Editing Mass murder (section)

===Law enforcement response and countermeasures===
Analysis of the [[Columbine High School massacre]] and other incidents where [[law enforcement officer]]s waited for backup has resulted in changed recommendations regarding what victims, bystanders, and law enforcement officers should do. In the Columbine shooting, the perpetrators, [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]], were able to murder 13 people, then commit suicide before the first SWAT team even entered the school. Average response time by law enforcement to a mass shooting is typically much longer than the time the shooter is engaged in killing. While immediate action may be extremely dangerous, it could save lives which would be lost if victims and bystanders involved in the situation remain passive, or law enforcement response is delayed until overwhelming force can be deployed. It is recommended that victims and bystanders involved in the incident take active steps to flee, hide, or fight the shooter and that law enforcement officers present or first arriving at the scene attempt immediately to engage the shooter. In many instances, immediate action by victims, bystanders, or law enforcement officers has saved lives.<ref name=NYT4613>{{cite news|title=In Shift, Police Advise Taking an Active Role to Counter Mass Attacks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/us/in-a-shift-police-advise-taking-an-active-role-to-counter-mass-attacks.html|access-date=April 7, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2013|author=Erica Goode}}</ref> However, law enforcement programs and actions have so far been unable to reduce the total number of incidents. In 2020, a record number of 600 mass shootings occurred.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Past Summary Ledgers {{!}} Gun Violence Archive|url=https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.gunviolencearchive.org}}</ref>