Speed Is the Surprise They Never See Coming

Lately, I have tried to avoid writing any posts that express my opinions on practical shooting, tactical issues, or the mental aspects of those I consider the apex operators in this community. I pretty much consider part of this community any person who either wields a firearm as part of their profession, or any civilian who understands that being prepared on demand is fundamental if you are going to own and carry a firearm.

Nevertheless, some of my most-read works have been precisely on this topic, with positive feedback from readers I would consider subject-matter experts. So when I heard an interview this week on officer-led CQB — whether serving a search warrant or responding to an active shooter — I felt compelled to write. For the life of me, I do not understand why there is so much institutional resistance to practices that objectively save lives across the board, both for officers and, more likely than not, for the subjects they are trying to apprehend. The interview featured two former SMU operators and a police officer who trains in this space.

This post is not about tactics or techniques. It is about reasoning through what should be undisputed logical truths about how officers — or really, any individual — should approach situations that require serving a warrant or entering a structure under exigent circumstances, such as an active shooter. The answer is that, among surprise, speed, and violence of action, the latter two are the skills that matter most.

I come from the practical shooting world. In that world, speed is essential to becoming the best shooter possible — not only shooting fast, but moving fast, even running toward the target. Transfer those skills to a real-world scenario, and it does not take much to see that they are life-saving for whoever deploys them.

Whether you are serving a warrant or responding to an active shooter, the announcement that a police officer is present — where legally required — is part of the framework. The idea that surprise has therefore been compromised, and that speed and violence of action should take a back seat because it is supposedly safer for officers to go in slowly, is an excuse for poor training.

Let me put it this way. Whether you are an officer or, God forbid, a civilian who drew the short end of the stick and is caught in an active shooter situation, speed is your friend, followed by unmitigated violence of action to overwhelm the assailant. Time is of the essence to eliminate the threat before it causes further mayhem.

In the interview, the premise was simple. What is the highest skill demand these officers would encounter in their job? The answer: active shooter response. This is the one situation where officers cannot afford to wait for backup. They have to go in immediately, literally running, searching for the threat and trying to stop it.

Surprise is arguably diminished here because the active shooter knows he will encounter opposing forces at some point. But surprise remains, because he does not know when or how those forces will arrive. Speed is still on your side. By using it to your advantage, you surprise the assailant as you move into the structure or room without stopping. That is something he must react to, and that is where you buy time to win the gunfight if a gunfight occurs. Speed is the ingredient that overwhelms the assailant, giving you time to control the situation or eliminate the threat.

So if you are serving a warrant, why would it be different?

My argument is simple: in any fight where a gun might come out, time is the real currency, and whoever owns more of it has the advantage. Every second you give the other guy is a second he can use to move, arm himself, set up an angle, barricade himself, reinforce his position, destroy evidence, or put an innocent between you and him. Speed isn't about recklessness; it's about stealing that time from him and keeping it for yourself. Whether you are an officer serving a warrant on a subject known or reasonably believed to pose a threat, or a civilian trapped in an active shooter event, the more aggressively you compress his decision-making window, the fewer good options he has and the more control you have over how the fight unfolds.

A valid argument can be made about structures that include other unwilling actors inside —children or other adults who are not the subject of the warrant and do not want to be involved in what is about to happen. Does that render them hostages? As an officer, you cannot assume either way. So if apprehending the subject and preserving life is the goal, would speed and violence of action not be absolutely necessary to overwhelm the threat?

Now, do not get me wrong. There are two variables that most people in this conversation do not want to address.

The first is a lack of training — and a lack of willingness to train on one's own time if the department does not, or will not, provide the resources for officers to become fast and accurate shooters. Every officer in the nation should adopt practical shooting as a core skill. They should compete from time to time so they learn what happens when their skills are put under pressure. The timer used in competition and practice creates a kind of pressure that anyone who has competed and served at the highest levels of work requiring elite shooting skills will tell you is the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to testing accuracy and speed. No one can argue that.

The second variable is one no one can help you with: Is this the job for me? I am not talking about fear. A healthy dose of fear is absolutely necessary to perform well under pressure. I am talking about the willingness to hold yourself to high professional standards in the job you have chosen. If you decide to wear a badge that comes with a firearm or decide to carry as a civilian, you should understand that it is your responsibility to become the best and fastest shooter you can be, and to recognize that this skill must be developed continually on your own time.

If you want motivation, it is very simple. Practical shooting may be the most valuable skill you ever gain, and it has a strong chance of saving your life, your partner's life, and the lives of others. If you want to improve your chances of coming home every day, improving your shooting is key.

The enemy always gets a vote. That is the game of life in any situation where you are drawing a firearm to stop an assailant. Yes, there is a chance you might not make it home. That is the risk. Speed is what you use to mitigate that risk — by buying yourself time and taking time away from the assailant. That is how you give yourself the best odds of winning. And because speed takes time away from your opponent, it is also the surprise they never see coming. All gas, no brakes.