Gwinnett County and a local non-profit are partnering to hold two active shooter survival training classes, which will be free and open to the public.
The first will be held Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Buford Human Services Center on Sawnee Avenue.
"We decided to put on the active shooter training class based on everything that's going on in the news, and how people are confused on how to handle it," said Felicia Shanklin, executive director of Lady Butterflies, a non-profit that works with women and teenage girls in transition.
The class will follow the F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security guidelines, and will include a presentation from the Gwinnett County Police Department.
"Topics will include: What is the profile of an active shooter, and how best to respond to it if it ever occurs. Workplace violence happens in different arenas, from school offices to libraries, (or) you could be out eating," said Shanklin.
The training will apply for any situation that involves a large group of people, Shanklin said, including community concerts, business meetings or church gatherings.
But it won't just cover what to do in such a situation. Organizers hope they can provide better guidance on preventing them, too.
"A person could be angry about a situation, and they respond, they act. Then they create this uproar of a situation where people don't know what to do," said Shanklin.
The hope for organizers is that friends, relatives and coworkers could identify the warning signs of somebody who could turn violent.
A second class will be held Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Buford Human Services Center.
Monday
October 21st, 2024
5:00PM
