I find it crazy how trained officers refused to engage with an assailant armed with an ar15 but so many expect teachers to do it.

Being a physicist, a gun enthusiast, and a community organizer, I can tell you he’s using the word “power” in relation to physics incorrectly. It may just be that cops are too afraid to admit that their job isn’t to save people, but to enforce the law. Or what is scientifically known as “being full of shit.” Maybe the cop could take some physics classes before alluding to it?

In terms I think any Texan will understand: When a bull rider is tossed from his bull, the rodeo clowns immediately do whatever it takes to draw the bull's attention away from the fallen rider even if that means they may be hurt or even killed in the process..and when a fireman arrives at a raging fire his first objective is to get any people inside the burning building out quickly and safely, even at the risk of his own life. These are the very definition of having a "Warrior Mentality". The police need to be trained to understand how important it is, in an active shooter event, to draw the focus of the shooter off the victims and onto themselves. This requires great courage; if you do not possess this kind of courage, you need to find another occupation.

"I'm going home after the end of my shift, unless there are unarmed protestors or minorities to beat. Then I'm staying for overtime pay!" - is the US police motto

"Only the best trained men..." MEN. Apparently, the average woman with a pistol is better than any coward.

His take is anyone with an AR can do anything they want. He actually made the reason for banning ARs. If the police are afraid of ARs we are lost.

"I'm going home at the end of my shift" is also one of the reasons so many unarmed people needlessly die at the hands of law enforcement every day.

The security guard at the TOPS grocery store, Aaron Salter who was a retired policeman, did hit the shooter with a non-AR, but the vest protected the shooter. Salter's engagement with the shooter allowed many to flee. He died with his warrior mentality intact even in retirement.

GOP was perfectly ok to ban books but not guns. Let that sink in. Vote them out!

"Perhaps I went a little too far in my criticism of law enforcement..." No. No you did not.

99.9% of the time somebody says "it's just physics," they're about to demonstrate that (1) they don't actually know anything about physics, and (2) they don't know anything about the topic at hand.

A renowned shootist once said, “You’re only under gunned if you miss.” I agree.

"Only the absolutely best trained men would think about going against an AR", but Republicans EXPECT a Freaking ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER TO DO IT!!!!!!

"Go home then... and stay there." TRUTH. We don't want boys playing dress-up warriors, we want men who dedicate their careers and lives to helping and serving the community. ...you know... that oath you take.

"You're not actually fighting the other bullet, you're fighting the other person" You'd think that the people who say "guns don't kill people, people kill people" would understand this better.

The idea that "A rifle can't be countered by a pistol" is so funny, as if the two gunmen are going to light saber or wand duel each other with their guns and the one with the more powerful gun wins.

Does that cop seriously believe that their pistol is only adequate and intended for use against unarmed people?

The town in Texas where this genocide occurred spends 40% of its annual budget on police. It has two police stations for a town of 15,000. Sounds like the citizens didn’t get their money’s worth.

"You have to go out, you don't have to come back" I love the unofficial motto of the US coast guard. An ethos sadly lacking in many police officers it seems. The two NZ cops who caught the Christchurch shooter ran his car off the road and preformed an arrest even though he had just killed 50 people and they thought he had a bomb and knew he had an AR 15. You gotta go out, you don't have to come back.

He who dares wins The motto of one of the most famous counter terrorism units.

If police officers won’t sacrifice themselves for a school full of little kids…… u and I should have extremely low expectations when we call for help

“The few the proud the marines” “Army strong” “Rangers lead the way” “I want to go home” One of these things is not like the others

If a fully training police officer can't beat an untrained kid in a gun fight, I suppose that police officer should really bang his head against the wall and resign. They have full gear and a lot of backup.

"Better you than me," is the mantra of the coward. I'm not a soldier, I'm not a warrior, I'm not a cop. But if I were in a situation to save innocent children or myself, I'd choose the children. Why? Because if I lived and a child died because I didn't act, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I'd rather die doing something noble than live in cowardice.

Random person: "Officer Jones, why didn't you even TRY to pull over that reckless driver?" Officer Jones: "He was in a Dodge Viper. That thing has WAY more power than my patrol car."

Yeah no. Marine here. I've resorted to a knife in a gunfight often enough I was sent to become a knife fighting instructor. Hell, I'm still here, so obviously it has less to do with the weapons and more to do with having balls enough to honor your oath not your fear.

I feel sorry for the community this cop is supposed to serve and protect. They deserve better. All communities do!

I wonder if it was his child would he be worried about physics...The parents didn't even have guns and were willing to go inside. We have a serious problem in this country, too many arrogant people in positions of authority.

To the cop, as I'm sure you're watching this: you're a coward and you need to quit your job. Same goes for every other cop that thinks the same. We don't need you.

As an amateur psychologist, with a physics degree, I think that the officers failure to act has much more to do with psychology than physics.

The police don’t have a “warrior mentality, they have a bullying mentality. That’s how they are trained and that’s how many of them are. I have always maintained that it takes a “special” mentality to become a cop. And, that mentality is not necessarily “serve and protect.”

I imagine the "better you than me" mentality also contributes to why many cops are so quick to fire on a suspect. Also, if cops, who at least receive some training and whose job it is to protect and engage in dangerous situations, can't be expected to take on a shooter with an AR-15 then why are people expecting teachers and school administrators to be able to do it?

At my office, we had training on what to do if a shooter came into our office: Run out if we could, hide if we got stuck, and--if we had to--run straight at the guy screaming and throwing things off the desks so as many other people as possible could get away. So I'm supposed to take on a rifleman with a stapler and coffee cup, but it's too scary for a dozen police with vests and pistols?

You're a warrior against unarmed black people, but you're afraid of a teen with a gun. Make it make sense.

Man, I love how Beau is so calm and doesn't swear or anying, but can still be so savage when people make fools of themselves like this cop did.

"I'm going home at the end of my shift." The transparency of this attitude cannot be over-stated, and thank you for bringing it up. Back when the non-militant BLM movement began, I remember a big push-back from law enforcement was BLUE live matter, too. And in a YT video posted by a police officer (who was also a mother) talked about not knowing sometimes if she (or any cop) could be sure she was going home that night. At that point I truly wondered....what was it that going to work wearing kevlar, a loaded Glock 9, pepper spray, a baton, and instant communication with HQ and back-up told you that your job was without risk of being shot or killed? If this person was in the military deployed in field of combat far from home, that risk is accepted absolutely. There is no question that one cop killed is one too many, yet we are still stuck with the irony that so many of our fully-armed police - literally with a license to kill - consider this to be a "day job". I've known cops personally and I cast no shade on their profession. But if you're on the beat, your job is to protect all of us who are NOT armed from someone trying to kill us by using your tactical skills aggressively. More training. again? No. More vetting of an individual's emotional and mental ability to accept the huge responsibilities and personal power they are given. Just my opinion.

Some officers are so quick to defend “the brotherhood” they leave their intelligence behind.

law enforcement went home at the end of their shift, 19 children and 2 adults will never go home again....I am sick of the excuses

The power of being a cop attracts bullies to the job and all bullies are cowards at heart. I’m never surprised when they act like cowards.

I can't imagine these cops living in this community after not going into the fight.

Does that officer in the letter think carrying an AR-15 puts up a forcefield upon you that blocks bullets from handguns? What is he even talking about?

As a physicist, I would say this is one of those cops with no more than a high school diploma. As a veteran I would ask when do firearms try to take out each other instead of their opposing users. A group of cops that are "trained", well equipped, and coordinated vs ONE deranged teen with mental health issues. Shall I discuss rifles vs small arms in a close quarter situation? To the COP that wrote to Beau on this, quit your job for you are not cut out for this work.

“Instead of running from the threat, she engaged with the threat and saved several lives last night,” Chief of Detectives Tony Hazelett told news outlets Thursday...what a concept!

It's interesting to me how as cops have become ever more militarised and obsessed with Punisher patches, army gear and big, big guns their motto has turned from "To Serve And Protect" to "To Cower And Hide".

I'm Australia, the last time we had a mass incident (a machete attack btw) a bystander took down the attacker with a milk crate. Right equipment my ass

I usually try to defend cops to an extent, but if on the other side of a door children are getting murdered, and you a cop are just standing there, what are you even good for? What's your purpose? I don't care if you're likely to get shot, stopping that active shooter and risking your life is YOUR JOB.

Thank you! Preach! If your afraid to die protecting an innocent civilian...than do not become a policeman. The job demands you put your life on the line for others. If you can't do this there are other jobs out there for you

Boy, that letter must have looked so even handed, logical and compelling when that cop wrote it. It is a shame that they actually sent it to someone they knew would be civil in their response. Beau's words are always carefully chosen and diplomatic, and this is a trait I admire in him. I watch so that I can learn to, one day be as graceful in debate with the confidently incorrect as Beau is at disassembling a letter that should have been deleted by the author in embarrassment before hitting send.

Understand your point here, Beau. At the same time if a trained and fully-equipped cop (good guy with a gun) claims an AR-15 is too much firepower to counter, then we need to ask why civilians (who become a bad guy with a gun) can arm themselves with firepower that is too much for a trained and fully-equipped cop to counter.

In the end it has nothing to do with "the right equipment" and everything to do with cowardice. Those parents were willing to go in with NOTHING! Think about that!

In one of the Jane Whitefield novels, a judge asks Jane, "i suppose you're the kind of person that can kill me with a pencil?" Jane responds, "if I were, I wouldn't need the pencil." Warrior mentality!

I love when people with basic firearms training who are supremely confident in their prior instruction try to lecture Beau on firearms, thinking they know more. They clearly don’t know what he did before journalism lmao

"Only the best trained men" *Beau picks an example of a WOMAN stopping a man with an AR-15 with a pistol*

Holy layer cake of self owning! I fully believe he’s a cop.

I'm an old pacifist woman with a warrior mentality. I can't imagine not going in with whatever weapon I had. How could I live with myself otherwise? I expect some will decide they can't in hindsight and end it. Yet more tragedy in a wounded community.

I would say that cop just gave a tacit admission that they aren't the "good guys with guns". They are cowardly bullies with guns. I used to try to defend the police, and occasionally the media really does get it wrong and a cop isn't guilty of what they are accused of, but it's getting pretty difficult to keep defending this sort of thing time after time.

Fire fighters don't look at a bad fire and say "no, im not going in there"they DO THEIR JOB....Maybe this is why there are no songs that say "F**K the fire department"

If they see unarmed folks as threat to their lives, you could imagine how they'll view an armed assailant, apocalyptic!

"Go home alive" is the wrong attitude in a police officer. Risking your life ( occasionally) is part of the job, no different than a fireman. Or a coal miner for that matter.

Clearly that wasn't a well thought arguement. A cop with a gun still out guns a 9 year old without one. It's disturbing that "some" of these officers left children to fend for themselves. Don't even have the words to explain that reality. 🙏

This is why many cops are seen as bullies. They are tough when they have the upper hand but find reasons to excuse their lack action in a dangerous setting. That woman at the graduation party channeled some Mama Bear energy. She wasn't just going to let someone with a bigger gun threaten the kids at the party without acting. I doubt she thought about her own safety at the time.

The whole "bigger gun ALWAYS wins"-mentality is yet another problem with the toxic part of the gun crowd. The gun in their hands doesn't know what gun is in your hands 🙄

There is a moment when a warrior turns off their self-preservation instincts. Service carries risks, and you have to accept that risk, not hesitate because of it.

Imagine that… a cop who thinks he knows what he’s talking about trying to school Beau. Puhleeeze!

Unarmed and untrained parents made entry and rescued kids.

To the cop: Imagine what the kids thought!!!

20 year Marine here, when it comes to protecting kids you use any weapon you can get your hands on. Yes in a perfect world you would want a superior weapon but in the long run, YOU are the weapon!

In the right circumstances, the person armed with a steak knife can take out a shooter with a machine gun. It's not just physics.

The Coast Guard has a saying relating to rescues at sea: You have to go out, but you don't have to come back. It's called duty.

The cop who wrote that message is implying that Beau is alone in his criticism of the Uvalde law enforcement response. He isn't. Police had the necessary equipment and personnel to take action immediately but they chose to wait for "the big guns".

Now tell him about the English officer who took on an armored car with an umbrella in ww2....and won. Allison Digby Tatham-Warter

When we taught our sons to hunt, they had one shell in the chamber and one in their pocket. It’s about one skilled well placed shot…make it count. The one in the pocket was just in case a merciful finishing was necessary. They became excellent and responsible hunters, crack shots and very little wasted meat. In close quarters a handgun beats a long barrel for speed, maneuverability and accuracy of delivery every time.

Two years ago, I had to hold two burglars in my home at bay while the cops came. The burglars were where the guns were kept. I had a softball bat. The person who knew their weapon, was me. Everyone lived , they went to prison.

I'm a former Airforce Small arms specialist, taught at the Security Police Academy. For the indoor situation a pistol has a tactical advantage over a rifle. Faster on target, accurate at the ranges needed, with plenty of stopping power. And if more than one shooter against single rifleman, able to put more rounds on target.

"Only the best trained men...", Yet they can seriously suggest to allow teachers to take on that gunman armed with an AR. Would teachers also be carrying around ARs as they teach their classes? Probably not. Will they be wearing Body Armor as they teach their classes? Doubtful on that one also.

"...they can do it without the equipment if they have to...." classic. Thank you Beau! It's too much money on the "right equipment" and too little on proper training. Yes, across the board.

Cops complaining about having to do their job. . . and using logic that doesn't even hold true in video games. . . he did have one good point though. They really are not the best trained men. Like, at all.

I was a cop for thirty three years and you are absolutely right. The behavior of those so called cops was disgraceful. Me and the people I worked with were trained and willing to go right now on an active shooter situation and I have done so numerous times. Anybody who did not go in would prolly get an ass whooping when we got done. When there are lives on the line you go in and handle the situation, always.

"Only the best trained men" - well, not US Police, as it seems

Wish the cops would have worn their Good Guy shirts. That would have helped as much as they did.

“On time, on target, never quit.” Thank you for making that mindset distinction.

Beau, I'm surprised you didn't mention the West Hollywood bank robbers in the 90s. They had high powered rifles and body armor, and were taken out by an LAPD officer with...get this, a PISTOL. I don't know who sent that message, but he obviously needs a refresher in modern policing history. -retired law enforcement. 20 years of service

The thing I find most entertaining about the whole "his gun was too big to stop him" argument is, that these people basically say, that if the gunman could not have bought a powerful rifle, the shooting would have been stopped. All of a sudden they are arguing for the ban of more powerful guns to stop mass shootings. What is it?

Those poor kids (and their brave teachers) deserved better.

"If you want something done, ask a WOMAN to do it quickly!!"

Whoa, a cop who would hide outside literally exposed himself to Beau. That's kinda amazing.

Can you imagine if firefighters said the same thing…it’s safe to say that they have more of a Warrior mentality than the cops do these days.

I am a Officer and you are dead on as always. Thank you for what you do.

One of the disturbing moments in my life education came when my shooting instructor told me I shot better then 90% of the cops he trained. I'm OK. But there are ramifications to this on so many levels.

There goes Beau again, sticking to what he knows. Like facts.

The fact that a cop wrote it proves stricter measures and training are needed. And all the GQPers are suggesting teachers have handguns…..how about mandatory training and licensing for gun owners???

I recently watched a n episode of the “Lincoln Project “, Two Military Heroes who are well vetted, many employments, high ranking, impressive backgrounds in Military Schools and more… They spoke much on what you are saying. The Topic was growing While Supremists in the military. What I gleaned most is that those who choose to serve commit to a paper of Ideas and not a Queen, Leader or Religious Beliefs

Meanwhile, those 2nd-4th graders didn’t even have pistols. The grown men, the cops, were too cowardly to use their pistols to protect the completely unarmed little kids.

Thanks Beau! My husband was NYPD for 20 years and he was appalled by the cowardice displayed in Uvalde. He can't wrap his head around why those guys didn't go in immediately!

You sir are correct 35 yr Cop retired police chief. There is no long distance shots needed, Immediate action is. 1st officer should go in regardless.

Excellent thought 👍🏽. Sounded like that person was probably a new guy at the force. Sounded very naïveté, doesn’t sound like a salty experienced officer with a few years under the belt. Great take.

They have no problem engaging with an unarmed person do they?.

To the person that asked that question, it is not a rock, papers, scissors scenario with firearms. This is real life not Fire Emblem, or any other tactical game.

What we really need is a good woman with gun. Edit: Or even two unarmed women in a boat, as in the Norwegian massacre a few years back. They saved lives that day by risking their own--the very definition of heroes.

A few thoughts from a Marine Combat Vet.... given on this day when we remember those who died in service to this nation; Distance and Maneuverability....an AR-15 is a "semiautomatic" rifle...most PDs issue a "semiautomatic" pistol to their officers... (semiautomatic = pull trigger once....one round is fired.) A rifle "outguns" a pistol if the distance between the weapons exceeds 50 to 100 m. (think yards) of OPEN ground.... Inside of that distance, the skill of the shooter (not their personal weapon) is the deciding factor. Inside a building...I, most often, slung my M-16 over my back...preferring to use my pistol as my primary weapon when in Close Quarter Battle...Why? Because a rifle, with its longer length, takes more time (precious fractions of a second) to bring to bear on the target than a pistol. does...especially "inside". So, the cops weren't outgunned...nor were they outnumbered...they were un-nerved because they lacked the "warrior mentality". A 'warrior' (like that mother who defied the cops) would go in (especially during an active shooting in a SCHOOL) even if armed only with two good hands. Semper Fi, Brother Beau