This is a somewhat updated version of a poll I posted in 2009 and I’m curious what views are today.

You get word that there are three active killer incidents involving multiple shooters ongoing at schools in your town and you suddenly hear gunfire at another middle school that is virtually next door to where you are at the time. (You do not know anyone at the school.) For whatever reason, you have the most effective defensive weapon that you own with you along with a good supply of ammo loaded in mags. In addition to gun and ammunition, the only thing you have that you don’t normally have in your vehicle is a range bag.

As students and staff are fleeing the building and screaming, “They’re killing everyone!,” and, “There are two of them,” you see a single patrol car pull up. You say to the lone officer who’s pulling an AR out of the vehicle, “I’m armed; is there anything I can do?” She (or he—does it matter?) looks you up and down and asks, “Maybe. It’s crazy and I’m the only one responding here. What do you have and can you use it?”

You give her whatever answer you think is most pertinent or effective (“I’m an active duty SEAL,” “I’m a cop,” “I was in Afghanistan,” “I was in the military,” “I shoot three gun every month,” …) and she says, “Grab all the ammo you can and stay with me.”

Question:
Do you follow her in?

(In addition to yes or no, I’ve given all those who hate the idea of considering such a decision an out: “You’re living in Fantasy Land. It’s a ridiculous question that has no possible real world relevance outside your fevered imagination.”)
.

Choices:
Yes
No
Another ridiculous question

 

No, would hate for them to think I was the shooter and shoot me.

It sounds like a great way to get shot and killed as more LEO’s show up.

Of course I want to say yes, but, as the previous posters stated, sounds like a great way to get myself whacked by the police.

I wouldn't count it out. I'm not married and have no children. I want to do the right thing and help how I can. But every situation is different. So I would check "Maybe" if I could.

If I can ask and be confirmed, and it goes out ov3 the radio, yeah, I'll give all I got.

I've been living a bonus round far longer than I can should have.

My hope would be that I were effective help.

I'd be more likely to respond if an active shooter was in the school and there was NO police response yet.

If I stayed immediately(within a couple feet) with the officer yes, if there was any chance of getting separated, no. Good way to get shot by responding officers.

My company had a shooting a few years ago. Not a mass shooting but a targeted shooting by an employee of his supervisor in a conference room. He killed himself afterwards.

But as a result we had to have "active shooter training" which for the most part is a rather silly.

Run away - unless you have to run into the path of the bullets
Hide - if you can't run away, hide under a desk or in an office and barricade the door
Defend - if the shooter enters your barricaded place throw something at them, or hit them with something heavy.

Yes, this is what they told us. But the useful part was a police officer telling us what to do. Basically the officer said this:

"First responders will enter with whatever weapons we have, most likely rifles, and for everyone we see we have to quickly determine "threat or not a threat". We will not wait outside or set up a perimeter - we will enter and engage as soon as we arrive."

"Do not try to talk to us, do not tell us what happened, or who the shooter is, there will be too much noise and confusion for us to understand you. Do not try to show us photos or video on your phone. Keep your hands up, visible, and empty. You don't want a cell phone to be mistaken for a gun."

"Walk by us, giving room, making it clear you are not a threat, and leave the premises, and if you can drive away, go somewhere else. Do not congregate outside the building."

Makes a lot of sense. So NO, do not try to help, get the hell out of dodge and protect yourself and family/friends.

The local school now has a rule that officers on site during an active shooter event will engage the shooter with whatever weapons they have on their person. They are not to go out to the car and get a rifle or shotgun because by the time they return it will likely be over.

I'll disregard the provided scenario and just say yes, I would do whetever could to assist. I'm no longer a young man and the best is behind me and quite frankly, I'm fed up with things as they stand, and reckless enough to throw caution to the wind.

That's a good plan (Lefty Sig).
But I think in the Florida Parkland shooting, the concern for children is higher than the concern for how the cavalry is going to eventually show up.
Then, there are more remote areas.
As in the past, there are instances where civilians have helped and it's a good thing they did.

In a second, as long as I got the cops safety vest(orange or neon green) and I stuck with her/him in searching for the shooter. I’d also make them advise my description over the radio before entering….and I’d never let go of her/his gun belt.

If I were separated or after the guy is put down I’d holster my handgun.

I’ve completed the training. I’ve done it with simunitions, I know the terminology, and I know even just engaging the bad guy will keep him from shooting children.

Schools around here go into lockdown for active shooters, so nobody should be running out of the buildings. Even a fire alarm doesn’t automatically result in people exiting the building until teachers receive confirmation that there is an actual fire.

Throw me in that situation, and I'll answer after it's over with. I'd love to say I absolutely would jump right in, but I think I'd have to be put in that situation to give a realistic answer.

quote:

Originally posted by p08:
No, would hate for them to think I was the shooter and shoot me.

My second thought tight after, "without a hesitation."

Sure, I'm in. In addition to, what I hope is her communicating with her team, I'd call 911 if possible, as I always have my airpods. I'd give them as much info as I can while we make entry. With any luck, I dont get shot by the good guys in the process.

In the limited scope of what was posted, yes.

But, unless you are living in a very remote area, there will be 50 cops (most of which from places you never new existed) will show up quickly.

I’ve been to two of these in my career. Four years ago this Sunday, I was on the first tactical team on the ground at Marshall County. We had 8 operators on the ground in 18 minutes. We cleared the school for 4.5 hours before relieved by the state police. Based on my experience, unless in a very remote area, the answer is a hard no.

That doesn’t mean I won’t offer to help, I just won’t be a hunter unless there are no hunters available or a refusal to go in. From having done a couple of these, there are a lot of well meaning people that rapidly become part of the problem. During an active shooter, there isn’t a time or a place for dick measuring for hard headed people to insist to “do something” because their ego has kicked in.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...High_School_shooting

Change the scenario around to me being off duty in my jurisdiction, it changes to absolutely. I’ll take my chances getting shot by the one or two feds that might show up that I don’t know. Everybody knows me here, I know the local response SOPs and won’t be part of the problem.

In the unlikely case that I’m standing right there when it breaks out, without a doubt I’ll take the shot and take my chances. Direct action is the answer. Merely having a gun and charging in doesn’t mean your actions won’t wind up costing innocent lives.

“Gotta do something” isn’t always the right answer.

I do active shooter training every year at my company in partnership with our local police force and would never do such a thing.

You WILL end up getting shot and killed by the police trying to play hero.

No way no how I’m going in armed into an active shooter situation like that.

I'd like to think I'd jump in and do whatever I could to help. Although, like so many other scenarios I've thought about, I'll never know until I'm there and I hope I'm never there.

I guess I'm in a different situation?

I have my rifle plate carrier in the trunk and it's marked Police on front and back.
I'd call the local PD and advise them I'm going in and my description.