Some Days You Eat the Bear

Some days the bear eats you... 

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that a rather shrill piece titled, "Security experts prepare steps to deal with 'active shooters'" was released by the very same paper - the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel - that published Meg Kissinger's balanced and thoughtful article, "Red Flags Missed In Mass Shootings"  Maybe their editor was going for that whole "fair and balanced" sort of approach?

My favorite quote in the whole frantic mess is:

"'Anybody who is operating these facilities, you do have your guard up a lot more than you did 20 years ago because we're seeing the frequency on a national and international basis,' Smith said." 

Seems Mr. Smith is unaware that violent deaths at work occur half as often as they did 20 years ago and that the frequency and severity of mass murder has not changed. With mass media writers like Joe Taschler feeding him Chicken Little prognostications who's to blame him?

Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased enough to have everyone's attention when it comes to creating sensible security policies and conducting shelter in place drills, but we might assure our employers and clients that the problem is not getting worse it's just getting more media coverage.

PS, the article does offer up a handy infographic as a side bar.  Ironically, it contradicts the tone of the piece.