Regarding your readers comments about tactics

Submitted by Marcus Nilsson (Sweden), Feb 5, 2015 at 03:54

Anybody knowledgable about unarmed self defense knows that disarming a determined, aggressive knife-wielding attacker is among the hardest things you could try when it comes to hand-to hand combat. Chances are immense that you will be seriously wounded, even if you have numbers on your side when the knife-armed attacker has the initiative. For those who have not tried there are numerous videos on youtube that shows how dangerous a knife really is, and you don't need much training to be effective with a knife either. All disarmament techniques that are thaught in a controlled environment break down in an instant when the opponent is resisting aggressively and stabbing continuously. Do a search on youtube for "Knife defense in reality" or something and you will see. That is why police always shoot to incapacitate/kill (Which is really the same thing) at the moment when somebody armed with a knife even begins to close in on them. William Mayer is clearly out of his element here.

That said, it is absolutely insane that the soldiers (Which I however doubt are the best of France's anti-terrorist forces, I would guess they are regular infantry) don't carry a loaded magazine inserted in their assault rifles (If true, which I however believe it to be as I was mystified why the attacker wasn't shot). If there are three soldiers I would have one be armed with a modern semi-auto pistol with a round chambered and a full magazine of about 15 rounds as primary weapon for speed and the other two armed with their assault rifles, possibly with rounds chambered (I am not familiar with the constuction of the french FAMAS assault rifle) as primary weapons, for serious firepower (all carrying plenty of ammo). And I would certainly hope the weapons are on safe, anything other would be a hazard, as it anyway takes no time at all to move the selector to fire. If somewhat trained you do it without thinking while you bring the rifle up to the shoulder (Or while drawing the pistol) and then you are ready to fire. And you do not want to select full-auto, especially in a potentially crowded city, semi-auto is the way to go when shooting an assault rifle except at very close range. Anyway, I feel truly sorry for the soldiers who have to carry empty weapons.

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