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?

I have always hated people. That is one reason I live in a town of 5000. I am always scanning and looking around to see my surroundings, just waiting to see what is happening next. Having ADHD I am constantly catching movement, or something out out of the corner of my eye. Drives my wife nuts.

Unfortunately I live in an area where I feel the need to carry concealed at all times.  I always try to sit facing the door, and look for all egresses to the room.  

Yes I do, actually. Sometimes in the crowd, it's the only thing that keeps me from panicking.

Is it bad if I do that everywhere I go regardless of the situation?

I've noticed that recently I'm doing a lot more "people watching" than I used to. Especially with all the recent news of ISIS threats, mass shootings and whatever else you want to throw out there I feel like it never hurts to be a little extra cautious. You never know when something crazy might go down and it never hurts to be prepared. Hope is a nice thing to have but it is never a good plan.

I despise crowds, as many of us do, unless I am on a military base.

We frequent an establishment here in Portland that showcases large venues, and I walk the entire perimeter after I seat my wife, I have been here a dozen times, so I know the layout, and where all the exits are, and honestly don't mind nose - bleed seats for this very reason. It's probably 1/3 OCD, 1/3 overly cautious, and 1/3 paranoia.

As a security planning / emergency preparedness cultist, I'm always looking at cameras, security apparatus/personnel, exits and people who "don't belong" - and No, I can't define that.

In Illinois, we just got Concealed Carry rights, and MANY places have the No Firearms sign. Things are in flux, here, but I'm always watching.

Sit with my back to the wall, know where any chokepoints are, methods of egress or shelter, what defensive weapons (designed and improvised) are available....


Yeah, I do that.

When my now husband then boyfriend and I first decided to move in together I told him very specifically that I would NEVER live in a place where there was not more than one exit in the event that I needed to escape a dangerous setting. At that time my husband thought I was a little nuts, but we eventually found a place with a front exit, back exit, and an easy enough climb from the second floor should I need to make a hasty escape with our first child in tow. I have kept that rule ever since and have been lucky to never need to use these alternate routes.