On Friday, Nov. 28, a shooter opened fire at Westfield Valley Fair Mall in the midst of Black Friday shopping. According to ABC7 News, the gunfire sent hundreds of shoppers fleeing for cover in nearby stores. While the shooting was an isolated event, it should serve as a reminder of the lack of mass shooter preparation in public spaces like shopping malls.
Under California law, businesses with more than 10 employees are required to create documents that outline plans for incidents of workplace violence. Senate Bill 553, which made Workplace Violence Prevention Plans a statewide requirement, also mandates training on procedures for emergency response and requires violent crime logs. While California has strong policies to respond to violent crime, there is no similar standard on the federal level. In fact, over 60% of companies do not conduct active shooter preparedness drills at all, according to Everbridge.
Retail locations are the second-most common targets for mass shooting events, making up 17% of mass shootings recorded between 1966 and 2021, according to The Violence Project. Shopping malls like Valley Fair — which can hold thousands of people — have a responsibility to protect both shoppers and employees.
While some stores like Sephora have security teams, these guards are usually “asset protection partners” who are assigned to protect merchandise, not shoppers. Rather than relying on store-by-store security, large shopping areas should emphasize a more organized security program in partnership with local police.
In the 2000s, there was a resurgence in concern for public safety and terrorist attacks. According to the National Institute of Justice, 63% of mall security directors reported modifying their patrol and surveillance strategies after 9/11. This level of preparation should be the standard for mass shooting prevention.
The incident at Westfield Valley Fair Mall is a lesson on the importance of planning for mass shootings. While California has existing policies in place, these policies should be strengthened, and there should be a national standard requiring retail spaces to create plans and training. It shouldn’t take a major incident to occur for our country to take action.
