Empower Your New Year: A Self-Defense Expert Unveils Crucial Tips to Enhance Your Safety and Survive an Active Shooter Situation

Party enthusiasts will gather in large numbers to celebrate the arrival of the new year at various public events throughout the nation. However, a cautionary note comes from an expert advising revelers to be prepared for the worst-case scenarios.

Revelers celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York City

Joey Walker, a retired police lieutenant and current self-defense instructor, expressed concern about the frequency of incidents where individuals with firearms choose to attack innocent people. He highlighted diverse reasons behind mass shootings, ranging from anger-driven actions to mental illness and everything in between. Walker emphasized that individuals undertaking such killing sprees often exhibit both homicidal and suicidal tendencies.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Walker provided guidance on the steps people can take when confronted with the terrifying situation of an active-shooter scenario.

Joey Walker, an authority on self-defense with experience in writing books and instructing civilians on safety across different scenarios, proposed a modification to the commonly used phrase "Run, Hide, Fight" for active-shooter situations. According to him, it should be revised to "Run, Hide, Ambush."

Walker elaborated on each verb, providing specific instructions and strategies for implementing these actions.

Run

When the sound of gunshots echoes, Joey Walker highlighted two crucial assessments to make: determining the proximity or distance from the gunman and identifying the direction of the gunfire.

Robert Card is shown in this video image during his shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, on Oct. 25, 2023. Card fatally shot 18 people and injured 13 others

In attempting to evade the bullets, individuals often make the error of calling 911 while fleeing, according to Walker. He emphasized that, if possible, the primary focus should be on escaping the kill zone. Only after reaching a safer location should one then call 911 to report the shooter.

Walker suggested adopting a low position on the ground and seeking cover behind objects that may provide protection against bullets. In situations requiring immediate escape, he recommended moving from one cover position to another until completely out of the danger zone.

Hide

The selection of a hiding place holds significant importance, as advised by Walker.

According to the self-defense expert, an ideal hiding spot is a room or building that the shooter has not entered, equipped with a door that can be closed and locked. After securing the door, Walker recommends barricading it, turning off the lights, and relocating to a corner where the likelihood of being hit by bullets is minimal.

However, Walker stresses the importance of having a contingency plan. If the decision is made to hide, it is crucial to choose a location where, in the event of the shooter breaching the concealed spot, one can resort to the last line of defense: fighting for one's life.

Identify and be ready to utilize improvised defensive tools, such as sharp or blunt objects, in case the shooter breaks into the room. Stay alert for any sounds indicating the shooter's movement in the area. If you hear the shooter approaching your position, it's time to prepare yourself in case of an attempted entry, Walker advised.

Ambush

This represents the final option.

Raul Mendez survived a mass shooting in which he was shot in the head and even managed to thwart the shooter

In my instruction on active-shooter defense, I strongly discourage actions like throwing objects or charging the shooter, as these can be perilous, and the shooter might choose to target that individual next, remarked Walker.

Instead, Walker advises individuals to ready themselves for the shooter from their concealed hiding place. Position yourself strategically to use an improvised defensive tool for a counterattack against the shooter.

According to Walker, if your defensive weapon is a sharp object, aim for the shooter's eyes or throat. For a blunt item, target the shooter's head or face. Walker emphasizes that being in such close proximity to a gunman should only be considered as a last-resort effort, especially for those not trained in self-defense.

Walker imparts skills to his students for multitasking in a hand-to-hand combat situation, where maneuvering the firearm barrel away while simultaneously executing a rapid series of strikes to incapacitate the shooter may be necessary.

Upon successfully disarming and incapacitating the shooter, if the opportunity arises, make your escape from the area, advised Walker. In the presence of a potential second shooter with an unknown location, remain in your concealed position and be prepared to defend yourself if the need arises.Top of FormTop of Form