Facing The Grim Reaper.. By Darren Laur..

Quote :

Facing The Grim Reaper:


No true combative system, style, or art can be complete unless it teaches one to internalizes and personalizes the issues surrounding death. Not only the death of oneself, but also the justifiable taking of another’s life as well. Some say that to talk about such a topic is morbid and unnecessary. Others, through willful blindness, choose to ignore the topic all together. The fact remains, that death is a clear and present danger any time one finds themselves faced with a situation where one has to physically defend themselves. As a fellow instructor once said, “ Death is a fact of life, with only the cause and time a matter of speculation.”

Watching the war coverage on CNN has crystallized the issue of death for me. As a LEO, I go to work everyday knowing subconsciously that I could loose my life or be required to take the life of another person at a moments notice. Those soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women who are presently fighting in Iraq, also understand that death is a reality every second that they remain on the battle field. For these brave men and women, the Grim Reaper is lurking behind every sand burm, hut, or Iraqi who may be holding a white flag. It is my opinion, that those who are involved in this conflict and choose to “repress” the thought of death, will panic when they are looking death in the eye.

To overcome the negative psychological consequences of death, warriors throughout history have recognized the fact that one needs to come to grips with death. The samurai, kamikaze, the plains Indians and more recently those who were responsible for flying the two planes into the World Trade Centers faced death as a bridge, and internalized it as a passage, which promised a spiritual reward. Because of their belief systems, to voluntarily take one’s life and or the life of others, was psychologically easy to do. Those who understand this bridge, are intuitively aware that there is a direct correlation between the fear of death, the taking of another life, and combative performance.

As teachers, coaches, instructors, and students, we needs to make peace with the issues surrounding death because if we don’t, we will be distracted due to the internal moral conflict that the fear of death will create. Instead of concentrating on the threat at hand, one will consciously and subconsciously question their own belief systems that will certainly increase combat anxiety. Increased combative anxiety leads to hesitation, hesitation lead injury, and injury may lead to your own death. It has been said that those who hesitate in combat, levitate six feet under.

Last night on CNN, an imbedded news correspondent interviewed a sergeant form the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles who was involved in a fierce battle. The correspondent asked this soldier what got him through the night. The soldier calmly stated; “ training, and my belief in God.” At which time he pulled out a crucifix and kissed it. I have heard this statement time and time again during the coverage of the war. To me, there appears to be a peace of mind resulting from a strong faith system, whatever that faith system may be. Certain elements of special warfare units around the world are now given time to speak with their Deity before going to battle, In fact, we are seeing members of AlKida, Jihad, and Sadam Hussein’s secret army also echoing this fact. Now I’m not trying to convert anyone here, but the fact remains that a strong faith system appears to minimize the fear of dying, or having to take the life of another. In 1990, Alexander, Groller and Morris stated, “ When training fails and reason is insufficient to save the day, the warrior reaches deep within, where his fundamental vision of self, God, or the universe, provides the winning edge. But those beliefs must already be there. Combat is not the place to be making major adjustments to your belief systems.”


We have all heard of “Killer Instinct” and many teachers, coaches, and instructors preach this combative attribute. How many, however, truly understand the moral and internal conflict resolutions that need to be bridged for killer instinct to be harnessed and used when called upon to do so ???? Just break their neck, hit them in the throat, shoot them, or stab them with your knife are common death calls that many promote. The question that needs to be asked however is; “ has the student really internalized all issues surrounding DEATH, and the taking of another’s life ?” If the answer is no, then it’s my belief that the student will fail to act.


For me, all the issues surrounding DEATH are a reality that I have come to terms with in my life. This journey however was not easy !!!!! Many times I questioned my belief systems, and often I found myself in conflict. I recognized however, that these conflicts needed to be resolved primarily because of the job that I do. Easy NO, but a conscious choice that I have now come to accept which will keep me focused and goal oriented in battle. I can honestly say that the Grim Reaper is an omni present reality in a deadly force situation whom I have made peace with. I will not let him distract me from what needs to be done. CAN YOU THE READER, HONESTLY SAY THE SAME THING ????? IF THE ANSWER IS NO, BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY NOW, IT MAY MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE, AND EXCUSE THE PUN, “DEATH”


In my locker at work, I have pasted the following quote that I read every day I put my uniform on:

“ Those of us who maintain a dangerous life-style will experience fear and anxiety. But, to do so, allows us to join a fraternity of those who have, since the beginning of man’s time, endured…They endured. We Endured. It is the cost of the privilege of such company.”



Strength and Honor

Darren Laur

This article got me thinking.. its similar to my mentor who told me "all fighting leads to death".

Thinking about it for me brings up alot of fear.. obviously this is something I haven't handled yet. Sure in my head I say "Id kill somebody if I had to to protect myself/family etc"..

But when it comes to it.. its quite a different thing alltogether i'm sure. Can you ever really know until you get into that situation?

Anyway.. a discussion on this subject would be quite interesting.

Gotta run..

-Ben

Quote :

I can honestly say that the Grim Reaper is an omni present reality in a deadly force situation whom I have made peace with. I will not let him distract me from what needs to be done. CAN YOU THE READER, HONESTLY SAY THE SAME THING ?????

he has overcome his fear of death? wow, im really impressed

Rich,

Darren is not so much discussing his acceptance of his own mortality. He is addressing making the decision to take another life during conflict. This is a common discussion amongst law enforcement trainers. Officers need to be prepared to make life and death decisions regardless of the nature of the threat.

While many officers are prepared to pull the trigger on a 6’ 2’’ , 250 lbs, biker holding a shotgun on them many are unprepared to pull the trigger on an 11 year old girl pointing the same shotgun. Either of them has equal ability to pull the trigger and take your life, but many will not view them this way and therefore may hesitate to long. What he is trying to instill in officers is to resolve themselves with the issue that they may have to end another human life to save theirs or another’s.

Another aspect is that many officers shy away from dealing with this issue hoping to never have to face it, which statistically is a high probability, but when it does happen the time for indecision is not going into a shoot out or wrestling on the ground while trying to keep control of your sidearm. The final aspect is the aftermath component. Interestingly enough it seems that officers who have resolved the issue in advance of the event don’t seem to second guess their decision and consequently suffer little or no post traumatic stress as opposed to those who make a decision in the heat of the moment and then agonize over the decision and its aftermath.

Hope this helps.

Keep safe and train hard/smart, Mark H

Ah, so he is publicly stating that he is resolved to his ability to kill OTHERS without hesitation ...and then demanding to know if the reader can make the same claim? thanks for making that clearer MarkH- so is the writer of this article basing it on his actual personal experience that he knows he could kill with no hesitation or remorse? I would love to know, otherwise- how can he really know whether he has "made peace with the grim reaper"?


Ben, your a doorman not a policeman or a soldier- you have a very low likelihood of needing to kill someone so I wouldnt worry about it too much, the answer to your lack of confidence lies in hard repetitive practise of the basics, not in overcoming your fear of death... sorry, fear of killing people...

Rich,

Ultimately a person will not know absolutely whether he/she can end another’s life until they actually do it. Also, they will not be sure they can lay down their own life until faced with the actual situation. While several occupations require you to sometimes put your life in danger to help/save others (soldier, LE, fireman, and medical come to mind) few put you in a position to end a life to help or save yourself or others (soldier and LE).

What Mr. Laur, (who is a Canadian LE officer if you didn't know) is trying to get people (mostly geared to the two communities mentioned) is to resolve as much of this issue prior to an event which requires this type of response as possible. Darren is trying to get officers to be as prepared as possible for this circumstance so as to not overly delay which may cost themselves or others their life. Your mind will already be dealing with multiple major decisions prior to deciding the proper response and does not need you adding an internal debate as to your ability to complete the act of taking the life of another human being.

This decision is one of the toughest decisions an officer must make in his or her career and many do not give this issue any consideration while performing there duties. It is a huge responsibility carried by officers in the states and in Canada. We are authorized by our government and the people to in specific circumstances suspend a persons rights (arrest, search, and others) and ultimately we are given the sanction, again in specific circumstances, to take another’s life. Many officers don't give this aspect of their chosen path enough thought; they don't understand that saying from of all places “Spiderman"-comic or movie that "With great power comes great responsibility".

By the way I have heard Mr. Laur speak on this directly at a training event, so this is not mere speculation on my part.

PS I do not take any of these issues lightly and despise fellow officers who abuse any aspect of their position, but I have also seen some of the finest examples of human behavior displayed by members of the same profession.

Keep safe and train hard/smart, Mark H

MarkH

two quick points:

a) I absolutely think that in your line of work you must do all you can to prepare yourself psychologically, physically and if need be spiritually to do what you need to do- you owe it to yourself, your family, your colleagues, the perps, members of the public, the system that pays you to do the best job you can and to stay alive, because if your dead or injured your no good to any of the above.

b) the best method for trainng people for this type of scenario is not via articles- I dont know Mr Laur, if you tell me he is a good cop, a nice guy and an effective trainer I will beleive you... but

I must respond honestly to what was posted on my forum and that article is awful. It sounds, to me, boastful and aggressive and glib. These are 3 things I dont want to hear form a guy who is a professional in this field around the subject of applying lethal force.

If the guy who wrote it HAS applied lethal force, the article is disrespectful to the people he has killed and to their families who Im sure would be delighted to hear just how prepared he is to kill in the line of duty.

If the guy has NOT applied lethal force... then take the aggressive tone of the article and the chest thumpiing "I am prepared to kill!!! ARE YOU???" and you've got to say: this wasnt well thought through.
What if he bumps into a cop on a training sessions who has killed in the line of duty who then just asks him the question directly?

For me personally, I dont believe anybody should be teaching or preaching about things they havent done.

Just to let you know where I am coming from: I tried to join the army but got bashed up and ended up a doorman, years later I tried to join the police but they wont let me in now- a lot of my family and friends are police and military- I have trained soliders and policemen and bodyguards to deal with applying violence and Ive given counselling for the PTSD that comes from applying that violence and I know two things:

-this subject of killing needs to be approached with senstivity, gung ho jingoism is best left for padworks

-you never really know how your going to handle something until it happens and there is NO way of predicting:
the biggest toughtest ex PAra bloke might be a wreck after doing it, the pretty page 3 model that joined police armed response (Im not kidding - you couldnt make this shit up!) might have a heart of steel when it comes to making people dead.