Active Shooter

Do you have a PLAN?

Have you and your family TRAINED?

Are you PREPARED?

What is your ‘State of Awareness?’  Awareness is an important skill that primarily acts as a deterrent that could provide to help you respond more efficiently to a ‘Dynamic Critical Incident’.

A ‘Dynamic Critical Incident’ can be described as an incident that occurs as a surprise, you did not know it was going to happen, an event out of the ordinary.  It can be threatening with the only means of resolving it is with a firearm.

Here is an example of the ‘Color Code of Awareness’ 

Black – You’re in the fight, stay focused!

Red  Fight trigger.  This is your mental trigger.  “If that person does “x” I will shoot them.”  Your pistol may, but not necessarily, be in your hand.

Orange – Specific alert.  Something not quite right has gotten your attention and you shift your primary focus to that thing.  Something is “wrong” with a person or object.  Something may happen.  Your mindset is that “I may have to shoot that person.”  Your pistol is usually holstered in this state.  You can maintain this state for several hours with ease, or a day or so with effort.

Yellow – Relaxed alertness.  No specific threat situation.  Your mindset is that “today could be the day I may have to defend myself.”  There is no specific threat but you are aware that the world is an unfriendly place and that you are prepared to do something if necessary.  You use your eyes and ears, and your carriage says “I am alert.”  You don’t have to be armed in this state but if you are armed you must be in yellow.  When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, “I thought this might happen someday.”  You can live in this state indefinitely.

White – Relaxed, unaware, and unprepared.  If attacked in this state the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy and ineptitude of your attacker.  When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, “Oh my God!  This can’t be happening to me.”

Avoidance – we are safer if we avoid violence, making good choices can lead to avoidance.  However, you can’t avoid all the time.  Criminals understand and exploit these boundaries.  Avoidance can come down to a morally and/or ethically boundary to avoid.

Safety – your safety and the safety of your family and friends is the primary concern.  Can the situation be de-escalated without the use of a firearm?  

Should vs Could: Should = Only use a firearm if you need to.

Communication – if you are involved in a dynamic critical incident outside of your home communications becomes much more difficult depending on the environment.  Open areas with lots of people around create confusion, distance between you and your family/friends also adds to the problem.  Contacting authorities can also be more complicated.

Unarmed Self-Defense – another consideration other than a firearm is having the ability to resolve a hostile problem with the use of a chemical defense spray (less than lethal).  

Home Invasion:

Are you prepared for a Home Invasion?

Do you have a plan?

What will you do if your home when someone is banging at your front door attempting to gain entry.  Or you’re awoken to  the sound of glass breaking and now you hear someone in your home?  Normally during a home invasion you’ll have a little bit of time to prepare if they have not made it into your residence yet.

Through realistic and frequent training, one can learn to use the power of recognition to respond more efficiently during a dynamic critical incident.


The fundamentals of a Home Defense plan should include:

1) Evade – we know we are safer when we are out of harm’s way.  When inside your home you need several plans.  If you’re home alone or if the family is there.  Do you have a safe room?  This could be the room farthest from the front door or general living area of your home or apartment.  Does everyone know where to meet up inside of the home or outside the home?  

During the Evade portion you might be gathering the family making sure everyone is safe.

2) Arm – Location of you home defense firearm.  You might have more than one throughout your residence.  What condition is the firearm(s) stored?  Secured in a Safe, Hand Vault, or out in the open?  Loaded or Unloaded?  

Loaded can have several different meanings.  
  1. Loaded with magazine full (in the gun) chamber empty
  2. Unloaded magazine full, out of gun.
  3. Loaded with magazine full (in the gun) and one in the chamber

Do you also have a flashlight easy to access along with a cell phone?  These are very valuable tools and should be close at hand when the time arises you may not have time to begin searching for them.  If you need to move within your home make sure you move with a purpose, not clearing or searching the home gathering others to bring them to safety.  

3) Barricade – Position yourself in a difficult location yet one that provides you the ability to counter the attack/invasion if needed.  You should be beyond two arms reach at full extension from any doors or windows.  It would be beneficial to be at 90 degrees from the line of attack.  Able to see the entry point and provide an element of surprise to the invader or attacker.

4) Contact – The authorities so they have the information to provide the assistance needed.  Some simple things are often forgotten or not relayed do to stress.  If you are calling 9-1-1 from your house phone your name and address will automatically appear and be routed to the proper authority.  However, if you are calling from a cell phone you’ll need to provide all of your information.  The most important information to give first is you LOCATION!  Where you are.  If this is the only information you can get out they will know where to go.  Provide your address and your location within the residence.  What the problem is.  Are you armed?  If you can give them a description of the “bad guy or gal” and a description of yourself and family.  Keep the line open.  If something happens and you are not able to stay on the phone don’t hang up!  If you drop or have to set down the phone the authorities will have the ability to hear what is going on.  You can yell instructions to them and keep them updated even though you may not be able to hear what they are saying.

5) Counter – Lastly, respond appropriately (if needed) to defend yourself and/or family should it be necessary if armed you may have to shoot.

If you do have to deploy deadly force don’t touch or approach the bad guy/gal, stay in place and advised the authorities of the situation.  Try not to touch any evidence.  If the bad guy/gal had or has a weapon leave it alone.  Why, if it is close to them it will bring you within the “two arms reach” of the bad guy.  Is the bad guy/gal down?  

Keep in touch with the authorities; point out any evidence that might be present.  You know what belongs and what does not.  What the bad guy/gals relationship(s) might be, unknown intruder, x-relationship, co-worker, etc…

Aftermath
Do not pose a threat to the environment
Avoid Posturing
Avoid giving orders
Don’t touch the bad guy/gal
Contact Authorities:
  – Advise Armed & Force was used
  – Send Medical Aid
Assist authorities, point out evidence that might be missed.