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National Review Writer: Newtown Caused by Not Enough Manly Men

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lawhawk12/19/2012 1:20:34 pm PST

Or maybe we should look to Texas State University, which had a mass murder event occur (Charles Whitman). Here’s what they recommend in an active shooter situation:

If an active shooter is outside your building:
Go to a room that can be locked. Lock the doors and windows, and turn off the lights.
Get everyone to lie on the floor and out of the line of fire.
Call 911 and inform the operator of the situation. Give your name, location and any other details that can be provided about the shooter(s), if possible.
Stay at your location until the police or a known university official gives the “all clear.”
If an active shooter is in your building:
Determine if the room you are in can be locked. If so, follow instructions above.
If your room can’t be locked, move to a room that can, or exit the building - ONLY IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.
If an active shooter enters your office or classroom:
If possible, call 911 and alert the police to the shooter’s location; if you can’t speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen and try to pinpoint your location.
If you can’t escape, attempting to overpower the shooter(s) by force is a LAST RESORT.
If the shooter(s) leaves the area, proceed immediately to a safer place, if possible. Do not touch anything that was in the vicinity of the shooter(s).
If you decide to flee, make sure you have an escape route/plan in mind. Do not carry anything; move quickly and quietly, keep your hands visible, and follow any instructions given by police officers.
Do not attempt to remove injured people; tell the authorities of their location as soon as possible.
Do not leave campus until advised to do so from the police.

That’s in Texas. Attempting to overpower the shooter is the last resort. This is where you’re dealing with college kids who might have a sporting chance at overpowering an assailant.

I can recall a hostage situation in SUNY Albany about 20 years ago. The shooter had a rifle, and a couple of students attempted to overpower the gunman. One of the students who rushed to overpower the assailant ended up getting shot and seriously injured in the process.

The gunman in that instance had mental health issues and while the jury and appeals upheld guilty verdicts on the kidnapping and aggravated assault, he later committed suicide in prison after shuttling back and forth between mental health facilities and prison.