Posted on 10/15/2002 9:57:14 AM PDT by SLB
In our last article, we asked Real Americans to give us their take on the goings on in Sniperville. They did weigh in - in fine fashion. We'll take a consensus of what they addressed, followed by a few ideas that may help the folks in the Washington DC area deal with this menace. In case you're wondering who Real Americans are, let's put it this way: Real Americans were considered by many in government and major media to be the most dangerous threat to America when everyone went to bed on September 10, 2001. As of September 12, the Real Americans were no longer listening to that.
First and foremost, let's review something I stated in the last article:
"…The easy solution is to say that Americans should be armed and ready to rock at a moments notice. I suspect bulletproof vests may soon become 'en vogue' in the D.C. area and not a reason for suspicion…" This led to darn near everyone telling me that a regular vest won't stop a .223 bullet - as if I actually said it would.
Still, our sources in DC say that vests are flying off the shelves. But we won't tell anyone to stop buying them. They can stop many handgun rounds.
Much of the other information sent to us is a matter for law enforcement to handle. Our mission is to help the public. While writing this article, this author is watching live news coverage in Falls Church, Virginia about the latest shooting. We seem to have this down to a routine: There is a shooting, someone calls 911, the police arrive and confirm a shooting, and the whole area gets shut down while men in black stop and search every car. The shooter has more than enough time to blend into the flow of traffic long before the police lockdown can take place.
What's wrong with this picture?
Answer: Little or no citizen participation. The police are turning the metro area residents into prisoners of war the moment they arrive on the scene. Here's my suggestion:
Long before the new rave of the "Amber alert" system, every radio station was tapped into to something called the "Emergency Broadcast System" (EBS). This should be utilized for this operation. All metro area residents would be asked to have their radios playing while driving - any station will do. The moment a sniper incident happens and is confirmed, have someone with authority make an announcement via the EBS asking everyone listening to slow down and stop the vehicles in place - don't pull over, just stop the vehicles.
The strategy: We suspect our shooter is firing from pre-planned positions. Regardless, the escape routes are probably planned in advance as well. They expect to 'exfiltrate' into the flow of regular traffic.
The key word in that last paragraph is the word 'flow'. The strategy proposed here (all vehicles in a given area voluntarily stopped in the middle of the road) is to cut off the exit lanes of the shooter. A system like this set in place should cut the 'lag time' of waiting for police to arrive.
Just one of many ideas to toss around.
Next, the right to keep and bear arms. We know this is a foreign concept to many in that area, but we also hear reports of police finding more and more residents carrying firearms in their vehicles - for their own protection, of course. We understand there's no way some public official would give such practice a green light, but perhaps there could be an 'understanding', if you will, between local law enforcement and the citizen that such concealed carry prohibitions would not be enforced - at least for awhile. Washington residents reading this should talk to the local cop on the street about this.
NOTE: Those Real Americans that still insists this sniper situation is only to promote gun control should read the above paragraph again. Our sources in the area tell us folks are being found with weapons on them, but police have 'more important' things to do than arrest a bunch of law abiding citizens hell bent on protecting themselves and their loved ones.
And to those who are trying to capitalize on these shootings as a means to further their agenda, I say this:
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed…"
Before you try to promote one more piece of gun legislation in Congress, consider how 'secure' the 'free states' of Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia are right now - with some of the toughest gun laws in the nation?
Enough said on that subject.
There were also many inquires from Real Americans on why more details about the shooters haven't been released to the public at this time. Fact is, Washington Area residents are beginning to realize all too well why this has NOT taken place. They know who's behind this, and I predict, after about another week of this, Washington Area residents will know what needs to be done to make it stop.
But that's not my call.
Washington, your shooter is working through the fabric of the social order. This sniper situation tells all of us that our enemy has studied us well. He is using our way of life as his camouflage, and his escape route. The shooter is succeeding because Washingtonians are behaving AS predicted, or as expected. So with that, I'll take a page from a book I wrote:
"…Sometimes you gotta be a little bit crazy to beat crazy people. Sane people don't do the unexpected…" - Cracking the Liberty Bell - 1997
If the above statement makes no sense to you, remember Flight 93, then read it again.
Yes, this is the kind of fight we are in. If we depend on police alone, we will lose. We are dealing with people who didn't exactly sign on to the Geneva Convention's Rules of War - so don't think we can profile this SOB into a 'terrorist box'. Our adversary expects us to hide on the ground and wait for the police to come save us. Now is long past the time when we can sit patiently and simply wait for government to rescue us. We have learned that this attitude only serves to give aid and comfort to the enemy. In this battle, we must be more than mere spectators. Someone, or something is waging war on our own soil. This makes us - all of us- soldiers by default. It's time we start acting like it. And the next time someone tells you to live your life as "normal", ignore them.
This is Real. This is War. And these are the Rules of Engagement.
Every civilized person should have a battle rifle in their car. Otherwise uncivilized people will rule our streets.
However, reality may well dissipate the fantasies of political correctness if the sniper(s) stumble or are captured by some local peace officer acting on the spot.
...Charles Rangel is a dipshit. [not relevant, but...]
Latest sniper attack up here was about .5 mile from where we live. I go to that home depot all the time. Was across the street at Target last night (not at the time of the shooting though).
People up here are freaking.....zig-zagging when they walk on the side-walk (just a few people), getting in their cars when they pump-gas and laying down, etc etc.
I've been thinking about this. Its my hunch that the perps have a truck parked nearby. They shoot from the van, drive away to where the truck is parked, then pull the van up into the truck. That would completely throw off the police, who would still be looking for the white van.
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