Posted by
Bruce Hinton on Thursday, January 01, 2009 9:00:00 AM
A solutions-oriented commentary
*What's it all about? JAATI is a real word, but alternately here, stands
for "Just About Anything That's Interesting, (or Inflammatory)". It
can also be a poignant reminder that no matter how far above the law
politicians feel, or how genetically superior the Tinsel town stars feel they
are, we are supposed to be a casteless society. Let's try to act like it. The
goal is simple and straightforward. Wake up the "slumbering masses"
and motivate them to either do something or elect someone who will.
Worldwide and Domestic Terrorism, Snipers,
Armed Citizens, and Homeland Security.
We are losing fewer American lives now than would be the case if we
had bailed on Iraq and the fight was brought here. That is still, in all likelihood,
inevitable, but hopefully we are progressing in our readiness. This is the
start of the New World Reality, not the slowly ending war against Iraq.
Here are a
few thoughts about the hidden, unsuspected, positive potential of all your
"Legal CCW friends and neighbors", (CCW loosely refers to all the
acronyms describing the Concealed Carry of Weapons). You probably have no idea how many of
your fellow citizens are in this category.
(Would you believe several million?) You may not even approve of such things,
but they would nevertheless do their best to keep you and other innocents alive
if you happened by the wrong restaurant, or bank, or whatever - at a time when
some crazies decide to take hostages, - maybe begin executing them. They are not waiting and hoping for
their chance to be what some politicians call “a Rambo”. They just know the limitations of the
police, both in legal terms and manpower/budget considerations, and choose to
take some personal responsibility for their fate.
About all
those legal CCW's - Try to keep in mind there are millions. They quietly accept the responsibility
and duty every day. They know of
the life wrecking legal and societal pitfalls awaiting any one who has to use
that deadly force to protect their own life or the life of a family member, or sometimes
even an innocent stranger.
(Paradoxically, it makes them the most carefully restrained group of
folks out there). But it is better
to risk all that, than to give all control and authority to the terrorists or criminals who
consider life cheap in pursuit of their own jihad's goals or drug-induced
hallucinations.
Imagine the
following directive
being issued by the Department of Homeland Security to all of our citizens
licensed to carry weapons; Imagine
also that most have had some serious practical training, and most important
of all - awareness and mindset training.
Nationwide: Bulletin to US Citizen "Category 2" CCW's:
Information
has come to USDHS that many embedded long-time sleeper cells are beginning a
country-wide large scale clandestine operation that will involve (XXXXXX). The foreign controlled insurgents will
be using explosives, rocket propelled grenades, and sniper rifles.
Most of you
are not trained to deal with these threats as would be a "special weapons and tactics" team, but you
could be the first line of defense, a communications source with needed data,
and a reserve of force that may be called upon by your local officers. Your most critical directive is to work
within the control of your local or federal officers in charge.
In addition
to your regular handgun armament, if possible equip your vehicles
inconspicuously with a center-fire rifle with extra magazines. Be observant and if you see suspicious
activity call the police special operations phone number in you authorization
pak. Be prepared to stand in
defense of your homeland as ordered, and be prepared to stand down if so
directed. The overall situation
will almost certainly not be known to you.
The police
or federal officer in charge of any scene will keep in radio contact with all
citizens on the cellular-based communication groups. Those having concealable body armor
should wear it whenever practical. Tactical
outerwear may be called for by your local officer in charge, but do not wear
such equipment.
Only in the
gravest of extreme situations, already under way, where innocent people are
being harmed, should you take action.
You must not endanger other innocent persons, and you must desist
immediately when authorities arrive.
Every effort must be made on your part to pre-identify yourself with
communication to the authorities.
You could be mistaken as the sniper or terrorist
Supplemental
to Citizens of (Your State):
Be
especially vigilant in the vicinity of the ....(XXXXXX). Watch for suspicious vehicle activity
where a sniper might set up a watch.
Do not intervene or even show your interest, it could provoke a
situation. Get the police involved
as soon as you see anything that is decidedly a departure from normal
activity. Do not initiate any
confrontation, it could be just a concerned citizen like you scouting and
looking at risk situations.
–End of scenario.
What a concept! Resources previously uncounted. A new way of looking at your fellow
American. What a shock to find out
he is not the enemy. If you look at
an airport security gate, it almost seems as if we all are suspected of being
the enemy. Virtually all of those passengers
are on the side of the good guys, not the terrorists.
Another
Radical Concept - It would be better to stop bothering air
travelers about their bottled water and loose toothpaste, and issue every
passenger who doesn't have one, a carbon fiber survival knife. (If you were a hijacker with a box
knife, how do you think you would fare?)
The metal detectors would still look for guns on those without permits,
and maybe we could spend some extra effort on chemical sniffers to try to find
explosives before they can be employed, and better monitoring of X-ray baggage scans.
If all of the gun owners suddenly
acted the way Ms. Feinstein and her ilk imply, then surely a third of our
population would be dead by sunrise, from accidental killings and family
squabbles. Curious how so many of
those who would self righteously set the rules against gun ownership, have
armed bodyguards, or permits of their own!
Curious how they suppress the fact that there are many thousands more
times that guns deter a violent
crime, than the number of (highly publicized) accidental incidents, tragic
though they are.
Think about
these things when you pick your next officials.