The high school that my kids went to has several drills for emergencies. The one for a gun on campus is called "code red". In it, all students go into classrooms, the doors are locked, lights off, shades drawn, and everyone hunkers down, while the police are called to remove the weapon from campus.
Why don't my adult organizations have the same protection?
So, to fully embrace our country's love of guns and yet be prepared for the worst, I suggest that every organization have a code red plan. EVERY organization: fraternal groups, church congregations, fitness centers, shopping malls, libraries, clubs (for example my men's chorus), every organization.
Each group would choose a plan of action to be carried out if a person appears with an assault weapon. (After all, if a person appears with an assault weapon, a reasonable assumption is that they plan to use it. To avoid this issue, try not to have disgruntled former members...)
a. Some might opt for "run and hide" - upon seeing a person with an assault weapon, everyone in attendance is notified and they scatter and hide as best they can.
b. Then there is the "armed guard" option - The group hire an armed guard. Of course the guard would have to be armed at least as well as any perpetrator, so that means an assault weapon. Any they would have to be in a protected area, so that might mean some type of armored vehicle capable of stopping armor-piercing bullets. (This is slightly out of my league...)
c. The "designated trouble shooters" option - The group would designate at least three members to come to the meetings fully armed.
d. The "everyone is armed" - The group decides that it is mandatory to bring a weapon to each gathering.
I suggest that anyone reading this diary should plan on demanding that each organization they are a part of implement a "code red" plan. And insist that this is a serious issue. After all, if you are at some meeting, and someone comes into the room with an angry face and an assault weapon, are you going to sit back to see what happens? And if we all bring this up at every organization, it might help to bring our gun-reality home to our society.
After all, doing so is a way to celebrate and cherish our second amendment rights.