The Active Shooter Threat – Protecting Schools, Houses of Worship, Businesses, and Other Vulnerable Locations

Presented by Ed Monk of Last Resort Firearms Training.

Ed Monk is a leading expert on active shooter incidents, with in-depth research and training on this persistent threat since 2007. As a former high school teacher, he offers special insight into educational environments, while his experience also extends to faith communities, workplaces, and other public spaces. He is a current part-time police officer in Arkansas, firearms trainer, author, and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (24 years of active duty, including battalion command in the U.S., Europe, and Iraq). Ed holds a BS in U.S. History from West Point, an MS in Adult Education from Kansas State University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. He is the author of First 30 Seconds: The Active Shooter Problem, a data-driven analysis that uses historical patterns, mathematical timing models, and logical principles to reveal why responses have fallen short for over 40 years and how to reduce casualties dramatically.

Active shooter events continue to occur in a range of settings—schools, houses of worship, businesses/commercial venues, open spaces, government facilities, healthcare settings, and more—with tragic high victim counts often tied to delayed or ineffective actions. Drawing from FBI reports, historical data, and real-incident analysis (where commerce, open spaces, education, and places of worship frequently appear among common locations), this evidence-based series provides practical, actionable strategies for individuals and organizations to interrupt the attack timeline, enhance preparedness, and minimize harm.

Ed will be presenting two highly informative sessions each day

Session 1: The Active Shooter Problem – A General Study & How to Minimize Victims

This fast-paced, information-rich presentation breaks down the active shooter threat across key locations, with balanced emphasis on schools, houses of worship, businesses, and other sites where mass casualty events have been documented (such as retail/commercial spaces, open/public areas, and government/healthcare facilities). You'll gain clarity on:

• • Attacker profiles, typical weapons, common entry/start points, and the decisive role of time and math in determining outcomes.
  • How attacks unfold differently in schools (e.g., classrooms, lockdowns), houses of worship (e.g., services, gatherings), businesses (e.g., offices, retail), and other venues.
  • Evidence-based recommendations for response plans, staff/volunteer training, and everyday readiness tailored to each setting.
  • Practical steps—available to everyone—to disrupt the attack early, protect vulnerable people (students, congregants, employees, customers), and boost survival rates through awareness, decisive action, communication, and protective measures.

Grounded in decades of incident data rather than speculation, this session delivers clear tools to strengthen safety in the places where communities gather, learn, worship, and work.

Session 2: Practical Considerations for Armed Responders to Active Shooter Attacks

Geared toward anyone who carries a pistol and may need to respond—whether as armed school staff, church security team members, business security personnel, law enforcement, or concerned citizens—this session covers realistic preparation for confronting an active threat in varied environments. Key topics include:

• • Mindset for high-stress, life-or-death decisions in schools, houses of worship, workplaces, or public spaces.
  • Gear choices, essential skills, and training methods suited to busy schedules and specific settings.
  • Expected challenges in the attack environment (e.g., crowded classrooms, sanctuaries during services, office layouts, or retail crowds).
  • Effective tactics to engage the threat while prioritizing innocent lives, based on historical patterns and logical outcomes.

Participants leave with a grounded understanding of armed response realities and how targeted preparation can make a critical difference.

Ed Monk has presented this content at top-tier events nationwide, including Tactical Conference (Tac-Con) 2018–2023, ILEETA Conference 2021–2023, ALERRT Conference 2020, Lethal Force Conference 2021–2022, National Safe Schools Conference 2021, USCCA Conference 2021, Arkansas Healthcare Association Conference 2022, Wyoming SRO Association Safe Schools Conference 2022 (keynote), Faith Based Security Network Conference 2022, and 2023 invitations to NASRO, MASRO, Wyoming SRO, Lethal Force, and Faith Based Security conferences.

This series offers a rare, no-nonsense opportunity to learn from an expert whose work focuses on practical, life-saving approaches for the locations most affected by this threat.

Ideal for:

Educators
School administrators
Faith leaders
Church security volunteers
Business owners/managers
Security personnel
Law enforcement
Community members dedicated to safer schools, houses of worship, workplaces, and public spaces.

Secure your spot for this essential, data-backed training!