19. Surviving an Active Shooter Situation

It seems like every time you turn on the news, there’s another story about some disturbed person killing and terrorizing a bunch of innocent people in broad daylight in a public place. What was once an almost unthinkable and unimaginable event has sadly become so commonplace in today’s world that many of these stories don’t even make the headlines on the evening news anymore. The active shooter phenomenon is something that you have to be aware of, and at the very least recognize as a possible threat.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS

These events are often performed by a lone gunman, many of whom are either suffering from mental illness or have been taking prescription medications that have altered their mental abilities. In most cases, their sole purpose is to kill as many people as possible.

Some important things to keep in mind about people who commit mass shootings:

The shooter is usually hell-bent on inflicting mass casualties and generally cannot be reasoned with.
The shooter typically commits suicide after the event, so he’s not scared of dying. If you’re in a situation where you have to defend yourself, remember to make it count because the mere threat of confrontation probably won’t stop the shooter from finishing his mission.
The shooter typically has multiple weapons, large amounts of ammunition, and may show up wearing full body armor.

AREAS AND ACTIVITIES AT HIGH RISK FOR SHOOTINGS

Avoid Gun-Free Zones

While this may seem counterintuitive, especially to those who believe banning guns is going to solve the world’s problems, the fact is, most mass shooting events happen in gun-free zones.

The madmen who commit these crimes want to kill as many people as possible, so they often choose areas where they know people will be unarmed and unable to stop their attack.

Avoid High-Profile Events

We live in a media-driven society where everybody is looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. Unfortunately when it comes to the psychos who commit mass shootings, this means more often than not they will choose a place that guarantees sensationalized coverage.

Avoid opening night events.
Avoid sold-out shows and concerts.
Avoid high-profile events and politically charged rallies.

Avoid Being an Easy Target

If you do go to a large event such as a movie, concert, or rally, there are a couple things you should do to avoid being an easy target:

Choose seats that give you a good view of what’s going on around you.
Situate yourself in a way that allows for a quick, unobstructed exit.
Make sure you have multiple ways to get out.
If possible, try to pick an area where nobody can sit behind you.

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION

We can’t predict when and where these types of shootings will take place, so it’s important to be prepared. Here are steps you can take to protect yourself from these types of events.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Being able to protect yourself in an active shooter situation begins with having a good sense of what’s going on around you.

Limit your use of cell phones, headphones, or any other electronic device in public that pulls your attention away from your surroundings.
Before entering any public place, make sure you get a good feel for your environment. Scan the area, looking for anyone who looks out of place.
If anything looks out of place, or your gut tells you something isn’t right, you need to trust your instincts.

Always Know Your Exit Points

Part of being aware of your environment means knowing how to get out when things go bad. One of the first things I do when entering a building, or any other public place, is to look for every possible escape route and exit. Not only can it help during a shooting, but it’s also an important part of being prepared for natural disasters and building fires.

When entering a building, immediately scan the area, looking for exit signs and doors.
Continue to make mental notes on the building’s layout, and think about how you will reach your exit points should it become necessary.
Look for alternative exits like windows, emergency doors, and fire escapes.
Be aware of corners and hallways that can be used as cover while you are trying to exit the building (turning a corner can help put you out of the shooter’s line of fire).

Trust Your Gut

One area of situational awareness that’s often ignored is our subconscious ability to pick up on subtle details that may alert us to danger.

In interviews following the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, mass shooting, a number of the survivors admitted they had a bad feeling the moment they saw the shooter enter the building. Even as shots were being fired, a number of people actually stayed in the building, reasoning that the gunfire had to be some sort of promotional stunt related to the movie they were watching.

If a situation seems odd, if something seems out of place, or your gut tells you something bad is about to happen, listen to your instincts and don’t wait around to find out what happened.

SURVIVING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION

Should the unthinkable happen and you find yourself in the middle of an active shooter situation, there are a couple of things you can do to help maximize your chances of survival.

Do Everything You Can to Safely Exit

During an active shooter situation, the first thing you want to do is remove yourself from the situation. As soon as you hear a shot, or anything that sounds suspicious, immediately start making your way toward an exit point.

While keeping a close eye on what’s going on around you, move as fast as you can toward your exit while trying to maintain some sort of cover.
If possible, try to turn corners or put yourself behind objects that remove yourself from the shooter’s line of fire.
Once outside the building, stay on guard watching out for other shooters who may be waiting for the exiting crowd. Safely move as far away from the building as possible before calling 911.
Keep an eye out for police officers, who could mistake you for the shooter while you are making your exit. Upon exiting the building, stay on guard and be prepared to follow law enforcement instructions.

Take Cover

If you can’t safely make it to an exit, the next best option might be to take cover and get ready to respond to the threat. Just remember what makes for good cover in a Hollywood movie sucks in real life. Out of sight does not mean you are out of the line of fire. There’s a big difference between taking cover behind a solid barrier like a concrete wall and hiding behind a chair or table.

This is best explained using tactical definitions. From a tactical perspective, cover is anything that can actually stop a bullet—a concrete wall, for example. Concealment is anything you can hide behind but doesn’t stop a bullet. A chair or table or even a wooden or thin metal door are not cover; they are concealment. Concealment objects may offer protection in the movies, but in real life a bullet will rip right through them and right into you. Remember: Out of sight does not mean out of the line of fire.

Taking cover does not mean sheltering in place or hiding from the attacker. When taking cover, never let your guard down. Your mind should always be on either escaping the situation or being ready to fight back.

Fight Back

Critics of this option will probably argue that you should never try to attack a shooter. But if you’re in a situation where there’s no place to run and no place to seek cover, what other option do you have? Most critics fall silent when asked that question.

The fact is, in an active shooter situation you often have very few options.

If you have no other options, you need to act quickly and decisively to try to take out the shooter. Hopefully you conceal carry and have the training it takes to respond to this type of situation.
If you don’t have a gun, your best option is probably to rush the shooter when he’s switching out ammo magazines.
If you can’t wait, throwing something or shining a bright flashlight into the shooter’s eyes can temporarily distract him and give you enough time to act.