America’s Active Shooter Crisis Demands Leadership
America’s culture of violence is continually manifested through horrific active shooter tragedies.
Leadership is critical from law enforcement, private security professionals, government officials, property managers, and all responsible for safeguarding individuals entrusted to their care.
Each and every person privilege to call America home must also be vigilant, and always aware of their surroundings.
Violence is the new reality of American life and companies, schools, campuses, houses of worship, and public gatherings throughout the nation are potential targets.
Active Shooter Definition
As defined by the Department of Homeland Security: “An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.”
American Mass Shootings: Fast Facts
The ten deadliest single day mass shootings in modern U.S. history crystalize the scope of the crisis.
October 1, 2017 – 58 killed and almost 500 injured when a deranged gunman opens fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gunfire was sprayed for approximately ten to fifteen minutes upon a crown of about 22,000 concertgoers.
June 12, 2016 – 49 killed and over 50 wounded when a gunman opens fire inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
April 16, 2007 – 32 students and faculty killed and numerous others injured at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
December 14, 2012 – twenty children, ages six and seven, and six adult staff and faculty were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
November 5, 2017 – 25 people as well as an unborn child were shot dead, and twenty others wounded inside a small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
October 16, 1991 – 23 people are shot dead inside Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas.
July 18, 1984 – 21 adults and children are killed inside a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, California.
August 1, 1966 – 18 are killed including an unborn child and at least 30 are wounded at the University of Texas in Austin. The shooter also killed his wife and mother earlier in the day.
February 14, 2018 – 17 are shot dead by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
December 2, 2015 – 14 are killed by a married couple during a holiday season employee gathering at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
Dedication Demanded
Throughout my career, I have conducted hundreds of walkthroughs at sites to assess security. After many of these walkthroughs, my responsibility was to develop post orders for security personnel, action plans, and emergency contact information.
Despite the importance of these procedures for protecting life and property, the deficiencies at many sites were often conspicuous.
The possibility of an emergency is always a reality, whether it be man-made or natural, and leadership must always be built of the pillars of dedication, competence, and discipline.
Practical Preparedness Tips
Continuous active shooter tragedies remind us that incidents can happen any place and any time.
There are steps that can be taken to prevent the threat.
The proactive mindset of preparedness includes the mantra, “if you see something, say something.” It also involves knowing plans at schools, campuses, houses of worship, and workplaces. Leadership must also ensure training, plans, and drills are implemented if they do not exist.
Situational awareness is also critical as one must always know exits whenever visiting facilities, malls, theaters, or public places.
According to FEMA, there are three options for survival during an incident which are as follows:
RUN. Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority. Leave your things behind and run
away. If safe to do so, warn others nearby. Call 911 when you are safe. Describe each shooter, their locations, and weapons.
HIDE. If you can’t get away safely, find a place to hide. Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet. Silence your electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate. Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off the lights. Don’t hide in groups— spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter. Try to communicate with police silently—like through text messages or
by putting a sign in an exterior window. Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
FIGHT. Your last resort when you are in immediate danger is to defend yourself. Commit to your actions and act aggressively to stop the shooter. Ambushing the shooter together with makeshift weapons such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, and books can distract and disarm the shooter.
During and after an incident it is always essential to follow the instructions of law enforcement. First-Aid classes can also be taken to learn skills that can save lives.
Final Reflections
America’s flag continues to fly at half-staff too often due to violent rampages against the innocent.
Leadership must inspire vigilance and collaboration to prevent violence. We must have the determination, commitment, and courage to protect ourselves and others.
Training initiatives, security assessments, sound security measures, building police-community partnerships, professional security personnel, and responding effectively to warning signs are critical safeguards against active shooter tragedies.
These pillars must be inseparable from securing our communities against mass shooting tragedies and essential to reawakening the nation.
Related Coverage:
America’s Active Shooter Crisis: Issues and Response
Mass Shootings, Police Fatalities: America’s Culture of Trauma
Mass Shooter Crisis: America, Wake Up
Mass Shootings: America’s Public Health Crisis
Note Well:
Twitter: vincentjbove
Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing
Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation
Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing
Vincent is author of 275 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.
Leadership is critical from law enforcement, private security professionals, government officials, property managers, and all responsible for safeguarding individuals entrusted to their care.
Each and every person privilege to call America home must also be vigilant, and always aware of their surroundings.
Violence is the new reality of American life and companies, schools, campuses, houses of worship, and public gatherings throughout the nation are potential targets.
Active Shooter Definition
American Mass Shootings: Fast Facts
The ten deadliest single day mass shootings in modern U.S. history crystalize the scope of the crisis.
October 1, 2017 – 58 killed and almost 500 injured when a deranged gunman opens fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gunfire was sprayed for approximately ten to fifteen minutes upon a crown of about 22,000 concertgoers.
June 12, 2016 – 49 killed and over 50 wounded when a gunman opens fire inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
April 16, 2007 – 32 students and faculty killed and numerous others injured at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
December 14, 2012 – twenty children, ages six and seven, and six adult staff and faculty were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
November 5, 2017 – 25 people as well as an unborn child were shot dead, and twenty others wounded inside a small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
October 16, 1991 – 23 people are shot dead inside Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas.
July 18, 1984 – 21 adults and children are killed inside a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, California.
August 1, 1966 – 18 are killed including an unborn child and at least 30 are wounded at the University of Texas in Austin. The shooter also killed his wife and mother earlier in the day.
February 14, 2018 – 17 are shot dead by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
December 2, 2015 – 14 are killed by a married couple during a holiday season employee gathering at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
Dedication Demanded
Throughout my career, I have conducted hundreds of walkthroughs at sites to assess security. After many of these walkthroughs, my responsibility was to develop post orders for security personnel, action plans, and emergency contact information.
Despite the importance of these procedures for protecting life and property, the deficiencies at many sites were often conspicuous.
The possibility of an emergency is always a reality, whether it be man-made or natural, and leadership must always be built of the pillars of dedication, competence, and discipline.
Practical Preparedness Tips
Continuous active shooter tragedies remind us that incidents can happen any place and any time.
There are steps that can be taken to prevent the threat.
The proactive mindset of preparedness includes the mantra, “if you see something, say something.” It also involves knowing plans at schools, campuses, houses of worship, and workplaces. Leadership must also ensure training, plans, and drills are implemented if they do not exist.
Situational awareness is also critical as one must always know exits whenever visiting facilities, malls, theaters, or public places.
According to FEMA, there are three options for survival during an incident which are as follows:
RUN. Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority. Leave your things behind and run
away. If safe to do so, warn others nearby. Call 911 when you are safe. Describe each shooter, their locations, and weapons.
HIDE. If you can’t get away safely, find a place to hide. Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet. Silence your electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate. Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off the lights. Don’t hide in groups— spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter. Try to communicate with police silently—like through text messages or
by putting a sign in an exterior window. Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
FIGHT. Your last resort when you are in immediate danger is to defend yourself. Commit to your actions and act aggressively to stop the shooter. Ambushing the shooter together with makeshift weapons such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, and books can distract and disarm the shooter.
During and after an incident it is always essential to follow the instructions of law enforcement. First-Aid classes can also be taken to learn skills that can save lives.
Final Reflections
America’s flag continues to fly at half-staff too often due to violent rampages against the innocent.
Leadership must inspire vigilance and collaboration to prevent violence. We must have the determination, commitment, and courage to protect ourselves and others.
Training initiatives, security assessments, sound security measures, building police-community partnerships, professional security personnel, and responding effectively to warning signs are critical safeguards against active shooter tragedies.
These pillars must be inseparable from securing our communities against mass shooting tragedies and essential to reawakening the nation.
Related Coverage:
America’s Active Shooter Crisis: Issues and Response
Mass Shootings, Police Fatalities: America’s Culture of Trauma
Mass Shooter Crisis: America, Wake Up
Mass Shootings: America’s Public Health Crisis
Note Well:
Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing
Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation
Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing
Vincent is author of 275 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.
Labels: Campus Security, Collaborative Policing, Community Policing, Epoch Times, Gun Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement, Leadership, Policing, Private Security, Public Private Partnerships
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 8:49 AM
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