Should We Stop Funding Active Shooter Training and Focus on Prevention?

In the aftermath of several tragic mass shootings and incidents of active violence, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the efficacy of the government's "run hide and fight" advice. Recently, some experts have been arguing that this advice is outdated and inadequate, even suggesting that we should stop teaching it in schools. Others have called for a complete shift in focus from training individuals on how to survive an active shooter, advocating for crisis intervention programs instead and arguing that we should stop training altogether.

As someone who trains people on how to survive in active violence situations, these discussions have made me reflect on the effectiveness of the advice I have been imparting, especially as I conduct research for my new book on this subject. I recently spoke with Meredith Elizalde, whose 14-year-old son was killed in a mass shooting at Roxborough High School only last year. As a former detective in England, I have seen and heard many things that I would not wish on anyone, but listening to Meredith recount the story of how her only son Nicolas died brought me to tears.

Implying that we should stop active shooter survival training and solely focus on crisis intervention perhaps shows how far removed some of these so-called experts really are. I read a post from a criminologist here on LinkedIn who suggested that active shooter training had become a billion-dollar industry, inferring that there was some control on how security companies monopolize the market. However, I was recently connected to a former school counselor who talked down a potential active shooter in a high school. She was quick to refer me to her agent, who then proceeded to try and elicit a "paid booking" to hear her account. It is fair to say that there are monopolies on both sides, but there are also genuine people who want to do what they can to prevent and train.

As a husband and father, the recent experiences of my sons during active shooter drills at school have only reinforced my concerns. My youngest son, who is only nine years old, questioned the efficacy of turning tables over and hiding in corners during his school drill. My older son aged twelve, who attends a state middle school, also expressed disappointment in the teachers' lack of knowledge during a recent active shooter drill, stating "Dad, they don't know what they are doing."

While the argument for crisis intervention programs is not without merit, it is not a comprehensive solution on its own. As a former detective who worked on terrorism plots, I know firsthand that it is impossible to monitor all individuals who may pose a risk 24/7. The same could be said for mental health crisis teams - how can we possibly reach and provide support to everyone in psychological need to say this is the only answer? Living in a country with so much division, could we even come to a mutual agreement to monitor the lives 24/7 of those who are mentally ill and may demonstrate a pathway to violence? At this moment in time, I would suggest not.

We must take a holistic approach to the issue of active violence. Prevention and intervention are both essential and work hand in hand. While my sons' experiences with active shooter drills in their schools may not have been ideal, the advice of run hide and fight is still sound. There are many different versions of run hide fight, with each trainer putting their own spin on it, but in all honesty, they are pretty much the same. Running away from the assailant when you can do so, hiding in a secure location if you cannot run away, and fighting the assailant like your life depends on it if this is the best option to survive.?

Perhaps the simple solution is to change the outdated mindset on how it is taught. In my program, we teach it as a menu of options determined by the adverse situation that you find yourself in. If an assailant enters your room and there is no door or window for you to escape, then your only option is to fight. If you are in a first-floor school building and you hear gunshots, the safest thing for you to do is to jump out that window and run away without looking back. If the assailant is coming down a hallway and you can’t run away, then perhaps your best option is to hide in a room where you can lock the door and stay safe.

Although incredibly simple, the problem with run-hide-fight is that it is being taught as a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach. However, my nearly three decades in public safety have taught me the opposite. It is just a menu of options to give you a chance to stay safe or survive. So, let's stop conditioning ourselves, like my nine-year-old son, to cower in the corner and hide behind a table. Instead, let's find a way to respectfully empower people to know that they have options. As a parent, I would appreciate that because I want my child to be safe. Therefore, we have to teach that run-hide-fight is not an order, it's a menu.

We cannot stop funding active violence response training, just as we cannot stop crisis intervention programs. It is equally unintelligent to say that we should stop treating cancer patients and only focus on the prevention cure. We must try to find a cure and fight the disease at the same time, and an active shooter situation is no different. We must continue to invest in both prevention and response. We need to identify potential perpetrators before they escalate to violence through crisis intervention programs while also equipping people with the knowledge and skills they need to survive during active violence incidents.

I do not believe that run-hide-fight is outdated at this time, but we must ensure that it is taught effectively and that individuals understand that it is a menu of options, not a strict order. Prevention and intervention must be part of a comprehensive solution to active violence, and we must continue to invest in both. What are your thoughts on this subject?

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