Noticing an Active shooter malfunction

[GEM]

From Greg Ellifritz, for non gun folks to recognize if an active shooter has a malfunction.

Active Killer Gun Malfunctions

We know that active killers frequently have to reload or clear gun malfunctions. When the killer is doing that, it provides an opportunity for victims to ei...

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In the real world, folks have taken down a shooter when such has happened.

 

[old lady new shooter]

In the real world, folks have taken down a shooter when such has happened.

Yep, remember the guys on the train in France? They rushed the shooter unarmed, he got a malfunction, they decked him and beat him unconscious, saving the lives of at least a whole train car full of people.

 

[shafter]

If it happens take advantage if you can. Be mindful that if your gun malfunctions someone may try to take advantage as well.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

In the real world, folks have taken down a shooter when such has happened.

Quoting myself from 2011 regarding tackling of active shooters...
Success in stopping a shooter is a bit of a tricky area to describe. Stopping the shooter makes it successful, one could argue, but as will be seen in the examples below, the shooter frequently isn't stopped from shooting so much as being not allowed to continue. Most of the successful active shooter stops occurred when the shooter was out of ammo, reloading, or had already voluntarily stopped. Only rarely is an active shooter stopped by being physically attacked/tackled/wrestled while still actively shooting.

Tackling Active Shooters as Self Defense - The Firing Line Forums

Tackling Active Shooters as Self Defense Tactics and Training

thefiringline.com

I left out malfunctions, but they fit in with reloading.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The shooter in the 2002 LA airport attack had a knife that he used to menace others that appeared to be contemplating rushing him when he was in the process of reloading.

This illustrates that an active shooter may have a hidden backup gun or knife in case someone tries to tackle him or her while reloading or dealing with a stoppage of the primary gun.

 

[lemaymiami]

If you choose to intervene… You’re risking your life - plain and simple. But there are times when you have no other choice.

Not one of us can be certain how we’ll react in that moment- win lose or draw. Most will fail to act at all.

 

[DoubleMag]

...an opportunity to leave the area is 1st choice IMHO. Something like a train boat or plane, or where you cant get away, is another story.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Anyone who hasn't done so should sign up for Greg Ellifritz's free newsletter. Lots of great articles. This is one area where being a "gun guy" can be an advantage. It's a valuable thing to be able to recognize various kinds of stoppages and problems. If the shooter's gun goes down and he doesn't have the skills to rapidly clear it and get it back into action (or switch weapons) then you may have a split-second to even several seconds to take action.

Travis Haley describes just such a situation he faced in the Middle East during his stint in the Army. Pretty harrowing story, worth a listen (pretty easy to find on Youtube).

 

[old lady new shooter]

If you choose to intervene… You’re risking your life - plain and simple. But there are times when you have no other choice.

Not one of us can be certain how we’ll react in that moment- win lose or draw. Most will fail to act at all.

The guys from the French train incident said they figured if they didn't do anything they would be killed. So I guess they figured rushing the shooter didn't really have a downside even though he had an AK and they were unarmed.