When in a crowd, do you find yourself planning for what you would do in an emergency such as if a crazed shooter were to occur?

Not only that but Scanning hands for weapons. 

It doesn't even need to be in a crowd. Anywhere I go I do this. And being a CCW permit holder adds additional responsibilities.

Yeah, it's so funny. My wife is used to it now...when she sees me looking around and evaluating people, positions, cover, she knows what I'm doing without asking anymore. Can't believe how many people don't pick their head up look around, even when they're in a new city, or a new country.

As I have carried a firearm for all of my adult life, in and out of uniform, I have always played the "what if" game. But it is more than that. I look for the nearest emergency exit, nearest fire extinguisher and now the nearest AED. Probably had more to do with being a Boy Scout than being in the mil, but service definitely refined it. When Columbine happened, I sat down with my kids and told them what to look out for, what to do, where to run (if possible) and even to sit quietly and pee their pants if they had to, to avoid attracting attention.

I remember having to fly right after 911, I would scan the overhead baggage picking out things like oxygen bottles and such to use to fight back a potential hijacker with. Apart from that, being 30 years removed from military life, and living in a very peaceful low crime area, I tend to not so much anymore.

I enjoy having my back to the wall, being able to have the wides view possible. I look for all escape exits, what I can use for harden cover just in case. Driving down the road I'm always aware of what vehicles are around me.

My big wake up moment was I attended the NATO LRRP school in southern Germany. The Commandant was a SAS Colonel. In his opening address he stated we were at a school ran by the SAS, so now all of us were potential targets of the IRA!
There was silence for a while then he continued. I will guarantee this country boy from Idaho never looked at the world the same again!

Good question. I haven't specifically worried about an active shooter event (much).

However, as a mom/parent, I find I'm a much bigger worrier than I used to be. From that perspective, I do think about crisis situations in general.

In busy situations (mall, amusement parks) my kids are used to having a set location to meet if separated, as well as knowing from the get go where emergency exits are and how to get there expediently.

i really don't like crowds and try to avoid them, thanks to crazy Iraqi's blowing up their markets when we were there, but, twice now when in public, when there was an unexpected boom, i found myself running towards the craziness instead of away. I am always surveying the area for exit routes and choke points. I think my wife is getting tired of my giving her advice on where to go and how to get there in case of an incident. I also NEVER sit with my back to the door and must always see the main entry points. call me crazy but practical experience and lessons learned in SERE school and at the JFK have turned on my SA at all times.

Of course....just like I ride down the road anticipating a horrendous accident for which I will have to provide aide at. It is what we do as trained Warriors, we anticipate the worst case scenarios in everything we do. "Be Know Do!"

I always plan for the worst when I'm out and about, or even at home. I'm constantly on the line between Condition Yellow and Condition Orange. As Bilbo Baggins said, "It's a dangerous business, going out of your door."