What to do in an ‘active shooter’ situation? Find out at Tuesday’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council

Just in from Richard Miller, president of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council – the plan for its meeting next Tuesday (7 pm, January 17th):

As always, Southwest Precinct police will be there with updates on local crime trends and the chance for you to ask about/bring up neighborhood concerns. And a special guest has just been confirmed: SPD Officer Edward Anderson, a Firearms and Tactics instructor who “will lead an interactive active-shooter-mitigation presentation.” This will be the shorter version of the presentation, about an hour including 15 minutes for questions, shorter than the full version, but worth your time to come hear from an expert. All are welcome at the meeting, which is in the community room at the precinct (2300 SW Webster), right off the parking lot.

Justin January 14, 2017 (12:16 pm)

Pretty simple. Folks with concealed carry permits end the situation, quickly.

Andy January 15, 2017 (5:42 am)

JUSTIN, I’m with you. A good friend of mine was drinking coffee in a Burien 7-11 several months ago when a man walked in carrying a hatchet. After taking a swing at my friend, who saw the miscreant coming and thus was able to duck in time to avoid being hit, the man immediately attacked the store’s manager, jumping on top of him and attempting to hit him on the head with the hatchet. As the manager was lying on the floor, screaming for help, and trying to keep the hatchet wielder from hitting him, my friend in the meantime, who has a license to carry a concealed pistol, was able to get into a position in which to stop the attacker without hitting the manager. Thus ended the encounter. The Police had nothing but praise for my friend and was credited with having saved not only his own life but that of the manager as well.

I guess my point is that these sorts of things, including active shooter incidents do happen, and that the police can’t be everywhere to protect us. Those of us who are legally armed, and at last count there were over 550,000 of us in Washington State, could make a difference and thus save lives. However, I might add, it is also a huge responsibility to be armed and the licensee should be very familiar with the law and highly trained in the competent use of a firearm. In other words know when to shoot, and be able to hit the bad guy, not an innocent bystander.
Double Dub Resident January 15, 2017 (7:45 am)

That’s a far too over simplified “solution” to this subject. Life ain’t a movie and the average Joe with a CCW isn’t always going to “end the situation”. There are plenty of instances where this situation goes wrong. I’m saying this as someone who has a CCW and carries.

As Andy has said, proper training is essential. I’d say proper training and practice, practice, practice. Dry fire practice (if your gun allows for it), draw practice, and definitely shooting practice. I know Ed, and I’m confident he’d agree.

I’d even go as far to say that anyone who applies for a CCW, should have to take a concealed carry class and of course pass it before they are issued a permit. After all, we need to take a class and pass a test to drive a car, so I do not find this unreasonable.

There’s more to carrying a gun than just getting a permit, buying a gun and holster and putting it on with TV delusions of grandeur.
- Andy January 15, 2017 (12:06 pm)
  
  I agree with everything you said, and you are so correct, practice is essential. I’d add that knowing when to not shoot is every bit as important as knowing when to. I personally would never draw my pistol from concealment unless it was necessary to save myself or some innocent person from being killed or injured. Once bullets start flying, all bets are off as to where they go.
  - Double Dub Resident January 15, 2017 (3:21 pm)
    
    Absolutely, which is why I mentioned the concealed carry class. A good class should teach de escalation /avoidance practices, where you can and can’t carry, the laws on shooting /self defense, the fact that most “gun fights” are close range, the limits of a hand gun as far as accuracy and range , when to stop using force if force is needed, your rights, what to do if pulled over by an officer and you’re carrying, etc. etc., etc.
    
    For example, I’ve spoken to a few people who have a CCW and they carry with an empty chamber. This may seem “safer” and in most scenarios like target practice it is. But when it comes to concealed carry, it is more dangerous if the actual need to use the gun arises.
    
    Again, most “gun fights” are within a few feet. This means that if it actually comes to needing to use a gun every second counts and trying to rack the slide while in a dire situation is not what one wants to be in. Adrenaline is racing and fine motor skills are out the window. Even experts will lose a second racking a slide, never mind the average Joe. That extra time can cost someone and could possibly be just enough time for the perp to grab the gun or tackle the person.
    
    In fact, I only know of one group of professionals who keep an empty chamber and that is Israeli special forces, and that is because they carry traditional 1911 style guns (the absolute worst gun to carry concealed IMO.) And the reason as you probably know is due to the design where your options are to either have the gun cocked with the hammer back and the safety on (cocked and locked) or an empty chamber. But the Israeli special forces practice religiously on draw and racking in one motion, something the average person just won’t have the skill set for, which is why center fire striker guns are a much better option.
    
    That is just one small example that carrying is a lot more than just carrying

Jort January 14, 2017 (12:27 pm)

“Active shooter” is as cop-jargony as it gets. What’s an “active shooter” compared to an “inactive shooter?” This phrase has got to go.

WSB January 14, 2017 (1:04 pm)

I’m not much for jargon myself but “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area,” the FBI’s definition of the term, doesn’t quite fit the same space. Third paragraph here, I would suggest, likely conveyed the situation as quickly as possible – quicker than “somebody’s got a gun and some people have been shot.”

LyndaB January 14, 2017 (1:14 pm)

The “active shooter” training is part of an annual requirement for us where I work now. The term is effective in conveying the situation.

AMD January 14, 2017 (1:27 pm)

It is where I work too now. In fact, I’ve had more active shooter training this year than first aid, fall arrest, and fire extinguisher use put together.

“Active” refers to the fact that the situation is ongoing (or active). Since the situation itself is a shooter, it’s an active shooter event.

Al January 14, 2017 (3:27 pm)

Eds a great cop! We miss him in West Seattle

TheKing January 15, 2017 (6:24 am)

I am not allowed to have my gun on my employers property, it’s their rules which is fine. Throwing bullets at the bad guy isn’t going to work out well though.

TC January 17, 2017 (11:33 am)

finally i get to tell them about all my mail theft that is still happening on my street! and stolen cars that get left on or by the longview trail by my house!

Sorry, comment time is over.