Episode 203. The First 30 Seconds: Ed Monk on the Time & Math of Stopping Active Shooters
From The Forge of Freedom by Alex Ooley
April 18, 2026 · 54 min
About this episode
Ed Monk discusses the critical first 30 seconds in active shooter situations and the importance of immediate response.
Show Notes Episode 203. The First 30 Seconds: Ed Monk on the Time & Math of Stopping Active Shooters In this powerful conversation from the NRA Annual Meeting in Houston, Alex Ooley sits down with Ed Monk, author of First 30 Seconds and founder of Last Resort Firearms Training, for a no-nonsense discussion on active shooter response. Ed breaks down the cold, unforgiving reality of “time and math” in active shooter events: the average attacker shoots a new victim every 3–5 seconds in the critical first minute. That means the difference between single-digit casualties and double-digit tragedies is often decided in the first 30 seconds. Drawing from decades of military experience, years of research into past attacks, and real-world hero stories, Ed explains why the standard “Run, Hide, Fight” model gets it backwards — and why the correct order for those who are able must be Fight, Flee, Barricade. He dismantles common myths about hardening buildings, metal detectors, school resource officers, and waiting for police, while showing what actually works: having willing, present, and capable people ready to stop the threat immediately. Whether you’re a school administrator, church…
People in this episode
Host: Alex Ooley
Guest: Ed Monk
Topics covered
- active shooter response
- time management
- military experience
- safety training
- emergency preparedness
Keywords
- active shooter
- response training
- time and math
- casualty prevention
- emergency response
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NRA, Last Resort Firearms Training
Books & works: First 30 Seconds
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