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The United States has yet again been rocked by another mass shooting, this time at a mall in Allen, Texas. A gunman opened fire and killed nine people.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, a guest on Fox News made a recommendation that caused an uproar across the nation.
Alex Coker, a former police officer and television host, appeared on Lawrence Jones Cross Country on Saturday night and suggested Americans who fear they may be the next victims of a mass shooting should "be polite and professional, but plan to kill everyone you meet." Coker attributed this statement to General James Mattis, who reportedly said it to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Coker suggested individuals living in peaceful neighborhoods should be prepared for the worst and "run" for their lives, "barricade" themselves and defend themselves like "a hornet's nest." However, in a society where firearms are easily accessible, promoting such an idea is only likely to increase the number of shootings.
You can hear what Coker said in the video below.
\u201cFox News's advice for life in America: "Have a plan to kill everyone you meet"\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
When asked what he would say to people who live in places like Allen, Texas who "don’t think crime will ever hit them" and feel they "don't need to prepare," Coker gave the following response:
“Run away like your life depends on it. You need to be physically fit, and run fast. So move move, move."
"Second thing is to barricade. Try to put something between you and that gunman."
"And the third is prepare to defend. Like a hornet’s nest, everyone comes together. And go ahead and tag the guy."
"Enough people coming together at once will take out that armed gunman. You can take him out and override them whether it’s even a plane or a Walmart.”
He added:
“Just like General Mathis said: Be polite and professional, but plan to kill everyone you meet. Something you might say could cause someone to snap.”
The irony of a former police officer advocating for individuals to take the law into their own hands by planning to kill anyone they meet is not lost on anyone. Such a recommendation is not only dangerous but also promotes a culture of fear and violence.
Many have condemned Coker's remarks and pointed out the flaws in his reasoning.
\u201c@atrupar Fact free republicans as usual. \n\nThings not killing kids: \n- drag queens\n- books\n- bud light\n- gun free zones \n\nThings killing kids\n- guns everywhere \n- republicans \n- nra\n\nThe number of guns In America has doubled in the mat 20 years \n\nThere are 100 million more guns then us\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar I work in a grocery store in an open carry state.\n\nI see people that are so physically impaired that they have issues just pushing a cart that have a gun in their hip.\n\nYeah, I feel *real* confident that they would hit a shooter instead of me.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar And the victim blaming. My god these people are evil.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar I hate the @gop with the strengths of a thousand suns.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar The Kremlin loves this plan. And so does Fox News.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar Alex Coker:\n\n"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - A. Lincoln\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar @farronbalanced It\u2019s the people who already have that plan we\u2019re worried about. Also, the folks at Fox don\u2019t see a way for this to go wrong.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
\u201c@atrupar Always count on FOXNews to make a bad situation even worse.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683424973
The shooting in Allen resulted in nine deaths, including the shooter, while seven others were injured with three in critical condition.
The perpetrator was reported to have worked as a security guard and was living in a motel. He reportedly received firearms training while working his security job and had no previous criminal history.
The shooter's clothing bore the insignia RWDS which authorities believe may stand for "Right Wing Death Squad." He had, according to investigators, interacted with neo-Nazi and White supremacist social media content.