[Travis McGee]

I have been thinking about the dangers of panic stampedes for a long time, and how in the age of terror they can be intentionally manufactured to leverage mass death from ordinary means. I begin my novel with an intentionally manufactured panic stampede, it's obviously central to the plot, but I alse intend it to serve as a general warning to Americans quite apart from my novel's primary second amendment theme.

We had better deal with this panic stampede issue, or we will surely face the tragic consequences of ignoring it. HOW A STADIUM OR SPORTS ARENA CAN BE TURNED INTO A MASS DEATH TRAP

In the case I fictionally describe the precipitating immediate cause of the panic is a sniper firing into the crowd, but it could just as easily be accomplished by setting off pepper spray or dumping a few gallons of ammonia and yelling "poison gas!"

[Jeff Head]

I agree 100% Trav ... and you can bet that our enemies understand it as well.

We have seen two very terrible, very fatal and very real-to-life examples in the last week. Chicago and now RI.

I am afraid it will take worse for the stampede mentality to wear off. Our people and our society simply have no reference to such situations ... and very few parents and schools take the time to train and raise individuals who do.

As you point out in your novel, it certainly can and will be used against us.