Active Shooter

Politicians scramble to find a quick fix to the mass shootings. More gun laws, outlawing certain guns and possible confiscation have all been discussed by our political leaders. It doesn’t really matter if these efforts are not successful in eliminating shootings, it’s more important that they can show they have done something. How disappointed Americans will be when these efforts fail to stop mass shootings.

Maybe there is another answer to this problem. Maybe, just maybe, our moral compass is broken. What used to be right is now wrong and what used to be wrong is now right. What has happened to our society? Our moral compass appears to be broken.

We allowed the removal of prayer within our schools. God forbid that our school children would be taught the Lord’s prayer. Even more repulsive is kids actually praying before they start their school day. So now we replaced prayer in school with bullying, drug problems, armed guards and kids killing kids. God has been eliminated from our schools.

The Ten Commandments have been removed from many schools because some special interest groups are fearful that students might read them. It would be appalling, even dangerous for kids to read and possibly embrace God’s rules for living. Somehow our society has been successful in removing God from the jungle we call society.

Then there is the concept of “human dignity”. The sanctification of human life has been shunned at both ends of the life spectrum. We pass laws that make it admissible to stop a beating heart while still in the mother’s womb. At the other end of life’s spectrum we stop the heart of a dying person prematurely and call it compassion. Human life is no longer respected. So the active shooter who kills is only duplicating what others have done “legally” for years.

People are angry. Fast food is no longer fast food if it takes more than two minutes to fill an order. Cursing and aggressive behavior over a hamburger is the norm for many. Then there is road rage. The light turns green and if cars don’t start moving in a split second, horns start blaring and hand gestures start flying. People are angry and don’t even comprehend why.

According U.S. Census Bureau 1 out 4 children live in fatherless homes. Mothers are called upon to raise their children by themselves. ChristianHeadlines.com reports twenty-five percent of professing, practicing Christians live in households that regularly pray and practice Bible reading together. In other words, God has been taken out of seventy five percent of our homes further destroying the moral compass of our society.

If two people have differing political views one may end up beaten, verbally assaulted or spit on. No longer is it acceptable to agree to disagree. To respect another’s perspective is now somehow wrong. What ever happened to “love your neighbor as yourself”?

As a society it is acceptable to indoctrinate children in the art of killing for fun. Look at the video games that are available to our youth for killing enjoyment. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has written many books and articles on the subject and has expressed great concern in this area. No one is saying all video games are bad. But those that require killing over and over can desensitize young people to the concept of killing and death. At some  point the video game is no longer satisfying. More is needed. Since these games also develop exceptional eye-hand coordination, the same skills needed for shooting, the perfect storm can be created. Angry child, maybe bullied, has had enough. Add desensitization to death and good motor skills and the active shooter is created. What would happen if our children spent the same amount of time being introduced to the Word of God, participating in community outreach or helping neighbors in need?

Many of our politicians blame guns for all the mass shootings. They use every shooting as a platform to convince citizens that guns must go. How can an inanimate object be blamed for killing? What a ridiculous concept that continues to foster strength by some. An active shooter is a misguided individual with a broken moral compass. They have lost all perspective as to where due north might be. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently decided against the “red flag law”. Instead he is focusing more on the aspect of mental health and it’s role in mass shootings. Finally someone sees the problem is not the gun, the gun is only the tool. It is time to put God back in America, repair our moral compasses and get our country back on course.

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear.

It is my belief that the significant cause of mass shootings is the culprit, the shooter, not the gun. When did we, as a society, become so irrational that we believe an inanimate object has a will of it’s own. That it can somehow jump up and commit a heinous act of a mass shooting.

As crazy as this sounds all we need to do is listen to our anti gun advocates. Repeatedly they have said, “the only way to stop mass shootings is to create stricter gun laws and to ban some types of guns.” With more than than 20,000 gun laws currently on the books it seems that if the gun was the problem, mass shooting should have been eliminated many years ago.

There are four types of mass shooters. First, there is the rampage shooter. This individual is maddened by some event in his or her life to the point that they believe their only recourse is to punish society for the unfairness or mistreatment they have been dealt. Their only option is to kill. The higher the body count the more satisfaction. 

The rampage shooter will then choose a “soft target”, in which there lies innocent and unsuspecting victims doomed at the hands of the killer. The local mall, theater, restaurant or a large event are just a few potential targets the killer might engage.

The second type of shooter is the workplace shooter. This individual, much like the rampage shooter, feels they have wronged. In this case it is the place of employment that has been unfair. Relations with other employees have become defective. Or the conflict may have been fostered through management do to some inappropriate actions by the soon to be killer. Revenge is the compelling motivation. The individual longs to even the score, by inflicting pain on other as they have inflicted pain on him or her. 

The potential killer becomes angry, eventually deranged, he or she is prompted to return to the workplace to have their way. The workplace, in most cases, is a soft target. The terminated employee is very well versed in, not only the layout of the workplace, but where the most populated areas await his destruction.

The third type of is the school shooter. This may be a student currently enrolled in educational facility, an alumni or one of the two previous examples. 

Schools provide several advantages for mass killings, especially when the killer selects an elementary establishment. Many schools have little or no security, making them very soft targets. The youthful student pose no resistance for the shooter. Therefore he or she may have their way as they initiate their killing spree. It must be recognized here that many schools are taking steps to improve security at their facilities and they should be applauded for their progressive actions.

The final example of an active shooter is the terrorist. Defined as a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political and or religious aims. Their misguided endeavor is to kill as many people as possible to illustrate their cause. More bodies equate to more news coverage from around the would. This is precisely what the shooter desires. His or her mission is accomplished proportional to the extent of media coverage. Media coverage induces fear and terror among citizens. Fear causes people to change their lifestyle to the degree they will give up freedoms for a sense of security. Therefore the terrorists succeeds in their mission.

Every example provided here demonstrates the mental deficiencies of the shooter. Understand that some of these killers have resorted to other means to achieve high body counts without the use of guns. Confiscating a truck to run down people on a busy street or the use of explosives to effect the outcome they desire.

Until society establishes a mode for recognizing these threats before they are able to inflict chaos and grief, we will never see an end to such tragedy. The MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers) organization has seen great success in reducing teenage drinking. This was accomplished through initiating awareness programs and stricter laws for those who committed the crime. However they did not ban the automobile.

Mass shootings are not issues relating to guns. Instead it is issues of the heart and mind. It is evil lurking around the corner. Our country is one of the world leaders in innovation. We can and will initiate steps to put an end to mass shooting. But we cannot effect change when all the focus is on the gun.

There have been many suggestions on how to keep our schools safe. So I thought I would give an overview of my plan. It is simple and I believe most schools could implement it easily. It is a seven step system.

1. Limit the number of entrances during the morning arrival of students. 
2. Provide an armed Resource Office at each entrance.
3. Visitors can only enter through one entrance.
4. Visitors are escorted to their location.
5. Students are taught situational awareness.
6. Arm SPECIFIC staff members.
7. Create an evacuation alarm specifically for active shooter situations.

Limiting the number of entrances as students are arriving allows better control and monitoring as to who is entering the school. For example, if an individual is wearing a long trench coat or looks somewhat suspicious, they can be questioned or detained. Placing an armed Resource Officer at the entry points provides them with more visibility as well as developing relationships with the students.

Visitors should be limited to one entrance and should be identified through a visual intercom system. This allows staff to talk to the visitor and identify them before being allowed to enter the school. 

Once inside the school, visitors should be escorted to their desired location. This provides additional security and prevents people from wondering around the school. This also assures the individual has a purpose for being there.

Situational awareness is something everyone should learn. There is no better place to start than our schools. Situational awareness teaches the student to be aware of their surroundings. It helps them to detect something is out of the ordinary. It is not meant to make them paranoid but to simply make them aware. 

Armed guards, police officers and body guards are taught to carry guns safe and effectively. Citizens are taught how to conceal and carry a gun safely. The same can be done with key staff members in schools. There is such a negative stigma about guns some feel this is a terrible idea. But the fact is a gun is a tool and is used for good more than it is used for bad. Arming key staff member can make our children safer.

The fire alarm system is not an effective tool for the evacuation of students during a shooting event. We train students to evacuate in a specific way during a fire. An active shooter evacuation is different. Students should be able to distinguish between a fire alarm and a shooter situation when leaving the school. This allows them to respond to the specific threat.

But remember that no amount of planning can eliminate the threat of an active shooter. The steps outlined above can reduce the threat but not eliminate it. An evil person wanting to kill will find a way to accomplish their goal. That’s why we must stay diligent in countering their evil ways.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5

Two weeks ago, two law enforcement officers engaged school shooters to stop the incidents before they became mass murders. Did you see it on the news? How much news time did they receive compared to the Parkland or the Texas shootings.

While everyone else is hysterical and promoting more gun control, these two police officers used guns to stop two school shootings. Little recognition has been given to these heroic individuals for saving numerous lives. It just doesn’t fit with the left wing agenda.

Officer Mark Dallas said,”I heard several shots ring out. I see a shooter in our lobby, I see a person in our lobby with a long gun.” Officer Dallas approached the shooter and began chasing him to the parking lot where the shooter surrendered. No one was killed or injured due to the fast action of Officer Dallas. The students and staff of Dixon High School in Dixon, Illinois has a hero in their presence.

A shooting at a Great Mills High School in Great Mills, Maryland, left the alleged shooter dead, and two other students injured. Deputy Blaine Gaskell, a Resource Officer, engaged the shooter. Ultimately the shooter was killed by Deputy Gaskell. This incident could have been much worse if not for the quick action of this resource officer.

There are solutions to keeping our children safe in schools. Unfortunately the anti gun people feel the only way to keep schools safe is through further gun control. How does gun control eliminate a killer from bringing an IED (improvised explosive device) to school? You see it’s not about guns it’s about killing as many people as possible. If a gun isn’t available what could be used? There are many options but none will be presented hear to prevent giving ideas to the wrong people.

The two incidents described above are excellent examples of how well trained, courageous law enforcement officers can stop a killer from having their way. 

Depending on the size of the school, limit the number of doors the students can use to enter the building. Fire exits would not be impacted because the doors could be used to exit but not enter the building. After designating the entry doors, place resource officers at each entrance. This promotes their presence as well as giving them the ability to monitor those entering the building.

Searching for common sense solutions to school shootings can be found if we stop, take a breath and think rationally. In the meantime we need to thank these brave officers for a job well done.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Minutes after the Texas school shooting fake Facebook posts started to emerge and CNN reported that this was the 22nd school shooting in 2018. This number erroneously includes gang violence incidents and a B.B. hitting a school bus.

The anti gun people love to distort the truth and preach the same sermon over and over. They want background checks. Guess what, we already have them. And background checks are not going to stop people from acquiring guns illegally, as it appears the Texas shooter did. Background checks are not going to eliminate the mentally disturbed or evil person from obtaining a gun. 

The constant outcry is we need stricter gun laws. We now have over 20,000 state, local and federal gun laws on the books. Not one of these laws would stop a mass shooting. Why? Because people who want to kill don’t consider the law. They want high body counts and will do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal. Schools are no gun zones but that hasn’t stopped the shootings.

Let’s band assault rifles. Assault rifles have been used in very few school shootings. Such is the case in Texas. A shot gun and a 38 caliber revolver were used. Since he was 17 years old, both were illegal for him to have. According to research by James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University professor, who studies mass murder, only 24 percent of the mass shootings dating back to 1982 involved assault rifles.

Mass shootings of any kind are not acceptable. Innocent lives taken by an evil person is horrific. The question is does the anti gun community use these horrible incidents to push their agenda? It appears this is true. They talk more about the gun that was used than the victims. They portray themselves as concerned for the loss of innocent lives. If that is true, where is their outrage for the over 2500 babies that are aborted each day.

I pray for for the victims and their families. And I will continue to fight to retain our God given right to protect myself, my family and my community. A small group of people took prayer out of schools. No way will we allow a small group to destroy our constitution.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.

Proverbs 28:4