One problem Second Amendment activists face is people who give us all a bad name by using their weapons—whether acquired legally or illegally—to settle personal scores in public. This is Rob Raskin, and after the events of this week I thought I’d take a moment to tell you what to do if a gunman is on the loose and you don’t happen to have your own firearm available at the time. The main objective of these people is to take out as many as possible, and that makes you a soft target if you aren’t prepared.
The Basic Facts
While these incidents are rare, when it does happen they tend to target very public venues, like theaters, schools, airports, and malls, and one of the most frequent targets is also offices. Basic vigilance goes a long way in this case, so you should always be aware of your surroundings whenever you are out in public. Keep your eyes open anywhere vulnerabilities exist, and know where the exits are whenever you are in a public space, because it’s going to take more than the security available in these locations to stop a shooter who is willing to end his own life.
A Few Strategies
Your basic options in this situation will boil down to these choices: run, hide, barricade yourself into an enclosed space, or fight back. Running is the best option, and fighting back should only be a last resort. To hide or to barricade yourself means that you are trapped, but that is preferable to being exposed and caught in the crosshairs. If you opt to hide, try not to restrict your movement, silence your phone, block doors with heavy furniture when possible, and turn off any other source of noise such as televisions. Remain quiet, and do not draw attention to yourself.
Don’t Leave Home Without It
Remember—not all shooters are lone gunmen, and they may in fact be part of an organized effort with more than one gunman present. The obvious solution here is to not forget to have your legally registered weapon on you at all times, because you never know when the worst might happen. This is Rob Raskin, telling you to stay safe, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t forget your target practice at your local firing range. You never know when you’re going to need to be able to act quickly in an emergency, when your life and the lives of others may depend on your actions, your reactions, and your quick thinking.
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