Is Aggressive Active Shooter Training A Realistic Option For Colleges and University Campuses
As we woke this morning, or for some, before they went to sleep last night, the horrifying news that it has happened again. A 
school shooting. But this time it is a school shooting on a college campus at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
As the news is reporting right now there were 3 victims from this shooter, and the shooter is now deceased.
First and foremost, our thoughts go out to all those in the community affected by this tragedy. And this time like other college incidents, that community is much larger as parents nationwide most likely had a harrowing few hours last night as they waited for news, most likely feeling incredibly helpless. “Was my child in that library?”
This incident brings up some very good questions about the trainings that we do here at TAC*ONE Consulting. Is it possible to conduct aggressive active shooter trainings that we do in K-12 schools on a college or university campus? Our Beyond the Lockdown training course has recently been in the national spotlight on news programs and so far those news stories have shown us training in local schools such as elementary, middle and high schools. We have conducted some trainings at colleges for university cops and security but overall you don’t hear that much about college campuses training everyone. And we aren’t dealing with kids as students anymore, theses are able bodied 18 and up adults that can actively take a part when necessary.
Shelter in place is not the best option, most of the time.
While college campuses present a unique set of circumstances, it is something that needs to change. We need to train these students and faculty as well to have the best chance at survival for a school shooting.
Here are some of the considerations:
- Open campus – easy access every day, and night to campus, including facilities open to the community
- Multiple Buildings – unlike most K-12s that are contained
- Sheer numbers
- Faculty teach in a variety of settings and may not be completely familiar with their own building
Can we teach people, even in this environment, that you have more options if there is a school shooting on a college campus? Are there are opportunities to barricade, evacuate, and if necessary and given the option, to fight and aggressively attack the shooter?
We believe, Yes.
Even with these obstacles, there is more that we can do more than scream “Shelter in Place”. We need to give everyone a better chance.
Again, our deepest thoughts to the entire FSU community today, and especially to all immediately involved.
