Fear And Loathing At Killology.Com
'In television and movies, whenever an injustice needs to be righted, or a character becomes bothersome the solution is to blow them away. It's quick, provides instant gratification, and makes the purveyor of the act a hero '

By Byron Lee -- Ontario PD
As Published in Modern Survival April/May 2002

I took a seat in the crowded theater in Ontario, California. I was still thinking about the pretty girl at the registration table. The grub was better than average, too. The hospitality table was chock full of Starbuck's coffee, fancy pastries, and gigantic gourmet cookies. Okay, I thought to myself, even if the training sucked the day wasn't a total loss.

I looked around at the 300 or so attendees from law enforcement agencies throughout southern California. Crew cuts and flattops, little trimmed mustaches, Levi 501s with shirts tucked in, and street hikers or cowboy boots were the uniform of the day. Most looked like SWAT hut, hut types. At least no one was wearing a fanny pack.

I settled in, and prepared myself for eight hours of boring, politically correct drivel designed to protect my police department from some form of civil liability, imagined or real. I was in for the shock of my life. This powerful presentation was designed for and dedicated to the boys and girls in the trenches of the war on crime. It was information that would keep me alive, keep my head screwed on straight, and give me some insight into the dynamics of violence in the world around me. And it was fun.

A lanky, unassuming man clad in Levis and a sport coat took center stage. He spoke with a slight drawl, and interspersed his grave subject matter with jokes and stories. The man was Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, former US Army Ranger and West Point professor. He seemed too down to earth, and spoke too personably to be a renowned academic, or to have led men in harms way throughout the world. Upon closer examination, I could see that the lankiness was actually combat leanness, and that he embodied the spirit of a true warrior.

Grossman's law enforcement presentation, "The Bulletproof Mind," covered several subjects in a systematic and understandable progression. He laid the basis for his training by illustrating how we are living in the most violent and brutal times in modern peacetime history. He compared the statistics for assault and murder throughout the world, and extrapolated the numbers taking technological advances in emergency medicine, transportation, and communications into consideration. The colonel described America today as being far more dangerous than even Dodge City in the 1880s. In this context he examined the law enforcement officer's role as the foundation on which modern civilization and democracy rest.

Colonel Grossman next gave a comprehensive explanation of gunfight dynamics from start to aftermath. Drawing from his own research, as well as building on the work of others, Grossman described the anatomy and physiology of changes the body goes through in a life-or-death situation. He spoke about changes in brain function, rational thought, and perception in relation to accelerated heart rates. He described the proportionate crash that follows an adrenaline peak, and the resulting risk to officer safety from reduced mental efficiency.

In simple and understandable terms, Grossman went over the psychology of the act of killing. Taking another human being's life is a highly unnatural act. People must be conditioned through proper training to overcome this natural revulsion, and to react automatically when it becomes necessary. In the aftermath, it is a given that specific physical and mental symptoms will manifest themselves. When they do, the condition is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD for short. PTSD can result in severe depression, suicide, and destroyed families. Proper officer survival training should include the recognition of PTSD, and how to respond to it. The effects of PTSD can be mitigated by how we respond to others who have been involved in a critical incident.

Colonel Grossman unveiled what he believes to be the largest single threat to modern civilization: violent media and video games. As a soldier, this nemesis is Grossman's new Evil Empire, and he attacks it with a vengeance. Since television was introduced in the 1950s people have been gradually desensitized to violence, and conditioned to choose violence as an acceptable or even admirable method of solving problems. In television and movies, whenever an injustice needs to be righted, or a character becomes bothersome the solution is to blow them away. It's quick, provides instant gratification, and makes the purveyor of the act a hero. Who wants to suffer through a problem for months and work through it rationally, spiritually, or through communication? Yes, I was skeptical. We've all watched those movies and played video games with no conscious effect on our minds, but the statistics presented by Grossman weighed heavily in favor of his position. The operative word here is "conscious." As an expert in Psy-Ops (psychological) warfare, Grossman is well aware of the subliminal influence of the media. When it is pointed out it becomes painfully obvious that we have been effected.

In the realm of video games, Grossman likens violent games to modern combat infantry simulators. In addition to desensitization, games reward mass killing as well as providing tactical training. A proper sight picture and a head shot will result in the most graphic animated response. The repetitiveness of playing a game every night makes the response automatic under the right conditions. Grossman believes that we are literally training our children to become highly efficient mass killers. As a firearm instructor familiar with FATS, Simmunition, Laser Village, and other virtual law enforcement training tools, I have to agree with him.

Grossman seeks the answer to the dilemma through legislation and litigation. Legislatively he promotes treating violence as a destructive commodity such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, and restricting access by minors. On the legal front, Grossman advocates suing the media for negligent portrayal of violence when it is a causal factor in mass killings or suicide. Even if Grossman's two-pronged approach is successful; it will take generations to reverse the influence of 20 years of Hollywood.

Finally, Colonel Grossman offered Bible verses to provide moral justification for the righteous application of deadly force. In this day and age, it takes courage to invoke God in any kind of government-certified training class. Whether you are spiritually inclined or not, Grossman is not afraid to call it as he sees it, and offer something that might provide vindication and a clear conscience to a segment of his audience.

Is Lt. Col. Dave Grossman smoke or substance? There is an element of showmanship and marketing to his presentations. He does stand to benefit from his book and video sales, lecture fees, and expert testimony. But the proof is in the response of those who his message is directed to.

"Lloyd" is a veteran patrol officer. In 1966-1967 he served as a USMC infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in Vietnam. He said, "Grossman is genuine and knows what he is talking about. He made me feel good about my job. I have experienced symptoms of PTSD for the last 34 years and didn't even realize it until today. You don't understand unless you've been there. I'm glad that I went through the experience (of combat) so that my friends and my family don't ever have to."

"J" and "M" are patrol officers who were recently participants in separate officer involved shootings. "He made us feel proud of what we do out there. He hit it right on the head. We need to hear that more often, but from our bosses." "I experienced the things he was talking about when I had my shooting. It was automatic. I thought someone else shot the suspect until I saw my smoking gun."

"J" is a college student studying to be a forensic psychologist. "Colonel Grossman gave an excellent presentation. He reminded me a little of a television evangelist. I just wish he had time to cover Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder in more detail, and provide more clinical data to support his findings."

Maybe a veteran detective put it most innately when he said, "He made me feel proud and really important for the job we have to do."

Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman has presentations directed to schools and educators, parents and students, medical and mental health professionals, and law enforcement professionals. "The Bulletproof Mind" should be mandatory training for all law enforcement officers at every level.