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Current mood: bitter, cynical

For those not “in the know,” the phrase “Active Shooter” means someone who carries their gun(s) into a venue where people are present and starts shooting people. These “Active Shooters” usually pick places to do this where everyone else in the vicinity has been disarmed by the venue’s rules and regulations. Other examples: Virginia Tech, Ft. Hood, in that on most college campuses and military posts, the carrying of firearms or “other weapons” is forbidden to everyone except those who have official permission. CNM^[1] and UNM^[2] have such policies.

When was the last time you heard of one of these incidents happening at a shooting range, or at a gun show? You would think that places with lots of armed people present would have blood on the floor a foot deep. But no, those are some of the safest places I’ve been to in my life, and – get this! – everyone is polite to everyone else. Whodathunk it?

So CNM went on “lockdown” for an incident that happened over a mile away from CNM’s facilities?! What was this clown carrying, a Barrett M82 variant?!

Even IF he had been carrying some sort of .50-caliber rifle^[3], he wouldn’t have been able to hit much of anything at CNM with it, considering that there’s all kinds of these things called buildings in the way. Also consider that even with a rifle chambered in .50 BMG, you still have to be a decent shot to hit CNM property from the UNMH location – there is, after all, about 1.5 miles between the two.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: ALL CLEAR – LOCKDOWN LIFTED
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:45:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Attention CNM Official Communication

ALL CLEAR. The CNM lockdown has been lifted. Thank you for your cooperation.

Whew! Aren’t we lucky that such an incident didn’t happen at CNM? After all, the administrators haven’t gotten their plan together to deal with such incidents yet:

CNM should consider adding School Shooter planning to their Emergency Management Plan (EMP), and consider a joint training exercise in the future with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), APD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), hospitals, and other agencies and organizations as appropriate.

The college has instituted Emergency Management Training, which when fully implemented will be mandatory training of all CNM employees. This training contains three modules, Active Shooter, Emergency Evacuation, and Disruptive Students. Additionally, the college has included a SWAT/APD Active Shooter Drill on the Two Year Safety and Security Calendar. The college is planning an Emergency Response Team Exercise conducted by APD during the Fall 2010 term, and a full drill scheduled for 2011.

I’m wondering – what will this “Active Shooter” module to the Emergency Management Training consist of, besides the admonition to lock the door and a revival of the Cold-War era “doctrine” of “duck and cover”?

Y’know, CNM could save a bundle on “expert” panels and seminars if they would simply strike the prohibition against armed students, faculty and staff^[1] and let people go about their business armed. Think of the saved costs of electrical power in terms of electricity not used for PowerPoint shows.

Hell, CNM could even make a few bucks off of this, by offering courses in self-defense and firearms safety and proficiency.

NOTES

1. From the CNM “General Safety” page:
   • Never bring firearms or other weapons on premises, including buildings, parking lots and vehicles.
   • Fascination with guns or other weapons may indicate an employee at risk for violent behavior. Carefully consider such situations and, if appropriate, report it to your supervisor.
2. 2. Violent Behavior

   Violent behavior will not be tolerated.

   • Violent behavior includes verbal, written, physical, electronic, or non verbal threats or other behavior that would constitute a threat of violence or cause a reasonable person to be fearful.
   • Violent behavior includes physical acts against persons, University property, or property belonging to others that would constitute a threat of violence or cause a reasonable person to be fearful.
   • Violent behavior includes restraining an individual or interfering with someone’s free movement, except in patient care or child care areas when specifically authorized by departmental policy.
   • Violent behavior includes the possession or use on University property of firearms, ammunition, or weapons of any kind, unless authorized for law enforcement personnel by the University Chief of Police. This also includes brandishing any object that could reasonably be perceived as a weapon. The University’s policy on weapons is listed in Section 2.1. below. [Emphasis mine – MWB]
   • Violent behavior includes the use or possession on University property of dangerous substances or materials, explosives, or incendiary devices, unless used for University business, such as research, and specifically authorized in advance by Safety & Risk Services.

   2.1. Weapons Prohibited on University Property

   Law enforcement officers, in the performance of their authorized duties, may carry weapons on campus. ROTC students conducting required and supervised drills may carry inoperable weapons only for the purpose of those drills.

   With the foregoing exceptions, no person may use or possess a weapon on any part of campus. For the purpose of this policy, weapons include, but are not limited to, firearms, ammunition or other dangerous weapons, substances, or materials, bombs, explosives, or incendiary devices. Persons with such weapons, materials, or devices must enter campus at the closest point to the Campus Police Office and deposit all weapons or materials at that office for the duration of their stay. Dangerous substances and materials used for University business, such as research, must be authorized in advance by Safety & Risk Services.

   If any person does carry such weapons and/or materials on campus, the weapons and/or materials may be impounded by a law enforcement officer for the duration of the person’s stay on campus and the person may also be subject to appropriate disciplinary and/or criminal action.

3. Chances are the firearms this clown carried were NOT anything chambered in .50 BMG, but something smaller and lighter, that’s easier to walk around the UNMH corridors with.

Copyright © 2010 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.   

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