Posted on 07/27/2016 8:14:44 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
This summer, deadly terrorist attacks and crimes have taken place across the world and have many wondering how they can be safe even in the United States or Western Europe.
This violence has been conducted with a range of weapons—including a suicide bomb in Ansbach, Germany, a truck in Nice, France, a rifle at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and a pistol in Munich, Germany, last weekend. While most of these are clear cases of terrorism, the investigation is still ongoing in Munich.
Such violence will likely continue and every American should take the time to think about what they would do if they found themselves in danger. Specifically, do you know what you would do if you were in an active shooter situation?
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security recommend the “Run, Hide, Fight” plan. When a shooting occurs, it is only natural for many folks to freeze or forget what they should do. “Run, Hide, Fight” provides an easy to remember plan for survival.
First, if you are able to safely get away from the shooter, do so. Once away from the scene, prevent others from going toward the shooter and call 911.
Second, if you can’t safely run away, hide. Barricade doors and turn lights off. Take cover behind large objects and try to be as silent as possible.
Third, and finally, if you cannot safely run or hide, be prepared to fight. Improvise weapons and commit to defending yourself.
Consider how you would use “Run, Hide, Fight” at your place of work or other places you frequent. Importantly, check to see if your work has an active shooter plan that may be different. If no plan exists, ask for your company to create one.
From a policy perspective, the U.S. should also ensure that state and local law enforcement are trained to respond to active shooters as the local police are likely going to be the first to respond to such incidents and stop the shooter. The Department of Homeland Security operates the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, which provide training to local, state, federal, and foreign law enforcement officers on how to respond to a myriad of issues.
Congress should expand the Active Shooter Threat Training Program and corresponding instructor training program to ensure that the first line of response is able to engage the threat and stop further loss of life.
While the best way to stop terrorists is good proactive intelligence and law enforcement work beforehand that prevents them from ever getting to their target, the reality is that terrorists and criminals alike will inevitably succeed and we should all be prepared to respond if we find ourselves in a worst-case situation.
I do know what I would do. I was in a shooting at my company, ESL in Sunnyvale, Ca.
One of the mistakes people made was running outside the building and standing in the parking lot. You actually need to run far away. I ran through one building to the one even further away.
What made me mad is then they didn’t let us leave the buidling complex until he turned himself in 5 hours later.
People at my complex climbed up in the dropped ceilings.
I don’t like that they don’t teach kuds to run away. I told my kids to ignore their teachers and run far away.
Once you’re locked and loaded, the best thing to do is shout, “Allah likes bacon!” and start shooting at everything that moves.
“I told my kids to ignore their teachers and run far away.”
Me too. Of course, there are never any guarantees, but if the shooting is on the other side of the school it seems better to run away than hunker down in a classroom.
2. Find cover, if not, find concealment.
3. Let him come to you.
4. Take the shot you were born for.
Workplace policies against firearms are a joke in the face of the threat from the various and sundry insane mass killer scenarios out there and impact both my workplaces.
As a government employee with no firearms allowed onsite, I would be forced into the ‘improvised defense’ scenario in that job.
The other job is also a place where I would have to improvise defense, unless I’m lucky and someone is around with firearms (concealed or open carry civilian or police).
You do run away. You need to go to a safe place and then you can make a plan.
When it hapoens, you don’t know what is going on. Are there multiple shooters?
You don’t want to add to the number killed.
The 7 killed at my company were killed in the first 5 minutes.
“The 7 killed at my company were killed in the first 5 minutes.”
Better a gun in the hand than a cop on the phone.
Nothing against cops, but they can’t be everywhere.
There was a firehouse down the hill from my kids’ old school. I told my kids to run to it.
My company was a defense contractor and no one had firearms. I was surprised that our security guards didn’t have firearms.
I agree, but we were a defense contractor and no guns allowed on the campus.
Everyone was dead by the time the cops got there.
It’s funny how I’m more pro gun since the shooting.
“It’s funny how I’m more pro gun since the shooting.”
That’ll happen.
There have been several good responses but I think this point should be made; the majority if shootings happen in ‘gun free’ zones.
So you could be a person, as some trainers suggest, that carries always, permit or no, gun free zone or no. The idea there is ‘concealed’, so don’t tell anyone at all ever.
Another approach that I favor is the one used in flight 93; pick up whatever is close and charge. There are many common items that can be distractions while some others attack.
For example; stapler, ashtray, telephone (disconnect the cord first) book, chair, trash can, keyboard. I am sure you are getting the idea. These projectiles will distract rather than disable but that is a valuable moment in the fight.
Bic pens, sharp pencils, letter openers or anything with some stiffness can make a good weapon. Remember you do not have to kill the adversary you only need to distract him enough for others to pile on and put him out of action.
Stick the pen or pencil in the closest part you get to; an arm, a leg, a foot an ankle, a shoulder, lower back ... remember these murderous bastards are cowards. Applied pain will shake their resolve.
If you are in a different room than where the murder starts then set a trap at the door. Break a wooden chair or desk leg for a club, use the pens, wait out of sight beside the door and some must wait in plain sight across the room to draw him in.
Attack from behind. Remember this guy has decided he will not play fair so you should not (must not) either.
If you do have a firearm then shoot for the head from as close as you can. Shoot from behind if possible or from the side. In a crowd, kneel so your shot goes up. Keep shooting until he is not moving.
This may sound cruel and heartless but the possibility of a suicide bomb is real these days. A torso hit even if it is eventually fatal gives time to trigger the bomb. A head shot or two stops the activity right away.
We MUST fight back so these murderous 7th century savages will decide they do not wish to meet old what’s his name yet.
Run, maybe, hide, possibly, as long as AMBUSH and WIN is the end result.
It is a useful thing to know that the vast majority of handgun wounds do not kill the recipient these days, medicine is that good. If you get shot you will probably not die.
If you shoot the bad guy make sure he does. What good is left-over ammo after the fight?
Deactivate the shooter.
Draw your sidearm and take cover. Oh you don’t have a firearm? Never mind.
Second, if you can’t safely run away, hide. Barricade doors and turn lights off. Take cover behind large objects and try to be as silent as possible.
Third, and finally, if you cannot safely run or hide, be prepared to fight. Improvise weapons and commit to defending yourself.
Wrong, wrong, wrong....pull your firearm after moving to cover and neutralize the threat with a double tap to the chest and one to the head...
Sound advice ...
You make several good points that I had been considering as I live in a very large "gun free zone"... the UK!
Even a handful of coins thrown at someones head will make them duck or try to dodge... puts them off their aim. You might, if you carry a bag, have an old steel tray that happens to fit exactly inside of it. it will certainly stop a knife of machete attack if used as an improvised shield. Might also stop or defect a hand gun bullet of the type used in the shopping mall attack in Germany recently. You might carry a few tools in your car that can be used as weapons... of course you never even think of them as weapons... that is practically hate crime in the UK... they are tools only... coughs.... or a multi tool in your pocket at all times... small scale stuff I know but in the UK our choices are very limited indeed.
The day has come when the “The Art OF Self Survival” is a MANDATORY course in our schools. I am not suggesting this be taught, I am demanding it be taught. Very simply tactics when/if applied as others have suggested, would certainly reduce the numbers killed versus what we have seen when NO RESISTANCE is put forth against those who would do us harm. Wake up people, this is REAL.
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