I do hope, though, that Michael Westen saved your book before he burned his loft down.
Posted on 02/25/2013 9:37:20 AM PST by Perseverando
“A Failure of Civility” A Book Review by Matt Bracken
First, let me apologize for the poor writing quality of this review. Normally, I write an essay and spend days and days polishing it. Not this time. I’m currently in between my “pretty” essays, but this review is just pure business, like a claw hammer you picked up at Home Depot to bang nails. Pretty has nothing to do with it, so let’s get on with the job.
Second, let me apologize to the other very kind authors who have sent me their books to review over the past months. I have read them all, most of them are worthy of their own reviews, and I hope to get to them when I can.
A few months ago, I received a copy of the new book “A Failure of Civility,” by Mike Garand and Jack Lawson. It is subtitled “How to defend and protect you, your family, friends, neighborhood and America during a disaster or crisis.” Other than receiving this unsolicited book in the mail, a book I had never even heard of before that moment, I have no connection whatsoever to the authors or to the book.
“A Failure of Civility” grabbed my attention on the first page. It begins, “A few notes to our readers…. Consider reading this book as if the authors have parachuted into your backyard as special operations soldiers to assist you in forming a cooperative protection of your neighborhood. That’s one of the things that special ops soldiers are best at…covert insertion into isolated areas to train people in how to defend themselves against inequitable justice and malicious aggression. The authors’ combined life experiences, military and law enforcement, span 80 years. With this book, we give you the tools of knowledge to enable you
(Excerpt) Read more at westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com ...
Preppers’ PING!!
Preppers’ PING!!
Even those who are not candidates for "neighborhood protection teams" may agree to be part of "neighborhood watch", observing and reporting suspicious activity. It all comes down to seeing what level (if any) they are willing to participate at, and maintaining opsec about activities that they would be uncomfortable knowing about.
From the time I was a small kid, I liked to fantasize about having to survive on my on, or even better with one of the beautiful girls who made our high school so scenic.
One day I was hunting at the edge of the Eglin AFB reservation. I was 16 and had a drivers license. I had parked my old car and gone into the woods. After only a few minutes my dog treed a squirrel. I crossed a creek, shot him and realized I was turned around. The sky was totally overcast.
I finally found the creek and crossed again not realizing the creek had forked and I was still on the South side of it. I wandered around for a couple of hours, completely lost. I finally came across an old logging road. There was nothing to decide. I was going to follow it no matter where it led. I finally came out to the highway about 12 miles down from where my car was parked.
Walking back, several times I saw my old mutt framed in a car’s headlights. It was a job keeping him off the highway.
What I learned that day is that I knew nothing. If I had in fact been dumped in the middle of nowhere with nothing but my gun, I would have been in very serious trouble.
I still loved to fantasize about surviving and did in fact begin to study the written advice from many sources.
One thing I do know is that I never want to be away from my home and tools etc. Also that those who have been there and done that are far great resources rather than my imagination.
Thanks. Ordered.
I'm blessed that my neighbors are all for neighborhood protection, from the local free-lance socialists, to those that might want to confiscate firearms. Most of us have known each other for 30+ years.
/johnny
bfl
A “NPP” is a subtle but major step up from a purely passive “neighborhood watch.” But it still sounds (at first) ilke a nice, soft, “non-offensive” plan.
A “watch” implies that you are only going to report suspected criminal activity to the police.
When a NPP will be critical is when the police are nowhere to be found, and you are on your own. The “protection” will be done by the neighbors themselves.
When the SHTF, a NPP will in fact be a neighborhood militia. During normal civility (now) you just can’t walk around your neighborhood—yet!—recruiting for the neighborhood militia.
But that’s what the NPP really is, IMO.
Weston burned his loft down? Say it ain’t so!
You’re lucky. My next-door neighbors are awesome, but there are a few other neighbors who “report” to the police the hunters (friends of mine) they sometimes see on my back acreage. Fortunately, the cops around here know how to roll their eyes and pat the usual complainers on the head.
It also reminds me to go out back to my little shooting range and let off some loud steam and keep my arsenal fresh.
Last season. He had to seriously cover his tracks.
I love that show.
Incidentally, The Bride is ordering this book tonight!
I bought it a while back. Good read. The problem is that all but one other person on my block won’t see the need for it even when their front door is being broken down. And the vast majority pride themselves on being conservatives. Conclusion: I need a new neighborhood. BTW, I live in Germantown. Yeah, the Germantown from Matt’s third book. Go figure.
bfl
Ordered it
(Last year my neighbors thought I was nuts, now I’m teaching them First Aid, how to make soap, establish firing lines and canning... they are seeing the light)
TT
I suspected this topic would be key and focus on what pitfalls to avoid. And even a "neighborhood protection plan" might be considered by many as over-the-top. As you suggest, Be civil and move on.
I will be ordering some. I hope to get a case of the original printing, as now that your review is going viral in the conservative community, I suspect they will be doing another printing very soon.
It is a problem I have been thinking about for years, as I have assumed that neighborhood/local militias would form nearly spontaneously in times of a serious breakdown of order.
I much appreciate your review and have posted it on some other sites.
Thanks a million! After having noticed the recent national interest in prepping, I’ve been trying to think of ways to “prep” in the offensive as apposed to the standard defensive posture.
TS
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