On Sunday night, gunshots rained from a Las Vegas hotel window into a crowd of concert-goers. The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has no doubt left many Americans wondering how they would react in such a situation.
While the likelihood of finding oneself in the middle of an active shooter situation is small, training to prepare people for the frightening possibility is becoming widespread.
McKean County law enforcement officials shared tips and training opportunities available locally.
McKean County Sheriff Dan Woods offered some basic advice for those who find themselves in a violent situation.
“My personal recommendation is very simple and would work for anyone, anywhere,” said Woods. “It’s called Run, Hide, Fight.”
Woods explained the advice is just like it sounds.
“First, try to run to an area of safety, then hide until all is clear and as a last resort, fight,” he said. “People need to be aware of their surroundings and consider where they would run and possibly hide if necessary.”
For anyone looking for more detailed training, there are courses available locally. This includes ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training by Sgt. Butch Bartlett, a Bradford City police officer who is a certified ALICE instructor, or various firearm or protection courses offered by Sgt. Martin Henneman, a retired station commander of the Kane State Police barracks who now offers various personal protection classes as president of IOA Enterprises LLC.
Bartlett explained, “ALICE Training teaches citizens proactive ways to defend yourself in an active shooter situation instead of sitting and being a target.”
Bartlett said he became a certified ALICE instructor while he was a school resource officer for Bradford Area School District. Since then, Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco has encouraged Bartlett to share his knowledge with different groups.
Among the groups he has trained are employees at Zippo Manufacturing Co. and American Refining Group, staff at Bradford, Otto-Eldred and Port Allegany school districts and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and even churches.
He’s trained firefighters at a majority of local fire departments “so they know in responding to active shooter situations what to expect.
“The number one goal is to teach civilians how to react and how to better make themselves safe in an active shooter situation,” Bartlett said.
An example of what students learn in the training is the difference between cover and concealment. Bartlett explained that someone concealed under a table could still be hit by a bullet, while someone who takes cover behind a concrete wall is better protected.
The courses teaches “if an actor came into a room in a school or business how not to be passive, but instead to be aggressive and defend yourself,” said Bartlett.
He noted that, since the Vegas shooter was so far away from the targets, it was a different situation than if a shooter entered a building.
Meanwhile, Henneman offers several courses through his company, IOA Enterprises.
This includes classes such as basic pistol shooting, NRA basic pistol, personal protection in the home, personal protection outside of the home or conceal and carry. Depending on the class they take, customers learn skills such as gun laws, safe gun handling, keeping guns away from children and carrying firearms responsibly.
“I have classes for people of all levels,” Henneman said, adding “My favorite students are ones who don’t have any preconceived notions, and we can explain to them the true facts and what is really important.”
He noted that older students or students who have experience hunting and have some knowledge are often surprised to find out things they did not know — or things a friend told them incorrectly.
When it comes to protecting oneself in a physical attack, Henneman said it’s difficult to give general tips on what to do, as “Every situation’s different.”
In addition to differences in the attack itself, there are other dangers to watch out for, such as frightened crowds, in which someone gets knocked down and injured.
While Henneman cannot tell people step-by-step instructions on what to do, he can teach people how to look at the details of their specific situation to determine how to handle it.
“If they have the building blocks I offer in the class, it makes the decision-making better,” he said.
Henneman also instructs a nationwide NRA program called Refuse to Be a Victim.
The class itself doesn’t involve firearms, he said, explaining that it rather “informs people how not to become a victim.” The class is taught all over the country.
Henneman noted that he offers the Refuse to be a Victim program to any business or group that is interested at a minimal charge, and he will bring the presentation to them.
“It’s good for anyone feeling bad about these types of situations,” Henneman said of the program, and it offers a chance for people to ask questions.
Law enforcement officers weighed in on whether the local popularity of gun ownership deters gun violence.
“I know it does,” said Henneman
He referred to the low level of gun violence he investigated during his 25 years as a state trooper. When he was a supervisor at the station, he recalls only one or two crimes that involved a firearm in McKean County.
Henneman noted he was talking with Senior Judge John Cleland recently, and the judge recalled maybe one homicide in the years the pair knew each other.
Woods agreed.
“I certainly think it does,” he said. Woods referred to a recent Era article “about the number of pistol permits issued in McKean County and the number of incidents of gun violence.” The article “showed there were little to no incidents of gun violence over the last few years.”
