FBI: Armed Citizens In “Mass Shooting” Incidents Examined

Armed Citizens

Even though Spice and I live in a state that has “Constitutional Carry” we also both have our Concealed Carry Permits (CCP) so that we can carry in other states.

When we first got our CCP’s, the only way to legally be an armed citizen here where we live in Missouri was to either open carry a handgun, or have a CCP.

Of course, there are a lot of criminals out there who don’t care a thing about legally carrying, owning, purchasing or obtaining guns. They are CRIMINALS, they don’t mind breaking the law.

We, however, have always tried to be completely legal at all times, and we encourage our readers to be 100 percent legal with your firearms as well.

Armed Citizens Taking Action

We’ve all heard stories about armed citizens stopping mass shootings, they are all over the internet, generally through alternative news sources and not via the mainstream media. Read into that whatever you will.

I think it’s crucial that we know the real facts, so we who support the Second Amendment (our one and only political stance here at 3BY) can share honest, truthful information about why the right to defend one’s self with a legally obtained and carried firearm is so important.

The FBI Issued A Report

Recently, the FBI issued this report about armed citizens who were involved in stopping active shooters during the years of 2016 and 2017. I suspect you have probably never seen it, the report did not have wide coverage from the media. 

The following is included in the report:

Citizen Engagement and Casualties

In 10 incidents, citizens confronted the shooter. In eight of those incidents, one or more citizens safely and successfully acted to end the shooting.

• In four incidents, unarmed citizens confronted or persuaded the shooter to end the shooting. In two incidents,17 school staff confronted and restrained the shooter. In one incident,18 the citizen used his car to thwart the shooter. In one incident,19 the citizen persuaded the shooter to surrender via telephone during a police chase; she ran up to the shooter’s car as he came to a stop and pulled him out of his seat, bringing the chase to an end.
• In four incidents, citizens possessing valid firearms permits successfully stopped the shooter. In two incidents,20 citizens exchanged gunfire with the shooter. In two incidents, the citizens held the shooter at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived.21
• In one incident, a citizen possessing a valid firearms permit exchanged gunfire with the shooter, causing the shooter to flee to another scene and continue shooting.22
• In one incident, a citizen possessing a valid firearms permit was wounded before he could fire at the shooter.23

(Note: The above is directly quoted from the report; the numbers appear to be line numbers included for reference.)

What did the FBI conclude about Armed Citizen involvement in stopping these shootings?

I don’t think it could be any more clear than how than how they summed it up in the conclusion section of their report:

“Armed and unarmed citizens engaged the shooter in 10 incidents. They safely and successfully ended the shootings in eight of those incidents. Their selfless actions likely saved many lives.”

Does this mean that because I carry I can stop an active shooter incident?

No. 

There’s a lot more than being an armed citizen to stopping one of these active shooter emergencies. In fact, the report specified that some of the people who interceded in stopping the active shooters weren’t even armed. 

Carrying a gun is not a “magic wand” to protect a person from all evil, far from it. Carrying a gun means that you have one important tool in your toolbag of self-protection. Your awareness, your experience, your brains, your physical condition, your training and your mental toughness all play huge parts in how you or I will react if this type of emergency happens to us.