Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Las Vegas)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Bosnian Soldiers

overlooking Sarajevo (ca 2014)

photograph by

Michal Huniewicz

Nothing
There is a well know saying amongst pro-freedom folks that goes something like this 'The best protection against a villain with a gun is a good guy with a gun.'

Of course, this saying reminds people, in a nice way, that the security forces are normally minutes away. It also reminds folks that we, as citizens of these United States, have the right to defend ourselves.

Well, ...

It didn't work out in Las Vegas, last weekend.


Just to Recap
A scumbag rented a two room hotel suite on the 32nd floor, brings a few firearms to the room, busts out two windows, then shoots up a concert. He finally is stopped by the local Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team when the scumbag takes his own life, just before the SWAT team enters the room.

Needless to say, the dead toll is hovering around 60 with the injured at over 500, out of a crowd of 21,000 people.


No One
Now, the scumbag (according to some reports) started shooting as the final set was beginning. No one engaged him, including the police, for over ten minutes.

Notice, ... No one engaged him for over ten minutes.


Anti-Freedom
Needless to say the gun control crowd are pointing out the fallacy of 'The best protection against ...' saying.

However, ... Some folks are counterpointing saying, 'The Cops are good guys with guns, so there' as they stick out their tongue.


Avoid Crowds
So, ... In a situation where a sniper is engaging you and your family from hundreds of yards (meters) away, your defensive handgun is useless.

That means the best defense is not to be in those situations.

Of course, folks are screaming 'But, But!, But!!, But!!!' I live in the 'big' city with tall building everywhere.'

Or, ... A town with tall building.

Or, ... A neighborhood with a hill.

Or, ... A mall with a balcony.

Or, ... You get the point because you and your family can't live in fear trying to avoid every low lying area.


Emergency Evacuation
Like any previous event, whether a hurricane, plane crash, or a shooting, you and your family need to have a plan. That's right an emergency evacuation plan.

This means every time, you and your partner go out alone, together or with your children, you talk about noticing the closest exits and talk about how "If" there is any trouble everyone will meet back at the car, "If" the car is in a safe place.

Now, you and your partner have to teach your children these skills by asking questions, such 'Where's the exits? Where's the emergency exits? Where the closest exit? How do you get back to the car?' and so on.


Cover and Concealment
Of course, you and your family can't live in fear. You have to go about your life, being prepared for an event.

But, ... What happens "If" you can't get to the exits?

You find cover or concealment.

Cover protects you and your family from the bullets being fired. Depending on the weapon, it will determine how much cover you need to protect yourself. The thicker and denser the material (a thick concrete wall is better than a thin piece of wood) the more protection you will have.

Concealment protects your from observation from the villains (Remember, the 2008 Mumbai Attacks, there were multiple villains) but usually doesn't protect you and your family from bullets!

In other words, ...

Cover can be concealment, but concealment can't be cover.


To Recap
In the past, I have always suggested to resist the villains, if you can, safely.

In this situation, there was no resistance. You either ran, hid, or possibly died.


First-Aid
Needless to say, having an emergency evacuation plan is just the beginning. You and your family need to store water (know how to get more), food (know how to get more) have a first-aid kit (know how to use it), have a defensive firearm (know how to use it), have a radio communications device (know how to use it), and many other things.

But, ... Notice every item I mention also included 'know how to use it.' This includes providing life-saving first-aid to gunshot victims.

Yeap, ... As crazy as the world seems right now, it might get worst. To be truthful, that's what you and your family need to be getting ready for, ... The World Going Crazy!!!

Back to my point before I want off on a tangent.

You, your partner, or your children may be able to save a life, during an event, by providing effective first-aid to a shooting victim.

So, ... You need to learn critical first-aid skills, such as ...

Link:
YouTube: Johnny I Shoot Stuff - How to treat a gunshot wound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht_5M2lLLPo

YouTube: Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy - Active Shooter: How to Stop Bleeding Demonstration with a Control Kit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys1s1usNcEs


Improvisation
You and your family may not have access to a kit, like the ones from the videos, so you are going have to improvise during the event, by using available material, such as a t-shirt for a compress, a cloth belt for a tourniquet, and a handful of shirt collar as a quick method of moving out of the line of fire.


An Education
The current scumbag and a few previous scumbags have taught our adversaries a few things.

First, think outside the box, like use box cutters as weapons to take over a plane then use the plane as a guided missile.

Second, use what you know, such as a 'rich' gambler knows hotel security has 'eyes' in the public spaces, but not the private. Plus, they looks for certain things, like drugs, prostitutes, or wild partying, not rifles and ammunition in a bag.

Third, pick a big enough crowd and the crowd will hurt itself fleeing from the villains, as they attack the crowd.

Lastly, there are enough targets and not enough police officers that the security forces can't protect everyone, so the security forces will start to abridge our freedoms in their pursuit of protecting everyone.