Guides
- What Is Jury Duty and How Does the Jury Selection Process Work?
- What Is a Verdict and What Happens After a Jury Delivers a Guilty or Not Guilty Decision?
- Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours, Complaint Laws, and How to File a Noise Complaint
- What Is Harboring a Fugitive and What Are the Penalties and Jail Time for It?
- Are Written or Verbal Contracts Legally Binding and When Should You Use Each?
- When Your Driving License Can Be Revoked and What You Can Do About It?
- What Are the Hunting Laws and Permits by State in the USA?
- Is Drunk Driving a Felony, What’s the Punishment, and How Many People Die From It?
- What is Domestic Abuse vs. Domestic Violence, and What Are the Differences?
- What is a Roommate Agreement, What Are the Benefits, and What Should You Include?
- What is Public Indecency, and What Are the Laws, Charges, and Penalties?
- What Are the Pocket Knives Laws, Legal Lengths, and Rules for Illegal Types?
- What is Aiding and Abetting and What Are the Punishments and Charges for It?
- Where Can You Be Naked in Public and Celebrate National Nude Day?
- What Is Child Custody and How to File for It Without an Attorney
- What to Do if Someone Has Stolen Your Driver's License Number and How to Replace It
- What is Bail Jumping: Punishments and Jail Time for Failure to Appear in Court
- Dating a Minor: Is It Legal and What Is the Age of Consent?
- How to Conduct a Dating Profile Search and Find Someone on a Dating Site
- What is Personally Identifiable Information and Why is PII Protection Important?
- What Is a No-Fault Divorce, When Did It Start and Why It Can Be Bad
- The Differences Between Moving And Non-Moving Violations
- What are Aggravating and Mitigating Factors in a Criminal Case?
- What Is ADR: Process, Meaning And Examples
- Definition and Differences Between Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Charge
- How to Get a Divorce: Process, Stages and Required Papers
- Embezzlement as a White-Collar Crime: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
- What Is a Car Registration, How Much Does It Cost and How to Get One?
- Types of Email Archiving and How to Retrieve Them
- How to Protect Your Car From Theft or Report It Stolen
- How to Organize and Protect Your Personal Documents?
- How to Find and Reconnect With Old Friends: Proven Techniques That Work
- Business Records: Types, Examples and How to Search
- Right to Privacy: Is It Protected By The Constitution?
- Ownership and Tenancy in Severalty in Real Estate
- What Different Types of Marriages Are There?
- Should You Believe in Age Gap Rules Calculation
- What Is Driver’s License Status and How To Check It
- What Is Civil Marriage: Pros and Cons
- Top 5 Most Famous Serial Killers Of All Times
- What Was The Subprime Mortgage Crisis
- Most Famous Murder Cases Throughout History
- The Dynamics and Consequences of Ghosting Someone in Personal Relationships
- What is Incarceration? Definition, Process, and Impact
- What is A Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)
- Is AI Dangerous? Unveiling the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
- What is a VPN?
- 7 Cybersecurity Threats to Look Out For
- What Are Debtors and Creditors, and What Are Their Legal Rights and Differences?
- What Are the Types of Business Ownership and How Can You Transfer It?
- What is a Tax Lien, How Does It Work & How to Stop One?
- What is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases?
- Property Ownership Types You Should Know About
- Community Safety Initiatives: How to Make Your Neighborhood Safer
- What is a Lien and How Lien Priority Works?
- Campus Safety 101: Essential Tips for a Secure College Life
- How to Know If Someone Is Divorced?
- What are the CCPA and CPRA?
- How to Get Over a Breakup?
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling and Is It Really Effective?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- How to Submit a Data Removal Request and Hide Results About You on Google Search
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What Is a Wellness Check, What Does It Consist of and How to Call For It?
- What Is a Temporary Restraining Order and How Do You Get One?
- What is Smishing And How to Prevent it?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- How to Avoid Common Venmo Scams and Protect Yourself From Scammers
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record, How It Affects Insurance and How to Keep It Clean
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- What Are the Different Types of Bankruptcies and Which One Is Right for You?
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- How to Search and Find Family Members and Relatives Who Are Long Lost?
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Are the Types and Tools of Packet Sniffing Attacks?
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: Why They Are Important and How to Get One
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- What Is an Outstanding Warrant and How Can You Check if You Have One?
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How to Read a VIN Number and What It Tells You
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- How Many Different Types of State License Plates Are There and Which Is the Standard One?
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Is Petty Theft a Misdemeanor and What Are the Consequences?
- What is a Life Sentence? Life in Prison
- Find out How to Check if Someone Has a Warrant Online for Free
- Is a Marriage Certificate the Same as a Marriage License and What Are the Differences?
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Number Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- What is the Punishment for Filing a False Police Report?
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- Can You Track Someone's Location with Just a Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Phone Call and How to Block The Number?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- What to Do When Someone Is Missing: Practical Steps on How to Find a Missing Person
- How to Send Money to an Inmate in a Prison or Jail
- DUI vs DWI: The Difference Between DUI and DWI
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find Someone's Address?
- What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
- What Is Situational Crime Prevention?
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- Ways to Know Who Owns a House
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Find Out If Someone Is in Jail?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find the Registered Owner of the Vehicle for Free?
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- What is Repossession of a Car?
- Protecting Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Statistics and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- Traits of Sociopaths, Are They Dangerous and How to Deal With Them?
- Who Are Your Neighbors and How to Find Out About Them
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- What's The Difference Between a Jail And a Prison?
- Homeowner's Insurance Coverage & Common Claims
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- How to Report a Crime?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- School Safety and Security Standards
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
Whether you live in rural America or a busy city, there is always the potential to be at the wrong place at the wrong time during an active shooter incident. This guide will help you to know ahead of time, how to plan for it, what to do and how to respond if it happens.
Unfortunately, these types of incidents are becoming more commonplace, and it is essential for regular citizens to be aware of how to handle the situation. According to a report published by the FBI in 2014, most active shooter incidents last only two minutes. That is not enough time for the authorities to respond so you need to know ahead of time what to do until help arrives.
Plan Ahead
Living in these uncertain times, it makes good sense for families to attend active shooter training. Sign up with local authorities to learn what to do, what not to do and how to prepare yourself if you are ever confronted with a person wielding a gun.
- Ensure that everyone in the family is involved and informed.
- When visiting an unfamiliar area, keep an eye on the environment and locate all exits, so you have a quick escape plan if needed.
- Have a plan for young children, seniors or anyone with physical disabilities that might need extra help.
- Visualize a plan ahead of time, where would you go? What actions would you take? The clearer the picture in your mind, the more automatic your response will be in the actual situation.
- Consider a concealed carry permit for protection.
Be Watchful For Unusual Behavior
The first, most crucial step is always to keep a sense of situational awareness. This heightened state may also be referred to as “relaxed but alert.” What it means is that you are not in fight or flight mode, but you are entirely aware of your surroundings; all the sights, smells and sounds are very distinct to you. You are not singularly focused but relaxed and ready to take action if necessary.
Keep an eye out for anything which seems out of place or abnormal. If you see someone that is acting suspicious or strangely and if you see any firearms on them, find the nearest authority and report it immediately.
Watchful citizens being aware of their surroundings, other people and reporting odd behavior could prevent active shooter incidents before anything tragic occurs.
Listen For Gunshots
A threat to personal safety can come at any time, not just from terrorists but even regular individuals who have decided to take the law into their own hands by picking up a gun and executing some type of justice clear only in their minds.
Familiarize yourself now with what to do if you hear gunshots in a public place, so you will be able to respond correctly and quickly, possibly saving your life and the lives of others.
Most people freeze in an emergency, but it is critical in these instances that you take quick action. If you hear something that sounds like a car backfiring or fireworks, err on the side of being cautious and assume it is gunshots being fired.
RUN, HIDE, FIGHT
In these types of situations, you have three options run, hide or fight. To protect yourself and loved ones, you must take whatever action necessary to survive. Doing any of these three things may seem foreign to you, but they may just make the difference in how things turn out.
RUN
The first action to take is run as far away from the gunshots being fired as quickly as possible. Regardless of what others are doing, your first instinct should be to run hard and fast towards the closest exist away from danger. Urge others to run as well but leave your belongings behind and don’t wait for anyone to follow you. The only thing that matters at that moment is getting to safety.
Call 911 the minute you are in a safe location away from the shooter and alert authorities to the dangerous situation occurring.
HIDE
If you are in a situation where the shooter is blocking the exit, and there is no other way out, then find a place to hide.
- Get as far away from the shooter as you can, hide and stay very quiet.
- Find a place to hide that is out of sight from the shooter and will provide protection should the gunman aim in your direction.
- Be sure all your electronic devices are turned off so they won’t even make a vibration noise, which could alert the shooter to your location.
- If you find a room to hide in, lock the door, block it with heavy furniture, turn off the lights, close the blinds and stay away from any windows.
- Don’t hide with a big group of people. Spreading out and hiding in separate locations will make it harder for the shooter to find you.
- If you can, send a silent notification to authorities via text or email.
- Do not leave your hidden location until the situation is under control and the authorities have assured you it is safe to come out.
- Hide in a closet or small bathroom if possible.
- If you cannot find a room to hide in, hide where you are concealed from the shooter, but you can see them. If they pass you, you can then run to safety or fight if needed.
FIGHT
As a very last resort, if you cannot run and do not have a place to hide, you may have to fight the assailant. In quite a few cases unarmed civilians were able to disarm and overcome a shooter. It is possible if you take quick, aggressive action and commit fully to the follow-through. People wielding guns are often lulled into the false expectation that everyone will be too scared to charge at them or try and fight back. Use this to your advantage; they won’t be expecting you to attack them.
- Use anything you can for weapons, like sticks, fire extinguishers, and other heavy or sharp objects.
- Try and form a group with other victims and ambush the shooter.
- You have to prepare yourself to cause severe harm to the shooter and possibly even kill them to survive yourself.
- Be as aggressive and violent as possible; this is a life or death situation, don’t hold back.
- Throwing items can disarm the shooter and give you and others an opportunity to run and escape.
- If the shooter drops their weapon grab it immediately and get it away from them. This evens the playing field.
- If the gun is pointed at you try and grab the barrel and control where it points. Point it down toward the floor in case it goes off, so no one will get hurt.
If you are armed, exercise patience for when you have a clear shot at disabling the shooter so that you can escape. You do not need to aim to kill, just to disarm them enough to get away and call for help.
After Help Arrives
In the aftermath of a shooting incident, things are likely to be a bit chaotic and confusing. Be sure to follow these steps below once the cavalry has arrived and taken control of the situation.
- Put down any tools or weapons and keep your hands visible to authorities.
- Follow instructions given by law enforcement officials. Their goal is to end the situation as peacefully as possible. You don’t want to get in their way.
- Officers may be aggressive while trying to control the situation, pushing people out of the way to safety and using tear gas or other resources.
- If you are hurt or wounded, get help immediately.
- Help others who are hurt or in need of medical care.
- Use first aid training to help anyone who requires assistance.
- If there are people who are unconscious, turn them over onto their sides and find blankets or something to keep them warm until help arrives.
- It is a good idea to take advantage of professional counseling services after an incident like this, which can leave many people traumatized and scarred, even if you didn’t incur any physical injuries.
Although these incidents are becoming more prominent in our society, it is unlikely that during your lifetime you will be involved in one. However, it is always good to be prepared and familiarize yourself with what to do and the best steps to take to survive.
Ready.gov has some valuable resources and information on how to prepare for this type of event. A few of the most helpful links are:
Video on how to prepare for a shooter incident:
Homeland security’s prepare yourself worksheet: Security:
Ready.gov’s active shooter response pamphlet:
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/active-shooter-how-to-respond-2017-508.pdf