How to identify the signs of a would-be shooter; steps to stay alive

Here's a tip the left out, Im sure it was just absent mindedness.....'SHOOT BACK!'  Perhaps this should be #1 on the list. The government that just made you a 'target sheep' to be shot in a barrel by making it difficult or impossible for you to protect yourself wont even entertain the thought of you defending yourself except as a 'last resort' with an 'improvised weapon'. What a sad joke. Thanks DHS, you are a real gem.

I'm disappointing no one else spotted the Texas 30.06 signage in the video. At least their dramatization was kept accurate by making it in a gun free zone.

"No. 5 – The Implementation Stage: The shooting starts and it’s too late to stop the violence." Thanks for scaring us KATU...this article is a total joke. Scaring us creates fear which creates many more problems. No.5 is incorrect; bust out your gun that is still legal to own and cap the shooter in the head. Its never too late if you own your own gun.

Sort of like those videos from the 50's in which they told school kids that in the case of a nuclear strike nearby, hide under your desk.

In contrast to most of the comments, I actually liked this article and agree with the author that it is about time we start being aware of our surroundings. Sure, there are things we can do if we find ourselves in this situation, but why not try to prevent it if we can? Some people may be worried of falsely accusing people, well so what? People get falsely accused at the airport all the time in the name of safety and we don't balk at that because every once in awhile someone is caught. It is difficult to think your loved ones may be mentally deteriorating and might be plotting a plan like this, but more awareness really can help prevent these things from happening.

 

And I don't think this article has anything to do with trying to take away any of our rights to arm ourselves. This article is aimed at making us aware of our surroundings, becoming proactive and asking for help when we need it.

Just another K2 post to rile up the anti-gun crowd.  More people die from auto accidents than from shooting sprees! As just a thought, maybe we should outlaw cars and go back to the horse and buggy days.  Oh wait, then there were outlaws that went on shooting sprees.... never mind.

It is time to change the law about guns, so this people will not be able to purchase weapons.

If it is easy to purchase, we will continue to see these sad, tragic incidents, and the more we see, the more ideas about shooting and keeling come to the minds of these sick individuals. Look  at countries like Japan or South Korea, they cannot purchase munitions like in here and they have very low crime rates. Maybe we can look at these countries and see what they do different from us.

Although I'm sure KATU thinks they are helping, the generalities of this article could cause people who already fear guns to wrongly accuse law abiding citizens of intentions they do not have.

 

I too carry, where allowed.  It does not make me a paranoid person or an unstable person.  It just makes me better prepared in a life & death situation than others.  Threat Dynamics has some great classes on this type of thing and they are local.

If you honestly think you are going to end up in a shooter situation (highly unlikely) you might want to check out some of their classes.  You are probably more likely to be mugged in downtown after leaving a bar and they have classes for unarmed defense also.

Explain to me how to tell the difference between a homicidal maniac and a gun enthusiast before it's too late.

No. 1 – The Fantasy Stage: have not met a single person who hasnt done this.

 

No. 2 – The Planning Stage: unless u see something solid like maps and such ..this is still part of No. 1.

 

No. 3 – The Preparation Stage: its our constitutional right to buy and bare arms and our responcibility to train with   the and learn to use them correctly.

 

No. 4 – The Approach Stage: unless u r going way out of your way to check some place else..dont know bout u but a lot of places that have pissed me off happen to be where i live and i pass by usually at least once a day. and have occationally worked at such a place..so kinda unavoidable.

 

No. 5 – The Implementation Stage:  went from guns to bombs? i guess a gun could blow up if it jams up and goes off..

 

unless your living with some one or just as close to some one that is going to do something this list is useless.  this article is just another way to scare the mass amounts of sheeple.  if dont want to be a sheeple and want to be a responsible and educated citizen and be prepared for something like this... buy a gun or few .. get your concealed weapons permit, join the nra, and go to the range or some other safe secluded place and practice useing your weapons. oh my?? that may make u a potential killer...oh no...  be more worried the cops than another crazed citizen.

Don't know if this helps anyone or not. Just a gee whiz bit of knowledge, IF you find yourself looking at the muzzle of an active shooter.   

 

Very few of those who could walk into a place and start shooting, are trained in the use of a rifle, shotgun or handgun. They might be pretty good shots at the range, but putting yourself in a close quarters combat environment is far from the same.  The shooter is going to be pumped with adrenaline and pulling (jerking) the trigger quickly.  It is very likely the rounds they fire, especially within the first second or two of opening fire, will be going high and to the right.  

 

If the weapon is pointed directly at you, your best defense is to drop to the ground, or at least get as low as you can, and move as quickly as you can forward and to your own right.  If you are close to the shooter, say with in 25 feet, and if he is intent on shooting you, you dont have anytime to react, so your best move is to charge the shooter. Its an unexpected move playing on the concept the shooter believes he is in control.  Just remember to get low and move, quickly, to your right as much as possible.

 

If you are beyond 25 feet, and there isn't any cover immediately available, within about 6 feet, movement is your best option.  Stay low and move to your right.  If the path is clear move toward the shooter slightly.  Closing the distance between yourself and the shooter makes you much likely to avoid being shot as his rounds will most likely be going high.  Unless you do not have a choice,  moving directly away from the shooter increases the odds of you  getting hit.

 

Utilizing this type of defense is not a guarantee...it just ups the odds in your favor.

 

If you are armed, move as above while bringing your own weapon into play.  Do not stay in one place if the shooter is already aiming at you.  Move, ready your weapon, drop prone and fire.  Dont aim.  Dont try to wound the attacker. Keep both eyes open.  Shoot for center mass in order to give yourself the largest possible target.  Lastly, dont shoot one round and then stop to see if you hit the guy.  Fire three or four rounds at him.  Even then keep your weapon up and on target, even if the shooter is down and not moving.  Thats actually hard to do, as an individual firing in self defense for the first time, tends to empty the magazine without even realizing it.  Ever wonder why at a scene where cops and badguys have exchanged fire, the cops might have fired 4 or 5 times more ammo then one would think is required? Adrenaline and tunnel vision have strange affects on folks.  

 

For what its worth, the above is based on my background, training and 20 years of experience.

time to get a concealed permit... problem solved... unless im the one loosing my mind and shooting. 

thanks KATU for promoting the fear

While the idea of this video is sound, the video is targeted to the unarmed and unaware.  Truth be told, there is not much you can do about a guy crazy enough to kill with a gun, save for get in close and tackle him. distance is where the shooter has the advantage.  You will be hurt.  Shooting back is the only way to place your chances as close to the bad guy.  Once again, you will be hurt.  The point is to act.  Some places you can not carry a firearm, and therefore it is a place you SHOULD be aware of your surroundings and exits.  Heck even practice a drill or to at work.  Someone said being prepared is half of the solution.  Though the chances of anyone of us being in an active shooter situation is beyond small, it is something to think about.  I carry my firearm everywhere I am allowed to by law.  Its very much like a fire extinguisher, it has one use, but when you need it... it can save your life. 

Under the save your life column, the third point should have been to have a gun in a holster on your body in order to stop the rascal dead in his tracks. (Figuratively speaking, that is. The point is to stop the maniac.)

Very interesting and much needed article.