Weapon Wisdom • Active Shooter Response
Empowering Safety: Navigating Crisis Through Self-Defense and Active Shooter Preparedness
By Jamie Anderson • Apr 6
In the moments after an attack, people are left asking the same questions: “What could we have done?” and “How do we keep this from happening again?” Those questions are exactly why we talk about active shooter preparedness before a crisis, not after.
At Weapon Brand, we’ve seen firsthand how quickly a normal day can turn into chaos. From disrupted events to heartbreaking news stories, every incident reinforces the same truth: the time to learn how to respond is now.
Refining “Run, Hide, Fight” for the real world
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Run, Hide, Fight.” It’s a solid framework, but it needs to be understood in detail, practiced, and anchored in situational awareness to actually work under stress.
Run: Move with intention, not panic
If you hear shots or recognize a lethal threat, your first priority is distance and escape. That means:
- Immediately scanning for multiple exit routes, not just the front door.
- Using service corridors, side doors, and emergency exits if they get you out faster.
- Avoiding elevators and choke points where crowds can get trapped.
Hide: Make yourself hard to find and harder to reach
When escape isn’t possible, you need a place that gives you time, protection, and options:
- Choose rooms that lock and can be barricaded with heavy furniture.
- Turn off lights, silence phones, and stay out of sightlines from doors and windows.
- Whenever possible, get behind real cover (objects that can stop rounds), not just concealment.
Fight: Commit fully if it’s your last option
If you are directly confronted and cannot run or hide, you may have to fight for your life. This is never the first choice, but it must be a prepared choice:
- Use improvised tools—extinguishers, chairs, bags, anything heavy or sharp.
- Act with surprise, speed, and commitment, aiming for vulnerable areas.
- Work as a team when possible to overwhelm and create a chance to escape.
Firearms training: more than just pulling a trigger
For those who choose to carry a firearm, skill and judgment are non-negotiable. It’s not enough to own a gun—you need to understand:
- Legal responsibilities and use-of-force decisions.
- Scenario-based decision making under pressure.
- How to work around crowds, bystanders, and responding law enforcement.
Our firearms and active shooter response courses focus on real-world context, not fantasy. We train students to think, move, and decide in a way that keeps more people alive.
Prepared, not paranoid
We never want people living in fear. The goal is prepared confidence: noticing exits when you walk into a building, listening to your instincts, and having a mental plan long before sirens and chaos enter the picture.
The more often you think through “What would I do here?” in everyday spaces—schools, malls, workplaces, worship centers—the less likely you are to freeze if the unthinkable happens.
Turning tragedy into action
Every high-profile incident is a reminder that safety is a shared responsibility. Communities, schools, businesses, and families all play a role in preparation.
Our commitment at Weapon Brand is simple: provide training that is honest, practical, and designed to be remembered under stress—so more people get home at the end of the day.
— Jamie Anderson