are all prisoners. Do not try to resist. Allahu Akbar."

After a short interval of shock and surveillance, you realize that all the exit doors are blocked by men with long guns.

A man several rows in front of you takes cover behind a seat and fires at the nearest door guard. He scores a fatal hit. Seconds later, his head explodes from automatic rifle fire from the projection booth.

Another terrorist who was seated takes the place of the late shahid.

Multiple, fanatical, suicidal, organized, well-armed, well-trained terrorists in a very defensible location.

What do you do now, mall ninjas?

- Jim

[CainA]

Get Netflix?

I know you're serious, I'm just pokin' fun.

-Cain

[seamusTX]

Yeah, I'm sure Netflix will make commercial out of this.

P.S.: I composed this scenario from a certain point of view. It could just as well be an armed woman. The main point is that the defender has other people to defend that are not very capable of defending themselves. Could be kids or grandma with her walker.

- Jim

[Bart]

1. Dial 911 and drop my phone on the floor.
2. Wait to see what happens next. They haven't shot anyone except Gecko45 yet.
3. ?
4. Profit!

[flb_78]

1. Dial 911 and drop my phone on the floor.
2. Wait to see what happens next. They haven't shot anyone except Gecko45 yet.
3. ?
4. Profit!

[CainA]

Ok, here's a question to ya....is there, or has there been statistical data collected on what the typical outcome is of such an event? Of course there are a million variables, but there's got to be a starting point(which most of us are ignorant of, unless people on the board are into that stuff, I'm not).

For instance 30% die, 20% are seriously wounded and 50% live happily ever after.

Depending on what those numbers are, may make you choose what you're going to do, if anything.

-Cain

[HighVelocity]

What about the backpack full of flash-bangs you carried in with you?

[seamusTX]

Ok, here's a question to ya....is there, or has there been statistical data collected on what the typical outcome is of such an event?

These events are too rare for statistics in the true sense of the word, probabilities across a large data set.

Basically, a lot of people die and many more are permanently injured or mentally traumatized. The authorities screw up as much as they help.

Beslan is the model.

What about the backpack full of flash-bangs you carried in with you?

Right.

The guy in the projection booth, who, by the way, brought a 1-inch-thick polycarbonate shield, really doesn't care about how many of his fellow šuhadā go to heaven or how soon. He has already accomplished his mission. The whole thing is on worldwide television, and somebody, somewhere, issued a statement.

Your life, at this point, is worth less than a copper Mexican centavo, except to the extent that you can save your loved ones.

Movie theaters frown on backpacks and other parcels. Really big purses are fashionable these days, so that might work for women who want to carry around pyrotechnics and lots of ammo.

- Jim

[jimlongley]

Pray and wait to die.

There's really not much more you can do in this situation.

If I'm going to wait to die, I'm going to choose the moment, and go down fighting.

This is one of those places where I think the Laser Grip on my .45 would come in handy.

[Bunkins]

Humm.....


The first thing I would do is lay low for a while and dial 911 on the cell phone. They just told everyone in the movie theater that they are now prisoners. They are expecting a few people to fight, infact they hope for it. They hope for it so it will break the will of others, so that there is less risk of fighting later on..

A unorganized attack will do nothing but become target practice for the turban heads. If at all possible try to find out who may be armed, or who is willing to fight in one way or another. Once the fight begins, have everyone take cover where they can, the few with a weapon or firearm take out the guys at the door, someone picks up the long gun and starts suppressive fire in the projection booth. 1 guy already died because he didnt think it out clearly, which means one less person to put up a fight. It could also possibly lead to more death due to the attackers becoming angry and trying to make examples out of people to scare the others.

Trying to organize would take time, if the situation became worse and people were being killed before it could be organized, well then I'm afraid I'd just have to see how many I could take out, before I was taken out. If I knew for sure that laying low and hoping the situation would be resolved, then I would do nothing. I dont know for sure if it will end that way, everyone in the theater could be killed by the time all is said and done. If several people die to save just 1 person in a situation like that I feel it's worth it, because otherwise everyone could be killed if no action is taken.

More than likely the theater has more than one room, and it's quite possible those people in the other rooms may have been taken hostage. I dont know what I would do there. It would depend on many things, but the best course of action is to get out while you had the chance. Not being trained, not having the man power, it could result as a complete failure.

[seamusTX]

How about subterfuge or appeals to morality? Very few men, however fanatical, can harm defenseless women and children face-to-face.

- Jim

[Bunkins]

Asking to free women and children is not really something that popped into my mind honestly. It would be worth a try..

Being a terrorist, that could represent several different cultures, nation's or how ever you would choose to describe it.. Some may just let the women and children go. Some would not, simply being a terrorist attack is just that. They want terror, fear from people whom they are holding hostage, as well as the people trying to free the hostages. Depending on their demands, women and children may be their best bargaining chip, which could lean to some hope they will be released. Although on the flip side, holding the women and children may also prevent a group of people from taking action..

Thinking about that, it does change my first post on the subject. Adding the request to release women and children, waiting for that if there is a chance, or taking action because there is no chance...


Tough scenario for sure. Tougher than just protecting yourself and loved ones. You also have to decide how you will attempt to help the other people, or if you will help them. The "if" and how you do it would also depend on the number of people willing to defend themselves.

[austin]

Kill the nearest terrorist, take his AK, and kill the next one and keep killing them until my family can flee, then run with them.

If I am by myself. it depends on the how the situation develops. If the terrorists are easy to kill, then its time to hunt, otherwise I leave.

I am guaranteed dead once it starts if I do not act.

[nitrogen]

Pray and wait to die.

There's really not much more you can do in this situation.

Not a choice.

First, lie back so nobody can see me, and take the lights out.

Kiss my wife and tell her I love her, and take as many of them out as I can, if it's that hopeless.