E-Mail 'Student Safety in Active Shooter Situation- Part 2, by P.N.' To A Friend

14 Comments

1. If teachers could lock their doors from the inside it would be helpful so that a shooter couldn’t just walk into a room.
   Also not allowing kids to have smart phones would help them pay attention to what’s around them.

2. Thank you, P.N., for this thoughtful article, especially the sections that ignored in drills. I plan to share this with my spouse who a teacher, n maybe her principal.

3. This article is a good start. It is unfortunate that the people who need to read and heed most likely will never see it.
   Communication is the key. Situational awareness should be prioritized in normal day to day life. Introducing paranoia should not be a concern, learning to make decisions before an event can be discussed in a relaxed family atmosphere.

4. Good 2 part article. There’s only so much anyone can do but as long as we do it then maybe it will be enough.
   There are some good additions to the writing in the comments as well. Some believe that home schooling is the only option, though I disagree, but it is an option for those who want it.
   As a newer grandfather with 2 more on the way I’m now once again worried about such things.
   One thing I’m glad to see regardless of opinions, that I don’t unfortunately in my profession, is that EVERYONE HERE CARES ABOUT THIER KIDS AND THIER SAFETY.
   Enough so to discuss it, read and study on it and pass it along.
   That is very refreshing!

5. As a teacher who has been through two actual lockdowns with SWAT actively clearing classrooms looking for a student with a weapon, it is also important to know how to respond to law enforcement. Keeping students calm when SWAT comes through the door in full “battle rattle” with M-4s and MP-5s is key in these situations especially if the suspect they are looking for is a student. The emphasis should be on keeping your hands on your head and away from the waistband is a crucial piece of advice. Remember that LEOs are humans and are most likely full of adrenaline. As we have seen in Mesa, AZ and Wichita, KS even a movement of the hands toward the waistband can be seen as a threat regardless of if a weapon is there.

   1. I fully agree. This is something that is talked about some of the time but is never practiced in the actual drills. Kids sit down and can do whatever they want with their hands. In a lot of instances kids get on their phones unfortunately. The teachers need to do a better job of instilling the hands being visible at all times.

      1. Dear P.N. Yesthere’s a huge magnet of sorts that seems to pull teens especially to go for “their phones” ( who pays for them, but I digress) I know for a fact that some of the dangers that can occur on a school campus is directed by a cell phone user on campus or inside the building. Students can and have called there “back up” when clashes are forming and things can escalate.

      2. Phones down and hands visible? Huddled in the corner, waiting to get shot? I’m late to the argument, but whatever.

         I’ve beaten it into my kid’s head to get the flock out of there. If trapped in a death room, bust a window and run for cover. I’ll gladly pay for the window if it means my son was not included in the body count.

         Regrettably, virtually every teacher I’ve met is a “huddle in the corner and cry” kind of teacher. Wait for the reaper to show up.

         I can’t abide by that thinking. Do whatever it takes to get out of the death chamber, since the entirely of the schools we’ve been a part of are single hall way schools that are easy for even an ADD shooter to sweep effectively.

         Teach your kids realistic methods of getting out of the fatal funnel, and get to relative safety, even if its just the creepy house across the street from the school. Hide behind it. Don’t just run down the street toward home. Low profile, behind a car in the back of the house, etc..

6. Quite a few comments have mentioned home schooling. Though it may be the ideal teaching situation for all it is very unattainable for the vast majority of people. Whether financially or in some instances from an overall intelligence level. Even if you are homeschooling you can still instill these behaviors when in most public places. Change some of the phrasing and it all applies to malls, movie theaters, etc. Being vigilant at all times and staying in “Condition Yellow” is key.

7. When I was in high school (1983 grad) , we all had a buck folder on our belt, in school.No one was ever stabbed. Most student vehicles were trucks and during hunting season most had rifles in back window rack. No one was ever shot. No one mentioned gun free zones because we all knew better. I don’t know what happened but somehow our fine country has lost its morality and apparently, it’s b*ll’s.
   I personally think a lot of these shootings occur in schools because they are advertised gun free. Cowards don’t want anyone shooting back. No one goes to a police station to stage a mass shooting.
   I would put a gun safe in the main office of every school. Require principals and superintendents to have training and offer training to teachers and other staff if they were interested.. Fill safe with surplus weapons such as are offered to police departments.
   Extreme? Definitely. Effective? I would think.

8. It seems a book case that could slide in front of a door with the appropriate hooks and latches high and low could become a formidable barrier for a doorway in every class room. Roll into position, lock in place. Room fairly secure at that point. Could be done fairly inexpensively as well. If active shooter became apparent, most rooms could be sealed off quickly.

   1. Excellent idea!! Recently attended training that included sliding a leather belt looped over door closing mechanism if equipped. Works well but puts someone in a bad position for a short period while installing. Glass doors – not a good situation!

9. PN:
   Outstanding article PN. Thanx for all your hard work you put into it.
   Parents get involved at your kids school regularly and not just to make sure little Johnny and little Janie are behaving themselves and doing what there supposed to, but, to also make sure the communist, socialist, fascist, snowflake, bleeding heart losers are doing what there supposed to and not what they are not! Ritalin should be outlawed! It’s O.K. To vaccinate your children just don’t let the Doc use your kid as dart board, educate yourself on this matter. Put well trained and armed officers in our kids schools. Parents get involved in your kids school board in order to get rid of the blight that infects our children’s schools, you know them better as socialist fascist tyrants. Do not let them have any type of monopoly on what goes on inside your kids school. Educate yourself on these and other matters when going in to do verbal battle with those elitist scumbags who. More than likely do not have kids in the same as your children let alone in the same school district. You can beet them at there own game. Do it for the kids and there future. Children truly are a blessing from god!
   Keep up the good fight folks.

10. In our area most high schools have a school officer on the premises- elementary schools do not to my knowledge- why i do not know but suspect it is lack of resources and analogy of perceived threats and history of school shootings. The aforementioned comment about having firearms available for school employees to respond to an attack would be an excellent idea however the majority of school educators, if not anti gun, at least have probably had little if any training and have probably zero inclination to receive training

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