Violence in Our Society is Increasing; What do you do?

Active Shooter Situations are just not going away!  Malls, Movies, Public Transportation, Attending Religious Worship, Work, School, and Grocery Shopping… where does it end?

Many different people have thoughts on how best to handle this.

I’ve put together some thoughts on the issue and go into further depth in a book/ guide that I am writing.

Covering relatable situations that you are seeing in your city and on the news. Situations like Active Shooters, Kidnappings, Terrorist Attacks, Terminal Illness, Grief/ Loss, Pandemic ( isolation, vaccination, various stages with a multitude of views), Self-Advocacy, Schools, Work Settings, Court,  Abuse, Stress/ Overwhelm, and Living in the Present and not the Past!

Other Topics: Talking to Children about these situations, and helping  Children as the NEXT Generation learn from this.  

Many people already have learned these skills, but, panic under the pressure of the moment as it is unknown when it will happen. 

It is your mindset is positive, and you are aware of these skills and more in the guide, using the tools in an emergency, can make all the difference!

An excerpt from a book that I am writing … 

———Following the largest mass shooting in Buffalo, NY … I will share a bit about managing an active shooter situation, as a civilian.

Violence in our Society… May, 2022

Do Not Be Afraid, Be Prepared, Knowledgeable, Be Smart

Shooters are Shaky….Do You Really Want To Test This Theory If You Have Other Options? 

First, since you initially don’t know their motive, you cannot be sure the person(s) are shaky or nervous. In a robbery, it’s possible, but even that could lead to a more trigger happy, fearful shooter. This is a big risk, if you are contemplating what skills to use first. Attacking the shooter, would ALWAYS be a last resort. In a mass shooting with this level of artillery and the shooters level of protection, it would be highly risky to further anger the shooter and due to the surprise attack, your positioning would likely not be correct in time; leaving a calm person unable to help anyone and probably a casualty.

Next, the vast majority of recent shooters have been very clear in there resolve. Racism or hate crimes are pretty solid beliefs for these outliers in society, rarely clinically, mental health oriented. A medication for racism is not out there and it’s not chemical, it’s usually deeply embedded into who you are. This is a terribly sad and dangerous thing. There is MUCH more we could be doing about this.

They are people, that like anyone else may have started out feeling more isolated ( typically have a history of school problems and suspensions) if old enough, they usually have at least minor criminal to FBI linked crime backgrounds. They then stay quiet for a bit, in their planning stage. They find like – minded people to connect with or use social media to share and WANT notoriety, and much like in the Colorado school shooting, and Sandy Hook, it is usually religious “do you believe in god?” a question before one victim was shot, or peer anger -based  when a past known loner to the FBI who attended the school, or in a number of shootings in churches, synagogues religious and racially biased and believe that people ( races etc.) are responsible for the worlds problems.

It is essentially a flawed thought process that you cannot reason with. However, although we may feel it’s mental illness, much like Hitler and Putin, and the terrorists of 9/11, these people, teens and children kill for causes they believe in. This is why, it is not the same as an average robbery, kidnapping, or crime… these are always deadly and we see the words “mass” next to shooting more than ever.

Who are these people?

These, typically men, at younger ages now where Kevlar and have actually prepared themselves to be protected to withstand police and civilians for a longer period of time, for the maximum amount of chaos they can inflict. They have gone from trench coats to army tactical gear. This makes them more dangerous, they live through their genocide. The moment some of them ( especially Americans) cannot count on, as they are not necessarily born terrorists, as in other countries …  is whether they can end their own life after like those they worshiped before them. That in itself shows they’re mental capability to want to live, or in the cases in which they do their choice to not live imprisoned after completing what they “needed to do”.

Our Management of these types of Situations –

In a similar way that you cannot reason with the years of a persons’ neurological programming, you can do very little without the knowledge of why they entered your environment. Armed and prepared with heavy artillery, when you don’t know the reason, it is dangerous to assume you can overcome them.

How do I know?

I have worked with people that hold these views … you cannot say all but for many it is a well thought out plan that hold no room for anyone’s interference. Even if you are “their” race, color or creed, you are compromising their MISSION. You will be the next “man” down and may save no lives, and even strengthen of what “needs” to be done.

According to FBI training, in active shooter situations you should do exactly what I believe your instinct should already tell you to:

Run ( a little insight here) since you don’t know if there are other’s involved, or if SWAT is outside, try not to run for a main exit. Look for any back exit where the shooter won’t see you, unless you are in a place with a practiced method ( school). IF YOU RUN, look carefully to see nobody was hurt in that area, so there is no second shooter situation, and run out quietly with your arms above your head. This is so important, if SWAT or police see you – they will see your arms up no weapon cell NOT in your hand. They cannot mistake you for any accomplice, or possessing a weapon. 

Hide personally, coming from a school  background ( hide) stay put is what I learned. If possible follow the plan. However, if your business, or school or in this case a store, doesn’t have you in a locked room all day – you have no warning. You have no choice but to try to get out.

Hiding is a good option! Schools are now supposed to conduct classes with locked doors ( at least in NYS) or posses a safety plan that gives minutes longer for preparedness. While hiding I urge my own children to follow protocol but in serious situations to stay calm and be as prepared as possible. They will know the time, and when they do, they are to dial 911 on their cell and lower the volume so nobody inside the room can hear the operator. The location will be tracked. This is important in case something happened where nobody was able to call the police prior! No matter where you are, if you have any knowledge prior, and not enough time to move -get a piece of clothing under the door to avoid seeing your movements and get the heaviest largest metal file or items in front of the door as fast as possible while staying out of the line of fire and stay away from windows.

I firmly believe all offices, and schools should have a white board with a bully proof side that can be wheeled in front of the door and garage like pulls that can come down over windows and /or doors. You need protection fast.

Fight 

The ability to know what to do for yourself, how to provide first aide and stay as calm as possible to think, are the key to survival, other than luck itself.

FBI indicates that if you must fight

AS A LAST RESORT, IF YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER OPTION

1. Do not fight fair or in a disciplined manner.

2. Be aggressive and commit to your actions 

3. Throw items, use anything you can as a weapon.

4. Survive by any means necessary

As with the case in Buffalo, NY you can never be sure ( initially) why someone is acting out violently. When people are dedicated to their cause, notions for how to make changes, and follow those before them; no matter how distorted their perception, it fits for them. Their planning, and energy has been tied to a theory of hate, and they are focused on carrying out their intentions with purpose.

CHANGE IS NEEDED. No matter what the weapon, poison, a car, a virus it would happen. It is the belief system and neurological programming, either when young, or that he turned to. CHANGE IS NEEDED.

Speaking with Middle Schoolers and up is very similar

A simple explanation..

There are people everywhere that don’t “fit in”. At times, they turn to extreme groups, or find people online to connect with – or even connect with people they idolize who are no longer alive! The connection maybe over notions that are not rational but make them stand out for there differences and FINALLY get notoriety !

-There are also people that are programmed neurologically that need help becoming “deprogrammed” and from generations prior, only have the “tools” they have to change their thinking on their own. Through their own lens of their life experiences, and finding more on social media that helps them  blame other races for what they go through, their extremism takes flight. This can be confused for mental illness, but in the case of the Buffalo shooter, it appeared to be a likely case of a flawed belief system, a plan and a goal to be like those he idolized. 

Profiles of Shooters:

From the profile of many shooters, we can see their age and profile to be similar, many have had school behavior, social issues and difficulties early on. Either known to their family or known to officials early on .. they had been involved in crimes prior.

The majority are white and their teens to 30’s and go after either their previous schools where they believe people have “wronged them” still asking about religion, ”god”, or are racially motivated or related to gangs.

A few have been random outliers, personal ( ie. workplace, Las Vegas ). Most have been hate crimes, churches, synagogues, mosques, and specifically for related to to target those at worship.

The most significant thing are that the typical profile, is that of one that appears isolated, antisocial, violent thinkers, and believe in their own reasons to die for their twisted cause.

Following Pre-teens and teens should be aware of the FBI’s active shooter training. In schools or places where emergency plans are state / federal law, everyone should remember to follow their organizations plan and know that they are safe, unless they see red flags. They need to know what to look for so they don’t guess. People are safe, realistically this is happening more and more.

Best Practice :  

School Classroom doors should remain locked at all times.

      •this gives people an extra min or two to prepare rather than easy entry into the classroom. The more time you have to stay safe, the better.

These protocols should be practiced.

I have worked with kids that made hit lists and weapons in school, and we’re gang involved. It is real.

     •Kids should be taught if they EVER feel they need to run, their hands should be up, and cell phone in a pocket. If you raise a cell and come darting out of a building, on their own     you run the risk of  SWAT not knowing if you are the shooter, an accomplice and if your cell is a weapon. 

     •now more than ever, people should know not to open doors for old students or staff, or employees that were “let go”, who don’t use the front door or show proper ID, and carry anything with them. If they have no appointment, they should not come into the building. 

     •students and staff should know how to use their cell, they need to feel prepared. They need to know how to summon help in case the people they rely on to call are unable.  Dial 911 and lower/mute the incoming volume. The can trace the phone and listen. 

 After/If  all school plans have ever been exhausted, Run, Hide, Fight (only as a last resort) as per the FBI suggestions I have repeated here and learning a bit about first aid.

According to FBI training, in active shooter situations you should do exactly what I believe your instinct should already tell you to:

Run ( a little insight here) since you don’t know if there are other’s involved, or if SWAT is outside, try not to run for a main exit. Look for any back exit where the shooter won’t see you, unless you are in a place with a practiced method ( school). IF YOU RUN, look carefully to see nobody was hurt in that area, so there is no second shooter situation, and run out quietly with your arms above your head. This is so important, if SWAT or police see you – they will see your arms up no weapon cell NOT in your hand. They cannot mistake you for any accomplice, or possessing a weapon. 

Hide personally, coming from a school  background ( hide) stay put is what I learned. If possible follow the plan. However, if your business, or school or in this case a store, doesn’t have you in a locked room all day – you have no warning. You have no choice but to try to get out.

Hiding is a good option! Schools are now supposed to conduct classes with locked doors ( at least in NYS) or posses a safety plan that gives minutes longer for preparedness. While hiding I urge my own children to follow protocol but in serious situations to stay calm and be as prepared as possible. They will know the time, and when they do, they are to dial 911 on their cell and lower the volume so nobody inside the room can hear the operator. The location will be tracked. This is important in case something happened where nobody was able to call the police prior! No matter where you are, if you have any knowledge prior, and not enough time to move -get a piece of clothing under the door to avoid seeing your movements and get the heaviest largest metal file or items in front of the door as fast as possible while staying out of the line of fire and stay away from windows.

I firmly believe all offices, and schools should have a white board with a bully proof side that can be wheeled in front of the door and garage like pulls that can come down over windows and /or doors. You need protection fast.

Fight 

AS A LAST RESORT, IF YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER OPTION

The ability to know what to do for yourself, how to provide first aide and stay as calm as possible to think, are the key to survival, other than luck itself.

FBI indicates that if you must fight

1. Do not fight fair or in a disciplined manner.

2. Be aggressive and commit to your actions 

3. Throw items, use anything you can as a weapon.

4. Survive by any means necessary

The more prepared you are, the more prepared the kids are, the better you can all handle these awful situations. It is a reality, as the following day two more shootings took place.

Children shouldn’t fear each day, but they should be aware by middle school that violence is real. My kids experienced violence on their bus each day in elementary school and middle school. This is an escalation of hate and violence. When words stop-and weapons are involved.

Just some thoughts on the subject- one perspective….

Making change, starts with education.

I hope we will live in a world one day where that is possible.

by M. Abramsky, LCSW©️2022