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Carson's attack advice differs from safety experts'

NEWARK, N.J. - Ben Carson's call for those caught in mass shootings to rush the attacker is drawing criticism from public safety experts and little support Wednesday from his presidential rivals.

NEWARK, N.J. - Ben Carson's call for those caught in mass shootings to rush the attacker is drawing criticism from public safety experts and little support Wednesday from his presidential rivals.

Speaking days after an Oregon community college shooting left 10 dead, including the gunman, the Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon offered advice to potential victims of future attacks.

"I want to plant in people's minds what to do in a situation like this. Because unfortunately this is probably not going to be the last time this happens," he told CBS. Earlier, Carson had said that if he had been present at the Oregon attack, he would "not just stand there and let him shoot me. I would say, 'Hey guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me, but he can't get us all.' "

Rushing the shooter should only be used as a last resort, advise public safety experts, including the FBI.

Carson's guidance to attack the shooter is consistent with what the federal government has recommended for responding to a situation with a gunman on the loose - but only if other avenues fail, said John Cohen, a Rutgers University professor who led the Department of Homeland Security's programs on how to respond to these situations.

The program advises people to "run, hide, fight," Cohen said. "As a last resort, fight for survival."

In an active-shooter situation, he said that people should run to escape a gunman if it's possible to do so safely. If not, they should find a place to hide and barricade themselves.

Only as a last resort, he said, are people advised to fight.

Carson also told to SiriusXM radio host Karen Hunter on Wednesday that he was once held at gunpoint at a Popeye's fast-food restaurant in Baltimore. But his approach was nothing like the one he advocated.

"Guy comes in, puts the gun in my ribs. And I just said, "I believe that you want the guy behind the counter,' " Carson recounted in his usual, laid-back tone. "He said, 'Oh, OK,' and moved on."