When asking where most active shooter incidents occur we also have to ask ourselves, how long? How long does it take to cause destruction? The answer is, not long at all. Lives can change in a matter of minutes. According to the “Study of Active Shooter Incidents, 2000-2013,” of 63 incidents, 44 ended within 5 minutes or less and 23 of those ended in 2 minutes or less. What does this tell us? Quick communication, action and response is crucial.
We studied the study
So a quick overview of what the study we are referencing today was looking at. “In 2014 the FBI initiated a study of “active shooter” incidents to provide federal, state, and local law enforcement with data so they can better understand how to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from these incidents”
It is important to note that this study did not include all shootings, but of a specific type of gun related shooting so it is important to take that into consideration.
Where do most active shooter incidents occur?
Some interesting statistics tell us that 11 of the studied incidents involved unarmed principals, teachers, and other school staff and students who confronted shooters to end the threat. When you go to the University and take courses preparing you to teach math and science, you see yourself helping kids create construction paper masterpieces that help mold their minds, not managing a life threatening attack. The last few decades have created an awareness that protecting the children’s lives can also come with the job. Having a proper threat assessment can help to create a plan that includes training staff to be prepared for any possible threat.
Of 160 incidents studied 73 of them occurred in areas of commerce, such as malls. That means active shooter incidents occur where there can be a lot of foot traffic. The second largest locations were “educational environments” such as elementary, highschool and colleges. Here is a list of the rest of the most common places active shooter incidents have occured
- Open spaces
- Government property
- Residences
- House of Worship
- Health Care Facilities
If you own a business or work at a facility that has a lot of foot traffic you absolutely must consider higher levels of security and more intentional plans, training and communication systems to keep your people safe. This study we followed today really shines a light on where most active shooter incidents occur. It is also a wake up call for all to plan for every possible situation.
Studies like these are invaluable to creating an appropriate response to emergency situations. Systems such as those offered by Alert Protection Services will put in place the optimum crisis management plan. Chaos occurs when there is no plan or protocol. Training and preparing for the worst will give your staff peace of mind to be at their best.
Source:
Blair, J. P., & Schweit, K. W. (2014). A study of active shooter incidents, 2000-2013. Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice
