Forward Observation Post - Vermillion » 2nd Amendment

Citizens Against Terror

FOPVermillion — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:12:10 +0000

I saw mention of this story over at Patterico bringing attention to a warning by Scotland Yard of Mumbai style attacks coming to London. The article got me thinking about what would happen if the tactic is employed here instead of, or in addition to, London. In that scenario, I am glad for the Second Amendment and legal concealed carry in most states. Considering one reason the attack was effective in Mumbai was the gunmen seemed to be everywhere and law enforcement was overwhelmed. It would be a similar situation here in outcome, if not in fact. This is because in most active shooter scenarios, the police look to secure the area and then deal with the shooter. If there are multiple shooters, the SOP and local law enforcement will be overwhelmed . They may have brainstormed it but unless the shooters pick somewhere with a highly trained large force like NYC or LA, it will be too much for them. When that happens, it will be up to the people to do what they can if and when it is possible. I am grateful I will have the choice and the ability to act if that time comes.

- FOP Vermillion

Ft. Hood Shooting

FOPVermillion — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:29:47 +0000

Watching the news stories about the shooting at Fort Hood, I kept thinking how similar it was to the Virgina Tech shooting two years ago. As the facts available now point to one shooter (there is a search for suspects) who is a person with mental health issues, who took at least two handguns and quite a bit of ammunition and shot at least 50 people in a short period of time. Once again my first reaction was if only someone with a gun had been there to stop him. Once again I look at the reports of the location described and I know there would be no one armed near by. The location was one that was part clinic and part administration building. The people working there were likely the kind of stereotypical rear-echelon individuals who only saw a weapon when they qualified and didn’t see it again for six months to a year. These were not warriors who run to the sounds of the guns. They were just your ordinary people who work in an office but wear camouflage instead of khakis. The people visiting the building were there to get their affairs in order or to get check ups and likely were on auto pilot. When the shooting started, I am sure the first response was one of disbelief. From here on, anything would be wild speculation.

While people think of the military as being the people with the guns, the truth is that a base/post is one of the biggest gun free zones there are. All the governments weapons are strictly controlled and the rules are strict on personal ownership. If there was a weapon within several blocks of the shooting, I guarantee it was in a locked building with several layers of security. So once again, we have a shooting in an area where we have made it easy for the shooter to go about his business with minimal risk for the first critical moments of the attack. Bret Baier spent much of his time talking about how many bullets the guy must have fired. I am sure there will be much talk about the tools this murderer used today. However, I for one can’t help but think of the tools denied to so many of the victims. A few guns in the hands of the people in the building could have saved many lives. I think it is safe to assume nearly everyone shot today had training with a weapon and would have been able to effectively defend themselves given the opportunity. The ironic part is that if this happened in theater the shooter, rather than the victims, would never have stood a chance because of the hail of bullets.

- FOP Vermillion

When the Police Can’t Help

FOPVermillion — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:38:07 +0000

My first thought when I heard of the terrorist plot to randomly shoot people at malls was “I am glad I chose to carry.” Attacks like the one Tarek planned (and not very well thank God) are a fact of life in many places in the world and could happen at any time here. Here we go along with our lives assuming if something happens that the police will protect us. However, when the plan includes shooting the emergency responders, chances are you will be without protection for a while. Let’s face it – officer safety is a big deal and I can’t blame them since they have families to go home to also. The problem is you are stuck in the mall with the bad guys while the police stay outside and get together a plan.

So what to do? I like many others have chosen to go through the process and training required to legally carry a concealed weapon. When someone like Tarek comes to my mall where I and others like me shop, I think he will be surprised by the wall of bullets flying back at him. I am not alone or a weirdo and in my neck of the woods, I am not rare.

I do not ever want to see a terrorist in my neighborhood but if I do I will be grateful I live in an area populated by sheepdogs and not sheep.

- FOP Vermillion