Among the most difficult threats risk professionals face is the possibility of an armed individual causing harm to employees, students, or the public. While this devastating risk often lies beyond an organization’s direct control, there remains a clear expectation to address it with purpose and preparedness. This session at RIMS 2025 revisited crisis response strategies and insurance solutions, while also highlighting how traditional risk management efforts often remain disconnected from larger societal approaches.

Speakers included:

• Erin Davis – Sr. Counsel, Director of Litigation, Brady United
• Tanya Schardt – Sr. Counsel Director of State and Federal Policy, Brady United
• Mark Field – Deputy Chief Risk Officer, University of California

The Reality of Gun Violence in the U.S.

Firearms kill more than 40,000 people annually with over 100,000 injuries each year. Firearm injury is the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., with more than twice as many kids killed by firearms than by cancer.

Over the past 20 years, firearm fatalities have been on he rise, while vehicle fatalities have fallen, but why? Data shows that risk management, government insight, and other resources have been used toward improving vehicle safety. If resources were put toward gun violence, there may be a similar shift.

In 2023, over four million guns were sold without background checks. Over four million children in America live in a home with an unlocked, loaded firearm. Only 5% of gun dealers sell 90% of the guns recovered in crime events. Incredibly, 40% of gun owners have never had any training on how to handle a gun. Gun violence costs U.S. citizens over $557 billion per year.

The University of California at a Glance

The public university system in California includes 10 campuses, six academic health centers, and three national laboratories. Much of their gun violence prevention approach became apparent after the 2014 Isla Vista killings, when six individuals were killed and 14 were injured. The perpetrator went to school at a local community college. This event brought awareness about threat assessments and behavioral warning signs. California also introduced red flag gun laws, becoming one of the first states to do so.

UC’s Approach to Threat Assessments and Violence Prevention

Campus behavioral intervention teams (BITs) were established in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. The BITs are multi-disciplinary teams with expertise and professional training in managing threats and violence, and to protect employees, students, and faculty. BIT  enterprise-wide resources include campus wellness resources, student conduct, campus police, HR, and risk management.

The Violence Acts Mitigation Program Funding is supported through UC’s captive insurance company. Recent campus initiatives include:

• Mobile vehicle barriers that can be deployed for large events, protests, and outdoor classrooms
• Indoor active shooter detection system
• K9 trained to detect explosive and firearms
• Employee escort services for students

UC’s Training For Active Attacker Incidents

UC trains on many techniques to apply in the event of an active shooter, including:

• Survival basic safety: run, hide, fight method endorsed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Critical communications / de-escalation techniques
• Physical security assessments: threat assessment and signs to look for

Campus Event Safety Training

Campus event safety training was created for consistency in safety awareness and precautions for student events. Since student event planners have very high turnover, many of them are unaware of how to prepare for an active shooter event without training. This event training included a “choose your own adventure” flowchart structure (e.g., for events of type A, do B, C, and D; for events of type N, do O, P, and Q). Training is also performed to ensure that fire marshals, police departments, and campus leaders all have the information needed to support a safe and healthy environment.

Cultural Change

Industries have the power to impact how we view guns, gun ownership, and gun safety. For example, the entertainment Industry has embraced Brady United’s Show Gun Safety Initiative. When a gun is shown in a movie or t.v. show, it is encouraged that proper storage is shown to the audience, instead of taking a gun out of somewhere convenient, like a nightstand. Insurers also can effectuate cultural change by:

• • Highlighting that guns are lethal weapons
  • Reminding that gun ownership entails certain responsibilities
  • Incentivizing or education responsible gun ownership

Complex Legal and Legislative Landscape

A complex system of local, state, and federal laws govern all aspects of gun ownership, which creates many challenges for statewide gun laws. For gun owners, it is important to understand the differences since they vary drastically by state.

Available Tools for Risk Managers

To prevent incidents and reduce risk, risk managers can utilize the following tools:

• Utilize Extreme Risk Protection Orders
• Promote the secure storage of firearms
• Determine the proper insurance coverage, so that financial impacts and crisis response needs are managed

Extreme Risk Protection Laws

Extreme Risk Protection laws are a tool that temporarily separates individuals who are in crisis or who may otherwise be a risk to themselves or others from firearms through a court order, without criminal charges or a permanent prohibition. These always include due process.

Data shows that these laws can help prevent suicide and mass/school shootings. However many people do not know that these laws exist, so their effectiveness depends not only on implementation, but also education and awareness. Approximately two-thirds of Californians had not heard of Gun Violence Restraining Orders.

What Risk Managers Can Do

Risk managers can provide information and resources about state laws to all new and current employees, making resources available on-site. In states where co-workers and managers can file ERPOs, risk managers must ensure that employees are aware of ERPOs and when they can be filed.  Also consider subsidizing the cost of, or provide gun safes or locks to employees. Require secure storage if you have guns on site, even if state law does not require it.

Secure Storage

Gun storage may look different for different people, but locking all your guns is a great first step to preventing unintended access. The best and safest way is keeping guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition. Storage devices may include a biometric safe, firearm safe, firearm lockbox.

Every day, eight eight children and teens are unintentionally injured or killed by family fire. “Family fire” refers to a shooting that results from someone misusing an unsecured firearm from the home. Unintentional shootings, firearms suicide, and many intentional shootings are all forms of family fire. Family fire is preventable by storing your guns safely. Firearm owners who keep their guns locked or unloaded have been found to be at least 60% less likely to die from firearm-related suicide.

Education, Information, and Resources Are Key

In order to end family fire, Brady United introduced a campaign on secure storage that is aimed at gun owners. 48% of gun owners who saw Brady campaign ads about safe firearm storage reported changes in how or where they store their firearms. Compared to those who did not see these ads, gun owners who saw the ads were 140% more likely to express concerns that at a gun at home increases risk of tragedy, and 300% more likely to seek out information on gun storage safety.

The Business of Manufacturing and Selling of Guns

Designing, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing guns in a responsible way reduces and mitigates risk of firearm injuries. Safe practices employed in gun sales can reduce and mitigate risks when guns and ammo are stolen, illegally sold, trafficked, and ultimately used in crimes. Risk managers and insurers are in the unique position to require or incentivize safe business practices by the gun industry.

What Risk Managers Can Do

Risk managers can require or incentivize safe business practices. The Brady code of conduct is a tool that outlines multiple safe business practices for firearm dealers and risk manager. Best practices include:

• Coordinating with law enforcement about stolen firearms and illegal sales.
• Maintaining and reviewing video surveillance systems.
• Implementing policies, procedures, and training for employees on how to spot and stop illegal sales or trafficking.
• Commitments not to sell firearms unless a background check with a confirmed proceed is received.
• Reducing the sale of particularly dangerous firearms, ghost guns, large capacity magazines, or accessories.