Why Is the City of Houston‘s Video Outlining How to Survive an ’Active Shooter’ Crisis So Controversial?
- Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:45pm by
Jason Howerton
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(TheBlaze/AP) — Ominous music plays as a man in dark clothing, sunglasses and a backpack walks toward people working in a high-rise building. The narrator’s voice warns: “It may feel like just another day at the office, but occasionally life feels more like an action movie.”
Moments later, the man opens fire on a security guard near an elevator.
It’s the beginning of a graphic 6-minute video created by the City of Houston in an effort to teach residents what to do during a shooting. Local Homeland Security officials said they realized during training exercises that first responders knew how to react but citizens were far less knowledgeable.
The video emphasizes a short mantra – run, hide, fight – to help people remember their options. The video’s last suggestion, “fight,” has proven to be controversial as there is some disagreement on whether victims should physically fight back against shooters, however, it is referred to as a last resort.
The PSA includes graphic images of innocent bystanders being shot by an assailant with what appears to be a 12-guage shotgun, who then roams an office building looking for victims.
(Source: YoutTube)
The video was made using $200,000 from a federal grant, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker said its release was expedited following last month’s movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo.
Parker told CBSNews the video makes her “sick to (her) stomach that those situations could happen.” And she said, “It’s part of what we as citizens need to do to protect ourselves.”
And though mass shootings are rare, Parker added if the video saves someone’s life, it will have been worth it.
“As children we’re all taught by the fire department to stop, drop and roll if you’re on fire,” said Richard Retz, who works for the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security and helped produce the video. “Unfortunately, with our society the way it is today, we felt that there had to be a new one.”
Several countries and other U.S. cities have done educational campaigns on similar topics, including a long-running one in Israel that tells people what to do if they see an unattended package. Such campaigns can be effective because they bring incidents people see on television closer to home, said Danny Davis, director of a homeland security graduate program at Texas A&M University.
The overall advice in Houston’s video was useful, he said, though whether a person should run or hide before attempting to fight back depends on the situation.
“You’re not going to turn a civilian into a commando with a short video, but at the same time you can at least put in the back of their mind the possible options,” Davis said. “I particularly like the idea that they had in there the idea of fighting. When it comes down to it, and it’s about survival, you better consider fighting.”
But the video’s lack of information about using a weapon in self-defense was a “glaring shortcoming,” he said, noting Texas’ concealed weapons law. Davis suggested that the Colorado shooting, which killed 12 people, may have ended differently had someone in the theater been armed and fired back.
Houston officials considered including a segment in the video advising armed residents to use their guns if possible. But when they delved into the facts, they got a surprise: Despite Texas’ more relaxed gun laws, only about 2.7 percent of state residents are legally armed, Retz said.
What level of training each of those gun owners has and how they would react “is an entirely different story,” Retz said, adding that the city wanted to produce a video for the general population.
Watch the entire uncut training video here:
Following the three-day shooting rampage in Mumbai, India, that killed 166 people in 2008, Houston officials decided to use grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to train first responders to deal with a similar incident. They quickly realized first responders were well-equipped to handle such a situation but citizens were not, Retz said.
Houston used money from a $3.6 million federal grant to research and produce the movie, said Dennis Storemski, director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Filming began in May and the DVDs arrived in mid-July, days before the Colorado shooting.
Initially, Houston officials planned to release the video in a well-coordinated safety campaign, as the city has done in the past for hurricane or flood preparedness. The shooting in Colorado, however, changed the thinking.
“The fact that the shooting was on everyone’s mind, we felt that it was important to get it out there as quickly as possible,” Retz said.
Since being posted on YouTube a week ago, the video has been viewed more than 263,000 times, and Retz’s email has been flooded for requests to reuse the movie – from agencies across the U.S. and as far away as England and Germany – a response he called surprising. The city also plans to distribute it in a more organized safety campaign that would reach workplaces and possibly schools.
“Visual media or video is universal,” Retz said. “We wanted something that was compelling, that would draw their attention, but it was short and to the point.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (53)
TonyRUS
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 8:16pmThis is ******* rediculous. How much training did he perp have? He was a freaking 24 year old with some bad-ass armament. The perp can buy a bunch of equipment, put it on, and then only citizens that have had training can shoot him in the head. Lets say, a citizen shot him and killed a innocent bystander in the prosess, but instead of killing 12 he killed 5. Do any of these monday-morning-quarterbacks get it? There is something else going on here….some other agenda….because it defies common sense.
Report Post »pjpockets
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 2:20amIf you dont have faith in your ability to survive then run if you can. I choose to fight.
Report Post »OpenCarry
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 8:18amThis incident has been set up by the Government — just like Fast and Furious — he was given the arms and then in court he is drugged… he is clueless – used…
Report Post »claymoremacm
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 8:22amDiane Sawyer did a piece on CCW’s and the Left thinks it is impossible for the average citizen to protect themselves.It is on Youtube,Seemed like a stupid flawed report.It basicly said that only police have the training to react in a shooting. Funny I saw a report that says an armed citizen has a better kill rate with less rounds used and less “stray” rounds fired!!! A Gun is like a Seat Belt,wear it you never know when you will need it!!
Report Post »Sheriff Joe Rocks
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 3:25pmSomething you may not have thought of, is that the joker could have been subdued very easily by a high intensity flash light in the face….then jump him.
Report Post »Simple.
FMJGunny
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 9:52pmIn the “FIGHT” portion of this video, notice how one of the guys picks up a fire extinguisher and is going to use it to hit the guy with.
HELLO – IT’S THE LARGEST CAN OF PEPPER SPRAY YOU HAVE EVER SEEN. HIT THE GUY IN THE FACE WITH ALL OF IT AND HE WON’T BE ABLE TO BREATHE, SEE, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THEN BEAT HIM TO DEATH WITH THE EMPTY CANNISTER.
Oh, one other item. If you are IN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION LIKE THIS – PULL THE FIRE ALARM.
EVERYONE WILL RUN FOR THE EXITS. THE FIRE DEPT AND POLICE WILL ARRIVE IMMEDIATELY and you won’t have to DIAL: 911. The police will arrive IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TRAFFIC CONTROL. WITH EVERYONE EXITING THE BUILDING THE SHOOTER WILL BE CONFUSED BECAUSE EVEN HE WON‘T KNOW IF THERE IS OR ISN’T A FIRE.
just sayin…
Report Post »Judeo_Christian
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:53pmSince 2006, I’ve been a licensed to carry. I’ve owned firearms for all my adult life. I’ve never shot anyone. I’ve never had to pull my weapon in reaction to a threat. I pray I never have to.
If a business has a sign that says I can’t carry in their store, I obey the law, the business‘s wishes and won’t enter. I won’t shop where my right to protect myself is prohibited. I am insulted by people, businesses, and governments who consider me a threat to them because I choose to protect God’s most precious gift…my life and that of my family.
I am a threat to no one except those who would harm me or my family.
Report Post »OpenCarry
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 8:20amI am also Licensed CHL in Texas — I feel the same way you do — Pray that never have to use the weapon — but will if feel in fear of my life or to protect…
Report Post »wwolfwp
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 6:41pmUhhh 6 minutes? Hello! Its Texas for petes sake not DC! Twenty seconds tops and no matter what the sign says on the door the guy will sprout more holes than Obama’s Presidency!!
Report Post »LittleSmidge
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:33pmThis video can only be helpful. I don’t see anything wrong with it at all.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 7:32pm“…The overall advice in Houston’s video was useful, he said, though whether a person should run or hide before attempting to fight back depends on the situation…”
Report Post »Absolutely: there’s nothing wrong with running (except getting shot in the back) and surely there’s nothing wrong with hiding (except most materials found in a store won’t stop a bullet passing through); and surely there can be nothing wrong with fighting back (unless one is armed with nothing more than words such as ‘stop’, ‘don’t’, ‘I’m not hurting you’, ‘wait while I call 9-1-1′, etc, or a whistle with which to alarm the attacker, or to tell them you have aids…).
To agree with this stupidity is to deny your rights as a human being owning the right to defend yourself.
jeeper99
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:22pmThey forgot to include the CCW holder stopping the bad guy.
Report Post »dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:08pmI see the 30.06 sign did a lot of good. Very interesting they put that in there. They did the right thing by not including firearms as it is highly unlikely and CHL person will be a factor. of those 2.7% maybe .27% are trained enough to use it effectively.
For non-TX people that is the legally binding signage any business or org can post to ban concealed handguns licensees from carrying. It means “criminals will not encounter armed resistance here come shoot us.”
Report Post »1me2ao
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:46pmyou gotta any links to those stats?
Report Post »FireWall0400
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:46pmThe key thing you need to focus on in this video is at the 0.58 second mark, when the suspect opens the door to the building, there is a sign on the door that says.. “Pursuant to Texas Law Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun” …
A LAW ABIDING citizen with a valid concealed weapon could NOT legally bring their handgun into this office. This sign lets any would be attacker know that all of the law-abiding people in the building are unarmed. This is the issue with more gun laws, as clear in this case, only the “good guys” follow them.
Report Post »FireWall0400
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:56pmI think they spent $200K to make a great video that shows why law abiding citizens should carry concealed firearms and the danger of guns laws..
Report Post »TheFederalist
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:30amBut… the owners or the CEO`s of the building are wide open for a heavy lawsuit if a sign is posted that prohibits legal concealed carry and a shootout occurs. They failed to protect it`s employees.
Report Post »J. Patrick Henry
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:16pmI don’t know why I was surprised by the CBS “DIMBO” when she said the “fight” part wasn’t “her”.
The Borg are all taught to just roll over and die rather than “fight”.
Idiots.
Report Post »shakedowncrews
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:49pmI wasn’t surprised, not at all. I know too many women especially who seem to have internalized this stupid notion that fighting is not “civilized”, so from the comfort of their armchair they can’t envision having the courage necessary to fight against a killer. But I also bet that if someone were endangering their children, they would become momma grizzleys and fight like hell.
Report Post »Just to be clear, I’m not disparaging “women”, I know my sister, wife and daughter would fight, but there are a few women I know (and even a few men) who are so wrapped up in that mentality of “violence is bad” they are willing to become victims…or so they say when they aren’t threatened anyway.
All Pro
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:02pmRun, hide, fight?
Report Post »How about draw, aim, fire!
dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:12pmyou missed the 30.06 sign (no concealed handguns licenses allowed) on the front door. there’s one on the door of my office building too so this is an unfortunate reality.
Report Post »thorkyl
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:59pm5 rules to a gun fight
1 – The criminal does not care if guns are allowed
Report Post »2 – Fight dirty
3 – if your not moving your shooting
4 – if your not shooting your moving
5 – if your not shooting and your not moving your DEAD
daBelch
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:53pmIf they put fight first as in fight, run, hide and everyone took charge of their own defense we would not need to pay for so many police officers to come out and draw all the chalk outlines around all of the bodies you see SWAT stepping over in the video.
But then who would vote all the gun haters back into office if we have fewer cops?
Report Post »Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 6:38pmA supervisor where I work was jumped by 4 thugs last year and had his jaw broken in 3-places. Our company policy prohibits us from even carrying mace or pepper spray. I have my carry in my car, but the attack was between our building and our parking area.
Bad things happen to good people and we should have the right to defend ourselves. Of course, if we do, we would most likely be fired for doing so. That is the world we live in today and it sucks!
Report Post »1me2ao
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:42pmi can believe the entire decay of society that must depend on the goverment to tell them what, how, why they must act. i can not fathom a reason why anyone would need a video like this? this is common sense.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:48pmCommon sense seems to be quite lacking nowadays.
Report Post »toomuchgovt
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:39pmGreat job Texas. Fort Hood, and the Batman movie should all remind us of the unsafe world we live in. Too bad our federal government doesn’t. Isn’t this government only real job, to protect the citizens of the USA?
Report Post »biggerbull
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 4:56pmGoverments job is to protect us from foregin invaders, it’s your job to protect yourself and family/friends. Don’t ever count on the cops/government to protect you. I like THORKYL’s post and is why I have a CHL.
Report Post »tweetybird
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:38pmThis was a good video. I don’t know why the “fight” part is so controversial. If the only option I had left was to fight, then you bet….I will fight with every inch of my life. Even if I lose, at least I tried.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:52pmThere was no Fight part, that’s the problem. Not one image (all too common in the real world) of an Armed Citizen, just the (subliminal message here) UNIFORMED police force (obey, submit, wait for help). Had they shown that the Majority of these situations is stopped by an armed Civilian then there would be no problem (for me)…
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:34pmMan (as in human) is so damn dumb…This video was a waste of money, which could have fed the poor…only here in America…
Report Post »My Two Cents
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:46pmThe same folks who handed out the 3.6 million dollar grant want you to believe that we have a shortage of police officers because the rich don’t pay their fair share. How many cops would 3.6 million buy?
Report Post »Hannibal_32
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:51pmBlack Manta: I’m pretty sure nobody is starving in America. Every bum I see seems to be suffering from Type II Diabetes caused by eating too much. This country has spent trillions and trillions on the war on poverty and the poverty rate has remained unchanged. Instead of teaching the poor how to fish, we’ve created a society where a ton of ungrateful consumers wait impatiently on a few fisherman to feed them. You were right though. Only in America.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:52pmSome of those same poor have bben conditioned to have the government give them their food, shelter, medical care, and to tell them how to think, so it only makes sense that they would need something like this since they would be at a loss as what to do if mama government wasn’t there to tell them what to do.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:30pmHey Blaze, enough with the self starting videos, it’s a pain and it makes the site kind of chezzy ..
Report Post »dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:13pmit’s an embedded video, doubt they have any control over it.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:28pmThey quickly realized first responders were well-equipped to handle such a situation but citizens were not, Retz said.
BS
Notice how the guy blew right past the “concealed weapons prohibited sign”?
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:28pmWhy ? Because anything that makes sense or is right .. Is wrong …
And then there‘s the fact that are afraid of guns no matter what end of one they’re on ..
Pay them no mind and defend yourself ..
Report Post »My Two Cents
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:28pmThe only controversy I see is that my tax dollars are being wasted on a useless video.
Report Post »somecallmeMC
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:24pmI love that the building was a gun free zone.
Report Post »jeeper99
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 12:28pmExactly right !!! why do they keep making laws that criminals are going to ignore anyway?
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:18pmNo need to run, hide or fight if you were packing and took him down the second you saw him.
Report Post »I know I would.
red_white_blue2
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:17pmWe need more of this nationwide!
Report Post »magnum357
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:16pmWhat a racist video why is the the shooter always a white man. I’m just joking!! Of course, where I work a mad man would have return fire. If your place of employment does not allow you to protect yourself then they assume responcibility to protect you. Arm yourself and protect your one life. If you choose not to protect yourself its your problem and don’t wine about it. If I go into a place of buisness and they do not allow me to protect myself and something happens I will sue sue sue. They assumed responcibility for protecting me when they did not let me do it myself.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:03pm“CONTROVERSIAL”? Uh, no. It’s good that Houston is being proactive.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:00pmIt’s simple kill the shooters before they kill you.Stop violating the constitution that guarantees our right to bear arms and stop making gun laws,they’re all unconstitutional as well.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 2:59pmGood for HOUSTON!
We, the general public, need more information and quickly.
Report Post »