This doesnt necessarily apply to those of us that EDC, but for work situations where we cant carry... (or we view our sidearm as purely SELF defense because we are not John Wayne)
The Cummins shooting reminded me of a tip I read recently that goes against the traditional advice for an active shooter situation, but only because it takes it to the next level. I'll try to find the original source, but it was a respected defense training company as I recall.
If you are outdoors with an active shooter (at a park, outside your office, at a mall parking lot, etc), get inside. Once inside, keep moving away from the shooter. DO NOT HIDE! If you hide in that building, the shooter could enter behind you and you are now in danger again. Keep going out the other side and put that building between you and the shooter. Keep moving until you are as far away as possible. That distance should be measured in city blocks.
If you are inside with an active shooter, escape away from the gunfire as fast as you can. Once again, try to put another entire building between you and the shooter. Keep moving and dont stop until you are FAR away. (A quarter mile or more... See below)
And dont go to a rally point nearby like you would for a fire drill. Otherwise you escaped, but what if he/she comes out, or there are accomplices? Your group is now the proverbial fish in a barrel.
Instead, get the heck outta dodge and call someone to tell them you are safe. Dont stand around to check in with a security/HR/management flunky with a clipboard.
If your company has a policy where they encourage you to gather at a nearby rally point like you would for a fire drill, talk to them and get that changed. They should instead setup a hotline for employees to call when they are away from the site and safe to report in.
Bottom line, an active shooter is going to move relatively slowly, looking for victims. You need to out pace them and cover as much distance as humanly possible. The farther away you can get, the better.
The Cummins shooting reminded me of a tip I read recently that goes against the traditional advice for an active shooter situation, but only because it takes it to the next level. I'll try to find the original source, but it was a respected defense training company as I recall.
If you are outdoors with an active shooter (at a park, outside your office, at a mall parking lot, etc), get inside. Once inside, keep moving away from the shooter. DO NOT HIDE! If you hide in that building, the shooter could enter behind you and you are now in danger again. Keep going out the other side and put that building between you and the shooter. Keep moving until you are as far away as possible. That distance should be measured in city blocks.
If you are inside with an active shooter, escape away from the gunfire as fast as you can. Once again, try to put another entire building between you and the shooter. Keep moving and dont stop until you are FAR away. (A quarter mile or more... See below)
And dont go to a rally point nearby like you would for a fire drill. Otherwise you escaped, but what if he/she comes out, or there are accomplices? Your group is now the proverbial fish in a barrel.
Instead, get the heck outta dodge and call someone to tell them you are safe. Dont stand around to check in with a security/HR/management flunky with a clipboard.
If your company has a policy where they encourage you to gather at a nearby rally point like you would for a fire drill, talk to them and get that changed. They should instead setup a hotline for employees to call when they are away from the site and safe to report in.
Bottom line, an active shooter is going to move relatively slowly, looking for victims. You need to out pace them and cover as much distance as humanly possible. The farther away you can get, the better.
