How to Stop an Active Killer
Ryan Hoover and Daniel Shaw
The events of 9/11 changed many things. One thing that changed that day was the mindset of Americans. Never again will terrorists be allowed to freely takeover a plane with box cutters in our friendly skies. Passengers simply will not allow it. We know how that story ended.
Today, in the wake of the Orlando massacre, it’s time to come to grips with the reality of active killer events. If we did not learn from Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, or any of the other high profile mass killings, let us not repeat the unfortunate mistake of passivity in Orlando. We know how these events end, too, and we cannot continue to ignore this fact.
Every time a mass killing event occurs, social media lights up with empty calls to action -- "something has to be done" -- or people proclaiming what they would do -- start packing a gun or knife, or play dead. But regardless of the public debates our nation has after each of these tragedies, ultimately, little has changed, especially when it comes to promoting the options a citizen has when confronted with a terrorizing scenario. The media at large talks to the "experts” who primarily focus on gun control issues, which are a divisive issue in and of themselves, and most suggest exit, take cover or conceal oneself. In fact, this is what some places of business tout as their standard operating procedure.
With that in mind, the victims at the club in Orlando did what the experts told them to do. They followed the run-hide philosophy, just like they were taught. And because of that, dozens died. This is not to say their deaths were their own fault, but that there is a systemic problem with how American’s have been conditioned to reach. These victims were raised in a school system and a society which had protocols, written by "experts", that insured them this was the course of action to follow, if you wanted to survive. They were told that someone else would come to save them. They did exactly as they were trained to do. That modus operandi failed them, and it failed to the tune of the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
That failure isn't their fault, however. Most Americans are complicit through our individual and collective passivity. When the Orlando killer check his smartphone social media accounts, spent 28 minutes on the phone with 911, or reloaded his weapons, there were opportunities to intervene, but no one chose to. Now it is time for an awakening, like we had after 9/11.
This is an opportunity for all Americans to arm themselves not with weapons but with basic skills to use to neutralize an active killer. We are huge advocates of training to respond during such events, whether armed or unarmed, but here are a few things to consider (from the many that we teach):
Running and hiding are fine, if they are viable options, dictated by the totality of the circumstance, but ultimately, fighting back might be the difference in your surviving such an event.
- Tackling a gunman has worked many times over in these events, and it is one strategy we employ when teaching active killer defense. Obviously, tackling from behind is most desirable, but we may not be able to choose a direction or angle.
- We teach students to hit the killer low, at the knees, and drive through with as much force and weight as possible, forcing the killer to the ground.
- Once he is down, our goal is to not allow him back to his feet, since killers typically carry more than one weapon and we may have additional assailants to engage.
- Students are taught to use strikes once the killer is down, to neutralize the possibility of any further attacks. The killer’s weapons should be secured or made ready, if the defender has the requisite skills.
- In the event that a tackle is tactically not possible or advisable, getting control of the rifle or pistol are also viable options. Redirecting the line of fire upward, and getting hands on the weapon are the first priority.
- Even if a disarm is not immediately possible, the defender can interrupt the firearm’s cycle of operation by firmly grabbing the slide, covering the ejection port, or even pressing the magazine release. Each action will prevent the weapon from firing anything beyond the round that is already chambered.
Because those on the scene – often civilians - are the first responders, knowledge of basic trauma care is also essential.
- Primarily, responders should know how to keep blood in the body, since massive hemorrhaging is the number one cause of death in these events.
- Assuming the threat has been neutralized, apply direct pressure to the bleeding wounds of the injured. If a tourniquet is available, apply it as high and as tight as possible on the injured limb.
- If no tourniquet is available or the injury is not to a limb, pack the wound with as much gauze as possible, direct someone else to hold pressure and move on to the next victim.
As stated, training matters, and whether responders are armed, unarmed, incidentally armed, environmentally armed, or otherwise, practicing engagement in realistic scenarios is ideal, but having a plan of action beyond running and/or hiding is an absolute must.
We as a society, have to change the way we think about reacting to an active killer. Prior to September 11th 2001, hijackers took airplanes as a means to an end, such as ransom or escape to a foreign country of the hijacker’s choice. Military force protection manuals taught military personnel to take window seats in order to avoid harm from the hijackers in the aisle. That all changed when the likely goal of hijacking was manifested on 9/11.
We now know that we almost have a moral obligation to intervene with force in a hijacking. Why doesn’t the same apply in a nightclub, hospital, or elementary school?
The U.S. is no longer protected from the international form of violence, much less violence perpetuated by lone-wolf assailants. Terrorism experts predict such attacks may actually be on the rise. Whether foreign or domestic perpetrator, most active killers in the U.S. to date did not commit mass murder to further any religious or political agenda, but the damage and community trauma are no less severe.
Those involved in the next active killer situation may not know or care why the person is murdering people and that information will not be known for days or weeks if ever. Regardless of motives, our response to an active killer, must be the same regardless. Law enforcement response will take time and the medical response will take even longer. So why not gather some tools? Your life may depend on it.