I see a common failure to equip any type of restraining devices with most battle rigs. I appears most here surmise that they will shoot at any hostile action to wards them but what about the hostile which surrenders or follows your commands to disarm? What do you do with them so you can leave the area without further threat?
I use Commercial grade Zip-Ties which are light weight, easy to carry and are strong enough to fit and restrain just about anyone.
I agree, I have 1 pair of hinged and 1 pair of chained S&W Cuffs along with 3 Flex-Cuff brand zip ties in my tactical gear. Being able to take a prisoner or restrain and leave in a SHTF situation is a good option if you are trained in it.
If you’re a cop I’m sure it’s all well and good but I wouldn’t bother to attempt to cuff an invader by myself nor let anyone I know get near him.
I have to agree. Short of me cuffing a corpse just to be sure, I don’t want to be approaching anyone and trying to cuff them. Cuffing a resisting person is a nightmare even with training. Watch an episode of Cops and see how hard it can be when the person doesn’t want to be cuffed.
I guess you could make an argument for tossing him the cuffs and telling him to cuff himself, but what if he doesn’t? He’s now tested your resolve and started to tip the pissing contest in his favor. Only a matter of time before he decides you won’t shoot and rushes you.
And… Now he has your cuffs.
Mil and LEO, definitely. Almost always a good idea to have some sort of restraint or lesser force option, especially in the LEO end of the spectrum.
Civ for HD and SHTF, probably not a bad idea, but not without some training or at least practice.
More importantly he has your gun.
Not a risk I’m willing to take even if I had the proper training.
During checkpoints and patrols if my squad had to detain someone, there would be a cover man and a search man. At least two people were required to restrain a tango/unknown. Being back home, I’m not an LEO and do not carry restraints with me. Nor would I ever attempt to restrain someone by myself, for safety purposes.
Agreed,
Don’t cuff without training. Don’t cuff without some means of securing your weapon out of bad guy’s reach (and still within yours). And if possible, don’t cuff alone.
But sometimes cuffing alone is just what you gotta do. I might be solo, facing a combative non deadly threat, or holding my corner alone, when the need to cuff comes up. The main problem I see with holding BG at gunpoint for a while while waiting for the cavalry to arrive is that BG has enough time to assess his own situation, scan the scene, size you up, make a plan, etc. Yes, if its reasonable, wait it out, but there are enough circumstances that I can think of that make having a set of cuffs in a defense or SHTF kit worthwhile.
Why?
I might be solo, facing a combative non deadly threat, or holding my corner alone, when the need to cuff comes up.
Again why? You’ve got a disarmed threat on the ground, covered. Wait for the pros, if you’ve got room to retreat, bug out.
The main problem I see with holding BG at gunpoint for a while while waiting for the cavalry to arrive is that BG has enough time to assess his own situation, scan the scene, size you up, make a plan, etc. Yes, if its reasonable, wait it out, but there are enough circumstances that I can think of that make having a set of cuffs in a defense or SHTF kit worthwhile.
The assailant has already “scanned and assessed” and assaulted you. He may rethink his tactical options when disarmed and face down on the ground, but he’s not going to be able to execute anything assuming you don’t do something stupid like approach and try and cuff him.
Too many “ifs” there to make your conclusion worthwhile. If the fucker moves and tries to execute a plan, he’s dead. Sorry asshole you were warned, I’ll take my chances with the cops. If you’ve put your weapon where he can’t get to it, than you’ve effectively disarmed yourself as well. Why surrender the tactical advantage of being armed with standoff distance to restrain someone?
If we’re talking SHTF and society has collapsed and there is no LEO to speak of so the point is moot and if it were me he’s dead. I’m not taking any chances cuffing him.
Handcuffs however might serve a purpose for restraining someone you might otherwise not want to shoot and who only poses a threat to themselves, but otherwise you’re a lot safer being armed from a significant distance.
A semi handcuffed citizen swinging a set of cuffs is a well armed citizen. The cuff hook at speed can crush a skull.
DDW
“Why?”
You might be all kitted up, looking for or waiting for a deadly threat, when suddenly a non deadly threat pops up. You might have to use deadly force on one subject, then worry about dealing with more non deadly threats that suddenly become hostile to you.
You also might be a hell of a ways away from backup. More time for someone to hatch a plan. see below
This might apply to civ as well as mil and leo scenarios.
“Again why?”
B/c I might be the one coming to back up the guy who’s got someone else covered. Once your backup, pro or not, gets there, someone has to go hands on. Depending on the circumstances, it might be you. Chances are, it will be me, since I’m the “pro” (i guess) of which you speak.
As for the assailant already scanning and assessing, well, once you’ve ordered him to the ground, he starts a whole new cycle in OODA, as have you. Seasoned thugs might take the time to prepare to assault you if you approach, true. They might also look for a weapon of opportunity, look to see where you are (they might have only heard you- shift position if need be). They might also choose to bug out. Letting them go may or may not be a viable option in these scenarios.
Your non deadly but combative threat might be a speedbump on the way to a greater threat down the hall. Can’t shoot him, but don’t want him following, or fighting, or just don’t want to deal with him later on.
There’s SHTF and SHTF. You can define SHTF as society collapsing and the justice system no longer functioning. You can also define it as zombies taking over the mall. On a slightly more likely, and no less dangerous note, it can also be a gunman in school/mall/office scenario. Yes, I’ll be gunning for the shooter in such a scenario, but I might get bogged down with someone else who just wants to fight or get in the way. If they’re not involved with or assisting the primary threat (and I’m not in the vicinity to deal with it) out come the cuffs. On duty they’re on the belt, off duty in a cuff case or in the murse. Cuff said citizen, and catch up with the team or carry on otherwise.
If I have flex cuffs, they can also serve other purposes, so they’re nice to have anyway.
“Too many ifs there to make your conclusion worthwhile”
That’s the thing! I’m not really making a conclusion. I’m leaving my options open in case my bad guy problem can’t be solved with high speed metal. My cuff pouch on my tac belt takes up 3 rows of MOLLE space at 7 o’clock, and I can hide a pair on me off Duty. Cuffs give me an option if I can’t legally or morally justify shooting someone off duty or at home (some states are funny like that). I also have cuffs in my nightstand (not fuzzy).
I see your point though Gutshot.
“Handcuffs however might serve a purpose for restraining someone you might otherwise not want to shoot and who only poses a threat to themselves, but otherwise you’re a lot safer being armed from a significant distance.”
My point exactly. Sooner or later whoever you just intercepted will have to be detained. Makes sense that someone should have a means of doing so on them. And yes, cuffing someone takes training and practice. Its not always so simple as rushing up and throwing a pair on.
DDW: Cuffed people can be dangerous. I have some good experience with this. A partially or improperly cuffed person can be especially so.
Hmm.
Rail mounted tazer…
This. We always have someone covering the guy searching/cuffing in case the individual decides to get brave.
Agreed. I think the problem comes when everyone sets up to be the shooter or cover guy, and no one brought the restraints. In cpekz’s and AK’s cases (thank you both for your service by the way) I imagine that everyone had at least something to use to tie the guy down in case they weren’t posted on cover. SOMEONE’s gotta have them. might as well be you. If someone else did, oh well…two is one…
Interesting review. off duty I have never carried a pair of cuffs. I carry one pistol and one extra mag. ID’s in my wallet I don’t even carry a badge off duty. " I do have a very complete war bag in my POV" I’m a great witness, and would rather remain a witness unless someone is getting hurt or killed.
My back up is to get me out of the shit, not to get in the shit. Let em run, If I can id them I can get a warrant and come back with lots of real agressive help.
I have a taser, I don’t carry the taser except on warrants and sure gigs. I’m a resident deputy way out in BFE and a bit old fashion. Ive seen too many of the kids take a fucking taser to a knife or gun fight.
Where I work if I were to deploy a taser and had a failure of any kind, then the turd is on me “21 Feet”, and it’s one on one. No back up for at least an hour. I have had a turd break away and swing cuffs at me in an agressive manner.
That was back in the day we still carried real wooden sticks, real long wooden sticks. He and I had a come to jesus meeting, He saw the light, and became a model arrestee.
Cuffing is a very critical point of any contact. Any time we lay hands on someone we are at risk of assault, and from the legal system. Do it right and you will have no worries.
Dirk
Spot on Dirk.
If you can avoid getting involved as an off duty cop or CCW, all the better. I’m talking about assaults and shootings; I refuse to chase down a shoplifter at the mall. Sometimes, though, one can’t just be a good witness, and we might face assault, but not from a deadly threat. If I’m helping an on-duty cop, I might have to be the cuffer, another reason to carry them if you can. I carry my badge, too. If I shoot someone, I can at least hold up a shiny badge for all to see (might calm the bystanders down- a little more than an ID that can’t be read from far away) and comply with the responding officers. The shiny badge should give them at least a moment of pause.
I just like having options beyond “shoot and run.” From a tactical perspective, I can conceive of the need to detain someone who might not be a deadly threat. From a legal perspective, I’d like to be able to show that I have a means other than shooting to stop a non-deadly threat. Its the old “if all you have is a hammer, you’ll see every problem as a nail” argument. We (cops where I live) also need to cuff people we shoot, if its tactically safe to do so.
Dirk, I think you’re right about bringing a taser to a knife/gun/stick fight. Especially in your scenario, being so far from backup. County deputies have my undying respect.
I’ve had a back cuffed guy try to take my gun. We, too, had a come to Jesus conference. Guest speakers came, too.
I have cuffs and zip ties but only plan on using them on an incapacitated body… Especially in a civillian role alone, with no back-up…
My younger brother has to battle this issue since he is “moonlighting” as private security/loss mitigation… In his case he must restrain the perp without intentionally injuring them…I always ask WTF? They want him to tackle and detain people but not hurt them… OK…
When I train with him we work on how to do it(since he has no choice but to do it)… Its a fubar situation that I wouldnt wish on anyone… We are walking on egg shells here…
When you look at literally hog tying another human you leave too much up to size, speed and strength as Rob mentioned(in a way) above… If the threat has you on any of those you can be screwed in a heartbeat… If you have to restrain someone then there is no other way to do it but as unfairly as possible by exploiting weakness… tase em, blind em, spray em, dump em, choke em, bean bag em or what ever you can do to set up success… Its already fucked up scenario but but you gotta get in there and get it done…
FYI crennelated bezels on flashlights work very well on getting people to do what you want, big or small. Just press and twist… 
Speaking as a 22+ year street cop, and a DT/Handcuffing instructor, my advice is to consider cuffing one of the most dangerous things you can do in an arrest and control situation.
Cuffing without someone to back you up should be reserved for truly exigent circumstances.
Isn’t a civilian cuffing someone considered kidnapping or something? I think I’d be more inclined to hold someone at gunpoint. If they ran away, oh well, and if they ran at me, oh well…
my thought also
not sure about the original post ?
are we talking civilian or LEO person ? normal life or SHTF etc…
if SHTF then rules are out and its about protecting my family I am not about to let anyone walk away cause I want to sleep better knowing someone knows I am not willing to kill them to protect my family and they will be back when hungry enough for what they wanted the first time around.
daily life as we know it now ? I am a civilian and not about to detain anyone thats for the pros