These events are designed to calm anxiety unarmed people feel about loose killers but may actually perpetuate the problem. The purpose of anxiety is to drive people to enact a solution. Reducing that motivation to fix the root cause isn’t actually helpful. Attending a company Christmas party should not require constantly scanning the crowd and having a plan like a Secret Service agent on duty.
It wasn’t a yoga or meditation session. And people are more angry than afraid.
Events like these are designed to give control back to people who otherwise would cower with fear or panic if such a situation were to arise. In that sense it is every bit as practical as learning to spot whether someone is having a stroke or learning CPR. Call it civil readiness training...