Active Shooter Incidents

Tabby

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Jul 17, 2025
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Madison Area
These days it's getting more and more difficult to check any news sites without there being an active shooter incident somewhere. I used to believe that I would never have to deal with an active shooter situation, until one happened nearby. It was a church, someplace, I am not known to frequent very often for fear that I would cause a disaster when the roof caved in on the congregation, but nonetheless, it brought home the message that these situations can, and do happen everywhere. No place is safe, indoors or outdoors. It's not even always safe inside a police station. I asked myself, what would be the difference between a personal defense situation vs an active shooter situation? The answers were simple. The number of people (innocent bystanders who could become collateral damage) present in the area, and the distance to engage the active shooter.

When I go to the range I often see others practicing their defensive shooting techniques at distances from 5 to 15 feet. The chances of being able to engage an active shooter at those ranges simply do not exist. Distances are going to be more like 25 to 100 yards, and all points in-between. How many of us are confident in our ability to engage and neutralize a target at those distances? I have been a competitive shooter in the past, and shooting a handgun at 50 yards presents no major difficulty for me, as long as I am not carrying my actual carry firearm. My current carry is a Sig Sauer P365X. It has a 3.1 inch barrel and a 4 inch sight radius. Even with careful aim, the success rate of hitting a full size silhouette at 50 yards was only 3 out of 5 hits on target with those widely scattered. Hardly something that builds confidence. At 100 yards the success rate dropped to two out of five, which means that engaging a target at that range with such a small firearm, without the possibility of collateral damage was about nil. Conversely two of the other handguns I sometimes have on or near me, a Smith and Wesson Model 66 357 Magnum revolver with a 4 inch barrel, and a Sig Sauer M17 (P320) had absolutely no problem keeping all 5 of the shots on the target, in a relatively small group in the center of the body on the silhouette. In all cases, forget any thoughts of a head shot at those ranges, even when shooting from a supported position only 1 or 2 shots to the head, actually hit the head with the M66 or M17.

The point that I am trying to make here is that there is an ever increasing possibility of coming upon an active shooter situation. As a responsible concealed carry person are you ready to engage a target at longer ranges than you currently practice? How capable is the firearm that you carry at accurately hitting a target at extended ranges, and at what range can you and your firearm still shoot accurate enough to engage an active shooter? One last thing, a handgun sighted in at 50 yards is still more than capable of accurately hitting a target at 5 to 15 feet. This is not necessarily true the other way around.
 
Given the sickness in this world I become more convinced that we may all face a time when we and our ability to defend ourselves and others will be called upon. There are sick people that promote and drive this illness and then funds and defends it.

Churches, malls, offices, out for a walk, getting gas for our car, yard work, grocery store, you name it. Sadly even in our homes.

What keeps me going is faith in God, friends and people who meet here on these communities along with people I meet at the range. When the SHTF we'll have each other.
 
Sadly, I am no longer as steady shooting off hand as I was 20-30 years ago. My defense practice is 7, 15, and 25 yards for the most part shooting groups that 30 years ago that would have been typical at at twice the distance. Give me something to steady myself on and it vastly improves but still lacks what I would like to be able to do. I am far from giving up though. I enjoy my range days and the practice time will continue. My defense firearm is to aid in my getting away from the situation rather than taking a shooter out... unless of course I am right there. I guess it boils down to self preservation and doing what is needed in the moment.
 
Sadly, I am no longer as steady shooting off hand as I was 20-30 years ago. My defense practice is 7, 15, and 25 yards for the most part shooting groups that 30 years ago that would have been typical at at twice the distance. Give me something to steady myself on and it vastly improves but still lacks what I would like to be able to do. I am far from giving up though. I enjoy my range days and the practice time will continue. My defense firearm is to aid in my getting away from the situation rather than taking a shooter out... unless of course I am right there. I guess it boils down to self preservation and doing what is needed in the moment.
It seems that people seem to think that defensive shooting means standing out in the open and taking pot shots at the aggressor. Nothing could be further from the truth. If possible find the nearest cover, get behind it and take a supported shot rather than standing out there in the open and waiting for the bullet intended for you. Hopefully you will get them instead of the other way around.
 
5-15 feet is all I’m concerned about. I’m not even contemplating an active shooter. I’m concerned about someone pulling a gun on me at close range. I’ve carried a S&W stainless Airweight .38 special snub nose with a laser grip for 37 years. I’m not going to shoot it further than 15 yards if people are in my line of shot. It’s a close quarter gun.
I practice at home using the laser for my cat to chase. When I’m bored I pick it up and aim it at objects then initiate the laser to see how I aimed.
I mean I pick the gun up and aim but not with the crosshairs just where I think the laser will be….then activate the laser. I’ll move the laser as my cat chases it and it’s a great way to practice shooting without using the crosshairs.
Believe me you might not have time to aim. Tabby also (I’m not picking on you lol) you never aim for the head you aim for the center mass our best chance at hitting something.
If you want to be ready for an active shooter at distance your best option is a Beretta M9 full size long slide the standard military issue. It’s known for its long distance accuracy. Yet it’s all metal, and heavy hardly a concealed carry gun but a great car or home weapon. Plus I think it has a huge clip.
My other carry is a Beretta 380 Cheetah. All metal and heavy but small. 8 rounds. This gun is more accurate than the .38 but still not a long distance weapon.
 
I carry to protect myself and loved ones, if someone is 100 yards away running for cover makes more sense to me then throwing lead their direction with the little gun on my hip.. If I ever need to draw my gun I am Well aware I may be taken out by friendly fire. When the lead is flying and a police officer or another CCW holder sees someone with a gun they may start shooting at me. Every situation is different and you will have 0.005 seconds to figure out your game plan. Best of luck.....
25 yards is tops for me and my eyes.
 
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Sadly, I am no longer as steady shooting off hand as I was 20-30 years ago. My defense practice is 7, 15, and 25 yards for the most part shooting groups that 30 years ago that would have been typical at at twice the distance. Give me something to steady myself on and it vastly improves but still lacks what I would like to be able to do. I am far from giving up though. I enjoy my range days and the practice time will continue. My defense firearm is to aid in my getting away from the situation rather than taking a shooter out... unless of course I am right there. I guess it boils down to self preservation and doing what is needed in the moment.
Unless one is a competent competitive shooter none of us shoot well offhand and unsupported. Thus, we have to find some means of support to assist with a steady shot, which in most cases, there would be something close at hand. Practice shooting one handed. It is much more versatile when trying to shoot with a support than with two hands. It also allows you to make better use any cover available. I hear people constantly complaining about the fact that the Army, or any of the military services only taught shooting a handgun with one hand. There were reasons for that, best use of available cover was one of them, as well as having to shoot with the off-hand in case the strong hand is disabled. In combat, one has to keep their options open and use what is available to them cover and support wise at the time. Two handed shooting severely limits these options.
 
I carry to protect myself and loved ones, if someone is 100 yards away running for cover makes more sense to me then throwing lead their direction with the little gun on my hip.. If I ever need to draw my gun I am Well aware I may be taken out by friendly fire. When the lead is flying and a police officer or another CCW holder sees someone with a gun they may start shooting at me. Every situation is different and you will have 0.005 seconds to figure out your game plan. Best of luck.....
25 yards is tops for me and my eyes.
If someone is 100 yards away, for about 80% of the people it makes sense to take cover. If you are shooting when law enforcement has arrived, then the chances of getting shot by them is most likely 100% if you continue to shoot. The purpose of concealed carry is not to engage after law enforcement arrives, it's to stop the situation from escalating before they get there. If you are not 100% sure of a first round hit under normal circumstances, don't shoot. You could cause collateral damage.

I keep hearing about fuzzy eyesight. Keep in mind that the only thing CLEAR in your vision should be the front sight. The target is supposed to be blurry.
 
If someone is 100 yards away, for about 80% of the people it makes sense to take cover.I keep hearing about fuzzy eyesight.
I do not believe that 20% of CCW holders can hit a paper plate at 100 yards.
I keep hearing about fuzzy eyesight. Keep in mind that the only thing CLEAR in your vision should be the front sight. The target is supposed to be blurry.
I do not believe that 20% of CCW holders can hit a paper plate at 100 yards.
I am the one who says the sights are fuzzy, and I am well aware of front sight focus
Have you heard of farsighted, some cannot focus on the front sight, when I say I line the front fuzzy up in-between the rear fuzzy that means I am farsighted and do not get a clear focus on my sights.
I just hope when someone is shooting at me from 100 yards you will be there to take out the threat while I seek cover.
 
I do not believe that 20% of CCW holders can hit a paper plate at 100 yards.

I do not believe that 20% of CCW holders can hit a paper plate at 100 yards.
I am the one who says the sights are fuzzy, and I am well aware of front sight focus
Have you heard of farsighted, some cannot focus on the front sight, when I say I line the front fuzzy up in-between the rear fuzzy that means I am farsighted and do not get a clear focus on my sights.
I just hope when someone is shooting at me from 100 yards you will be there to take out the threat while I seek cover.
 
I agree with you on the 100 yards, but how many have tried it? Up until a week or so ago I had never tried a handgun at 100 before, 50 however was nothing new. I think that if people got out of their 5 to 30 foot habit and tried it, they might be surprised. My P365 is good out to 25 yards, but only puts 3 out of 5 close to the center of the target at 50, and that is shooting Stacatto Match ammo, which is fantastically accurate. As far as farsighted, yes I am well aware of that and that is one of the reasons I sometimes wear glasses.

If there is an active shooter near you and you are 100 yards, or even 50 away you will most likely be ignored as being too far away so just run or duck behind cover and let the police handle the situation. Personally if all I had with me was the P365 that is what I would most likely do. Too much of a chance of collateral damage with the small pistol at either 50 or 100 yards. I know my 1911 in 45ACP will do 50 yards because I used to shoot it in competition at 50 all the time. Never tried it at 100, but will probably give it a try along with the TISAS in 38 Super as soon as I get adjustable sights on it.
 
Back in the early 80's my buddy and I both had S&W 4" kit gun revolvers that we took to the range frequently. We would throw a golf ball out 15 to 20 yards and compete as to who could hit it and make it jump out further. Our favorite range was soft sand all the way out to 110 yards and we would often make it out to the 35 or 40 yards, unless the ball rolled into a foot print so deep that we couldn't shoot it out of it. I think the furthest we sent one out to was around the 60 yard mark, we got lucky that day. Another time we would set up a gallon jugs of water on the 110 yard berm and plink at it watching the sand splash a second or two after we fired. We were able to walk the shots into the jugs area with judicious Kentucky windage and actually hit the jug from time to time. Yes we would burn up a lot of rimfire ammo at the range but we learned a lot doing it. Challenge your limits and find out how much fun it can be.
 
I agree with you on the 100 yards, but how many have tried it? Up until a week or so ago I had never tried a handgun at 100 before, 50 however was nothing new. I think that if people got out of their 5 to 30 foot habit and tried it, they might be surprised. My P365 is good out to 25 yards, but only puts 3 out of 5 close to the center of the target at 50, and that is shooting Stacatto Match ammo, which is fantastically accurate. As far as farsighted, yes I am well aware of that and that is one of the reasons I sometimes wear glasses.

If there is an active shooter near you and you are 100 yards, or even 50 away you will most likely be ignored as being too far away so just run or duck behind cover and let the police handle the situation. Personally if all I had with me was the P365 that is what I would most likely do. Too much of a chance of collateral damage with the small pistol at either 50 or 100 yards. I know my 1911 in 45ACP will do 50 yards because I used to shoot it in competition at 50 all the time. Never tried it at 100, but will probably give it a try along with the TISAS in 38 Super as soon as I get adjustable sights on it.
Most people underestimate distance until they actually try it and see reality change quickly
 
One of my favorite ranges is up in Gordon, WI. It is a 300 yard range built on loose sand. In order to get to the different targets from 50 to 300 yards they had to build literal roads over the sand to move back and forth to the targets. If you step off the road or built up areas by the backstop and targets you literally sink ankle deep in sand. A range like this is great for the bouncing targets that they sell. With the sand there is no chance of a ricochet off of hard ground. If anyone lives way up there I can highly recommend the range. Nice facilities as well as great people. They do have a daily use fee so it's not exactly free, be a member or pay the use fee. Either is well worth the money.
Most people underestimate distance until they actually try it and see reality change quickly
Very True, It's also true that about 99% of those who shoot handguns, including Law Enforcement have no confidence in their ability to hit a target at any range greater than maybe 50 feet. Outside of competitive shooters, nobody practices shooting one handed, much less with both strong and weak hands or using some kind of support or cover to shoot behind. They train with their entire body exposed in a two handed grip, out in the open, that will most likely get them shot or killed,
 
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