Homeless Alert

Update on story below. I told you so.

I've written on homicide bombers and what we need to be aware of, if not proactively looking for here in the US. Anyone who doesn't believe people will soon start going BOOM here is, as they say; stuck on stupid.

If it works in Iraq, it will work here. So, what section of US society is the close equivalent of these mentally disabled women, if they truly were, in the story you should have just read? That's right; some of the homeless wandering our streets, all over the US.

I'm not going to research the statistics to find out what percentage of homeless are mentally disabled. The fact is that many of them spend most of their time, day and night, in a drunken or drug-induced stupor. How difficult would it be for some crafty terrorist to make the following offer to one of our less fortunate citizens?

Terrorist: Hey, buddy; you look hungry. Let me get you out of the weather and buy you some chow.

Buddy, the vagrant: That's mighty kind of you, mister.

They drive off to some ritzy establishment where fine fare is set before the emaciated vagabond.

Buddy: Thanks for the food, mister.

Terrorist: No problem. Hey, listen; I'm just feeling really generous today. Why don't we stop by the mall and I'll get you a new pair of shoes ~ those look pretty worn out.

Buddy: Yea, new shoes would surely be nice. Thanks again.

Buddy and Terrorist park in the mall lot a short time later. In the back seat of Terrorist's car is a bulky, warm-looking coat.

Terrorist: Hey, Buddy; put this on, it's cold out there.

Buddy's still so messed up from drugs a/o alcohol that he doesn't notice the coat seems a bit heavier than normal. They step into the mall together and begin walking. As they approach a cluster of shoppers, Terrorist takes out his cell phone.

Terrorist: Buddy, I have to make a quick call. I think there's a shoe store up there by those people. I'll catch up in a second.

Buddy: Okay.

As Buddy ambles toward the target crowd, Terrorist moves back toward the exit door, keeping an eye on his mule. When Buddy reaches the middle of the crowd, Terrorist sends a cell phone detonation to the bomb Buddy's unwittingly wearing.

BOOM!

It's just that easy.

If homeless folk, male or female, seem out of place a/o with/near someone who may be a handler with a remote detonator, you need to do something.

As always; these are just some options that come to mind. You decide.

1. Run away silently.

2. Call mall security.

3. Call 911.

4. Stop and observe from a position of cover. Loudly but calmly (not mutually exclusive terms) warn the crowd down there that the hobo may be carrying a bomb.

5. If the person you suspect as a handler turns and looks at you as though you just wrecked his caper, he or she might try to detonate the bomb. If he does, at least you gave the crowd some warning so maybe some of them can get down and not get hurt so bad. How many would have been hurt a/o killed if you didn't sound a warning. If you're worried about the embarrassment you'll suffer if the whole thing is an innocent misunderstanding on your part, consider the shame you will and should feel if the scenario is not innocent and people are injured a/o killed so you could keep intact your pride.

6. If the handler doesn't detonate the bomb but turns and attempts to flee the scene, maybe you can follow him and get a license number and personal description to the 911 operator you just happen to be calling at the time.

7. If you're armed and you have reasonable belief that what you're witnessing is a legal deadly force situation within the parameters of the laws of your particular state a/o municipality, then you need to remember the four universal firearms laws, shown below, and, presuming you've already made up your mind what you'll do in such a situation, you should probably commence.

If you haven't read Massad Ayoob's The Truth About Self-Defense, you need to do so ASAP. Any questions or comments, feel free to jump in here.

And be careful out there, unerschrocken.

The Four Rules of Firearms Handling - by Jeff Cooper.
		Rule #1 - All guns are always loaded. The only exception to this occurs when you have a firearm in your hands and you have personally unloaded it for checking. As soon as you put it down, Rule #1 applies again.
		Rule #2 - Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not ready to destroy. You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.
		Rule #3 - Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
		Rule #4 - Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.