The University of California police have a document entitled Active Shooter Safety Tips available for download to students, and the rest of the world.
Some of the more interesting tips include not hiding in a bathroom during a rampage. I’m not sure what the logic behind that one is. Some of the tips make sense. Stay low and quiet. Don’t run down long hallways if you don’t know where the shooter is. The brochure even tells you that attacking the gunman is one of the options, but only after he actually starts shooting. Up till that point, they say, move slowly and cooperate.
Nothing about defending yourself with a gun, of course.
Here are my tips to students for defending against a crazy person with a gun or any other type of projectile based weapons system.
- Do not attend any institute of learning where public officials are the only legally armed force.
- If you must attend such a school, enroll on-line or attend a self-defense friendly school where security is taken seriously at all levels, and includes faculty and classroom drills.
- If you are given any instruction which does not promote your own welfare ignore it and follow your own judgment.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pay attention to the way people are acting and what they are doing.
- Don’t be paranoid. Chances are good that you’ll never encounter an active shooter unless you make a habit of attending a pistol range, which isn’t a bad idea.
- Check the air pressure in your tires before get in your car. A blowout is much more likely to kill you than a crazed gunman.
- Take responsibility for yourself. If a life threatening situation occurs, it will be up to YOU to stay alive. This is as true during an earthquake as it is during a physical attack by another human being. About half the time during such situations, officials only arrive after the threat has ended.
Hat tip: Bruce Schneier