Objective: Establish a national task force of experts to implement a unified approach to prevent and respond to active attack events. The task force will standardize First Responder training, enhance data collection, support mental health intervention, and develop deterrence strategies like the “Shame Them” initiative to prevent attackers from gaining notoriety. After achieving its goals, the task force will dissolve, transferring responsibility to the states to ensure sustainability, efficiency, and minimal government waste.
- First Responder Tactics and Training Specialists
a. Develop and implement universal tactics suitable for law enforcement officers (LEOs) of all skill levels.
b. Establish and maintain shoot-house training facilities in each state to provide advanced, low-cost training opportunities for LEOs, complete with simunition ammunition and training weapons. Integrate virtual reality (VR) scenario-based training modules.
c. Collaborate with EMS, Fire fighters, and Dispatcher services to create standardized, cohesive response protocols for active shooter and active attack situations.
d. Address training challenges faced by smaller departments, such as high costs and resource constraints, ensuring these agencies have access to essential training without compromising officer availability.
- Criminal and Child Psychologists
a. Analyze data from active attack events to identify patterns and early warning signs.
b. Develop targeted training and analytical tools for mental health professionals to incorporate these findings into their practice, promoting early intervention.
- Constitutional Lawyers
a. Provide legal oversight and ensure that all initiatives respect constitutional rights and align with national and state laws.
- Statisticians and Software Developers
a. Collect, organize, and disseminate comprehensive statistics on active attack events to facilitate research and improve accessibility.
b. Develop a nationwide directory to assist individuals who report concerns regarding potentially dangerous behaviors, connecting them directly with local authorities equipped to assess and act on the information.
c. Compile and share information on common warning signs and behavioral flags associated with potential active attackers.
d. Establish pathways for connecting individuals in need with appropriate mental health professionals to mitigate potential threats before they escalate.
It is acknowledged that standardized training may present a risk of potential adversaries studying and analyzing First Responder Tactics. Nonetheless, the primary goal of this standardized training is to equip First Responders with foundational tactical proficiency and a strong tactical mindset. Currently, many smaller law enforcement agencies and officers remain inadequately trained in critical high-risk clearing procedures, effective weapons handling and safety, and command and control during large-scale incidents.
Providing comprehensive, affordable training to First Responders ensures that they acquire essential baseline skills. These foundational abilities serve as a platform for further development, enabling responders to become more tactically aware and better prepared to manage emergency situations. Standardized training also fosters interoperability among agencies, ensuring that different groups can collaborate seamlessly during high-stress operations without the friction of varying tactical approaches interfering with the response.
Proposal: The “Defame Them” Initiative
Addressing the aftermath of active attack events, particularly the treatment of perpetrators, remains a complex and often contentious issue. It is widely recognized that individuals who commit such atrocities frequently do so with the intent of cementing their legacy as efficient and ruthless killers. While existing initiatives like the “Don’t Name Them” campaign focus on limiting the attention given to perpetrators to prevent their glorification, such efforts, although commendable, face significant challenges. The First Amendment protects free speech, making it impossible to mandate media compliance or legally enforce such strategies without voluntary agreement.
As an alternative, I propose the “Defame Them” project. This initiative seeks to counteract the canonization of these individuals by stripping away any semblance of idolization or heroism. Under this approach, any person who commits a large-scale act of violence and dies in the process (while those surviving will be treated within the legal system and not subjected to public scrutiny until conviction) will face a posthumous legacy that potential attackers would find neither inspiring nor aspirational.
Key Components of the “Defame Them” Initiative:
- Public Platform for Transparency: Create a dedicated online platform where individuals can contribute verifiable, shameful, or embarrassing details about the perpetrator, ensuring that their true, unvarnished character is exposed.
- Charitable Counteractions: Include an option for users to donate to organizations or charities that directly oppose the ideologies or beliefs held by the attacker, reinforcing that their act has strengthened the causes they stood against.
- Deterrence Through Disgrace: The goal is to transform the narrative; instead of being remembered as notorious figures, these individuals will be publicly associated with their flaws, failures, and dishonor.
While deep empathy and support for those battling mental health issues are essential, there is no tolerance for violence against innocent, unarmed people. The moment an individual resorts to such acts, any compassion for their personal struggles ends. By ensuring that perpetrators’ names are memorialized in the most humiliating and degrading manner possible, we prevent their actions from becoming a source of inspiration for others, using their own act as a deterrent to dissuade future violence.
Outcome: The implementation of the task force will establish a national, standardized approach to tackling the multifaceted problem of active attack events. By creating a unified training protocol, First Responders will gain essential tactical proficiency and a cohesive mindset, ensuring preparedness across agencies and states. This baseline training will bridge gaps between smaller law enforcement agencies that often struggle with limited resources, promoting collaboration without conflicting tactics during high-stress incidents.
The initiative will also harness the expertise of criminal and child psychologists to identify patterns and early warning signs, equipping mental health professionals with the knowledge needed for prevention and early intervention. Constitutional lawyers will ensure that all efforts adhere to legal standards, maintaining respect for civil rights.
Statisticians and software developers will play a crucial role in collecting, organizing, and disseminating active attack data, making it accessible for research and community awareness. The establishment of a national reporting directory will create a direct line of communication between concerned citizens and local authorities, improving response to potential threats. The integration of educational resources outlining warning signs and connecting those in need to mental health services will further strengthen preventative measures.
For cases where prevention fails and an active attack occurs, the “Defame Them” initiative will work to dismantle any glorification of the perpetrator’s actions. A public platform will be established to reveal embarrassing or discrediting information about the attacker, ensuring they are remembered not as figures of infamy but as cautionary tales. Donations made in their name to opposing causes will further erode any perceived heroism.
The combined efforts of this comprehensive task force will promote tactical readiness, early intervention, community support, and post-event deterrence, ultimately reducing the risk and impact of future incidents. Once the goals are met, the dissolution of the task force will shift responsibility to the states, fostering local ownership and preventing government waste, inefficiency, and bureaucratic obstacles.