All have been the scene of large-scale active shooter scenarios that were the result of terrorist activity.
We, whether duty-bound personnel like the police, private security entities, military, "other government agency" type or, simply people who are concerned with out own personal defense and security, are all hanging around this website because we feel the need to make ourselves better combatants.
One thing about combat, it's a very unforgiving mistress and the wrong tactics leave permanent reminders (in the form of scars or grieving families) of tactical errors. By far one of the more common errors I see within the self-defense community is the use of similar tactics between a more common self-defense scenario and an active shooter incident.
I get it, most active shooter incidents happen in gun free zones so you "may not" have your gun on you.... My own personal opinion on gun-free zones notwithstanding, that is your perogative to follow such restrictions or not, there is always a way to get a weapon into an area.... Pocket knives, canes, belts, a sock with several dollars in change in it, break a bench or rail and use that, broken glass, the active shooter's partner's weapon.... ANYTHING can be a suitable weapon in the right hands.
Let's assume for a minute that you are either (A) not in a gun-free zone or (B) just ignored the gun-free sign on the door.... You have your full EDC with you.
How far can you make solid head shot hits with your handgun 95% of the time? THAT is how close you need to get to the shooter(s) to take them out of the fight.... Delivering shots on an active shooter to any target area but the head, if the head is available, is an act which I find irresponsible and TOTALLY STUPID tactically. Between the proliferation of modern body armor and the use of explosives in a large percentage of these situations anymore I have to look at effectiveness and likelihood of my rounds detonating a suicide vest. Unless that vest is on a dead man's switch or he has explosives tucked under his skull or on the back of his grape, a bullet or twenty to the face poses an almost negligible chance of detonating a concealed explosive device and when what's left ofthe bad guy's brain is splattered all over the wall behind him, I'm pretty sure he won't know how to set that device off anymore.
Mind you folks, this is NOT an exact science. If the Tango's SIED is wired with a dead man's switch it's GOING to detonate anyway..... so you might want to find some really solid cover and put as much of your body as humanly possible behind that BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER taking that shot.
One should be prepared for multiple attackers....
The days of being able to fight effectively with a single stack pistol or a revolver and come out on top of most any situation are long over.... and honestly, haven't really existed since modern medicine made the likelihood of living through a majority of gunshot wounds a much more likely idea..... You should always assume there are MULTIPLE shooters.... ALWAYS. You should always shoot them until they hit the ground.... and probably a few more times after that.
I know, I know, I know... prosecution.... shoot to stop..... Blah, blah, blah....
Dude, you just stopped a terrorist attack on your local mall.... Dude man was offing people at the cyclic rate.... I'm pretty sure you're going to be OK when court comes around.... besides, you carry a gun so you keep an attorney on retainer, right? (If not.... You should.)
Shoot to stop.... Here's the thing.... It is entirely plausible to shoot a common attacker until he quits attacking you.... I'm totally on board with that.... An Active Shooter is A FAR CRY from a common criminal.... Can you guarantee he won't activate a suicide IED after he hits the ground? No.... you can't. If you blow his brain out the back of his head I'm fairly certain he might have just a little hindrance when it comes to activating a switch.
OK, so you've heard shots, "BANG BANG BANG," and hear the screams of the dying and wounded in the local mall and you decide you need to act.....
Take into account who is with you.... For me personally, if I'm alone my first duty is to protect the innocent.... If I'm with my fiancee, my ONLY priority is to protect her. Your mileage may vary.... If I am alone, I will absolutely run to the sound of the guns and take care of business.... If some of my usual crew are with me, well, we're going hunting and there will be fist bumps passed around when the job is done. But if I'm with my fiancee or my family, my only job is to get them to safety and keep them secure.... that might entail seeing to it that they get to and in a vehicle, calling in the event, and "Di Di Mau"-ing it in that vehicle while being a good witness. It may involve moving them to a more secure area and holding a strategic strong point at a doorway to the facility.... Whatever it is, it WON'T be me trying to be a hero and leaving my loved ones to fend for themselves, that's for sure.
Common self-defense focuses on scenario training and force-on-force events that replicate common crimes.... Criminals have demands which we have covered in the past, but an active shooter or terrorist is hell bent on murder, destruction, and mayhem so they must be handled a little different.... With an active shooter, you can not reliably expect any method to pacify the attacker except for eliminating them.
Let's say you are out at that mall again when the balloon goes up.... Gunshots, you smell the cordite, hear dying folks screaming.... all that mess.... You act....
You have three choices to act on:
1. Go hunting. Seek out the threat and kill them.
2. Escape. Fight your way to an exit point and get the hell out of Dodge.
3. Find cover and hole up.
Now we will discuss how I would behave, what tactics-driving thought processes I would be working within my OODA Loop as we handle each one.
Option 1: Going Hunting.
Well, RUNNING to the sound of the guns blindly is a modern day Kamikaze mission so that is out...
Where am I within this facility and where does that sound seem to be coming from?
I need to find a fire evac plan on the wall if I can.... It'll show me EVERY passageway here so maybe I can get out of this damned open air killing field....
I need to find cover as I move...
Do I have the right tool for the job? Can I find a better option along the way?
Assuming I find or eliminate one of the Threat:
Am I familiar with his weapon?
Is it loaded?
Did I witness this dead guy fire it?
Does anything on the operating parts appear to tampered with in such a way that makes it unsafe for me to use?
Does he have any spare ammunition?
Is he wearing body armor that I can use?
Are they using communications equipment I can listen on? Do I speak the language I hear on this radio?
Verify weapon is loaded with fresh magazine if possible.
Chamber check.
During movement:
Seek positions of cover.
Seek positions allowing better battlefield visibility.
Seek points to setup hasty ambushes.
Listen to the sounds of gunfire to learn movement patterns.
Maximize visibility.
Check Your 6 Frequently.
Upon Contact:
Seek hard cover.
Take the headshot.
No warnings, no nothing.... their warning is either they observe your or your bullet strikes them or their homeboy in the head.
Quick medical check on yourself.
Top off ammunition supply.
Remain in cover for minimum 30 seconds to a minute due to delay fuses on dead man's switch.
Seek battlefield recovery.
Listen and Look for evidence of additional shooter(s).
Call in to 911 to update law enforcement responders on current situation and advise them of your attire and position.
If no signs of additional shooters, Remove all recovered equipment but leave close by in the event you have to break cover and move, and hold position until law enforcement arrives. Remain on phone with dispatch if possible.
Option 2: Unass the mother and escape.
Where does the fire appear to be coming from?
Where is the nearest exit point without crossing that line of fire?
Are all persons in my party accounted for and close by? Do I need to recover any (See Option 1: Going Hunting)?
Who all is armed? "Get that shit out and be ready to use it."
Check 6 when moving frequently.
Find cover as soon as the threshold of the facility is crossed.
Make way to vehicle making best use of cover and concealment.
When at vehicle, immediately depart area while one person is in telephone contact with dispatch.
Stay somewhat close to the area and keep dispatch advised of your location.... You may need to give a statement.
Be a good witness.
Option 3: Find Cover and Hole Up:
Will where I'm at stop bullets?
What hazards from here should I concern myself with, reference IED's?
How many approaches to this position are there? Can I barricade one or more of them?
What is my observation abilities like in this position?
Am I in more a covered Observation Point or am I in a good ambush position?
With What's available here, can I improve this position?
Contact dispatch, provide all intel you can.
Defend position as strong point.
Active shooter situations are best dealt with tactics out of the Ranger Handbook.... set ambushes, movement to contact, escape and evasion.... rather than out of that book on concealed carry...
Hope y'all enjoyed this one.
Stay Safe.
Stay Frosty.
Stay Dangerous.
s/f
-Kenny Smith
CEO, Total Force Holdings, Inc.