Community organizer critical of police shoots unarmed man!

KSAZ (FOX Phoenix) recently ran a news report about an event that I believe should become a part of media, politicians' and "community organizers'" experience in cities in Ohio and throughout the country.

In the report, Jarrett Maupin, an activist known for leading marches on the Phoenix Police headquarters after officers shot an unarmed man who reportedly fought with them, and FOX 10's Troy Hayden, joined deputies with Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, for a force-on-force training drill.

Both men got an opportunity to experience a real-world scenario about how quickly law enforcement officers have to act when confronted suspect.

From the report:

Scenario one is a call of a man casing cars in a parking lot. Maupin approached the man and started asking questions. The suspect in the drill shot Maupin, who was asking him what kind of car he drove. It happens that fast.

...Scenario two is a call of two men fighting. "What's going on today gentlemen, what are you doing?" he said. He fired at the suspect in the scenario.

...Scenario three was a call about a possible burglar walking down the street. Maupin gets him on the ground, but the suspect is not complying. "I need you to keep your hands up sir, I need to check that's in the waistband," he said.

Note that in scenario two, both the activist and the reporter made the decision to shoot an unarmed man. That's right - they made the same split-second decision they are often so critical of police officers for making.

THIS is a big reason why so many people who are familiar with firearms and self-defense issues are quicker to side with law enforcement in many of the incidents involving shootings. As Maupin now knows, it's real easy to criticize until you are standing in their shoes facing a similar scenario.

Raw video from a camera Maupin was wearing, including the scenario in which he shot an unarmed man can be viewed here, along with debrief audio, can be heard here:

Further thoughts from Jarrett Maupin, shared later in the studio, can be heard here:

It is all too easy for people who have had no self-defense training to be critical of police officers or concealed handgun licensees who are forced to make split-second decisions when under attack. But as Jarrett Maupin now knows, it's not as simple as telling cops or license-holders they should never shoot an unarmed man.

Here's hoping that law-enforcement around Ohio and across the country work to provide this same type of training and teachable moments to media, politicians and "community organizers" in their area.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.