09/10/2026
🚨 A new episode of Making Shooters Better tackles one of the most difficult questions in public-safety and defensive training: what happens before outside help can arrive?
🎙️ Terry Vaughan sits down with Ed Monk—retired Army officer, former law enforcement officer, fi****ms instructor, author of First 30 Seconds, and longtime active shooter researcher—to examine why the opening moments of an attack deserve much more attention in our planning and training. Last Resort Fi****ms Training
In this episode:
⏱️ Why Ed believes the first 30 seconds are so critical
🧠 Why people may not immediately recognize the sound of gunfire
🚪 Where lockdown and traditional Run-Hide-Fight planning can fall short
🎯 Why armed responders must know the real limits of their accuracy
👥 Why accountability for every round matters in a crowded environment
🐒 How “the monkey” can push a shooter to act faster than their ability allows
📏 Why Ed trains shooters to identify the distance at which they can consistently make responsible hits
🛡️ Why preparation involves mindset and decision-making—not simply owning equipment
One of the biggest takeaways: active shooter response presents a very different problem from the close-range defensive encounters most armed citizens spend their time training for.
▶️ Watch the full episode of Making Shooters Better for Ed's complete explanation and the context behind his approach. https://www.laserammo.com/podcasts/the-first-30-seconds-why-active-shooter-response-must-change
📚 And if you want to explore his research further, look for Ed's book, First 30 Seconds.
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