Throughout my career I experienced and over time learned how to mitigate a killer called “tunnel vision”. One definition is…”the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited goal or point of view”. A sporting analogy would be a hockey player (go Hawks) carrying the puck on their stick getting so absorbed in the chance to move closer to the goal and shoot that they fail to see the defenseman on a collision course to destroy the puck carrier. In hockey parlance the cure is to “keep your head up”.
As dramatic and tragic the shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino was, I am not convinced it was the main target. Unfortunately, I think tunnel vision is gripping the nation and we’re failing to look for what the main target was. Could it have been a hospital, school, seat of government, television station, fire station, mall, theater or…..? Hopefully you get the picture. Your place of work, recreation, worship or learning very well might have been spared thanks to the action of law enforcement stopping the vehicle and forcing a surrender decision.
Maybe be center was the main target and I’m mistaken. On the other hand let’s say you’re the delusional wanna-be terrorist and you hope to impress the big wigs and inspire others. You run down the list of possible targets in your area to strike fear into the heart of the infidels and settle on…a state-run facility with services for individuals with developmental disabilities???? Serious? I suggest there is at least one more location that did not get attacked. It’s a simply tactic, attack one location, draw resources and move to a now less protected main target. I seriously doubt this couple was dressed for a party, made a five minute appearance, and then were going to stop off at home and change into their street clothes.
The center had done their due diligence with monthly active shooter drills This effort probably saved an unknown number of additional fatalities and wounded. I wonder if the other targets were as well prepared. Politicians will be using this event to promote whatever stance they think will get them votes. For every reasonable person with no agenda the lesson is prepare today and when the news helicopters start flocking to a location, keep your head up where ever you might be. The show could just be starting.
To be able to react quickly enough would require a quick alerting system. It would be useful to have simple and clear triggers activated by central dispatch involving any MCI called in from the field. Then some alarming system would need to be dispatched and available to any proactive facility with quick response procedures that are well rehearsed.
Are you getting my wish list Santa?