The scenario presented below is a composite of various active shooter events that have occurred in the last twenty years and is presented to provide a backdrop for the question that follows:
And what are your priorities for subsequent actions, such as establishing that the danger has been neutralized, ensuring that the other person knows you are not also a shooter, verifying police and emergency services have been called, tending to the wounded and getting yourself ready to report to the authorities?
I don't pretend to have an answer to my questions. I think many different things could happen and in different orders, but I am interested in hearing what people believe should be done next and the order in which they would prioritize them.
Thank you.
- You are lawfully carrying a concealed handgun.
- You are in a public space; say, the atrium of a shopping mall.
- You are with a loved one who is not carrying.
- There are several people present, but the area is not crowded.
- A person apparently carrying a handgun with large capacity magazine begins to shoot into the people in the area.
- The shooter is in a prominent position that gives him a view of the people in the area.
- The shooter is stationary, appears calm and appears to be selective in picking who to shoot.
- Three people are hit; one is apparently dead and the other two are making enough noise that you know they are wounded.
- At this point you do not know the extent of their wounds.
- You do not know at this point there is another person present who is also lawfully carrying a concealed handgun.
- The other person is some distance, say, 50 feet from you.
- You draw your weapon and begin to fire at the active shooter.
- The other person also draws their weapon and begins to shoot at the active shooter.
- You fire at the active shooter twice and move towards cover.
- The other person, who is apparently not as well practiced as you, fires several shots which apparently all miss the active shooter.
- As you achieve cover, you see that the active shooter is down; apparently hit by at least one of your rounds.
- At this point there are still no identifiable members of the police, private security or emergency services present. They will arrive shortly.
And what are your priorities for subsequent actions, such as establishing that the danger has been neutralized, ensuring that the other person knows you are not also a shooter, verifying police and emergency services have been called, tending to the wounded and getting yourself ready to report to the authorities?
I don't pretend to have an answer to my questions. I think many different things could happen and in different orders, but I am interested in hearing what people believe should be done next and the order in which they would prioritize them.
Thank you.