Citizen response to an active shooter

I sent Ell P down to Atlanta this weekend to cover the Sage Dynamics Civilian Response to an Active Shooter course. This seems particularly, tragically, apropos given today's events in Baltimore. Once again we've seen that no amount of “gun free zone” signs can prevent a murderer intent on killing people; neither can even the most proficient and proactive of law enforcement agencies provide complete surety. Would an “armed responsible citizen” have prevented the killings today? That will no doubt be argued ad infinatum by pundits on both sides of the Second Amendment aisle. My stance, as you can probably guess, is that the ultimate responsibility for your safety or that of your family is your own. Seek training – seek it to improve your ability with a handgun. Seek it in order to render aid. Maybe the laws in your area cripple your ability to defend yourself – don't let them hamper you from knowing how to put a tourniquet on someone in the dark, under pressure. Make sure your family knows what to do. Find a reputable instructor in your area and go learn – there are many good teaching cadres out there, whether nationally ‘famous' or local. Sage Dynamics is one. Graham Combat, Rockwell Tactical, Victory First and NOLATAC are four more. Dark Angel Medical and Lone Star Medics are just two companies can help prepare you to deal with trauma and injury. Can't travel anywhere due to time or budget constraints? Subscribe to Panteao online or watch Trigger Time.

Go train. Find a way. Maintain situational awareness. Be prepared to act.

Today the students completed Training Day One of just one example of such training. For most if not all of those training it was an eye-opener. Training with Simunition rounds will do that. Here are just a few images from the training today. You'll see a far more thorough article and summary in the future.

If you're interested in one instructor's “road map” to training, read Brannon's op-ed on the topic. Sage Dynamics' Director of Training Aaron Cowan's articles are listed here.