Active shooter mitigation for gun-free zones

Abstract

Active shooting violence poses a serious threat to public safety. The outcome is tragic due to the large number of casualties and injuries that can occur as well as the lasting emotional devastation it causes. This study examines the impact of active shooters in gun-free zones. Gun-free zones include all areas where the general public is forbidden to carry firearms. The goal of an active shooter is to shoot, at random, as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. This makes gun-free zones a likely target since no one inside is permitted to carry a gun. The study uses a computer simulation program, called AnyLogic®, to create a lifelike gun-free zone workplace. Using the agent-based simulation model, different policy decisions are tested against one another. Those policy decisions include a default scenario in which no safety protocol is in place other than law enforcement response, a security guard scenario in which an armed security guard is present, a concealed carry scenario in which employees are allowed to carry concealed weapons, and a locked door scenario in which all interior doors are locked. The study demonstrates how response time has the largest impact of any variable in ensuring the least amount of casualties in an active shooting situation. Response time and number of casualties can be decreased depending upon the policy chosen. The purpose of this study is to allow policy makers to compare the costs and benefits of policies for their respective gun-free zones in order to make more informed decisions which could save lives.

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