Prepared to know: What AU experts say about mass violence

This is a five-part series covering a six-month long investigation on gun safety and awareness, inspired by the mass shooting event in Winder, Ga. at the beginning of the school year. Today is part one, which provides a summary of a short documentary called “Prepared or Paralyzed: Determining Campus Readiness,” in which experts from Augusta University provided insight on mass violent events.

Preparation measures for violent events are already underway at AU. (source: “Prepared of Paralyzed: Determining Campus Readiness,” photo by CM Wahl)

By CM Wahl | Managing editor

In the last 15 years, there have been nine multi-victim shooting events on college campuses, claiming over 40 lives, according to BestColleges.com. This number does not include the nearly 400 other gunfire events occurring on college campuses since 2013.

The University of North Georgia’s website explained that “Campus Carry,” otherwise known as House Bill 280, allows properly licensed individuals to carry a concealed handgun when on public colleges and university properties. However, license-holders have the responsibility of knowing where they can – and can’t – carry a handgun on campuses.

For many, these facts trigger many questions. Who on AU’s campus is carrying a concealed handgun? Are they aware of the restrictions and are they adhering to them? Do they know how to properly handle that weapon? Are they in the right frame of mind to carry one?

These questions can only be answered by those who carry on campus. Other students can only hope that guns on campus will be carried in authorized areas and will never be used in an aggressive way.

But what if one was? Is AU prepared for a potential violent event? Is it even possible to prepare? 

Candace Griffith, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice, teaches the main theory class at AU on why people commit crimes. When considering whether preparation was possible, she stated it was “an impossible question to answer” because there are too many unknown variables.

“Prevention would be great,” said Griffith, “and prevention would come from, you know, reducing the number of weapons, reducing access to certain weapons. That would be a better way to go, as opposed to reactionary, which is like, ‘what do we do after’?”

Candace Griffith, PhD., is a criminal justice professor who teaches why people commit crimes. (source: “Prepared of Paralyzed: Determining Campus Readiness,” photo by CM Wahl)

Griffith does not think there is one “fix-all policy” on how to prevent school shootings, but she believes lowering access to guns can help curb it. She said that the typical type of weapons used in these events tend to be semi-automatic rifle-type guns that can shoot a lot of rounds in a short amount of time. To her, reducing access to those guns specifically should be the policy that is focused on first.

“You don’t see the same type of violence occurring in other countries that have stricter gun control legislation,” said Griffith.

She explained that in Switzerland, they have just as high gun ownership per capita as the U.S., however, they have very few mass shooting events because they have a “different respect” for weapons there. While she understands that many American gun owners want to ensure their rights are not infringed upon, she stated there can be gun control without violating the second amendment.

“Yes, you have the right to bear arms,” said Griffith, “but that doesn’t mean that you can just bear anything without any training.” She added, “If you own a weapon, you [should] know how to safely use it, how to store it and have respect for the power that weapon has.”

Kimberly Davies, PhD., dean of Pamplin College, specializes in criminology and has taught a class on the sociology of murder. She wrote a globally-used textbook called, “The Murder Book: Understanding Homicide Today.”

While Davies acknowledged that many in her circle favor restricting gun access, she does not think that will stop the violence right away.

Kimberly Davies, PhD., is dean of Pamplin College and an expert on homicide. (source: “Prepared of Paralyzed: Determining Campus Readiness,” photo by CM Wahl)

Davies said preparation measures for violent events are already underway at AU.

“They have trainings here that help prepare us if one does happen,” she said, “which is very important. If there were to be one, if we’re prepared, it’s likely to have fewer casualties or maybe no casualties.”

Davies explained that in addition to training classes, they have previously done “moulage,” or casualty simulation. This large-scale activity included medical personnel, ambulances, police and faculty acting out how they would respond if a mass casualty event occurred. She said trainings of these types have helped law enforcement improve response reactions nationwide.

“We’ve gotten so much better,” said Davies. “If you go back to Columbine, they waited. They waited hours before they entered the school and shootings were happening. People were dying while the cops waited outside.”

Davies stated that police now know to go in at the start of an active shooting situation, then treat the wounded once the threat is stopped. 

Captain Eric “Harry” Smith, of the Augusta University police, said that there is “no perfect solution” or perfect security measure to ensure an event doesn’t happen.

“We’re talking about the worst day ever,” he said. “The worst possible scenario that a person can be faced with, so rarely is there going to be a perfect situation.”

Smith said that because AU has over 10,000 students on multiple campuses, it would be a “heavy lift” to try drills like they have in elementary and high schools. He said that in the past, they’ve set up presentations on preparedness for students but the reception was “not very robust.” Last spring, only one student attended the training session.

Smith said he would love to see it become a requirement for incoming freshman. At orientation, AUPD tells new students about the Rave Guardian app, which Smith said is a valuable tool he thinks every member of the AU community should use. He also thinks community education is vital.  

Smith stated that resources like the Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) team are helping AU get organized for collaborative response. They lead the #StrongAugusta initiative, which helps the AU community prepare for and respond to active shooter or hostile events.

“We’re setting the example here in the Augusta community for the rest of the nation on how to get prepared as a community,” said Smith.

To watch a short film with highlights of the interviews from this article, go to: https://youtu.be/Daq26JEUW7o

For the next article in this series, see “Prepared to live: When to run, hide and fight.”

Contact CM Wahl at cwahl@augusta.edu.