EXCELLENT information, Sir! As a former LEO myself, I always feared a fratricide scenario when I was off duty and, now that I am no longer an active LEO, as an Armed Citizen. You are 100% correct in saying it is a judgment call WRT getting family clear of an Active Shooter situation vs. helping to thwart the shooter. I like to think I KNOW what I'd do but I'd be lying if I said I DO know what I'd do in that situation. Either way, first and foremost is keeping ME from incurring any new holes in my carcass as well as keeping family safe and without any new holes in them, too. Thank you for the video and for giving me ideas on how to act and react during an Active Shooter situation. God Bless, Take Care and..... Overnout
Everybody thinks they’re ready to be the good guy running into action UNTIL the action comes to them. So much of this reminds me of time in service BUT it’s broken down to what the average Joe understands Cover/concealment, proper ID, return fire, get off the X Sounds crazy to anybody else but some of us remember “I’m up, he sees me, I’m down”..... whenever bounding positions for some reason that always stuck in my head. Shout out to Drill Sgt Pacheco You’re already starting at a disadvantage in an obvious ambush BUT situational awareness and keeping your head on a swivel is key.... wifey may think you’re just checking out chicks.... but seriously it works. You can catch that oddball not flowing with the rest of the traffic Most important... practice. Shoot any and every drill you know. From accuracy to timers... just do something other than carry it and live on a prayer
Very well explained. This describes a small family unit with practice how to respond whether 1 or more people are carrying. I've never been in a public assault situation but I wonder if it often happens that scared people gather behind the armed defender(s). I've never seen this discussed and wonder how the defender should deal with the handicap. Comments?
Excellent video. Full spectrum advice. Love that you emphasize carrying appropriate gear including tourniquets. My family always have these on their person. The kids have a special pocket in their backpacks just for the tourniquet, and they are trained to use them.
Great video. Just a comment in response on something you said from my perspective: I think it might be a "tough pill to swallow" as you put it, for good guy to focus on family safety first over engaging the shooter immediately for two reasons. First, because the critical moments you are getting your family to safety, is the same moments the shooter is taking lives, and that whole moral compass comes into play. Sheepdog civilians want to prevent that as quick as possible in a situation where each second is critical. Secondly, while I agree with you, more and more people are getting their carry licenses, still most will not actually carry on their person everyday (if at all), and furthermore will not take the initiative to train with their carry gun (real scenario training, not just range plinking). That does them no good in this situation. We've seen, even in my "pro gun iconic" state of Texas, where an active shooter situation has taken place and nobody was around to stop the person quicker than the police arriving. Either nobody was around armed. Or whoever was, had froze and did not engage, due to lack of training. It still happens more times than not. So, to hope or bank on another person that might be there, that also carries, and that can engage the shooter while you get family to safety, is a nice thought, but not very realistic. I personally would want to stop the shooter immediately, if I have the window of opportunity to do so.
I agree, while most carry permit holders I know don't take any training courses for carrying outside the home. I have taken so many courses including a state certified armed police training course. All the courses have taught me so many new and informative ways to carry and engage if I had too and hopefully never. One quick example: Moving to a position if possible to engage the shooter so no innocent persons are behind the shooter or kneeling to shoot upwards hoping if the bullet passes through or misses that the bullet will travel upwards and not straight across
As a former police officer, I may have a hard time resisting the urge to engage, and I definitely plan to should I be forced to by way of all other options being removed. But, I am training myself mentally that, if I can get myself out, along with any nearby innocents who happen to be in tow, then I will. My state has made it easy enough for others to be armed that they should not be depending on me (or others like me.) For the sake of my family, I now come first.
I am a sheepdog, but I can tell you I would never engage an active shooter with my family unless it was the only option. You are literally drawing fire to your family or abandoning them to draw fire or both. If you die, your family dies. That is how I see it. I don't want to assume they will live if I die. My family comes 1st. Period. If it means saving my kid's lives, I will trample anyone in my way. It is everyone's responsibility to prepare and defend to the degree they want to protect themselves. Once my family is to safety, I will then engage the shooter and or help others.
Good stuff, and a dose of reality for some that believe they'll confront the shooter without question. As a husband and parent I know that my family comes first, and getting them to safety is my top priority. My biggest fear is being shot by a responding cop, not because I think thy're too aggressive but because I believe they bring an " us vs. everybody " mentality to everything they do. Having trained with active law enforcement personnel I try to concentrate on calling 911 as a first consideration. Since I'm armed I want officers to know I'm armed and where I am as well as where I believe the threat is.
That was outstanding information. I am a concealed carrier and always trying to think through what the scenario might be and you have given me a lot of food for thought. Thank you
Very good point around the use of force even if you see someone else with a gun in hand during an active shooter scenario as that person could be a good guy.
WOW!!!! Such a good quality video. Great information, very practical - thank you for presenting it in a way that doesn't make us look like crazy gun nuts. Thank you good sir!
Something I saw in a book once that might be a minor help is to carry one of those fake badges that say CCW permit tucked under a shirt and wearing it displayed in the event something happens. It is minor but a cop thinking he sees a real badge might be the difference between life and death in the cop hesitating and as long as you don't claim to be a cop you are fine to have it.
In that situation it may be helpful but get caught under normal circumstances as in you get pulled over for a blinker being out and a cop sees that as you are getting out your wallet and you may get harassed for it even if it is legal. I would rather get harassed but a cop than shot by one though so it's something to consider getting.
Justin, I'm a retired combat (trained and used) medic. If I'm in the immediate area but out of line of sight, (FEBA) do I neutralize the attacker or attempt to locate the wounded? In military training, if the threat is still imminent and the wounded are not in plain sight, we are (off the record) encouraged to neutralize. I'm not sure about a civilian attack because of the difference between the scenarios. We were taught to move toward the gunfire (cover and consealment) and depending on the situation and proximity, to engage. If there are a number of wounded and the fire is moving away, then we triage and treat. I would imagine a civilian attack would hold many of the same principles.
If you are in a mall, go into a store, in the store room, there is a door to the outside or a hallway that leads out. That is how they get stuff into the store.
If you encounter law enforcement and you’re armed and in an active shooter scenario- you will be cuffed no matter how many good guy statements you make ( hopefully not shot ) .
I took class at range from police officers on home invasion and active shooter. And yes. Very realistic. I was “put down face first” in scenario where I shot “armed intruder”. Watch what you say, and have a criminal defense attorney already in your phone.
thebronzetoo I can’t speak for c4comm but I can say that depending of the situation you could theoretically retrieve your med bag and begin treating wounded that are not still in the area said shooter is in. In my area the slowest I could make it from one end of the mall to the opposing sides parking lot, is about 3-4 minutes. Understand this is a 2 story mall. So you could flee from the gunman and retrieve your bag. Then head back towards the first people wounded, triage and treat. Even if you weren’t able to retrieve the medical bag you can still provide care using tools at your disposal. Now this is in no way a cover all bases plan. I was just saying how it could be done if this scenario was the way it went down.
Keep it holstered unless your returning fire. There has already been cases of good guys trying to help getting shot because they acted like it was a video game. Running around openly armed during an active shooter situation is certainly not a good idea.
I have only had one situation where I had to pull my gun, and it was on 2 dogs that had a mail lady trapped on a porch. I was on a busy road in front of my house, with my gun in my hand yelling at the dogs to keep there attention on me instead of the mail lady. I finally got them to come at me, still did not raise my gun. As they were coming towards me I yelled at the mail lady to leave the area for safety, she did and found out later she was fine. The dogs backed me up into my house, and I never let them get close enough to me to be a serious threat. Everyone got away with no injuries, dogs were reunited with there family safe. After talking to the police, and the dog warden, they both said I had every right to shoot the dogs, but that was not my intentions when they came at me, My sole focus was to get the unarmed mail lady to safety, and get myself to safety without harming the dogs
So many who want to be heros. If I carry and a situation like this happens I will try to get out. If I can't, hide. Draw my weapon while hiding in case I am found by perpetrator. I don't want to be shot by perpetrator, another CCW, or police.
Armed trained citizen against armed untrained citizen 🙄. EVERYONE could use more training. When I started training I thought I was knowledgeable in self-defense. After a few classes I realized I didn’t even know what it was I didn’t know. Get training then practice what you’ve been taught… do so religiously. Skill are perishable! You owe it to yourself, your family and society “We never rise to the level of our expectations but fall to the level of our training”
There was a legal carry holder killed by a police officer recently. I think the man was African-American. Did the officer over react? Seems that was the case. Do not recall where this happened.
This video content is good. I'd add a few points(US Army veteran, MP 4yr, armed security, Mylicensesite.com , CCW user) do not HIDE. 🚫. Bad guys or terrorists may plant IEDs or bombs 💣. To hide or stay in the danger area may get you killed. 😵. If you decide to act or fight you need to commit yourself violently & totally. There are service members & combat veterans who earned MoH 🎖 because they saw a direct threat & went straight into the danger. As noted, be aware of the gun-lethal force laws; Handgunlaw.us . I'd consider a legal aid plan ⚖ like CCWsafe.com too. To have a lawyer or law firm to guide you after a critical incident can be a great help. ✔. I'd close by saying; do NOT speak to the media or think the reporters on scene will treat you fairly, provide details. Let the LE 🚔 or PR staff deal with the media.
Good video, but apparently his family goes every single place he does because he doesn't seem to even consider the possibility your family might not be with you. Mine rarely is.
I’ll probably get burned on this but as an armed citizen would it be at all helpful to have a visible orange or yellow arm band in a pocket that could be put on to help identify yourself as a non hostile? Just as easy to have as spar mag.
Maybe but the shooter could get one as well, another guy suggested getting a CCW holder shiny badge that resembles a police badge that can be hung out of a pocket. If a cop sees a badge he may hesitate to shoot which would buy you time to show that you are not the bad guy.
So I guess bringing a carbine into an active shooter event to stop the threat would be risky or bad idea, if I happened to have access (in the parking lot with a rifle in the trunk)? Only would work that way if happened to be before/after going to the range of course.
If you can get out of there, get out of there (especially if you're with your family). If you aren't that kind of person and you're gonna go in (and you're not with family), be prepared to encounter the police and other potential good guys in addition to the active shooter. Opening carrying a rifle into an active shooter situation may not be the best idea. I'm only an armed citizen, not some expert on the topic, but that's my two cents. Secondly, your rifle is only in your car if you went to the range? Why not always have one in there?! :)
A very small conceilable pdw with good stopping power would be more adviseable as an active shooter stopper. Something like a glock 40 in 10mm with a flux brace or an ar9 with a brace or even an ak pistol like a micro draco with a sidefolding brace. All these guns can be thrown into a small duffel bag or backpack and kept in small areas. All while having 4 points of contact and high capacity...which would be adventageous if the terrorist is using body armor and requires a good amount of rounds to take them down.
Sufficive to say the micro draco with a folding brace is probably the most compact intermediate caliber weapon you can use in a situation like this....just remember to put some electronic hearing protection in the bag with it LOL
The biggest threat to your safety will be police when they arrive. If you are standing there with an AR 15 you are putting yourself in a bad situation.
what about calling 911 or have a radio to talk to law enforcement and alert them to a "good guy" on location of "active shooter" ? I have started bringing my gun with me to work for the purpose of stopping a tragedy … Trying to set up an active shooter response kit …ccw is fine but I want an AR and a some body armor in my truck for an active shooter with a bucket of 20 preloaded mags for either law enforcement to grab in case they needed it just like the guy from Thunder Ranch...he keeps a storage bin with "blow-out" trauma med kits and extra mags to use for yourself or to help law enforcement out....is this over kill ? maybe ...but if the shooter happens to come into a store Im in I can at least respond to the coward with ccw till I can get to my truck gun....
Psssh. As if this legal-law-suit America would allow you to toss out mags to cops in an active shooter scenario. You know the minute you pull a bucket of loaded mags out now YOU LOOK like an accomplice. And the AR and plates in the car is bullcrap too. Why? Because you'll leave an active shooter scene and then come back in the door with a rifle and tactical gear so that everyone who is calling the cops says, "There's 2 of them, another one just came in the door, OMG, he's coming toward me....." Now you're in the spotlight and implicated in federal crime. There will be twenty officers on the hunt for YOU. Overkill? Yes. Completely unrealistic? Also yes. I share your sentiment, but concealed carry is about the ONLY way to defend yourself in an active shooter scenario and ONLY to buy yourself(and loved ones) enough time to reach the fire exit.
I say; KNOW GO SHOW: know the common exits, security desks-staff, fire extinguishers 🧯, CCTV 📹, etc. Your job, the shops-stores-places you go often, you know these places or spaces better than the first responders 🚑🚒🚓. GO: if an event occurs or you hear gunfire, LEAVE. Many recent critical incidents had CCW users confused about what they heard or saw. A armed enlisted soldier in the El Paso Texas event chose to aid others rather than engage the threat. I, myself would not help other adults or injured persons unless it was en route to a exit(this is part of DHS's Run Hide Fight). A victim in a mass shooting even said she was nearly killed because she went to aid a older woman who refused to escape. SHOW; when you do get to safety assist victims & provide details to police or SWAT/SRT if they request it. It would help greatly to learn & understand some of the common weapons, sounds, logos, slang. Be aware of protests or any problems in your area. Many people dislike the media or news but dont be ignorant or vapid.
If you go to the U.N. web site They have stats for active shooters and gun violence for every country that is a member. They do this for tourism. He is correct. The size our population compared to countries with a smaller population we have a much lower average than most of the world. In Mexico, there is at least 1 mass shootings per day. Same with most of Latin American countries. In our country you are more likely to be killed by a venomous snake than to be killed in a mass shooting event.
Unfortunately if you’re black and carry concealed there is a high probability the law enforcement will shoot first and sort it out later settling with your loved ones out of court. 😩
You have a point but just because someone is white that doesn't mean they won't get shot, a police officers first goal is to return home after his or her shift, their second goal is protecting and serving the public. If he feels threatened at all it is shoot first ask questions later time for them.
