According to a CNN report (story here), the recent student death at the University of Central Florida began with a fire alarm.  It appears that the student intended to draw people out into the open with the alarm.  As the student possessed a handgun, an assault weapon, about 200 rounds of ammunition, and four homemade bombs, it also appears that he intended to use the ensuing crowd as targets.

Fortunately, the police response prevented this student's plan -- he shot himself in his dorm room instead of killing anyone else.  A lesson that should be drawn from this incident, though, is that you should not allow an event like a fire alarm, a bomb threat, or a power outage to consume your attention and distract you from being aware of your surroundings.  The disorder caused by an evacuation (even an orderly one) can provide a killer with the opportunity to cause great harm.  Stay alert even in chaotic surroundings.

Everyone who drives a car has suffered the bad driving habits of others.  When another driver cuts you off, what do you usually do?  Most people will look at the other car for some information about who the driver is.  If that person has a bumper sticker or decals in the windows, those become badges of what the other driver represents.  That is likely how you refer to that person -- "That Breast Cancer Awareness guy just cut me off!"

I visited a client in jail once and was told by the jail staff to sit by the door to the holding cell as he was brought in. Not wanting to have my back to an inmate, I had taken a seat opposite the door so I could face him, and was instructed to move. This seemed counterintuitive to me, but I complied.

The conventional wisdom is that, when meeting with a person who may become violent, you should sit near the exit, so you can escape if something goes wrong. Unfortunately, this can leave you in a position where the assailant will pass near you on the way into or out of the room. So, which is better -- to stay as far from the person as you can, and keep him or her in sight, or to stay close to the exit, and be on guard as he or she comes and goes?

Ideally, you should do both. If you can choose a meeting location with multiple exits, that is best. You can keep yourself near one exit, and have the other person use another exit. If not, then try to arrange for the other person enter first and sit farther from the exit, so you can be close to it. If this is not feasible, then pick a spot that is closer to the exit, and be more ready for an attack when the other person enters and exits.

As the TSA has reaffirmed its controversial knife policy (story here), which is mixed news for air travelers: on the one hand, there may be less hassle in bringing your pocket knife or hockey stick on board, but on the other hand, everyone else on the plane is potentially armed. This may cause some flyers concern, but with a little forethought and preparation, this situation is manageable.

While most people seem most concerned about the pocket knives, these really aren't big enough to cause a major concern. To be sure, even a 2.36" blade can inflict a fatal wound, but in the close confines of an aircraft passenger compartment, it is not very wieldy. The narrow aisles and overhead storage bins make it more difficult to slash with a knife, and such a short blade gives an attacker little reach with a stab. To defend yourself in this scenario, find something to shield yourself from a stab (such as a briefcase or carry-on bag), and seek help from other passengers on the attacker's flanks or rear. If you find yourself being held at knifepoint, the most important thing is to control the weapon so that it cannot be used on a vital area (such as a major artery or important internal organ such as the kidneys).

The greater threat may come from the hockey stick (or lacrosse stick, golf club, pool cue, etc.). Despite the complaint I recently heard from the president of a flight attendants' union that "a golf club to the teeth" shouldn't be a job hazard (and I agree with her on that), the same narrow confines mentioned above make swinging one of these weapons almost impossible. The thrust will be the primary method of attack here. Again, find something to block the attack until help arrives. Because of the far greater reach of these weapons, you will have to be more on your guard. Most likely, the attacker will aim for the face, so keep your guard high. Fortunately, a low blow with a blunt weapon like this should not cause a fatal injury.

Of course, these guidelines aren't as applicable in the large cabins of jumbo aircraft with big, open passenger compartments, or in the terminal. Fortunately, the greater space in these areas affords you a better opportunity to avoid an attacker, and also to respond in kind. As with any potentially dangerous situation, the best defense is to prevent the attack altogether. Keep your eyes open for warning signs of an imminent confrontation, and avoid it.

A new report from the Pew Research Center (link here) indicates that the primary reason that people own guns is for self protection. Whether or not you choose to own a gun for protection -- and if you do, please learn how to use it responsibly -- you should not let it give you a false sense of safety. As with any tool or security measure, a gun should not make you drop your guard because you feel safe. You should remain vigilant even in situations where you know you are protected by security, or when you have the means to defend yourself from attack. Weapons and security measures can fail, and if you are counting on only them to protect you, you will be without protection.

A tragic example of such a situation may be found in the recent death of Greg Rodriguez (story here). While the reports that I have read do not indicate whether or not Mr. Rodriguez was armed at the time he was shot and killed, it seems likely that he could have been -- he was an outspoken advocate of Second Amendment rights, as was the friend he was with at the time of his death. While we cannot say what might have happened had the circumstances been slightly different, this story serves as a sad reminder that even when we might otherwise feel safe, we should always be ready.

In short, do not rely on a gun, or pepper spray, or a knife, or a security guard, or anything else to be safe -- rely on yourself. With the exception of a spouse or family, nothing else will be as concerned for your survival as you are.

As I return to regular exercise after finishing the California Bar Exam, I am reminded how painful working out can be. Nevertheless, health and fitness are important for safety purposes. Being fit makes one physically ready to take action in an emergency, and being healthy limits the impact of illness and injury. I won't tout the superiority of any one exercise regimen, but I will encourage everyone to engage in some kind of regular activity. Just do something!

For those who may be nervous about going to court after the last post, there's good news! The Department of Homeland Security has some good training resources for active shooter scenarios, which can be found here: http://www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-preparedness

For those of us who regularly attend court, we usually think that the courthouse is a gun-free zone. Maybe not. A recent incident shows that even with security personnel and full-body metal detectors, it can be relatively easy to get a gun into a courthouse. Because security staff may be lax at times, it is important to keep aware of potential threats. Read the article here.

With the recent spate of shootings of lawyers and other legal professionals reported in the media -- particularly the shooting of Mark Hummels here in Phoenix -- I have become increasingly concerned with the safety of legal professionals. As violence becomes the method of choice in our society for resolving personal disputes, it seems that being in the business of resolving those disputes becomes a hazard. I will try to post ideas, resources, and guidance for those who work in the law to keep themselves safe from such harm. Please feel free to contribute your comments and insights. Thank you.