What can we Learn from Recent Active Shooter incidents?

Why has law enforcement, schools and society in general failed to protect children in the educational system and specifically schools? Why has the protection of workers in the workplace been such a failure? There is a lot we can lean from failures if we are grounded and professional enough to look closely at gaps.  The gaps between concept and the reality of habits.  As I say to kids when asked to speak on goals and potential. It’s not the goal, sure dream big.  But after you have this goal, you say you really want, understand that it’s your HABITS that will determine what becomes of you.

Lion’s Gate LS began to study this issue in 2010.  We studied every active shooter incident, specific to schools and in the workplace in the United States at length.  We studied shooters, the incident, the reasons (even though mainstream media covers for certain type shooters leaving manifestos), we studied security systems in place meant to protect the workplace and the Aftermath. The excuses, the capacity for vigils and the finger pointing. We studied the public attempts to place blame on firearms as the culprits, as if the arm, move, target select and fire themselves.  

Today, we will attempt to break down the security failures in past attacks and how LGLS addresses these gaps.

First of all, it should be noted that it is Complacency that kills, and avoidance of facts is its partner in crime.   We will concentrate on schools first. Most schools’ administrators fall into the category of nurturers.   Some are just career-minded, and others are pure administrators who have long lost the nurturing side and are basically just counting the days. They are not by nature protectors or operations people.  Regardless of where they stand emotionally, integrity or professionally, protectors they are not.  Not by way of mind set or professional training.   In fact, like most company executives, they operate under the faulty mindset, “What are the odds that it will happen here?” and thus are always unprepared.

Schools and companies then succumb to the tech sales industry looking to capitalize on the quick fix tendency of the general population.  There is no magic pill…. The problem here is that signs, cameras, fences and alarms simply DO NOT Deter, Detect or Mitigate threats and concerns.  And they are only effective on law abiding people.   Since Columbine, we have lost hundreds of teachers and students K-College and law enforcement response has been appalling at times as in the cases of Uvalde TX, Parkland FLA. In that case the legal team for the deputy that hid while the active shooter look lives, stated as of Dec 2023, that “he had no obligation to stop the Parkland School shooter” * NBC News June 29, 2023, 3:16 PM 

The criminal intent on killing children, workers or visitors of any site is best mitigated by Trained Professionals with expertise in the law, tactical awareness and capability.  In the case of LGLS, our guards are selectively hired, specifically trained in our 200-hour program before being assigned to a post.

To rely on an outside source, that may be overwhelmed with calls, who’s tactical training is set to frankly, the lowest common denominator at their department, and to relay on communications between frantic civilians and emergency 911 operators to coordinate an effective response…. Is to say a tall order.   In fact, the results speak for themselves.  I know this sounds harsh, but it is simply the truth.  Like any other specialty, if you don’t train for it, you can’t expect to perform effectively.

Among the scope of services LGLS has come to provide are but are not limited to; SOP and EAP development, providing specially selected, trained and equipped personnel, that are solely focused on protection of the site, serve as active embedded security consultants supporting all aspects of operational concerns and finally, we protect the schools and companies while meshing with the culture of those we are contracted to protect.  We don’t suppress the culture.  In fact, our most complimentary feed back is often that we have caused business or enrollment to rise…  How is that possible?    The answer is that while most people miss this fact, security personnel are most often, the first and last people anyone working or visiting the site, have contact with.    Any more often are left with professional experience or not, forming their opinion on who contracted them.  

We at LGLS understand that our professionalism will be a direct reflection on our client’s decision making.

While security personnel absolutely need to be trained in professional bearing, law and tactical proficiency, incident management and report witting, they also need to be trained in decorum and people skills.   Our guards have been referred to as super greeters, but if they detect a concern or threat, you can bet everything including your reputation that they will deter, detect or MITIGATE the threat with extreme prejudice.   Our mission is to protect our clients’ lives, their assets and their reputation.  And we are exceptionally effective at it.

The key to success is Awareness, Preparedness and Actual Capability.    Not look at the security at your kid’s schools, place of business or operations….  We live in a world of allowance; we have allowed by complacency for the moral compass to degrade into the spread of liberal cancer.  No one is safe in the world where we have allowed moral decay.  But we can make it secure from site to site.