Defense SAGE DYNAMICS: CCW Citizen Response to an Active Shooter Ellen Pucciarelli January 2, 2014 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. “In every active shooter situation, there is one common denominator,” says Aaron Cowan. “Innocent civilians.” Cowan, a RECOILweb contributor, is Director of Training for Sage Dynamics. In response to recent world events involving active shooter scenarios, Sage Dynamics created a course, Citizen Response to an Active Shooter, a class that instructs students in tactics based on those taught by law enforcement and adapted to fit the Concealed Carry Permit (CCW) citizen’s role as a responsibly armed individual. Using the Simunitions FX training system, Sage Dynamics will place students in scenario-based situations where they will experience an as-close-to-reality-as-possible use of force situation against an armed threat. They will be required to make critical decisions (and perform) under high stress. One thing I’ve noticed in my own training, is that the times where I have learned the most about my personal abilities, mindset, and performance under stress were those times when I was training in force-on-force simunitions drills. There has been no quicker or more decisive way in which my own training was validated. Check out the upcoming Citizen Response to an Active Shooter course (to be held in Atlanta January 25-26) here. Read more from about Cowan's stance on “The Importance of Training” here, holster selection here, his take on the judicious use of violence here or any of his other RECOILweb articles. “Over half of all Active Shooter events in the US have been stopped by a citizen, or citizens. The reason for this is that many who carry out mass murder choose soft targets where there is likely to be little or no law enforcement presence. Because the average Active Shooter event lasts between 4-11 minutes, and average law enforcement response varies greatly; the responsible citizen has every right to be trained to confront an active shooter situation as they are the likely line of defense between an armed threat and unarmed innocents and loved ones.” Sage Dynamics Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
