Take a proactive approach to active shooters and work place violence prevention: see something, say something.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This statement attributed to Benjamin Franklin in the early days of American history has rung true for over two centuries, and can be applied to many issues of public safety today.
Public safety is a community effort that starts with informed and engaged citizens. As ordinary people going about our ordinary lives, we know what "normal" activity is and what it is not. "Normal" is subjective; it changes with the situation, location, time, and all the many factors of ordinary life. There is no standard for normal, but we all know what it is.
When something is not "normal" then it’s time for: if you see something, say something. Reporting suspicious incidents is vital to keeping our schools, public spaces and workplaces safe.
There are early warning signs for many dangers and dangerous behaviors. Studies of active shooter incidents have found that there were often early warning signs that the shooter could be moving along a path that ended in the tragic incident. If warning signs are noted or understood by law enforcement, school systems, universities, employers, mental health care professionals, and the public; intervention and prevention is possible.
If you see something, say something. Reporting suspicious incidents is vital to keeping our schools, public spaces and workplaces safe.