Three things about that exhaustion and fear of mass shootings
Do you worry about mass shootings?
If yes, think of these three things:
First, it's okay to be afraid and angry. Second, it's okay to be exhausted. Third, know that I stand with you and with millions of Americans looking to do more to reduce and end gun violence. Allow this article to help you reduce stress.
Exhaustion is inevitable. We are all exhausted.
It often feels like I am working seven days a week on mass shootings, and I can appreciate how tired everyone is of worrying whether they or someone they know will be involved in a shooting. The not-so-secret method for battling exhaustion is pacing, a lesson so many of us remember from living through the COVID-19 pandemic and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
I purposefully push away from my desk to take a hike, watch comedy, or enjoy rom-coms, television, and streaming. I cook and work out. I seek things that give me a moment of pause away from the work I do.
Being afraid can be a good thing, not a bad thing. We should all be afraid of being involved in a shooting, just like we are all afraid of being struck by lightning or being in a tornado. How do you manage that fear?
Know what to do if it happens.
We are a society that revels in being prepared even for the unlikely. Whether caused by fear of litigation or our American need to over-plan, we are good at preparedness. We listen to the warning to put on a life vest if a plane goes down even though a commercial airline in the US has not gone down in decades. The same principle applies here. Knowing what to do in this type of emergency gives you the power to reduce your stress.
If you don’t have an emergency plan for a shooting in public, at a school, or in your business, check websites and ask those in charge. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation both have useful films and training tips in Run, Hide, Fight, the federal directive to help you keep safe.
Run, Hide, Fight is a shorthand version–3 verbs–that describe what people do when bullets start to fly. Your company or school may use training marketed by a commercial firm. That’s okay. They all train the same thing as the free Run, Hide, Fight training developed by the City of Houston’s Mayor’s office. The Mayor’s office offers training in multiple languages, and it and several sites provide child-focused ideas. My book, Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis, includes two chapters on tips for adults and children.
Start with RUN. You can't be hurt if you aren't there.
A few years ago, the FBI added the extra urge saying if you are in an open space, try to escape anywhere you can. It is good advice. Don’t overthink this. I’ve heard people say you can’t run from a firing automatic weapon so don’t run. You can’t outrun a shot fired from a handgun either. If you aren’t familiar with guns, know that shooting a gun isn’t as easy as it seems in the movies, and hitting a target is even harder. Don't overthink your fear of the type of weapon or your chance of survival. Just remember, the further away you are, the safer you are.
If you can’t run to safety, HIDE if there is someplace safe to hide.
Know that if the path clears, you can still run. FBI research shows that 70% of active shootings end in five minutes or less, a few minutes is often all you need to get away. This applies to school emergencies as well. Many schools call this step lockdown and lockout. Do you know what your children are trained for? If not, ask.
FIGHT is the third element.
No one wants to fight but each of us has the capacity to fight when our life depends on it. FBI researchers found that 13% of the first 160 shootings it studied were stopped safely by unarmed civilians. Unarmed I say. Just remember that if you need to, you have it in you.
Find free online resources HERE and listen to Stop the Killing Podcast