All of us have spent a lot of time looking into the actions, motivations, and background of the man who murdered 13 people at Fort Hood and wounded dozens of others.  The New York Daily News gives us a look at the civilian responder who stopped the carnage, taking a bullet herself in the process.  The quick and decisive actions of Police Sergeant Kimberly Munley saved lives and gives an object lesson in the value of aggressive action against rampagers:

The hero cop who ended the bloody rampage at Fort Hood had been directing traffic moments before she confronted the gunman and pumped four bullets into him despite being shot herself.

Civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley and her partner responded within three minutes of reported gunfire Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said Friday.

Munley, who had been trained in active-response tactics, rushed into the building and confronted the shooter as he was turning a corner, Cone said. …

Cone said Munley’s aggressive response training taught her that “if you act aggressively to take out a shooter you will have less fatalities.”

That is a good lesson to remember.  The attacker in this case gave little consideration to his personal security, by all accounts, and was not going to stop until someone stopped him.  Munley understood this and went against every human survival instinct to pursue a confrontation with a murderous lunatic — and nearly got killed for her efforts.  Her heroism saved lives at Fort Hood.

Munley will survive her wounds.   Like the shooter, the hospital has stabilized her condition, and she spent last evening checking to see what the extent of the rampage was.  Munley deserves the deep appreciation of the nation for her gallantry in action. (via Atlas Shrugs)