active shooter

active shooter

English

Etymology

The sense “individual engaged in a shooting spree” may have been coined in the wake of the Columbine High School massacre.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌæk.tɪv ˈʃuːtɚ/

Noun

active shooter (plural active shooters)

1. (US, military, law enforcement) An individual actively engaged in a shooting spree. [from ca. 2000]

   In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see active,‎ shooter.
   • 1962, Police, page 33.

     Although I had been an active shooter since I was thirteen as a young twenty five year old police officer I was convinced by a Coast Guard firearms […]

   • 1967 July 10, U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, "Federal Firearms Act", Hearings, page 320.

     First there is the active shooter who is highly interested in either competition or hunting.

   • 1986, Desmos of Delta Sigma Delta, page 27.

     Today Howard is still an active shooter and still enjoys hunting the local game.