Office Shooting Monday- Scared today

[NMGonzo]

I try to be aware of my escape routes the best i can

 

[MinnMooney]

fish miner (Post 15) :

families are crushed, people are dead and now lots of people are wondering about their safety (around here).

I hear you about now you & other people are scared after an event like what you were close to. Doesn't it seem odd, though, because danger is all around us all the time. Every time we travel down a two lane road and pass cars only a few feet from each other. We're approaching each other at 110-120 MPH and doing a near miss every time. Danger.

There are angry people walking around us every day. People who have just had a horrible fight with their spouse/kids/parents and are still a-n-g-r-y. They want to lash out.... Danger; but luckily, most don't.

Danger is why we carry protection. We carry a handgun, mace, pepper spray or, at the least, a whistle. We try to keep the danger at a certain distance. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. We at least try.
Some don't. They rely of L.E. or us. They scream. They run. They hide. They're hoping that some one will help them. Most of us here on THR at least make an attempt to help our selves and keep danger at bay.

 

[dec41971]

I do work for the University- however Research Park is not owned by the Foundation. It is privately owned and operates as a entity similar to an aviation authority. My building is owned by the Foundation and is considered school property- we have classes in the building, students etc.

When I was hired HR lets you know that guns are not cool on campus or at any University facility... I kind of need to pay my mortgage so I will have to put my sheep costume on each morning on woolly leg at a time...for now.

I know that feeling. I once lived in a shady neighborhood. One day some idiot decides to rob the shopowner in the shop across the street where I always went for milk. The old fart turned out to be a crack shot, and when the banger knucklehead pulled a gun on the grandpa, he was nailed right between the eyes. Mind you store was full of scared customers at the time. Every night I went to bed and the incident would reply in my head until I fell asleep. You see; my bedroom window directly faced the shop. I kept wondering what if he had missed, what if it was 10 pm, it happened again and he missed. I might catch a hot bullet in the back, in my head I don't know. I sure would hear the window smash at it flew in, but was there anything I could do? I considered moving my bed, but realized no real safe spot. It bothered me so much 2 months I moved to a different safer part of town. I know some think you are a coward for feeling the way you feel, but trust me, I have desire to stay in harm's way to prove my bravely. I'll take coward any day, and go home safe every night.

 

[FROGO207]

+1 on the need to formulate a plan of action for the IF it happens again. It appears the procedures that are in place are weak at best.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Random shooters don't chose gun free zones to carry out their twisted ideas of revenge?

No, they really don't. A lot happen in gun free zones as these are the locations where the shooters had issues with the business, mgmt., or other employees or simply happen to be locations where their target(s) congregate.

 

[inclinebench]

I take exception to the comments of Werewolf. I live walking distance from where Cho killed 32 people, my wife works across the street from where the first two victims were shot. My mother used to work in the building where the other 30 were killed. This was after an event on campus in the fall where an escaped prisoner shot a LEO two blocks from my house, and hid behind the rugby field where I have played countless matches, and is just down the hill from my kids daycare. I do know how the OP feels, and I support him.

 

[figment]

Does it make sense to intentionally create a circumstance where criminals are the only ones armed?

(No answer is required)

 

[Fish Miner]

Thanks for the support- A bad situation that did not have to happen. Turns out the victim had been before a judge a couple weeks before her life was ended seeking a restraining order...Judge said there was not enough evidence.

And maybe the judge was right. But it sure feels wrong. Oh and it turns out the shooter had a valid CCW.

Right now I am working up an email to our police dept to determine why they were not more in the loop- we have a campus email/text emergency protocol (after what happened at VT) but nothing got sent out.

 

[dom1104]

uh, why would you be scared? arent they both dead?

Did it just now hit you that there is violence in the world and the heart of mankind is evil?

I am puzzled.

 

[xsquidgator]

Fellow Orlando resident here. Not to be too flippant, but would you rather be in trouble, or dead? Seriously, those are almost the only choices when it comes to protecting yourself in a "gun free" zone. Most of us go along with

things will be just fine and you should never need to provide for your own defense.

Something to think about as sort of a middle ground, between doing nothing differently and carrying in a place you're not supposed to, is keeping a defensive gun in your vehicle. It's up to you to figure out whether you'll rely on the Florida "guns locked up in your car law" that passed a few years ago, or simply park somewhere offsite.

I am sympathetic to your plight, as I work in a similar situation near downtown. I was outside during lunchtime a month or two ago when my wife called me on my cell and told me about the downtown office shooter on the loose a short distance away. I supposed I had similar feelings to yours, except that you were right there where it happened and had more to worry about. If you change your daily carry habits, don't tell anyone at work!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Fellow Orlando resident here. Not to be too flippant, but would you rather be in trouble, or dead? Seriously, those are almost the only choices when it comes to protecting yourself in a "gun free" zone.

Depending on the state and location, some gun free zones come with jail time if caught. They you enter into another form of gun free zone where there are a different set of risks.

 

[SSN Vet]

turn your anxiety into outrage...

the woman who was shot went to the authorities with hundreds of e-mails and other evidence of theats made by the stalker and yet some idiot judge denied the restraining order and instead ordered a hearing... some weeks later...

Now she's dead and the dip stick black robe will sit down at the hearing next week and rule against her request a second time because she failed to show up for the hearing.

The justice system in this country is irrepairibly broken... the law is used to defend doers of evil deeds and the good are thrown to the wolves.

Time for us all to step up, strap on and take care of ourselves.

 

[Mr.Davis]

You want comfort and reassurance check with your significant other.
Want to validate your feelings see a shrink.

Wow, what a high road attitude You don't know the OP's situation, and if you don't have anything better to contribute, I suggest you go elsewhere.

OP, I understand your feelings and your frustration. We had a shooting about half a mile from my work and the shooter fled the building. No one knew where he was for a few hours. If he'd decided to come down the street and duck into our building, we'd have been defenseless.

Ignore the chest-beaters here. This type of incident really bothers me and many others, and it's exceptionally frustrating when you can't take personal responsibility for your own safety because the company thinks a magical "no guns" talisman on the door keeps the BGs away.

BTW, the shooting near my work was at a school building. The shooter walked right past the "No Guns" sign, shot a man dead, then fled.

 

[Neverwinter]

Right now I am working up an email to our police dept to determine why they were not more in the loop- we have a campus email/text emergency protocol (after what happened at VT) but nothing got sent out.

This is the right thing to do. The school should use an emergency notification protocol for cases like this, in case it turns out to be an active shooter. It will do a lot more for safety than just going strapped yourself.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

Seriously, even if its a gun free zone, if it bothers you enough just carry. This is where firearms like the LCP and its similars come in handy. I emphasize, DO NOT BREAK THE LAW but if you feel your safety is in jeopardy because of a company policy or guideline, then go around it. You have to play the risk/reward game and see what matters most to you - your safety or your employment.

Damian

 

[Werewolf]

Seriously, even if its a gun free zone, if it bothers you enough just carry.

A J frame revolver like a S&W 642 or 638 just disappears in the pocket if a good pocket holster is used. When sitting it is all but impossible to determine if there's anything in the pocket at all no matter how closely one looks. When standing, if one knows what to look for, and most don't, it is still very, very difficult to tell if one is carrying or not.

This is true for tight fitting jeans and more true for a nice pair of slacks.

Concealed means just that.