The police chief from the notoriously anti-gun nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is urging the public to take out active gunmen if they can as the "best option" until police can get to the scene.

On 60 Minutes Sunday night, Cathy Lanier is asked what the public can do about an active shooter as in Paris.

"Your options are run, hide, or fight," says Lanier. "If you're in a position to try and take the gunman down, to take the gunman out, it's the best option for saving lives before police can get there," she told interviewer Anderson Cooper.

D.C. Chief Cathy Lanier on 60 Minutes.

The highly-respected Lanier admitted that her approach, paved by the nation's sheriffs and some top city law enforcement officials, is radical.

"That's kind of counterintuitive to what cops always tell people, right? We always tell people, 'Don't...don't take action. Call 911. Don't intervene in the robbery' ... we've never told people, 'Take action.' It's a different ... scenario," she said according to the CBS preview of the interview.

She also said that her comments were not meant to strike fear but force people to be aware of their surroundings.

"You can be prepared and you can have a society that is resilient and — alert and conscientious and safer without scaring people. It's not about scaring people," she said.

Washington, D.C., allows handgun ownership but still has very strict laws on guns.

Several other prominent law enforcement officials from around the nation have also called on Americans to arm themselves and shoot if police aren't around.

David Clarke, the sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wis., and Detroit Police Chief James Craig are the most outspoken on the issue. Craig has called shooters in his city "urban terrorists," and Clarke appeared at the most recent National Rifle Association annual convention where he urged, "Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family."

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.