Ask me again why I always carry when leaving the house — and especially when going shopping:
Terrified mall-goers ran for their lives on one of the busiest shopping days of the year after a gunman opened fire in West San Jose, California.
Horrifying videos and photos showed shoppers in Westfield Valley Fair Mall taking cover and running for shelter at around 5.40 pm local time on Black Friday.
Hundreds of bargain-hungry customers ran for the nearest exits or hid behind piles of clothing and mannequins as panic swept through Westfield.
More footage showed people flooding the sidewalks and escaping past a storefront with shattered glass strewn onto the pavement outside the mall.
Police confirmed that three victims, two adults and a 16-year-old girl, sustained gunshot wounds and have been taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Then, of course, there’s the usual useless advice:
Security advisor Patrick Fiel, the founder of PVF Security Consulting, told the Daily Mail that people should be especially cautious while holiday shopping.
‘Being extra vigilant this holiday season will help keep you safe. Always trust your instincts and report any and all suspicious activity,’ he warned.
‘Law enforcement agencies across the nation have reported an increase in calls during the holiday season, which is partially attributed to shoppers placing greater emphasis on gift selection rather than personal safety.’
In the event of an active shooter, Fiel has advised the public to ‘run, hide and fight.’
‘Getting away from the attacker is the top priority. Leave your belongings behind and get away,’ he wrote.
If you are unable to evacuate, Fiel said to look for a solid place to hide, preferably somewhere with a barrier between you and the attacker.
Fighting the assailant is the absolute last resort. But in the face of danger, Fiel has urged people to be ‘aggressive.’
‘Recruit others to ambush the attacker with makeshift weapons like chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books,’ he suggested.
Books? Well, they say that the pen is mightier than the sword; but I’d take nine rounds of .45 ACP over a thousand words, any day of the week. And the only assistance I need is for people to stay out of the line of fire.
But maybe I’m being too aggressive and stuff. Far better to cower in some store and hope the asshole doesn’t choose me for a victim.
“Security advisor”, my aching African-American ass.



