The murder and assaults that occurred Sunday last at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee have a lot of lessons for us to learn. According to reports the "suspect" - Emanuel Samson – was carrying with two pistols, three magazines of ammunition and wearing a "tactical" vest. An AR-15 was in his car, plus a .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol. One woman was killed, and seven more injured. Robert Engle, an usher, "physically engaged" Samson. Engle has a concealed permit, but his pistol was in his car. During the exchange Engle was "pistol whipped;" the shooter was shot in the chest. Engle rushed out to the car, retrieved his weapon, and then held Samson until law enforcement arrived. It Can Happen Anywhere Engle, in an interview afterwards, said, "I've been going to this church my whole life. I would have never, ever thought something like this would have happened." There are very few places that are truly "safe." Yes, all houses of worship should be sanctuaries, islands of security. Reality is that danger, the life and death kind can happen anywhere, anytime. Samson had attended the church in the past, but members said they had not seen him in a while. (He wasn't recognized at first because he wore a mask.) He had worked as an unarmed security guard, and had a couple of contacts with law enforcement for domestic disputes. Church members said Samson was friendly to everyone, including one of the victims. Anyone can be a threat. About eighty percent of victims are familiar with their attacker to a certain degree. Don't be caught off guard if the threat is someone you know, a friend or possibly even a family member. Once they cross that Rubicon they don't deserve any more consideration than you would give a violent, rabid dog that was trying to attack you, your family or friends. Be Prepared You have to be prepared. Knowing that trouble comes without announcement, regardless so where you are, means you must be ready at all times. Plus, according to FBI stats, the murder rate and "non-negligent manslaughter" has increased by about 8 percent. Other violent crimes like rape, assaults and robbery also increased. In other words, the world is becoming more violent. Being prepared means a lot of things. You should always know where exits and cover are, and ready to apply our number one tactics – avoidance and escape. Sometimes avoiding/escaping are not options. This is especially true if you're responsible for family, friends, and others unable to defend themselves. Engle's pistol was in his car. Remember, he never thought anything like this would happen there. He wasn't as prepared as he could have been; yet at the same time he remained in control, and confronted the danger. Being prepared means mentally ready. It won't matter what type weapon you have if your heart isn't into the fight. Preparedness applies to you, as an individual and to groups as well. In our church there are trauma kits, with comm's, flashlights and related gear. The members of Safety Team know where these are and how to use their contents. All groups should be prepared to respond to danger as a group. Win the Fight Regardless of the nature of the trouble your only response is to win. Losing, or tying, are not acceptable options. Also, as Clint Smith says, "there's no such thing as a fair fight." Use every advantage available to ensure you win. (Being prepared goes a long way.) Engle was beaten during his physical struggle with shooter. Even though he was injured, he never stopped. As soon as he had the opportunity he retrieved his pistol from the car and held Samson at gunpoint until the authorities arrived. Another church member, Catherine Dickerson was shot in leg outside the church. She managed to get back inside the church, never did panic, and played "dead" until the shooting was over. Keep in mind that the vast majority of people shot with handgun rounds survive. As both these people demonstrated, just because you're injured doesn't mean you're out of the fight or dead. The ultimate weapon is the mind. Stay calm, and make it happen. Accept the fact that violence can happen anywhere there are people. Man is a vicious creature. Be ready to defend yourself and those you're responsible for. No matter what happens, do whatever it takes to win -- or not. It's up to you. Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html McKee's new book, AR-15 Skills and Drills, is available off Shootrite's website: http://shootrite.org/AR15SkillsBook/AR15SkillsBook.html http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shootrite-Firearms-Academy/156608611038230?ref=ts