Every single American – young and old – must be given training to survive a new wave of mass shooting attacks launched by a ‘new breed’ of killer, according to a leading active shooter survival expert.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay shooting – which saw 58 people killed and hundreds more injured in the deadliest gun atrocity in US history – security firm boss Michael Julian said the number of people being killed in mass shootings is increasing year on year and the shooters are becoming more ‘sophisticated’ with each attack.
Julian is the creator of the ALIVE active shooter survival plan and travels across America teaching law enforcement, schools and businesses how to survive an attack.
Speaking at the 93rd annual conference of the World Association of Detectives (WAD) in Las Vegas, Julian says the current situation is ‘critical’ and it’s time that everyone, even young children, receive the necessary training and education.
‘Yes, in my view every man, woman and child should receive some level of training on how to handle an active shooter situation,’ he told DailyMail.com.
Security firm boss Michael Julian says people are increasingly being killed by mass shooters, who are becoming more ‘sophisticated’. Julian spoke on the first anniversary of the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay shooting (pictured), which saw 58 people killed and hundreds more injured
The Las Vegas Strip will go dark on Monday night to mark the one year anniversary of the gun rampage that killed 58 people at the Route 91 open-air country music festival. Pictured: Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock
Julian continued: ‘We have got to learn how to recognize the possibility that this will happen and we need to know how to react.
‘This phenomenon can happen anywhere in the world, but with guns, yes, it’s going to be a higher probability.
‘But regardless, why wouldn’t we educate ourselves? We want to stay alive.
‘And until that happens, these guys are going to continue to be successful. The problem is getting worse not better.’
Since the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre in December 2012, during which a gunman killed 20 children, six adults, and himself, there have been more than 1,600 mass shootings in the US.
A mass shooting is defined as an event during which four or more people are killed.
In 2017, 11 mass shootings were recorded in the US causing 117 deaths and 587 injuries in concert, religious, workplace, airport, and shopping venues and in the community.
Up to April 18 this year, an astonishing 214 people have already been killed and 299 injured according to Mass Gun Violence statistics.
As the problem worsens and gun rights advocates harden their stance, Julian says everyone has to take the threat seriously.
And he says future shooters are learning from past atrocities on how to maximize the death count.
Up to April 18 this year, an astonishing 214 people have already been killed and 299 injured according to Mass Gun Violence statistics. Pictured: A man covers a woman during the Las Vegas shooting last October
Since the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre in December 2012, (pictured) during which a gunman killed 20 children, six adults, and himself, there have been more than 1,600 mass shootings in the US
‘There is a new breed of active shooter, they’re becoming more and more sophisticated, more thought out,’ he explains.
‘They’re certainly more educated, because how do you learn how to do something – from somebody that’s done it before.
‘Now we’ve had so many of these incidents in so many different locations, done so many different ways, planned out, strategized, they’re getting more and more ideas, they’re learning how to do it and it’s becoming easier for them to do.
‘We need to make it harder for them to do it and less attractive, less gratifying.
‘We need to take away that power and control, the opportunity for them to get that because that’s what they want.’
Julian compared the need for education with schools in the Midwest teaching children how to react to tornadoes or in schools in California teaching students how to stay safe in an earthquake.
‘This is no different,’ he said. ‘How to survive an active shooter should be in the curriculum.
‘They need to see what it looks like, they need to understand it’s real, they need to realize that it can absolutely happen to them and then they need to get into the mindset part of it so that they know that if something like this starts, they’re not just automatically a victim.
‘They have the power to change the way this thing ends, if they use their head and they are not overcome by fear.’
As the problem worsens and gun rights advocates harden their stance, Julian says future shooters are learning from past atrocities on how to maximize the death count. Pictured: Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz (left) and Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof (right)
Julian (pictured) teaches the official advice issued by the US Department of Homeland Security- ‘RUN. HIDE. FIGHT’, but developed his ALIVE program three years ago which offers more in depth guidance. He’s also written a book on how to survive a mass shooting
Julian teaches the official advice issued by the US Department of Homeland Security- ‘RUN. HIDE. FIGHT’, but developed his ALIVE program three years ago which offers more in depth guidance. He’s also written a book called ’10 minutes to live’ on how to survive a mass shooting.
And he says the more attacks that are averted or stopped, the less incentive future mass shooters will have to carry out shootings.
He also said the media has to shoulder its responsibility not to make ‘celebrities’ out of mass shooters.
Julian, CEO/President of National Business Investigations Inc. in California, also spoke of the need of a shift in the ‘culture’ in America, away from celebrating bullies.
The security expert and investigator joined 150 other members of the World Association of Detectives (WAD) for the organization’s annual conference in Las Vegas.
The conference, held at Palms Casino Resort, saw a selection of the world’s elite investigators and security specialists get together to discuss business partnerships, expanding their vast network and how to improve the field of investigation and security.
Mike LaCorte, President of WAD, said the 150 WAD members who have attended this year’s conference will join in to honor those killed in last year’s Mandalay Bay shooting atrocity
WAD is a global alliance of 950 international investigators and security professionals operating in 80 jurisdictions around the world.
Mike LaCorte, President of WAD, told DailyMail.com: ‘We meet twice a year with different locations selected around the globe.
‘And the reason why it’s important is you meet the people that you work and conduct international business with face to face, you understand local dos and don’ts in various jurisdictions around the world and you form strategic relationships and partnerships with other investigators around the globe.’
LaCorte says WAD is the largest and oldest association of its kind in the world.
‘The reason it’s so unique is there is no other association like it and being part of this association gives you international leverage.
‘Our members are fighting fraud, investigating crime, finding missing children, preparing cases for litigation, you name it.
‘The amazing work WAD members do in the private sector really relieves the pressure from the public sector, especially where police forces are stretched.’
LaCorte, who is also CEO of Conflict International, a global investigation and intelligence agency with offices in London and New York, said the 150 WAD members who have attended this year’s conference will join in to honor and commemorate those killed in last year’s Mandalay Bay shooting atrocity.
The Las Vegas Strip will go dark on Monday night to mark the one year anniversary of the gun rampage that killed 58 people at the Route 91 open-air country music festival.
The solemn event is one of several scheduled to mark the deadliest mass shooting in US history that saw more than 400 other people wounded by bullets fired by Stephen Paddock from his high-rise hotel suite.
Hundreds more were injured while fleeing the chaotic scene.
Many survivors and life-savers have returned to Vegas to mark the somber occasion.