Learn how to protect your family and make sound decisions during an active shooter attack at church, using practical tactics, mental preparation, and biblical guidance to respond with clarity.
Keith, I have been researching an alternative response to an active shooter in a crowded worship service meeting. Because sending lead in this atmosphere is so likely to harm the wrong people, I have decided to carry a pocket size one watt blue laser. It is advertised to permanently blind a bad guy from up to several hundred feet away. This would certainly give other team members time to respond since the culprit could not see them coming. The laser beam is very focused and could be directed without hitting anyone else, starting by aiming at the ceiling and bringing it down to the targeted individual. Permanent retinal damage supposedly only takes milliseconds. There is no special legal requirements to carry or use this as it is not a lethal weapon. I believe it may also be effective at stopping drone photography.
This sounds good, but in all practicality you could hit people with the laser just like a gun would. While it's not lethal it does permanent damage to the eye. And trying to hit a small object like the eyeball verses center mass sounds very difficult. In an active scenario like a mass shooter you may have hundreds of church members running to and fro. A taser or pepper spray would be my best option if you got close enough for non lethal protection. Just my suggestion.
I so appreciate this article. As a trained firearms enthusiast who has taken a dozen plus firearms classes, I am familiar with defensive scenarios and what they MIGHT look like. But, as a husband and a father, I feel my duty to protect is to my immediate family first, then my church family. I admit that I could never commit to a security detail and promise to put my family aside for the greater good. Selfish? Maybe, but I'd be less than honest if I said otherwise. I would never interfere with the security team as they have committed to serve and hopefully train to do so in an effective manner. I'm just going to gather and get my family to safety. If that brings me into contact with the bad guy / gal then whatever happens, happens.
I agree. Family first. If time and space allows to confront the attacker while your family is safe then take the shot. As a safety / security member then you have a responsibility for the greater good of the congregation. The key for family would be to train your family how to respond to an active shooter.
Now I'm confused (but not really) as a retired LEO of 24-years (30-years instructing) and active 17-year church security member.
After reading this article AND observing your Active Shooter Training at a local church last Sunday, one could say there is mixed messaging.
During the training scenarios at church, church members (mostly the worship team) on-mic (mostly behind cover) were repeatedly saying:
#1: "Active shooter! Stay down!"
#2: "We have a safety team on it!"
#3: Concealed carry take a knee!"
And so on.
With Announcement #3, you did -- during a debrief -- clarify something to the effect of "take care of things around you."
My question is: Is all the above mixed messaging or will people simply do what they feel is best and ignore the hopefully calm, clear, and assertive announcements?
What you saw this weekend was our SOP for our church and I think it works very well. However, I wrote this for people that don’t have set SOP‘s like we do and have to make a decision on what they’re going to do as an individual.
Thank you Keith for this information....most valuable. I hope that I can speak with you briefly on Dec. 6. I have some serious issues with our safety team. I myself am training biweekly. Trying to do all I can.
Keith, I have been researching an alternative response to an active shooter in a crowded worship service meeting. Because sending lead in this atmosphere is so likely to harm the wrong people, I have decided to carry a pocket size one watt blue laser. It is advertised to permanently blind a bad guy from up to several hundred feet away. This would certainly give other team members time to respond since the culprit could not see them coming. The laser beam is very focused and could be directed without hitting anyone else, starting by aiming at the ceiling and bringing it down to the targeted individual. Permanent retinal damage supposedly only takes milliseconds. There is no special legal requirements to carry or use this as it is not a lethal weapon. I believe it may also be effective at stopping drone photography.
This sounds good, but in all practicality you could hit people with the laser just like a gun would. While it's not lethal it does permanent damage to the eye. And trying to hit a small object like the eyeball verses center mass sounds very difficult. In an active scenario like a mass shooter you may have hundreds of church members running to and fro. A taser or pepper spray would be my best option if you got close enough for non lethal protection. Just my suggestion.
I so appreciate this article. As a trained firearms enthusiast who has taken a dozen plus firearms classes, I am familiar with defensive scenarios and what they MIGHT look like. But, as a husband and a father, I feel my duty to protect is to my immediate family first, then my church family. I admit that I could never commit to a security detail and promise to put my family aside for the greater good. Selfish? Maybe, but I'd be less than honest if I said otherwise. I would never interfere with the security team as they have committed to serve and hopefully train to do so in an effective manner. I'm just going to gather and get my family to safety. If that brings me into contact with the bad guy / gal then whatever happens, happens.
I agree. Family first. If time and space allows to confront the attacker while your family is safe then take the shot. As a safety / security member then you have a responsibility for the greater good of the congregation. The key for family would be to train your family how to respond to an active shooter.
Considering my church does not have a security/safety team, it’s a no brainer. Family first, if the church benefits from my actions. Bonus points.
Good stuff.
Keith,
Now I'm confused (but not really) as a retired LEO of 24-years (30-years instructing) and active 17-year church security member.
After reading this article AND observing your Active Shooter Training at a local church last Sunday, one could say there is mixed messaging.
During the training scenarios at church, church members (mostly the worship team) on-mic (mostly behind cover) were repeatedly saying:
#1: "Active shooter! Stay down!"
#2: "We have a safety team on it!"
#3: Concealed carry take a knee!"
And so on.
With Announcement #3, you did -- during a debrief -- clarify something to the effect of "take care of things around you."
My question is: Is all the above mixed messaging or will people simply do what they feel is best and ignore the hopefully calm, clear, and assertive announcements?
Thanks, brother,
Clint Sandusky
What you saw this weekend was our SOP for our church and I think it works very well. However, I wrote this for people that don’t have set SOP‘s like we do and have to make a decision on what they’re going to do as an individual.
Makes sense and thanks Keith!
Thank you Keith for this information....most valuable. I hope that I can speak with you briefly on Dec. 6. I have some serious issues with our safety team. I myself am training biweekly. Trying to do all I can.