screw that, if i'm gonna go, i want to go out in the first round....
Posted on 06/12/2011 10:36:20 AM PDT by dagogo redux
I am posting this vanity to take the pulse of fellow Freepers regarding the possibility of martial law being imposed, and your thoughts on the best way to react when it is.
I’ve been something of a “prepper” for a few years now, watching history unfold and putting store by the truth of the old Boy Scout Motto. I’ve watched our imperfect US Constitution be easily subverted, but I have held fast to my faith in the much more fundamental Declaration of Independence.
Preparedness, the “eternal vigilance” our Forefathers’ spoke of, has seemed a patriotic duty in these dark times. I have felt, given my circumstances in life, that I am about as internally and externally prepared as I can be for whatever comes.
Recently, however, two readings have stirred up some potentially useful doubts, and I wanted to see what various folks among you thought about such things.
One Second After, by William R. Forstchen was not the wake-up call to me that it apparently had been to many others, and it did seem to present a “best case scenario,” if you will, on the role of local communities versus the Feds in restoring order and a semblance of civilization after some dramatic event. I had already thought through, and put into place with my neighbors, the community aspect of things, but it really drove the point home to me (and to my neighbors, who recommended it). However, short of such an “ideal” EMP attack, I doubt things will unfold like that.
More disturbing, I think, are the more likely scenarios in which an all-too-functional State, Federal, and International behemoth will merely step in to restore order through martial law after some natural or concocted emergency. At the same time, those in power would likely use the opportunity to solidify tyrannical power over a once-free people.
This concern was driven home by a recent reading of a little publication titled Understanding and Surviving Martial Law: How to Survive and Even Prosper During the Coming Police State, by Sam Adams. In this (somewhat promotional) pamphlet, he lays out in chilling detail the gathering power - in legislated and fiat laws, in the accompanying attitudes of the power elite, and in the material and organizational planning already underway and often already accomplished - power intended to implement total control over the population when the time is right.
In Chapter VIII, “Adapting to Martial Law,” however, I was shocked to read his solution. Some excerpts follow:
“There will be those who will want to fight, but unless they can get some cohesiveness to their organization, they’re just shooting cap guns at people with tanks. You would do well to mind your own business, be as peaceable as possible, and stay alive. There will eventually be resistance down the road, but at the inception of martial law, that is NOT the time to fight."
And: “Those instituting martial law will be looking for people to make examples of in order to quell any type of uprising or protest from the rest of the sheep. Harsh reprisals at the inception of martial law will keep the masses cowed and controlled.”
He points out the obvious need to cache weapons and food ahead of time, either off site, or concealed well enough on site to evade completely the ubiquitous house to house searches that will take place to confiscate such prepper items. He advocates cultivating carefully chosen networks of like-minded people, not drawing attention to oneself through attitude, speech or behavior, and patiently waiting until things “level off” and a resistance can be formed (I suppose, al la “Total Resistance,” the Swiss guide to such things).
I have often weighed these two paths, and that is the input I’d appreciate hearing from others here. Zombies and chaos I’m ready for. A well organized army of LEOs and US & foreign/UN military imposing martial law is a different matter, and one about which I am torn. My station in life could take me either way quite easily: fight heroically in my last days, or lay low and hopefully live long enough to undermine their regime.
Your thoughts are welcome.
“They would have to go on a major recruiting spree.”
Recruiting would be simple.
“Go shoot and loot whitey = Get mo’ food-stamps.”
Maybe this would be 0bama’s “better armed than the military” citizen “army” he was bleating about?
I suggest you look at what happened in Kenya, 2006, post the Presidential election. Raila Odinga, Obama’s cousing, lost that election and ordered his followers to go on a rampage.
BHO sent Odinga $1Million for his campaign; I suspect it was really to terrorize Christians in Kenya and terminate those with knowledge of his birth.
It will be interesting to see which skinheads are Oathtakers and who is an Oathbreaker and what an Oathbreaker looks like on fire...
Failed to mention magazines / clips. It's great that you have 1 EXTRA mag that came with your favorite deer rifle, B-U-T a total of 2 mags with only 5 rounds each isn't going to last long until you hear "click" and stop shooting to reload them. If you can't get oversize mags, get a sack full of the "regular" ones.
When they reach the effective range of your weapon!
BFLR
Martial law logistically for the United States would be impossible IMO. A specific area, okay. But the number of ports, airports/fields, etc compared to numbers of police, military across country? Not happening. Unless a foreign force(s) were brought in.
Tyrannical moves are being usually under the radar in isolated instances (in contrast to impotent TSA goons groping nationwide), which thankfully are being broadcast in the new media internet... like SWAT killing the former Marine Guerena in Arizona; SWAT breaking into house of parent who’s estranged wife defaulted on a student loan
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2011/06/sooner-or-later-some-federal-doe-thugs.html
TSA doing a random bag check at railway station in Georgia and pat downs at prom in Arizona; police in Chicago on North street beach doing random bag searches; etc.
Militarization of police and SWAT, which was never intended for that role, violation of Constitutional rights on the increase... Clearly government was getting ready for a fight year ago when they ordered all that .40 caliber handgun ammo, 5.56 ammo carbine ammo, and shotguns for federal agencies.
Any attempt at house to house search, confiscations is open season guerrilla warfare. Targets include local police and support staff like dispatchers, the suits who decreed such tyranny. Obviously sitting trying to defend one’s house from response team with full auto arms, flash bang grenades, armored personnel carriers, is a bad situation with odds against you, plus one wants anonymity.
If you’ve read Total Resistance, then you know it’s necessary to inflict causalities and fight back so that the opposing force must consolidate, provide additional manpower for a security element and that leaves a larger grid pattern over your area so you and others can roam more freely.
To not act — the grid pattern becomes much smaller with opposing forces creating stations at major junctions, more checkpoints, and eventually the informer network will start. No freedom of movement and you will be flushed out.
Being near Chicagoland, plenty of prepping in order here. The recent rat pack mobs running loose foreshadow a larger descent into full blown upheaval in Chicago if there were a natural or man-made disaster — there aren’t enough police. In addition, an armed civilian defending oneself wiping out a few thugs could ignite rioting if not charged by city. So political, cultural, moral clashes besides tyrannical in a nation loaded with gang culture and arrested development youth.
For urban environment, .22 is the chosen tool for operations by ex-spec-ops folk:
http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?68441-My-GSR-decision....22lr.
Scope and fmj rounds for head shots and suppressed for non-telegraphing your whereabouts.
Homemade sound suppressors, explosives and other goodies can be found in manuals off www.scribd.com
Plenty of rifle magazines, happy sticks for pistols, celox, first aid, blades, blackjacks, water for moving and scooting away. Nothing carried should say “gun” like tactical pistol or rifle cases.
Pistols, supplies in messanger bag, tennis racket pouch (with balls), semi-auto rifle in guitar gig bag, machine pistol in gym bag with towel/running shoes, folded or stout carbines/machine pistols in attache case, cereal boxes lined with bubble wrap for pistols, ammo, carried in grocery bag.
I personally would like heavy caliber rifles like .338 Lapau or .50 BMG — not for long range sniping, but tactically close for defeating armor, taking out vehicles or helicopters. Perhaps if we get to that level — but why should I pay for it? Only just to get that cash from the assaulting tyrannical forces who have been funded by our tax dollars.
Obtaining hard cash for exploits is another issue that needs to be thought about.
“...an armed civilian defending oneself wiping out a few thugs could ignite rioting...”
That is exactly what Obama & Co. are hoping to ignite. Civilians protecting themselves will be labeled racists and the result will be Martial Law.
We’re seeing all this set up now, not just in cities, but in Arizona. Communist activists supporting illegal aliens intend to seize and occupy, using illegal aliens, foreclosed homes.
The objective is to overload the system - classic Cloward/Piven techniques - and collapse it or cause a civil war.
Oh without a doubt Zero will try chaos/civil unrest for re-election summer ‘12 just like his boy Raila Odinga, the marxist and sharia law promoter did back in Kenya. Zero’s support of the raping pillaging by Orange Party there (corrupt media mouths are shut) is typical of third world trashy tyrants classless and will drag the country through any turmoil for their own ends. And what corrupt role will Rahm Emmanuel the ballerina play for Chicago?
A foreign born illegal squatting in the White Hut with liberal fascists underlings like Holder and Big Sis — Violence is inevitable.
screw that, if i'm gonna go, i want to go out in the first round....
Thanks, everyone, for your replies. Great input all around, and much appreciated.
Further replies will also be greatly valued, and thanks in advance.
“But it has been effectively done, locally and nationally, in our country’s history.
OTOH, all our military might can’t even beat the Somalis or the Afghans or the Viet Cong. They beat Sadam, then lose the war/country if they leave.”
I have heard that point made over and over. To be honest, I don’t think that the comparison of Vietnam is really relevant. Now that we have drones over our own skies, and thermal cameras, laser listening devices, etc. I think that should it ever come down to a martial law scenario, in the attitude of Janet Reno re:Waco, they would just carpet bomb anyone who stood up for the non-police state. Heck, the police do it now, they just shoot someone 70 times.
The fact is, however, that the average american, isn’t incredibly bright, and especially Government Workers (the non thinking, regurgitation cronies, do best in the field of Government). Especially the police. Military may be a little different (it attracts a better lot of people), but I feel the Government will keep our military occupied in as many wars as possible (4 so far), to keep OUR military members out of the fray. National police and local “authorities” sucking on the government teat, will be funded by the FedGov in the hypothetical times and have the desire to do whatever their sugar daddy commands.
That having been said, they aren’t very intelligent, and rely heavily on technology to give them an overlord advantage. I for one hope there is an EMP event in that regard. I also feel strongly we’ll be attacked by many nations at once (George Washington dreamed/prophesized it, as well as the civil war), but that’s just my opinion.
Have you ever seen the movie: “Panic in year Zero”?
[In case you’re wondering, it was made in the early sixties and doesn’t refer to our dear leader]
Long story short: The main character in the film had them divide up their supplies and hide them separately for just such an occasion.
It hasn't been designated as *martial law* in US military leadership classes for more than a decade. It's now known more precisely as military rule or military government.
Fix bayonet, go down swinging, die in place.
"You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you'll find me in a pile of brass."
- Trooper M. Padgett
At which point you should now have ten new rifles and the ammo that came with them.
There's always a place for you and your pooches with us in Wyoming. And I bet they'd love chasing buffalo, at least until the buffs start chasing back.
Indeed. There are too many screaming “bring it on!” to consider bringing it.
No, the MO will remain the same: regulate the he11 out of intermediary third parties. This has proven very effective, and few realize it happens. Most any activity requires you go thru some other person/corporation/business to achieve a goal; the polypragmatons compel THEM to implement restrictions under regulatory obligations. You have no idea what bureaucrat is involved, but you find there is no way to obtain what you want. Instead of being able to declare “X is prohibited!” you have to explain to a disinterested populace “X is legal, but you can’t make it happen because paperwork Y and regulation Z and waiting period Q render it...hello? anyone still with me? hello?” The Right hasn’t figured out how to deal with it. The Left would just riot.
There won’t be martial law. Creative gas shortages, sudden food quality investigations, employability validation, audits, inexplicable failures of background check servers, ... The sheep will stay in line, adhering to the friendly directives of the idiot box, while scared of the strange rantings of “extremists”.
“What about martial law” is just a recurring fantasy of those entertained by the notion of survival preparation. It’s a stage of development. Possible in real life? sure ... but it hasn’t happened for the 30+ years I’ve been aware of the concern. As others note, the country is too big. Computer-driven bureaucracy, however...
A few weeks back there was a news story to that effect. Some old geezer became the target of a Mexican drug gang. They came in with heavy firepower. He didn’t survive ... but neither did most of them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.