This article was contributed by James C., a Colorado resident, on behalf of Second Call Defense

I had the opportunity to take the FASTER Level 1 course this summer, opening my eyes to how some schools are taking the threat of an active shooter scenario seriously and preparing their security teams for the unthinkable.

“FASTER” is an acronym that stands for stands for Faculty, Administrator Safety Training & Emergency Response.  FASTER Colorado is a non-profit that delivers the necessary training to school districts, charter schools, and private schools, ensuring they a prepared to respond to violence on their campus.

In essence, FASTER offers top-tier training to teachers and school staff who volunteer for their school’s security team. Critics may argue that FASTER increases the presence of firearms in schools. However, I believe the program ensures that firearms are in the hands of trained individuals who can swiftly end an active shooting incident and provide expert care to the injured, ultimately saving lives.

Colorado’s Tragic History of School Shootings

Colorado has the sad distinction of being home to the horrific 1999 Columbine High School shooting in which two assailants murdered 12 of their fellow students and one teacher. Columbine High School is a short drive from my house, and the event casts a shadow on our state every April.

Law enforcement changed its response protocols as a result of Columbine. Among other things, it shifted doctrine away from staging complete teams before entering a school to advocating for immediate confrontation, even by a lone deputy if necessary. This approach aims to swiftly neutralize the threat—typically resulting in the shooter surrendering or self-harming—thereby ending the incident and saving lives.

Regrettably, school shootings have affected communities nationwide, underscoring the critical need for enhanced security measures in every community. These incidents profoundly impact victims, their families, friends, and the entire community. When parents entrust their children to schools, they rely on educators to safeguard them during school hours. However, many schools remain vulnerable, unable to fully meet this sacred obligation.

My personal connection to this issue runs deep; my son is a survivor of a school shooting. Thanks to the decisive action of an on-site School Resource Officer that day, he and most of his classmates escaped physical harm. Tragically, that cannot be said about the one classmate murdered by the shooter before he turned his weapon on himself. When I learned a class spot had opened, I jumped at the opportunity to learn what FASTER is teaching its school volunteers.

Training Day 1

FASTER Level 1 is a rigorous three-day course that integrates doctrine, theory, skill development, and practical testing, offering a comprehensive and immersive learning experience.

Day 1 started in the classroom, where I was one of approximately 20 volunteers. The students included teachers, administrators, and faculty members. There were a few observers from school districts considering offering the program to their schools, too.

Seeing first-hand the level of commitment these educators were taking on to protect their students and colleagues was humbling. As the saying goes, when seconds count the police are only minutes away. In some rural areas, a law enforcement response can stretch up to 45 minutes before an officer arrives on the scene, allowing an active shooter ample opportunity to cause significant harm and loss of life.

Our lead instructor clearly outlined the demanding role of serving on a school security team during an active shooter scenario. He invited anyone with second thoughts to reconsider and step back from participating. Surveying the room, I saw determined educators, their expressions resolute in their commitment to protect their students, even at great personal risk. Not a single person chose to leave.

On The Range

Not every volunteer is accepted as a security team member, and every prospect is vetted by a trained expert. At the time of this writing, 29 states do not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but Colorado is not among them. As a result, one of the requirements for school security teams is that volunteers must already possess a valid conceal carry permit.

The live fire training focused intensely on achieving the same qualification standards as law enforcement officers in Colorado, which included demonstrating the ability to accurately hit targets with a handgun at distances ranging from point-blank to 25 yards.

Day 1 was dedicated to familiarizing ourselves with the test requirements and refining our skills. On Day 2, we undertook the rigorous qualification test. The challenge was evident as not everyone successfully passed on their first attempt. In fact, several prior students who had previously failed the qualification standard or were re-qualifying joined us for this session.

Drawing from my experience as a competitive shooter, I was thoroughly impressed by the caliber of instruction provided. The instructors imparted skills and techniques that had taken me years of personal practice—thousands of rounds fired in countless competitions—to master. FASTER instructors know how to shoot well, but importantly they know how to teach, which is a rare and invaluable combination.

Training for Dynamic Shooting Scenarios

FASTER goes beyond static target shooting on the range. A critical aspect of the training involves preparing for dynamic, rapidly evolving scenarios typical of an active shooter incident. This includes understanding when it is appropriate—ethically, morally, and legally—to use deadly force as events unfold.

The training facility features a shoot house designed to simulate school or office environments. Here, instructors taught us fundamental room-clearing techniques: methods to swiftly and safely enter rooms potentially harboring an active shooter or other threats. We practiced these techniques both individually and as part of a two-person team, using airsoft guns to add realism to our training scenarios.

One of the most intense exercises was the simulator. Each participant underwent simulations mirroring those used in law enforcement training. In a room with life-sized scenarios projected onto screens, we faced simulated active shooter situations. We were taught de-escalation techniques, and our reaction times and accuracy were evaluated. After each scenario, we had to explain our actions and justify the legal, moral, and ethical reasons for doing what we did, and our instructors provided critical feedback to help us improve.

The combination of the shoot house and simulation training was crucial in integrating theory, skills, and practical actions necessary to effectively respond to an active threat.

Emergency Medical Response

The focus on the shooting aspect of active shooter events in media often overshadows the critical aftermath. Once these events end, which they inevitably do one way or another, there can be numerous victims requiring immediate trauma care.

FASTER Level 1 addresses this by training participants in basic triage techniques and methods to control bleeding until wounded individuals can receive advanced medical treatment at a hospital.

Our instructor, a seasoned Batallion Chief from a local fire department with combat experience, imparted invaluable life-saving skills. Learning firsthand from someone with real-life experience in managing trauma emergencies boosted my confidence in being able to provide immediate assistance if such a situation were to occur.

Linking Up with Law Enforcement

One of the most dangerous aspects of an active shooter situation occurs when law enforcement arrives and must quickly distinguish between the assailants, innocents, and school security teams. Tragically, there have been numerous incidents where law enforcement mistakenly identified and shot an armed good guy with a gun, believing him to be the threat. While I won’t delve into specific cases, it’s crucial to understand that FASTER training equips school security team members with strategies to prevent such tragic misunderstandings.

A Father’s Perspective

As the father of a school shooting survivor, it pains me to know that as I write this article the next school shooter is making plans to kill classmates, teachers, and others. Unfortunately, our culture is broken and until we heal it students, faculty, administrators, school employees, visitors, and communities are at risk. I was heartened to see how many educators take seriously their sacred responsibility for keeping our kids safe while in their care.

The sad reality is that the only way an active shooter event ends is by confronting the attacker with deadly force. In schools that approve armed school security, FASTER gives vetted volunteers the training they need to end an active shooter event quickly, protect lives (including their own) and render effective trauma care to save lives. FASTER claims there is evidence to suggest that their training has deterred potential active shooters, which of course is the best-case scenario.

Second Call Defense Defends Those Who Defend Our Kids

Second Call Defense provides immediate, up-front self-defense legal protection for armed volunteer teachers and school staff. We believe that the right to self-defense is a human right, and those who put their lives on the line to protect our kids should have access to expert legal representation if the need arises.

Unfortunately, not everyone believes that. There are numerous examples of ideological prosecutors bringing criminal charges against someone who legally, ethically, and morally used deadly force for self-defense. Worse, even if acquitted of criminal charges the family of a victim or even the shooter can hire an unscrupulous lawyer to haul you to court in a civil case that could wipe out you and your family financially.

READ MORE: The NYC Subway Trial: What You Don’t Know Can Incarcerate You

The use of any form of self-defense can get you arrested, prosecuted, and convicted without proper representation.  We cover all incidents of self-defense, whether you use your hands, feet, a knife, rock or a firearm.

With Second Call Defense you have an UNLIMITED legal defense budget for both criminal and civil suits.

Ask yourself these questions, and if the answer is “no” to any of them, chances are you need Self-Defense Liability Legal Protection:

• Do you have an attorney on retainer skilled in defending against criminal charges?
• Do you have an unlimited budget to pay out-of-pocket for your legal defense bills?
• Do you have at least $100,000 in cash to pay a bail bondsman that you can afford not to get back?
• Do you have ready access to professional psychological counseling for post-incident treatment?
• Do you have legal protection against civil damages that could force you to sell your home, cars, guns, and other assets to pay a judgment?

READ MORE: When It’s Too Late to Buy Self-Defense Legal Protection

How You Can Support FASTER Colorado

FASTER training isn’t free. Instructors and facilities need to be compensated, because training is a significant investment of time and resources. December 10, 2024, is Colorado Gives Day, and I encourage you to donate to FASTER Colorado to help teachers who cannot afford the $1,250 tuition get the training they need.

*Second Call Defense is not insurance and does not sell or promote insurance products.  Second Call Defense is a membership organization that provides its members access to the “Second Amendment Support Foundation, Inc.,” which provides the means necessary to protect Second Call Defense members from the legal aftermath of exercising their right to self-defense. For an overview of the differences between Second Call Defense Member Benefits and traditional insurance, click here.