ShootingClasses.com Blog

When Hollywood Get It Wrong… Installment 4

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:25:07 -0400

This series comprises 4 individual blogs addressing the central theme that Hollywood is grossly inaccurate in its portrayal of armed confrontations. Understanding that Hollywood Gets It Wrong… may save your life!

The Unbelievable

1. “Don’t kill the hero when you have the chance!”

I just completed watching another film where the hero has killed multiple bad guys, and now our hero has been overpowered by multiple bad guys, and he is essentially helpless to defend himself. He could have been easily dispatched by any one of a number of bad guys with guns. But for some reason, the bad guys did not kill him. Of course, our hero escapes, is nursed back to health, and he returns to take revenge on the evildoers. This is so common that it has become a cliché.

Problems: In real life, bad guys are not that stupid! If someone has killed their friends, then they tend to kill their adversary by whatever means are immediately available. They do not dream up complicated schemes, as in James Bond movies, or let someone go free so that they can be haunted by their memories. I have seen cases where the bad guys mistakenly thought that the adversary was dead, and I have seen sadistic perpetrators who tortured their victims. But I have never seen murderers plan some complicated scenario when all they had to do was shoot the victim.

2. “Unbelievable Tactics/Storylines”

Hollywood constantly seeks new ways to entertain the public, and audiences consistently pay top dollar to watch violence. However, the audience will get bored watching the same old scenarios, so the violence has become more graphic and more disturbing over time. Clearly, some of the films/shows are not bound by reality. Their purpose is to entertain and to earn money.

This week, I watched a western show with multiple "robbers" riding their horses and shooting at one man who was driving a wagon. The men were shooting their pistols, repeatedly, at the driver. The driver eventually shot and killed two of the robbers with a double-barrel shotgun. The driver then stopped his wagon, got down from the wagon, and retrieved a rifle that was in a case. The driver then ran out into a grass field and took the rifle, with a scope, out of the case. The robbers then rode their horses toward the driver, and he shot them with his rifle.

Problems: In the original pursuit, the robbers were shooting at the driver of the wagon, but the wagon had a large cover on the rear that prevented the robbers from being able to see the driver. I doubt the robbers would have wasted so much ammunition if they were unable to see their target/driver. And of course, they shot many rounds, and magically, none of the bullets hit their target. It is also worth noting that once the driver had fired two rounds, the shotgun was basically empty, and the driver would have been an easy target if the bad guys had simply ridden up and shot him.

There is no explanation as to why the robbers allowed the driver to pull over and stop the wagon, and then exit the wagon, and take firearms into a grass field nearby. It would seem to me that when the driver pulled over, the robbers would have shot him full of holes. But for some reason, they did not confront the driver, and they allowed him to stop, arm himself, and move to another location where he was partially obscured by the high grass. Once the driver had his rifle and scope out, the robbers decided to ride at him where he was able to shoot them one at a time. Just because they are bad guys does not mean they are idiots.

3. Ricochets

In Hollywood, apparently bullets behave like billiard balls when they hit a hard surface, or the bullets simply disintegrate into dust. I have watched numerous films and shows where bad guys are shooting at the hero, and the hero drops to the ground, often sliding under a door, to avoid getting shot. Bullets are hitting the ground in front of our hero, but the bullets do not strike him!

Problem: Bullets are not billiard balls. When a bullet strikes a hard object at an angle, the bullet tends to ricochet and continue in the same general direction but at a flatter trajectory. In the scenario above, the bullets would travel along the floor and strike our hero.

Overall Summary: Hollywood is not a training ground for armed encounters, and they must show our heroes overcoming insurmountable odds to emerge victorious and/or exact revenge. Many people enjoy a good revenge movie! I understand that the Hollywood mission is to entertain and make a lot of money in the process. To be successful, they take artistic license with their actors and special effects to make movies and television shows that appeal to the viewing public. Their mission is not to represent reality or even common sense.

When people with no actual training or experience in armed encounters watch situations and scenarios played out repeatedly with successful results, they are prone to start believing that it bears some semblance to reality. As a result, when faced with "real-life" situations, they may apply some of these Hollywood tactics and strategies in an attempt to survive and overcome an armed threat. The results could be disastrous.

If you have a genuine interest in learning about armed encounters, then you need to find a course/instructor that covers basic firearms safety, legal issues relative to the use of force to defend yourself and/or others, and some basic strategies relative to surviving armed encounters. This may significantly reduce your enjoyment of movies and television but understanding that Hollywood is not real may save your life!

When Hollywood Gets it Wrong… Installment 3

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:39:41 -0400

This series is comprised of 4 individual blogs addressing the central theme that Hollywood is grossly inaccurate in their portrayal of armed confrontations. Understanding that Hollywood Gets It Wrong… may save your life!

Human Beings

1. “Our heroes are shot and/or stabbed, yet they continue on without any apparent impairment."

I am often reminded of the Monty Python movie with a knight declaring, "It's just a flesh wound!" Time and time again, I see our heroes shot in the arm, leg, abdomen, or shoulder, and they basically ignore it, and it seems to go away. They don’t go into shock, they don’t stop walking, running, and fighting… they just ignore it. Most recently, I saw a young woman on a show who had been impaled with an arrow. The arrow struck her about mid-abdomen and penetrated out of her back. However, despite a wound that would not only be painful but would have likely damaged her spinal column and done immense internal damage, she walked around shooting people with her pistol as though the arrow did not exist. I also recently saw a film where the hero was shot in the right shoulder with a rifle bullet, and 5 minutes later he was shooting a bow and arrow with pinpoint accuracy. Apparently, a bullet wound to the shoulder does not reduce one’s ability to shoot a bow and arrow.

Problems: There are times when adrenaline and emotional focus can overcome pain and injury for a short time. There are many cases where someone who was mortally wounded managed to kill others before succumbing to their injuries. However, in real life, it is painful and sometimes debilitating to get shot! Getting shot can shatter bones, sever arteries, veins, and nerves, and send the victim into shock. Nerve damage prevents arms and legs from working, and the body's response to injury and pain in the abdomen can stop a person in their tracks. A stab wound, especially to the abdomen or chest area, can also result in critical injury and death. I have worked several murder cases that were "just stab wounds" to the chest where the knife blade severed an artery. However, in Hollywood, getting shot or stabbed does not have immediate or long-term consequences.

2. “Broken Glass”

We have all seen Hollywood movies, especially westerns, where someone strikes another person on the head with a bottle, and the bottle breaks on impact. The person is usually stunned but does not suffer any serious injury. However, in real life, most people have never tried to break a bottle over someone else’s head. It is not as easy as it looks on film.

Problems: Most liquor bottles are well made, and they do not break easily. I have seen a number of incidents when people were trying to christen new boats with bottles of champagne, and they could not get the bottle to break. I have also seen people hit on the head with liquor bottles, and it was devastating. In some cases, the bottle did not break, but the human skull caved in. In other cases, the bottle broke, cutting skin and scalp and resulting in blood everywhere. Just using a fist to break out a window pane can cause excessive damage to the hand, wrist, and arm.

Breaking and jumping through windows and glass doors apparently does not hurt people in Hollywood. But I have seen people run through glass doors and windows, and some bled to death before they could get medical help. It looks really cool on film, but in real life, diving through a window or glass door can be fatal.

3. “Tasers and Stun Guns”

In many films, I have seen individuals reduced to writhing, quivering masses incapable of moving or speaking after being shot with a Taser or zapped with a stun gun. The stun gun is typically placed around the neck area, and when activated, emits an electric crackling sound. The victim becomes completely immobilized, and the effects last for about ten minutes or more. With a Taser or similar device, the results are the same, but it can be deployed at short distances. As a result, people watching such films have very high expectations relative to the power and impact of electronic control devices.

Problems: The portrayal of these devices and their effects is Hollywood fabrication. I first tested stun guns more than 40 years ago. The newer ones have more power, but the effects are still very similar. They cause a great deal of pain and override the electric impulses between the brain and the voluntary muscle structure. They are particularly effective if a stun gun is applied to the lower back area while holding the subject so that he or she cannot get away. As long as the electric impulses are being administered, they affect the nerves. Once the electric impulses are no longer being applied, the person regains full mental and physical control almost immediately.

This principle is also similar to electronic control devices that fire out probes. These typically apply a charge to the subject for a 5-second period. Once the device stops applying the charge, the subject regains full mental and physical control immediately. Of course, the person controlling the electronic control device can administer another 5-second charge, but the overall impact is the same. As soon as the charge stops, the person regains their abilities immediately.

Note: I have personal experience being shocked with a stun gun multiple times and being shot with a Taser (the longest 5 seconds of my life), and I can attest that recovery is immediate when the electric charge is no longer being administered. I was also a Taser instructor in my past life and have seen it administered to numerous police officers and a few news reporters.

4. “Hitmen on Motorcycles!”

Over the past few years, we have seen the advent of a new phenomenon: hitmen on motorcycles. In several high-profile movies, we have seen multiple hitmen riding motorcycles to carry out their murderous schemes. They typically ride their street bikes at high speeds, dodging numerous obstacles while also carrying, aiming, and shooting automatic weapons. These are not the James Bond motorcycles with mounted rocket launchers. These are simply bad guys riding motorcycles while trying to carry out a hit on a target.

Problems: In addition to my law enforcement and academic background, I have been a motorcycle rider/enthusiast for many years. Riding a motorcycle, especially at high speeds around various obstacles, requires the use of both hands. The left hand is the clutch, and it is required for shifting gears—speeding up and slowing down. The right hand is the throttle (accelerator in non-motorcycle terms), and changing speeds requires manually engaging the throttle. As a result, both hands of the motorcyclist are engaged in driving the motorcycle. Even though some motorcycles have cruise control, it is extremely cumbersome and unlikely that a professional hitman would choose a motorcycle as a platform to shoot automatic weapons.

See Installment 4 of "When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…"

When Hollywood Gets It Wrong… Installment 2

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:44:06 -0400

This series is comprised of 4 individual blogs addressing the central theme When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…. Hollywood is grossly inaccurate in their portrayal of armed confrontations. Understanding that Hollywood gets it wrong may save your life!

Ballistics

1. “Bullets stop when they make contact with…”  

I have seen Hollywood action movies and crime dramas portray gunfights where virtually every object, including pillows, mattresses, tables, sofas, windows, doors, interior walls, car doors, windshields, and even human beings are depicted as bulletproof barriers that can stop bullets. In the exaggerated world of Hollywood, it seems that everything stops bullets.

A particular action-packed movie that I have enjoyed, showed our hero and his “date” being pursued by a professional sharpshooter who was driving a vehicle and relentlessly shooting at our protagonists in their vehicle. At one thrilling point, our hero maneuvers his vehicle, a stolen police cruiser, into a spin and daringly steps out of his car while it is still spinning, leaving his date in the moving car. Our hero then starts shooting, with impeccable aim and rapid fire, into the windshield and window of the shooter’s car. Positioned behind the steering wheel, a universal driver's position, the shooter appears invulnerable. After emptying one magazine, our relentless hero reloads and discharges another magazine into the assailant’s vehicle. Despite the windshield being shredded to pieces, the shooter astonishingly manages to back up and escape, emerging unscathed.

Problems: The concept of our hero stepping out of a spinning vehicle raises multiple logistical issues, including the improbable avoidance of being overrun by the spinning vehicle itself. The attention-grabbing special effects might be visually captivating, but they lean heavily into the realm of cinematic fantasy rather than practical reality.

In the real world of forensic science and ballistics analysis, bullets tend to penetrate most objects they come into contact with. Through my experience in law enforcement and crime scene investigation, I recall incidents where a bullet has tragically passed through the body of one victim and struck another person standing behind. Variables such as bullet caliber, firing distance, clothing, body type, and targeted body parts all influence whether a bullet may pass through a person and continue its deadly trajectory. In a chilling case, I observed a bullet that traveled through a person’s head, perforated a residential wall, crossed a room, and lodged into another wall. Contrary to Hollywood's portrayal, human bodies offer minimal ballistic protection.

One of the most pervasive myths in Hollywood's action and thriller genres is the notion that bullets ricochet off of windshields, that car doors and windows provide bullet-stopping defense, and that the rear of a vehicle is impenetrable to gunfire aimed at the driver. This fallacy is so regularly exhibited in movies and TV shows that audiences might be misled to believe it reflects reality. However, my professional testing with various vehicle models under different simulated gunfire scenarios, as well as my involvement in vehicular homicide cases, revealed alarming findings.

Cars, to the disappointment of Hollywood's narrative, serve as very poor shields against gunshots, regardless of the angle of attack—frontal, lateral, or rear. Through direct ballistics testing, I found that bullets effortlessly penetrated car windshields, windows, and doors, maintaining lethal speed and trajectory. Car doors failed to offer any substantial resistance to bullets unless by sheer chance they hit a steel support structure within the door. In a systematic test firing at a car door, a significant majority of approximately 80+% of rounds, including commonly available "street" rounds like .38 specials, 9mm, .40 caliber pistols, and various rifle ammunition, including standard military and high-powered rounds, penetrated through to the passenger cabin.

Note: When someone is driving a vehicle, their predictable position behind the steering wheel is well-known to all, including potential attackers. If conventional wisdom and cinematic portrayals suggest that windshields and doors can shield drivers from bullets, the frequent survival of drivers in high-stakes cinematic shootouts begs disbelief. It is a flight of fancy to depict multiple, skilled gunmen unleashing a barrage of gunfire into the driver's side of a vehicle without inflicting harm on the driver.

With regards to construction materials such as doors and interior walls, their inability to stop bullets is notable. Efforts by the construction industry to minimize costs have inadvertently compromised the structural integrity and, consequently, the protective capacity of these elements against ballistics. My observations from investigating shootings have consistently shown that bullets typically penetrate doors and walls with ease. While there are exceptions, such as concrete walls and steel-reinforced doors, these are rare and not the standard in most residential and commercial buildings.

2. "He's Got a Bulletproof Vest… He is Unstoppable!"

We have observed numerous movies where the protagonist, often portrayed as an invincible action hero, is wearing a bulletproof vest, and despite being shot repeatedly, the wearer miraculously survives and appears unstoppable. Despite facing gunfire from various types of firearms, our hero perseveres!

Problems: Soft body armor is not invulnerable, and certain types of bullets, particularly high-caliber ammunition, can penetrate most vests. Unless fitted with ceramic or steel ballistic plates for enhanced protection, most rifle bullets—including military-grade ammunition and high-powered projectiles—will penetrate the standard soft body armor. Even if a bullet is stopped by the vest, the force can cause blunt force trauma, leading to potential serious injuries such as fractured bones and internal damage.

Even with theoretically indestructible body armor, tactical experts and law enforcement professionals understand that if targeting the body is ineffective, then aiming for an unprotected area like the head is the next tactical choice. This method, known as the "two in the body, one in the head" principle, is a drill practiced by many police tactical teams and highlights that bulletproof vests alone do not render an individual invulnerable.

3. "Someone Racks a Bullet in the Chamber!"

A pivotal scene unfolds as either a protagonist or antagonist gears up for an imminent gunfight. In a dramatic moment, the character ostensibly readies their weapon by racking a round into the chamber of the pistol they wield.

Problems: This moment, designed to escalate tension, overlooks a critical detail familiar to firearms enthusiasts and professionals alike regarding the operation of semiautomatic pistols. The necessity to chamber a round at such a crucial juncture implies that the individual has been moving with a firearm that was previously not ready to fire—a scenario unlikely for experienced gun handlers like law enforcement officers, secret agents, or even seasoned criminals, who typically would carry their firearms with a round chambered and ready for immediate action.

See Installment 3 of "When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…"

When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:44:05 -0400

As I have grown older and perhaps a little wiser, I have found it more and more difficult to enjoy the endless stream of movies and television shows featuring gunfights and armed encounters. In their endless attempts to create interesting and emotionally charged storylines, Hollywood inaccuracies in gunfights have elevated armed encounters to a level of stupidity and absurdity that destroys the credibility of the film/show for all reasonably informed and intelligent audience members. As you might imagine, my wife does not find me to be good company when watching such films/shows.

If uninformed people watch these scenarios and believe that they have any relevance to reality, then these individuals may engage in some dangerous behaviors in the real world. I do not expect the everyday citizen to truly understand the nature of an armed conflict. However, when citizens are constantly exposed to misrepresentations of gun safety and usage, they may start believing in tactics and practices that could have deadly consequences.

The purpose of this blog is to simply point out some of the most common mistakes and to explain why they are problematic. Without identifying every film and television show, I am sure that the reader will recognize many, if not all, of the scenarios discussed and explained.

This series is comprised of 4 individual blogs addressing the central theme that Hollywood's portrayal of gunfights is grossly inaccurate. Understanding What Hollywood Gets Wrong… may save your life!

Tactics

1. Hostage Negotiation Tactics: “Put your gun down, or I will shoot her/him!”

I am sure that you recognize this line from numerous high-tension hostage scenes where the antagonist threatens to shoot an impromptu hostage unless the protagonist lays his weapon down. And of course, the good guy acquiesces to the demand and lays his weapon down. Now, the antagonist is the only one with a gun. For some unknown reason, the protagonist somehow gets out of the situation alive.

Problem: The problem is obvious. Now, the antagonist can kill everyone, including the protagonist that put his gun down. There are lots of other options other than putting the gun down. In the film “Taken” (Caution: spoiler alert), the father character, played by Liam Neeson, demonstrates how to handle such an encounter effectively. If you are in the same room with the antagonist, regardless of the hostage, you should be able to incapacitate the antagonist by putting a bullet through his head. If he can see you, then you have a direct line of sight with his eye. If you lack the skill and will to do this, then another option would be to back out and find some cover and call for backup. Giving up a firearm under such critical circumstances would be the last thing anyone would want to do.

2. Gunfight Dynamics: “Standoffs”

The term ‘Mexican standoff’ is commonly used to describe an encounter when two or more people are simultaneously pointing guns at one another, but no one shoots. And typically, the adversaries are standing out in the open with no concealment or cover. It is as if each one is thinking, “If you shoot me, then I will shoot you.”

Problems: In reality, gunfights start and end quickly. The first one to hit their target typically wins, and the one who hesitates or doesn’t fire is either injured and/or dead. In more than 37 years of policing, I never witnessed or even heard of a standoff between adversaries. The reality is typically “I have to kill you before you kill me.” There is no negotiating or hesitation.

One reality of armed encounters is that action is faster than reaction. This means for anyone to react to another person, they must see what is happening, assess it, determine how to respond, and respond to it. Even if one knows what is going to happen and they already have their mind made up how to respond, there is still a delay in their response time.

The typical bullet travels a minimum of 1,000 feet per second (many with much higher velocities). However, the point is that when one person shoots at another person, the bullet is going to strike the target in a small fraction of a second. The idea that “if you shoot me, then I will shoot you” is ludicrous. By the time you would be able to react, a bullet will have torn through your body/head at such a speed and impact that your ability to make a decision and to carry out that decision would be impaired or gone. In an encounter where two people are pointing guns at one another, the one who shoots first and accurately wins. One who waits on the other to shoot first loses/dies.

3. "I've got the drop on you!"

We frequently see one individual who is armed with a firearm, often depicted in action films or crime dramas. He or she points the gun at someone else who is also armed. We are led to believe that the person with his gun aimed at his opponent has “the drop on” him, implying a strategic advantage. The one who is facing his foe with their firearm oriented upwards or downwards seems to be at a disadvantage. Typically, the one with the firearm aimed less threateningly capitulates and complies with the demands made by the other.

Problems: Action is faster than reaction. Over the years, through experiments conducted on both civilians and law enforcement officers, it has become clear that the suspect, even with hands raised holding a pistol, can almost invariably shoot his adversary first if he possesses sufficient shooting accuracy.

Someone holding a handgun pointed up in the air or towards the ground can execute a quicker action (swiftly aim the pistol at the opposition and fire) before the latter can respond. This holds true even in anticipated scenarios where it's known that the suspect intends to fire at his or her adversary. The action/reaction timeframe consistently benefits the individual who opts to shoot first.

4. "Hero steps into the doorway and picks off the bad guys."

This scenario is a staple in action movies and thrillers, where our hero faces numerous trained adversaries, often described as ruthless killers with automatic weapons at their disposal. The hero then daringly steps into the doorway and begins to eliminate all the antagonists. Such scenes are prevalent, making it difficult to recall an action film where this does not happen.

Problems: The practicality of this situation has been tested with various participants, including professionals, novices, and first-time shooters, using 'nerf' guns to simulate the gunfight. In every instance, the hero falls. Replacing the simulated weapons with real firearms and assuming the presence of genuinely skilled professionals would inevitably yield identical outcomes. Police training institutions refer to the doorway as the "Fatal Funnel," a term highlighting the extreme risk involved. If an individual is aiming a firearm at a doorway or window in anticipation of a target, identifying and hitting the target takes merely a fraction of a second. Conversely, our hero, upon making an appearance, is tasked with identifying and engaging several assailants individually. Contrary to movie portrayals where antagonists seemingly pause to gauge the hero's next move, in reality, the hero would be swiftly neutralized.

ShootingClasses.com Blog

When Hollywood Get It Wrong… Installment 4

The Unbelievable

1. “Don’t kill the hero when you have the chance!”

2. “Unbelievable Tactics/Storylines”

3. Ricochets

When Hollywood Gets it Wrong… Installment 3

Human Beings

1. “Our heroes are shot and/or stabbed, yet they continue on without any apparent impairment."

2. “Broken Glass”

3. “Tasers and Stun Guns”

4. “Hitmen on Motorcycles!”

See Installment 4 of "When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…"

When Hollywood Gets It Wrong… Installment 2

Ballistics

1. “Bullets stop when they make contact with…”

2. "He's Got a Bulletproof Vest… He is Unstoppable!"

3. "Someone Racks a Bullet in the Chamber!"

See Installment 3 of "When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…"

When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…

Tactics

1. Hostage Negotiation Tactics: “Put your gun down, or I will shoot her/him!”

2. Gunfight Dynamics: “Standoffs”

3. "I've got the drop on you!"

4. "Hero steps into the doorway and picks off the bad guys."

See Installment 2 of When Hollywood Gets It Wrong…

1. “Bullets stop when they make contact with…”  