Adrenaline

Based on the latest archaeological find in northern Africa, our species appears to be a least 300,000 years old. Until about 10,000 years ago, we were not at the top of the food chain; we were part of it. One of the essential elements of our survival was adrenaline. When faced with a predator, our systems pumped that substance to sharpen our senses and swell our muscles, so we could fight back or flee to the nearest tree or cave. That capability has remained in place to assist us in dealing with danger/deadly force. We are always prepared for flight or fight.

However, the system has a flaw. Up to a point, adrenaline sharpens out response; beyond that point it creates blind panic. That is usually the reason police officers shoot suspects who are trying to surrender, and green soldiers freeze or run. The excess stimulus wipes out thinking ability and overrides command, training, etc. A soldier’s chances of survival go up dramatically if he/she survives the first battle.

There is a solution to the problem. The evolution of the human brain over the last 300,000 years has allowed us to develop technology and methods for simulating circumstances that will be faced by a policeman/woman or warrior. If the training is rigorous enough, and the simulation accurate enough, the trainee is able achieve sufficient confidence/practice to keep the level of adrenaline below the panic point when faced with the real thing.

One of the few genuinely essential functions of government is the physical safety of the citizenry. Government is supposed to repel invasion and control/punish crime. As Hobbs pointed out, government is about trading some of our freedom for safety. Therefore, one of the few things we should be spending our tax dollars on is rigorous and state-of-the-art training for law enforcement and the military. In practice, that is not a priority.