Active Murderer Response

If you're reading this, you likely follow me on FB and saw my post stating that I'm not talking about this on FB.

Last night I was teaching a (counter) terrorism course and a student asked, "So, what do you teach about active shooter aka active murderer defense?"

I feel that I've already adequately covered that talking about nuclear weapons.

BE. SOMEWHERE. ELSE.

So I'm going to break this up into 1) places not to be, and 2) how to survive if you are in a place not to be.

This is not an invitation to an argument.  If you are curious about the facts backing all this up, please ask.  If you argue with me, I will smile and ignore you.

PLACES NOT TO BE

• Places of mass assembly.  If the location is crowded enough to have fire regulations and maximum capacity signage, that's a place of mass assembly.  School, church, restaurant, etc.
  
  
• Places it is prohibited by law for licensed ordinary people to carry handguns.  In a 'free' state, this could be prohibitory signage.  Don't eat at California Pizza Kitchen.  In a less free state or country, pay attention!
  
  
• IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: if the place where it is prohibited to carry a handgun is protected instead by an effective on site security plan backed up by rapid police response.  The problem is, how do you know?  If it's your work or school, you ASK.  Otherwise you do some math and some research.

The #1 determining factor in survival rates in an active shooter event is the response time of armed rapid reaction.  I'll say that again another way.  The murderer depends on 'free play' in his macabre game of pop up targets.  When that first bullet of return fire goes past his ear, he is no longer in free play mode, and the free play clock is over.

HOW TO SURVIVE

Run, Hide, Fight.  Run Hide Fight video courtesy Ready Houston

Watch that video.  Then watch it again.

I'm going to add some profanity, because the subject absolutely demands it.

Run. The. Fuck. Away.  You hear gunfire, you go _elsewhere_, unless you have a moral or legal duty to respond and have training in same, and are willing to risk your life.  Take others with you.  Simplify the scene.  

HIDE.  Pissing yourself is optional but understood.  Death walks among you and he will come back and finish off the wounded.  Barricade yourself.  While hiding, work on an escape plan.  Silence your phone.  Call 911, more calls are better than none.  If anyone with you is hurt, STOP THE BLEED with cloth and direct firm pressure - but only if you are barricaded and can't run away.

If you cannot run and you cannot hide, time to die.

I'm sorry, Drew, I don't think I heard that right.

I'll say that again.

If you do not RUN and you do not HIDE, you will DIE.

There is only one question left.

Do you want to die alone or do you want to take a murderer with you and save some lives before you go?

When you have no choices left, you FIGHT.  But you fight like a dead man.  No time for goodbyes, last thoughts, final words.  You are already a casualty of this critical incident, your toe tag and body bag are being brought to the scene.  Valhalla has your ride request in queue and the next available Valkryie is responding.

Even for those of us with a lot of tactical training, this is a bit of a cognitive switch.  To go above the fear and the fury, the grief and the rage, and to make your last moments FUCKING COUNT, that's hard.

You stop when you see the murderer's spilled brains or you see nothing because your blood pressure has fallen to zero.

You're already dead.  Getting shot _hurts_.  But that doesn't mean anything after you're dead.  Keep fighting.

Anything can be a weapon.

A weapon is a device for concentrating energy in space and time.

The human body is shockingly tough but incredibly fragile.

An active murderer has chosen the bat (guns and knives), the ball (the bodies of your friends) and the playing field (someplace you thought was safe).  But what he forgot to bring was any rules.  Help him with this.

Only do these things if you yourself see with your own eyes an atrocious act.  You don't want to hurt a good guy, an off duty (or on duty) cop, or a someone just like you.

• Discharge a fire extinguisher at him.  Then hit him with it, in the head, over and over again until you see brain.  The bottom edge is often sharp.
  
  
• Run him down.  Bicycle, Zamboni, forklift, truck, whatever you have.  CRUNCH.  Then HIT. HIM. AGAIN.  Until you see brain.
  
  
• Topple a vending machine or bookcase on him.  Then kick him in the head until you see brain.
  
  
• One to the chest, two to the head.  You will see brain.
  
  
• Any long object such as a broomstick, pipe, crowbar, two by four.  Hit him .... where?  IN THE HEAD  How many times?  UNTIL YOU SEE BRAIN.

You get the idea.

I can make you only one promise.  You will be remembered.  You will in that moment become a brother or sister in the fraternity of heroes.  We will speak your name with honor and respect.  And you might even live.

Not so much for the active murderers.  I am a big believer in the "Some Asshole Initiative."  Some Asshole Initiative

They may be forgotten, their insane mutterings may be safely ignored except by the handful of professions who sift the midns of monsters, and their 'manifestos' and 'videos' may be mocked and derided.

But if you can instead, and especially if you have things to do in this lifetime yet, please HIDE.  Or better yet, RUN.

And don't be afraid.  Your chances of being on the spot marked X are vanishingly small, even smaller if you avoid danger spots.

Love life.  Reject hate.

Your life is worth defending.