First 30 Seconds: The Active Shooter Problem

by Ed Monk

America has been failing for over 40 years at understanding, planning for, and responding to Active Shooter attacks. So, we continue to see attacks end in high victim-counts. America fails because
- do not base plans on TIME & MATH
- like plans that are easy to type, easy to drill, and do not “trigger” anyone
- recommend and adopt “best practices” that are not best
- adopt plans that work flawlessly every day there is no attack, but fail during attacks
- desperately want a non-violent solution to an extremely violent problem
- allow emotions and political agendas to distract us

The author served as an active-duty US Army officer for over 20 years. Throughout this career, planning to give and receive deadly violence was a common, required task. Ten days after his Army retirement, he began teaching public high school, where violence was never allowed, discussed, or planned for. He was STUNNED when school leaders told him the school’s planned response during an Active Shooter attack was to gather in groups and wait to see if the killer or cops got to you first.
This experience started his study of the Active Shooter problem. This book is about what he found.
Read Ed’s no-nonsense, blunt analysis of the Active Shooter problem. Using TIME & MATH analysis, he clearly shows the ONLY response that has a high expectation of minimizing victims in future attacks.
This is UNLIKE any discussion of the Active Shooter problem you have heard from any source. It disproves MANY long-held myths and assumptions, including that we should rely on RUN HIDE FIGHT, Lockdown Drills, and 911 response. It is a wake-up call for America, the “leaders” of our schools, churches, and businesses, and our elected officials.
America has failed at this for 40+ years. It’s time to end the failure.

"Ed Monk is today's leading expert on thwarting mass murderers. His recommended strategy is by far the most effective, as proven in cases where the defenders did what Monk suggested." -- Massad Ayoob

207 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2025

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a student of the author I am biased. It is must reading for anyone serious about tackling the problem of active shooters. It deserves a broader audience than it might get, because for many it lays out data and inexorable conclusions that flow from the data that many simply don't want to hear. The challenge is setting aside emotion, politics and "feelings" and deciding to live in the real world. The comfort zone constructed by many will prevent them from dealing with the problem in any way other than that which is "comfortable".

What a shame.

[📚Vanessa📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

He spends a good amount of time talking about the biggest mass shooting events through the years and I’m glad that he did because faced with all the data, it is hard (impossible, actually) to argue against what he proposes. We cannot continue to rely on a policy that doesn’t work just because we don’t like the “best bad solution”, I.e., to attack the mass shooter rather than call 911 and hunker down until the police come. If the goal is to minimize the body count, we need to accept that we must face the problem head on and not just hide and wait for help to arrive. It made me wonder why for DECADES now, we persist in our adherence to a policy that doesn’t work. It’s almost as if….

[Patti Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Absolute Must Book Everyone Should Read On The Active Shooter Problem!

Excellent read with live saving information in a clear and no BS format. Mr Monk’s book should be required reading by leaders and stakeholders in Schools, Churches, Corporate and business places, malls and other public venues. A direct and blunt look at how to minimize casualties and how we are all taking the wrong approach because it is unpleasant and because we as a society have been conditioned! I had the honor of seeing the author speak last year at a faith based conference and was impacted immediately. As a self defense and safety trainer and retired law enforcement, This information changed my outlook and approach! Read the book and change your mindset! Well done sir.

[Jo Novak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be Required Reading

I have been recommending this book to friends since I finished the first 23 pages. I'm trying to talk myself into buying a copy for the school superintendent.

I'm almost positive I'd be wasting my money. The head SRO's ego is much too big for him to read it, much less act on it. Sad state of affairs in our little town.

[L M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading

Well researched and presented! Should be presented to every school board and church in America. First intelligent study I've seen on the problem. Good information. Thanks again.