Fighting Back Aganst a School Shooter

The heroic actions of teacher David Benke at Deer Creek Middle School is certain to generate interest in instructing teachers to fight back when confronted with an armed attacker in our nation’s schools and colleges.  Certainly the thought of having teachers (and even students) fight back against a gunman can seem incredible, counter-intuitive and extreme. Luckily no one ever David Benke that his thoughts of doing everything he could to save students were too extreme.    Mr. Benke is  not the first person to stop a school shooter with  an active of selfless courage.

Ryan Crowley, Jake Ryker, Josh Ryker, Douglas Ure, Davis Ure, Ada Walberger, Joshua Pearson and Travis Weaver also fought back against a school shooter. In 1998, these seven students prevented Kip Kinkle from killing more of their schoolmates.

On May 21, 1998, 15year-old Kipland (Kip) Phillip Kinkel went  inside the cafeteria that was packed with over 250 students. Using a semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle, Kip fired nearly 50 rounds; wounding 25 people. After the initial spray of gunfire, Kip started selecting his targets, killing Mikael Nickolauson.

Shortly after killing Mikael, Kip’s realized his magazine was empty when he attempted to shoot another student. This brief window of opportunity was exploited by Ryan Crowley, Jake Ryker, Josh Ryker, Douglas Ure, Davis Ure, Ada Walberger, Joshua Pearson and Travis Weaver. The seven students, two of whom were shot and injured in the process, overpowered Kinkel and stopped the killing.

Kip Kinkel murdered his parents, two students and wounded 25 others. He was sentenced to 111 years in prison without possibility parole.  The very same day as Kips’ attack a plot by three six graders to carry out an ambush style attack was uncovered in St, Charles, MO.

Fighting back against an attacker should be taught as a last resort as part of a larger security strategy that includes threat assessment and physical security. But it should be taught.   All security procedures should be developed in conjunction with local law enforcement and trained experts.

This post is provided by SafePlans (www.safeplans.com), an all-hazards preparedness solution including emergency plans, staff training, and detailed site mapping.

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