Dozens attend first session of active shooter training in Springfield

Maj. Chris Clark of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office speaks to Clark County community members, “Run. Hide. Fight.”

Maj. Chris Clark of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office speaks to Clark County community members, “Run. Hide. Fight.”

Dozens of people gathered at the Clark State Performing Arts Center in Springfield on Thursday night to learn more about how to survive during an active shooter situation.

Clark State Community College and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office hosted the free active shooter training session in response to the Oregon District Mass Shooting, which occurred last month in downtown Dayton.

“After recent events close to home, the reality that an active killer can happen here and can affect anyone at any time, has become a harsh reality to many who, before, never gave it a second thought,” said Maj. Chris Clark of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

More information: Free active shooter training by Clark County Sheriff’s Office begins Thursday

Clark said the purpose of the unarmed program is to educate people on, “how to utilize available surroundings to greatly increase chances of survival.”

Clark said one of the most common questions he gets asked is what a person should do if they find themselves involved in a mass shooting, and get a hold of the shooter’s weapon.

“The best thing we tell them to do is get it out of play. We tell them whatever they can do to get it out and get it away from the shooter. Get it away. Put it in a drawer. Put it in a trash can. Get it out. But don’t have it out when we arrive,” Clark said.

In order to try to get a gunman’s weapon, the instructors at the training said people should create a distraction. Distractions included throwing something at the shooter, like a chair or a dish.

Thursday’s active shooter training session was the first of three additional sessions.

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Anyone interested in learning more about how to survive an active shooter situation can attend — no registration is required — however, officials say some content may not be suitable for young children.

The remaining sessions include are: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. at the John Legend Theater in the Springfield Center of Innovation at the The Dome, Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clark State Performing Arts Center and Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. at Tecumseh High School.

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