'Take the gunmen out' and lives could be saved in active shooting incident, says DC Chief Lanier

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier

In the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and Mali, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier offered insight on what a person should do during an active shooter situation.

In an interview with CBS' '60 Minutes,' which aired Sunday night, Chief Lanier says we can't afford to ignore the potential reality of an attack.

"Getting out is your first option - your best option. If you're in a position of trying to take the gunmen down and take the gunmen out - it's the best option for saving lives before police can get there," she said.

Some security experts warn taking on the attacker can be more dangerous than doing nothing at all but agree that knowing how to defend yourself can help.