This morning, I read an essay by J. B. Shurk that recommends gentle readers should Keep Your Heads On a Swivel. It is a timely reminder of things you are no doubt already doing. Having a "go bag" for instance is pretty standard. Having a "get home bag" kicks it up a notch, but the thing is, we can no longer trust the government to even try to keep us safe. Indeed, it looks as if the government may be one of the ones hoping we won't make it? In any case, we are always our own first responders to any situation.
This is an essay about surviving. We should be living our lives today with an expectation that something bad will soon happen. That feeling should not dominate our existence or preclude us from pursuing rich and joyful lives, but it should keep us mentally vigilant and physically prepared before disaster strikes. In this Obama-Biden America of open borders, out-of-control violent crime, economic fragility, and international provocations, it is only a matter of time before conflicts abroad become conflicts at home. It is vitally important to keep your head on a swivel....snip...
Unfortunately, Americans are at a disadvantage today because they have been conditioned to depend entirely upon government institutions for protection. A culture that values strength and self-reliance produces citizens who are capable of defending themselves when necessary. A culture that embraces victimhood, views masculinity as “toxic,” finds language “triggering,” and insists that only government agents should be armed with weapons is a culture ripe for swift defeat.
Furthermore, too many official U.S. government policies are intentionally geared toward harming Americans. No sane nation interested in the safety of its citizens would open its borders to tens of millions of illegal aliens, refuse to prosecute violent criminals, or secretly resettle anti-American, military-aged “refugees” into unsuspecting American communities. No sane nation wastes its resources harassing patriotic citizens as “domestic enemies,” while turning a blind eye to the damage caused by Antifa and BLM riots and the very real threats from Islamic terrorism.
FBI Director Wray admitted just the other day that his agency is not tracking “currently operating” foreign terror cells in the United States, that “the gaps in our intelligence are real, and that’s something we have concerns about.” At this point, nobody is denying that foreign terrorists are using America’s illegal immigration crisis to slip into the country. During Biden’s time in office, border patrol officers have “encountered” nearly seven million immigrants, while over two million “known gotaways” evaded initial detection. Tens of thousands of Middle Easterners have successfully entered the country illegally. In 2023 alone, nearly one thousand people on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist have been apprehended, but nobody knows the true scope of terrorist “gotaways.”...snip...
Why would the U.S. government see Americans as expendable? The most straightforward answer is that it does not serve the American people but is instead interested exclusively in expanding its own powers. What 9/11 confirmed for the Intelligence Community is that even its worst failures can be used to institute unconstitutional laws, such as the Patriot Act, that serve to broaden government authority. In the subsequent two decades, the federal government has created a complex surveillance system that enables it to spy on every citizen of the United States. Not only has freedom been foolishly traded for the promise of security, but also that promise proved to be a lie.
Shurk's suggestions don't involve the sterotypical notion of preppers as living in an underground bunker off the grid and stockpiling food and water against a "The End Of The World As We Know It" or TEOTWKI. Most people can't do so, and frankly, does one want to give up going to church, having social interaction with others and abandoning your neighbors for the sake of survival? No one makes it out of here alive, and taking a moral stand on God's side is after all what He wants. We all can't homeschool our children, and who knows how long we may have to survive anyway? But what Shurk suggests are pretty reasonable for anyone, whether facing terrorist threats or merely the disasters that can happen to anyone at any time.
Situational awareness has never been more important. Be leery of large public gatherings, especially those in gun-free zones. Approach every new setting with caution. Immediately do two things: (1) locate every available exit, and (2) if you are not already in possession of a weapon, identify what you could use in a pinch. A sturdy glass jar or bottle is just as deadly as a brick. If you can legally carry a firearm, do so. If you are comfortable with a knife, carry one that locks into place. If you are uncomfortable with both firearms and knives, wear a thick belt with a weighty buckle. Not only does a belt make an ideal tourniquet, but also it can be used as both a whip to keep an attacker at bay or as something to wind around your wrist and forearm for protection.
This blog started out as a gun blog. I carry a gun most of the time when I am out. But I also carry a heavy cane that serves as a stick for when I need extra balance. It is a walking stick, but easily could be carried through an airport. A shillelagh is a perfect example of being both a practical walking stick and a weapon. Besides being something to hold up your pants, a substantial belt can be a torniquet as well as forming a buckler around your wrist or serve as a weapon. Indeed, anything can be a weapon in the right hands and used the right way.
Spend time discussing various scenarios with your family. Should communication networks go down, know exactly where each member will go during an emergency. Should home base no longer be a safe option, have a backup location where everyone knows to go. Plan ahead, so that you are not scrambling during chaos.
I was in Washington, DC during the attacks on September 11, 2001. My wife worked over at HUD while I worked at the Navy Yard. When the attacks went happened one of the results was that communications between us were severed for most of the day. Cell towers were overloaded, and official telephone lines were used strictly for official traffic. She had no way to reach me to find out what was happening, if the Yard had been hit, if I was alright. It would have been a good idea to have a way to communicate. Note that many radio amateurs practice providing emergency communications. Get to know them and think about getting a technician license to do it yourself.
Another item is food. I don't think you need food kits from one of the vendors you hear advertised on the radio. You can buy canned meats including corned beef, Spam, canned chicken, tuna and salmon and keep them in stock in your house. Should power go out, open a can and you can eat it as is. You can also buy canned vegetables and bottled water. Such rations are not "gourmet" but they will keep body and soul together, and they are nutritious. Coffee can be a trade item, so keep some on hand. BTW, I like fried Spam and eggs as a way to start the day. Speaking of eggs, if you are allowed to keep hens, not roosters, but hens, they can supply fresh eggs for you and your neighbors.
Shurk also writes about various bags and the kinds of things you should have in them. I have a tool bag I routinely carry to work. But I really need to add some things, and the site provides plenty to think about. One thing that Shurk mentions is to generally avoid places with a lot of random people, and if danger strikes and you are not immediately in it, run. Your responsibilities probably lie elsewhere, protecting your family.
Run from danger when possible. Barricade yourself behind closed doors if you must hide. If you have no other choice, fight for your life. Make an attacker pay dearly. Work with others to overwhelm any threat. Be decisive and fight dirty. Make yourself a risky target. Do not expect government help; you must be prepared to defend your own life.You are your own first responder.
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