The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
Active shooter incidents are quite unpredictable and can happen very quickly. Most are over within 10 to 15 minutes. They can be over before law enforcers arrive on the scene. In most shooting incidents, there is no pattern or method of selecting victims by an active shooter. During these situations, you need to be prepared physically and mentally to deal with the situation. Although quite rare, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed an increase in active shooting incidents in 2016-2017. The bureau’s report revealed the following findings:
There were 20 and 30 active shooting incidents in 2016 and 2017, respectively. 2017 was the year with the most incidents on record since data began being tracked by the FBI in 2000.
There were 138 deaths and 593 wounded in 2017 from active shootings.
All 50 shooters in 2016 and 2017 were men who worked alone. In 2014-2015 there were 42 shooters, 3 of whom were women.
In these tense times many gun owners are wondering how to respond during an active situation. When shots ring out all of a sudden, your mind will probably go right into panic mode. In this article we’ll try to give you some tips on how to best respond and react to an active shooter situation for the good of all of those involved.
WHAT IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER?
It would be hard to respond to an active shooter if you don’t know what to look for. Before you can consider an active shooter concealed carry situation, you should first have an idea of how to identify potential shooters. The Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in the killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.” In most instances, active shooters use a firearm and there is no pattern or method in their choice of victims. Locations for these shooters are often soft targets, gun-free zones, and other locations where there is likely to be minimal or no resistance. The locations of three of the highest-profile mass shootings in the United States in recent years were a rural church, a suburban high school, and a heavily-populated outdoor concert.
In each of these incidents the active shooters had their own personal perceived grievances. The church shooter had a history of violence, was discharged from the military, and had strained familial ties with members of the church. His estranged second wife’s family attended the church. The school shooter had posted texts online that showed an intent to cause harm as well as racist views and also reportedly suffered from mental issues. The concert shooter was reportedly suffering from substance abuse issues and possibly financial problems. Most shooters have perceived grievances against society or a particular segment of society such as a house of worship or workplace. The FBI states that active shooters tend to have the following characteristics.
Male
Single or divorced
Poor work performance
History of abuse or harassment
Suffer from mental illness
Feel slighted by some type of “other” such as a religious or political group
RECOGNIZING THE THREAT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER
When thinking about concealed carrying in an active shooter situation, we first need to acknowledge the threat of such an incident and where and how it could happen. A key step to preparedness is knowing how to detect suspicious behavior. A potential sign of a threat, for example, is when someone gets into an altercation and threatens to come back to hurt or kill people. Another sign is threatening behavior in general, such as when someone makes threats or brandishes weapons. Someone who obsessively talks about previous shooters is displaying a potential warning sign as well. Take any threats you hear seriously and report them immediately to the proper authorities.
Let’s try to be specific and talk about the workplace. The first step in knowing how to respond to an active shooter situation is being aware of the indicators of potential violence by an employee. There are several factors that could cause an employee to snap and display violent behavior. By recognizing these signs, you can possibly help manage and treat these violent behaviors which may include any of the following:
Increased use of alcohol or illegal drugs
Unexplained increase in absenteeism; vague physical complaints
Noticeable decrease in attention to appearance and hygiene
Depression/withdrawal
Resistance and overreaction to changes in policy and procedures
Repeated violations of company policies
Increased severe mood swings
Noticeably unstable, emotional responses
Explosive outbursts of anger or rage without provocation
Suicidal; comments about “putting things in order”
Behavior which shows signs of paranoia — (“everybody is against me”)
Increasing talk of problems at home
Escalation of domestic problems into the workplace
Talk of severe financial problems
Talk of previous incidents of violence
Empathy with individuals committing violence
Increase in unsolicited comments about firearms, other dangerous weapons and violent crime
ACTIVE SHOOTING IN THE WORKPLACE
Although they are quite rare, the incidence of office shootings is slowly increasing. A 2018 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that workplace shootings increased by 83 cases from 2015 to 2016 and these cases led to 79 percent of all workplace homicides in 2016. Although many businesses have a security team in place, employers and employees alike should still prepare for the worst. If faced with such threats while in your office, here are some tips on active shooter concealed carry.
Evacuate
Your best option is to leave the premises. This is when having an escape plan becomes critical. Get as far away from an active shooter as possible. Always be aware of the nearest exits and escape routes. Be familiar with your company’s floor plans and always know of emergency exits and any backup routes. If possible bring your co-workers along when escaping. Regardless of whether they follow you, get yourself to safety. Keep these tips in mind when faced with this situation:
Have an escape route and plan in mind.
Identify a second escape route.
Leave your belongings behind. At this point, your life is more important than your belongings.
Help others escape, if possible.
Evacuate whether others agree to follow you or not.
Generally, do not attempt to move wounded people.
Keep individuals from entering the area where the active shooter may be.
Go to a safe area.
Call 911 and provide the following information:
Number of assailants
Location of assailants
Description of assailants
Number of weapons
Number of visible victims
Hide
If there are no available exit points or “avenues of egress,” your best option is to hide and look after your own security. Hiding here means not just avoiding being seen but also giving yourself as much cover as possible. Keep in mind what can protect you. You want to place between you and the shooter as much material as available that can stop bullets. A stone wall is better than a wooden desk, for instance. Do not sacrifice being hidden for cover, though. Staying unseen is very important. If you find yourself in a room, try to barricade the door. Turn off any lights and switch your cell phone to silent. When thinking about how to respond to an active shooter situation, keep in mind that the shooter might break into your hiding place. Identify any objects you might use to secure the door or even take up as improvised weapons if necessary. You cannot know who the active shooter’s target is or if they are killing at random. Keep the following thoughts in mind:
Be out of the active shooter’s view (stay away from windows and close blinds).
Find cover, especially if shots are fired in your direction.
If possible, do not trap or restrict your options for movement.
Here are some steps to help you prevent the active shooter from entering your hiding place:
Lock the door (if possible)
Blockade the door with heavy furniture
Turn off lights and any potential sources of noise
Close blinds
Stay away from windows
Switch your cellphone to silent
Remain quiet
If you are hiding with others, try to spread out within the room. Don’t allow yourselves to be trapped or cornered.
Fight
Experts recommend that you should not go out and search for a shooter. Leave that to the professionals. Fighting the active shooter should only be your last resort and only when your life is in danger. Only Interact with a shooter when your only choices left are to get shot or take action. In this type of situation, your only option is to “take the shooter out.” Aim to disrupt or incapacitate the active shooter. You can achieve this by doing the following:
Acting in concert with others
Acting as aggressively as possible by throwing items and utilizing improvised weapons such as fire extinguishers, chairs, large objects, sharp objects, and anything else that may be of use
During these times, your belief that you will survive will be a huge motivating factor. Coordinating with fellow co-workers could be a huge advantage so do so if possible.
RESPONDING WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE
When thinking about an active shooter concealed carry situation, your aim is to survive until law enforcement arrives. Law enforcement officers, once on site, will proceed directly to the scene where the last shots were heard. When law enforcement arrives, be aware of the following:
Officers usually arrive in teams of four
They may wear regular patrol uniforms or external bulletproof vests, kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment
They may be armed with rifles, shotguns, and handguns
Officers may use pepper spray or tear gas to keep the situation under control
They may issue commands and push individuals to the ground to keep them safe
Follow these tips when the police officers arrive at the active shooting location:
Keep calm and follow the instructions of the officers.
Put down any items in your hands such as bags or jackets.
Immediately raise your hands and spread fingers.
Keep hands visible at all times.
Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety.
Avoid pointing, screaming, and/or yelling.
Do not stop to ask officers for help or directions during evacuation. Just proceed in the direction where the police officers are entering the premises.
Advise officers of the number of shooters and their location.
Don’t expect help, initial officers are going directly to the source of the violence. More help will arrive.
Stay in any law enforcement designated “safe area” until the situation is under control and you have provided your information to officers.
Do not leave the “safe area” until you are told to do so.
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE EVENT?
When all the chaos is over and the situation has been deemed safe, management spearheaded by the human resources department can do the following:
Gather all employees at a designated assembly area to determine who could be missing or potentially injured.
Determine a method for notifying families of employees affected by the active shooter.
Evaluating the psychological state of individuals at the scene and referring them to health care specialists.
ROLE OF MANAGEMENT IN HANDLING ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION
Management has a crucial role in preparing their employees on how to respond to an active shooter situation. They can do this by creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). They should also take the lead in implementing training exercises to mitigate injuries related to active shooter incidents. When it comes to training exercises, you should conduct mock active shooter drills. You can get in touch with local law enforcement to coordinate how to conduct such drills. In any such exercises, make sure to include the following:
Recognizing the sound of gunshots
Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard or when a shooting happens
Calling 911
Reacting when law enforcement arrives
Adopting a survival mindset during times of crisis
As part of preparation and planning for such an incident try to do the following:
Ensure that your facility has at least two evacuation routes
Post evacuation routes in conspicuous locations throughout the office
Include police and first responders during any training exercises
Encourage law enforcement, emergency responders, SWAT teams, K-9 teams, and bomb squads to conduct active shooter training
It’s hard to expect these incidents but you can try to prevent them. The best ways to do so are to foster a respectful workplace and to be aware of indicators of workplace violence. Management should be involved in this and be alerted to any concerns. They should take measures to ensure workplace safety.
Active shooting incidents can be chaotic if not handled properly. Learning how to respond to an active shooter situation can help mitigate loss of life. We all hope for the best, but the best thing we can do is to be prepared so that when the time comes we can do our best.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
How to Respond During an Active Shooter Situation
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Active shooter incidents are quite unpredictable and can happen very quickly. Most are over within 10 to 15 minutes. They can be over before law enforcers arrive on the scene. In most shooting incidents, there is no pattern or method of selecting victims by an active shooter. During these situations, you need to be prepared physically and mentally to deal with the situation. Although quite rare, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed an increase in active shooting incidents in 2016-2017. The bureau’s report revealed the following findings:
In these tense times many gun owners are wondering how to respond during an active situation. When shots ring out all of a sudden, your mind will probably go right into panic mode. In this article we’ll try to give you some tips on how to best respond and react to an active shooter situation for the good of all of those involved.
WHAT IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER?
It would be hard to respond to an active shooter if you don’t know what to look for. Before you can consider an active shooter concealed carry situation, you should first have an idea of how to identify potential shooters. The Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in the killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.” In most instances, active shooters use a firearm and there is no pattern or method in their choice of victims. Locations for these shooters are often soft targets, gun-free zones, and other locations where there is likely to be minimal or no resistance. The locations of three of the highest-profile mass shootings in the United States in recent years were a rural church, a suburban high school, and a heavily-populated outdoor concert.
In each of these incidents the active shooters had their own personal perceived grievances. The church shooter had a history of violence, was discharged from the military, and had strained familial ties with members of the church. His estranged second wife’s family attended the church. The school shooter had posted texts online that showed an intent to cause harm as well as racist views and also reportedly suffered from mental issues. The concert shooter was reportedly suffering from substance abuse issues and possibly financial problems. Most shooters have perceived grievances against society or a particular segment of society such as a house of worship or workplace. The FBI states that active shooters tend to have the following characteristics.
RECOGNIZING THE THREAT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER
When thinking about concealed carrying in an active shooter situation, we first need to acknowledge the threat of such an incident and where and how it could happen. A key step to preparedness is knowing how to detect suspicious behavior. A potential sign of a threat, for example, is when someone gets into an altercation and threatens to come back to hurt or kill people. Another sign is threatening behavior in general, such as when someone makes threats or brandishes weapons. Someone who obsessively talks about previous shooters is displaying a potential warning sign as well. Take any threats you hear seriously and report them immediately to the proper authorities.
Let’s try to be specific and talk about the workplace. The first step in knowing how to respond to an active shooter situation is being aware of the indicators of potential violence by an employee. There are several factors that could cause an employee to snap and display violent behavior. By recognizing these signs, you can possibly help manage and treat these violent behaviors which may include any of the following:
ACTIVE SHOOTING IN THE WORKPLACE
Although they are quite rare, the incidence of office shootings is slowly increasing. A 2018 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that workplace shootings increased by 83 cases from 2015 to 2016 and these cases led to 79 percent of all workplace homicides in 2016. Although many businesses have a security team in place, employers and employees alike should still prepare for the worst. If faced with such threats while in your office, here are some tips on active shooter concealed carry.
Evacuate
Your best option is to leave the premises. This is when having an escape plan becomes critical. Get as far away from an active shooter as possible. Always be aware of the nearest exits and escape routes. Be familiar with your company’s floor plans and always know of emergency exits and any backup routes. If possible bring your co-workers along when escaping. Regardless of whether they follow you, get yourself to safety. Keep these tips in mind when faced with this situation:
Hide
If there are no available exit points or “avenues of egress,” your best option is to hide and look after your own security. Hiding here means not just avoiding being seen but also giving yourself as much cover as possible. Keep in mind what can protect you. You want to place between you and the shooter as much material as available that can stop bullets. A stone wall is better than a wooden desk, for instance. Do not sacrifice being hidden for cover, though. Staying unseen is very important. If you find yourself in a room, try to barricade the door. Turn off any lights and switch your cell phone to silent. When thinking about how to respond to an active shooter situation, keep in mind that the shooter might break into your hiding place. Identify any objects you might use to secure the door or even take up as improvised weapons if necessary. You cannot know who the active shooter’s target is or if they are killing at random. Keep the following thoughts in mind:
Here are some steps to help you prevent the active shooter from entering your hiding place:
If you are hiding with others, try to spread out within the room. Don’t allow yourselves to be trapped or cornered.
Fight
Experts recommend that you should not go out and search for a shooter. Leave that to the professionals. Fighting the active shooter should only be your last resort and only when your life is in danger. Only Interact with a shooter when your only choices left are to get shot or take action. In this type of situation, your only option is to “take the shooter out.” Aim to disrupt or incapacitate the active shooter. You can achieve this by doing the following:
During these times, your belief that you will survive will be a huge motivating factor. Coordinating with fellow co-workers could be a huge advantage so do so if possible.
RESPONDING WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE
When thinking about an active shooter concealed carry situation, your aim is to survive until law enforcement arrives. Law enforcement officers, once on site, will proceed directly to the scene where the last shots were heard. When law enforcement arrives, be aware of the following:
Follow these tips when the police officers arrive at the active shooting location:
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE EVENT?
When all the chaos is over and the situation has been deemed safe, management spearheaded by the human resources department can do the following:
ROLE OF MANAGEMENT IN HANDLING ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION
Management has a crucial role in preparing their employees on how to respond to an active shooter situation. They can do this by creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). They should also take the lead in implementing training exercises to mitigate injuries related to active shooter incidents. When it comes to training exercises, you should conduct mock active shooter drills. You can get in touch with local law enforcement to coordinate how to conduct such drills. In any such exercises, make sure to include the following:
As part of preparation and planning for such an incident try to do the following:
It’s hard to expect these incidents but you can try to prevent them. The best ways to do so are to foster a respectful workplace and to be aware of indicators of workplace violence. Management should be involved in this and be alerted to any concerns. They should take measures to ensure workplace safety.
Active shooting incidents can be chaotic if not handled properly. Learning how to respond to an active shooter situation can help mitigate loss of life. We all hope for the best, but the best thing we can do is to be prepared so that when the time comes we can do our best.