Teachers at a Utah school learned how to disarm and respond to an active shooter on Wednesday.

Dave Acosta, owner of Fight Back, lead a gymnasium full of teachers from Freedom Preparatory Academy in Provo, Utah in exercises that help them to ‘turn the tables on the shooter.’ 

The ex-Swat team point man and asset protector in Afghanistan and Africa, taught them the types of firearms used in an active shooter scenario and practical drills, disarming each other of dummy handguns and assault rifles.

Acosta can be seen locking arms with a teacher from Freedom Preparatory School in Provo, Utah in a drill designed to show educators how to disarm an active shooter carrying an assault weapon

Acosta can be seen locking arms with a teacher from Freedom Preparatory School in Provo, Utah in a drill designed to show educators how to disarm an active shooter carrying an assault weapon

Dave Acosta, pictured here with a dummy handgun, is an ex-SWAT team point man who has been teaching teachers how to respond to an active shooter for the last four years. He also spent time in Afghanistan and Africa in asset protection

Dave Acosta, pictured here with a dummy handgun, is an ex-SWAT team point man who has been teaching teachers how to respond to an active shooter for the last four years. He also spent time in Afghanistan and Africa in asset protection

Dave Acosta, pictured here with a dummy handgun, is an ex-SWAT team point man who has been teaching teachers how to respond to an active shooter for the last four years. He also spent time in Afghanistan and Africa in asset protection

While some suggest running and hiding should always be the first resort, others, like Acosta, believe teachers should be trained to disarm shooters

While some suggest running and hiding should always be the first resort, others, like Acosta, believe teachers should be trained to disarm shooters

While some suggest running and hiding should always be the first resort, others, like Acosta, believe teachers should be trained to disarm shooters

A teacher is pictured holding out a dummy handgun with Acosta, pictured right, demonstrating how to block the gunman's attack

A teacher is pictured holding out a dummy handgun with Acosta, pictured right, demonstrating how to block the gunman's attack

A teacher is pictured holding out a dummy handgun with Acosta, pictured right, demonstrating how to block the gunman’s attack

Acosta, the owner of Fight Back, can be seen in a demonstration advising teachers on how to respond to a shooter carrying two handguns

Acosta, the owner of Fight Back, can be seen in a demonstration advising teachers on how to respond to a shooter carrying two handguns

Acosta, the owner of Fight Back, can be seen in a demonstration advising teachers on how to respond to a shooter carrying two handguns

The Fight Back system is based on 'three principles.' These are 'Prepare,' 'Prevent,' and 'Protect'

The Fight Back system is based on 'three principles.' These are 'Prepare,' 'Prevent,' and 'Protect'

The Fight Back system is based on ‘three principles.’ These are ‘Prepare,’ ‘Prevent,’ and ‘Protect’

According to an article written on Acosta’s Linkedin page, the Fight Back system is based on ‘three principles.’ These include lessons on understanding firearm differences and how to distinguish between an active shooter and a mass shooter. 

He said he then teaches ‘Prevention’ to reduce the likelihood of an incident. This includes making potential killers aware that people on site are trained to respond. 

The third and final element of the course calls on teachers ‘and anyone else who wants to learn’ to fight back and ‘Protect.’ 

This includes lessons to teach staff to understand firearm differences and distinguish between an active shooter and a mass shooter

This includes lessons to teach staff to understand firearm differences and distinguish between an active shooter and a mass shooter

This includes lessons to teach staff to understand firearm differences and distinguish between an active shooter and a mass shooter

Acosta said that one of his students, James Walsh Jr, 'saved lives' by taking out a gunman in a Nashville waffle house

Acosta said that one of his students, James Walsh Jr, 'saved lives' by taking out a gunman in a Nashville waffle house

Acosta said that one of his students, James Walsh Jr, ‘saved lives’ by taking out a gunman in a Nashville waffle house

Female teachers can be seen here learning handgun blocking techniques at active shooter training in Provo, Utah

Female teachers can be seen here learning handgun blocking techniques at active shooter training in Provo, Utah

Female teachers can be seen here learning handgun blocking techniques at active shooter training in Provo, Utah

Dave Acosta, pictured left, demonstrates gun blocking techniques with a teacher on stage at an active shooter event

Dave Acosta, pictured left, demonstrates gun blocking techniques with a teacher on stage at an active shooter event

Dave Acosta, pictured left, demonstrates gun blocking techniques with a teacher on stage at an active shooter event

A teacher learns how to disarm a shooter at an active shooter event. Opinions on the best practice during a shooting differ

A teacher learns how to disarm a shooter at an active shooter event. Opinions on the best practice during a shooting differ

A teacher learns how to disarm a shooter at an active shooter event. Opinions on the best practice during a shooting differ

Other believe that 'fight' should be the last resort and that people should try to get out of the building first

Other believe that 'fight' should be the last resort and that people should try to get out of the building first

Other believe that ‘fight’ should be the last resort and that people should try to get out of the building first

The event is part of a cross state exercise implemented by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) who have employed Acosta to conduct his Fight Back training scheme across their schools in the state. 

The purpose is to teach educators to defend their students from mass murderers with their bare hands.   

‘We said, look, here’s an opportunity for us to take a real expert with Dave Acosta and bring him into the schools and talk in different ways about what schools can do today to improve the school safety for their students,’ UAPCS executive director Royce Van Tassell told KSLTV.

‘As an association, we’re not going to take a position on what the right solution is. Every school is a little bit different, and that’s one of the things that makes Dave a great partner. He provides a variety of options depending on what works. ‘

Acosta said that he has been training teachers how to ‘fight back’ against shooters for four years in Utah, adding that one of his students went on to ‘save lives.’

‘Days after my most recent training session with 50 teachers at a St. George Utah Charter School, James Shaw Jr. tackled and disarmed an active shooter before he could kill more people inside a Nashville TN Waffle House,’ he said.  

However, according to Oakland County Sheriff, Mike Bouchard, attack should be a last resort. His department teaches ‘Run, Hide, and Fight,’ in that order. 

Some campaigners for trained teachers say that these methods simply increase casualties

Some campaigners for trained teachers say that these methods simply increase casualties

Some campaigners for trained teachers say that these methods simply increase casualties

While teachers at the Freedom Preparatory Academy learn to disarm shooters, some teachers in Utah schools are allowed to bring guns to work with them

While teachers at the Freedom Preparatory Academy learn to disarm shooters, some teachers in Utah schools are allowed to bring guns to work with them

While teachers at the Freedom Preparatory Academy learn to disarm shooters, some teachers in Utah schools are allowed to bring guns to work with them 

Individuals with 'concealed carrier cards' can bring a firearm to school and headteachers aren't even allowed to ask them if they're carrying

Individuals with 'concealed carrier cards' can bring a firearm to school and headteachers aren't even allowed to ask them if they're carrying

Individuals with ‘concealed carrier cards’ can bring a firearm to school and headteachers aren’t even allowed to ask them if they’re carrying

Two teachers can be seen practicing disarming techniques on an assault rifle, similar to the ones often used in school shootings

Two teachers can be seen practicing disarming techniques on an assault rifle, similar to the ones often used in school shootings

Two teachers can be seen practicing disarming techniques on an assault rifle, similar to the ones often used in school shootings

Dave Acosta can be seen teaching during the 'prevention' part of his event where he teaches students about the types of weapons used and the differences between an active and mass shooter

Dave Acosta can be seen teaching during the 'prevention' part of his event where he teaches students about the types of weapons used and the differences between an active and mass shooter

Dave Acosta can be seen teaching during the ‘prevention’ part of his event where he teaches students about the types of weapons used and the differences between an active and mass shooter

Teachers can be seen here watching the talk by Dave Acosta who used to work in a SWAT team in Las Vegas

Teachers can be seen here watching the talk by Dave Acosta who used to work in a SWAT team in Las Vegas

Teachers can be seen here watching the talk by Dave Acosta who used to work in a SWAT team in Las Vegas

‘The first one is run to get away from the danger,’ he said. 

He then advises barricading oneself in a room but says to avoid all glass conference rooms. 

He said that only if the shooter is ‘within 20 feet’ and there is no option to hide. 

Yet, opinions on the effectiveness of these methods are contested.   

‘What we found was lockdown training, it really does not mitigate casualties, what happens is it actually increases the casualty rates in a room,’ Joe Hendry told USAToday. 

Hendry is the director of risk assessment for the ALICE Training Institute, an officer training company that help police to respond to shootings.

A study from the start of this year confirmed that there has been a steady increase in the deadliness of school shootings between the years 2016-2018 which has left schools and teachers weighing up the best way to manage the risk of an armed killer among the classrooms.

In February last year, US President Donald Trump endorsed the idea of teachers carrying guns to school

In February last year, US President Donald Trump endorsed the idea of teachers carrying guns to school

In February last year, US President Donald Trump endorsed the idea of teachers carrying guns to school 

He was sitting with the survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting where 17 people were killed and another 17 injured by 19-year-old Nikolas Kruz and his AR-15 assault rifle

He was sitting with the survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting where 17 people were killed and another 17 injured by 19-year-old Nikolas Kruz and his AR-15 assault rifle

He was sitting with the survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting where 17 people were killed and another 17 injured by 19-year-old Nikolas Kruz and his AR-15 assault rifle

Shooter response training has increased in Utah recently but the state also allows teachers, if they are a ‘concealed carry permit holder,’ to pack a firearm and have it with them at school. 

In February last year, US President Donald Trump endorsed school teachers carrying firearms when holding talks with survivors and families of the 14 February 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Stoneman Florida.  

An expelled student, 19-year-old Nikolas Kruz killed 17 people and injured another 17 with an AR-15 automatic rifle.  

Trump said that teachers carrying guns would end the shooting ‘very quickly’ and called for increased background checks for gun buyers. 

However, some believe guns have no place in the classroom. 

Mary Ann Thompson, head of the Utah chapter of gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action said: ‘Guns don’t belong in our classrooms to begin with.

‘Teachers and staff should be focused on helping our kids learn, not focused on being responsible for stopping an active shooter.’

And there are risks to concealed weapons, particularly among the ‘hands on’ classrooms where Kindergarten children run around and jump on the teacher. 

 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk