Get your shit in one bag

Often a military term generally meaning, Stop foolin' around; get only the gear you need, put it in one bag, and let's go.  If someone says your shit is in one bag but there is no bag around, you're being complimented.

Reading up on recent news, we see here that heroin is being smuggled into the UK by Asian terrorists.  I wonder if they mean Korean gangsters... gongk-pae.  Probably not, eh?  The new DHS Chief says here she needs help on the Mexican border because drug cartels have all kinds of machine guns. 

What DHS needs is a warrior to run the operation; certainly not the over-weight management maven, Janet Napolitano, up with whom we must now put.  This is the kind of leadership we need at DHS. 

So, with all that going on, the FBI Director warns here of attacks against the US, and other information suggests the targets might include shopping malls in Southern California. But don't worry about it, the threat's in that other Southern California.

Okay; what's the nexus, the thread that connects all these stories?  How 'bout this:

We're in mounting danger from mad Mexicans who are connected to the same terrs who are running dope to the Brits and shooting up perfectly good cricket teams.  The personnel, equipment, and infrastructure necessary to smuggle tons of drugs, weapons, and bad-guys up from various unfriendly groups in South and Central American hell-holes, through Mexico and into the US, has been up and running for decades.  Islamist terrorists have long-standing operational agreements with Latin American drug cartels and have trained there for years.  Where there are drugs, there are guns.  Where there are lots of drugs, there are lots of automatic weapons and people not shy about using them to get their way.  It would be exceedingly easy to pull off a Mumbai-style raid here, or several simultaneously, because DHS can't do it alone, partly because it has such pussies for leaders.

And if I haven't convinced you that this is a big mess, the Seattle Times article here tells us that The One has now figured out, by way of his band of "experts", exactly what I just told you in this little old blog... and would have sooner except that my draft of this post just up and disa-freakin'-peared a couple days ago.

So we come back to the question often asked here: What are you going to do? I'm not telling anyone to engage in vigilantism but no one can tell us not to be alert and prepared, to make decisions about what we'll do before dangerous situations force us to do so ~ and to have the proper gear necessary to carry out our plan, whether to flee or to fight.

You save you.

We're talking about a really bad scenario here ~ something a  lot like the Mumbai raid ~ bad guys with lots of guns, moving toward pre-determined targets while shooting at targets of opportunity along the way.

If you're going to fight back, take a look here for some insight into carrying concealed weapons.  If your jurisdiction doesn't permit concealed carry or possession of any weapons in certain areas and you decide to break that law, take a look here  at Maine's Affirmative Defenses/Competing Harms law to see what you might need to know if you end up in court.  Carrying a concealed weapon is legal where I come from but you need to know all laws in your state and municipality that pertain to weapons and justifiable homicide. Then you decide if it's worth the risk to you. I've already made up my mind.

As part of your plan, if you decide to put one together, perhaps it would be a good idea to get to know some of your local cops. Since terrorist attacks are most likely to begin during daylight hours, I'd get to know some first-shifters... first.  Let them know who you are, over time.  Buy them a cup of coffee or a bottle of G2.  A clue: don't buy coffee for a cop and bring it to him or her.  Offer to pay for coffee they can see being prepared by a barista, or pour themselves.  Else, they'll wonder if you're slipping them a Mickey. Don't offer them a drink if the bottle doesn't have an unbroken seal on the cap.  They won't take it, at least they shouldn't, if the seal's not intact.  After some sincere small talk, maybe it would work to say something like, That Mumbai stuff ~ that was the shit. I've been studying terrorist tactics, even some when I was in the military (if you were actually in the military and really studied terrorist tactics), and if that kind of action goes down here and you see me in the AO, just remember I'm a friendly.  That way, if they see you on-scene of an attack, they might not just shoo you on down the road.

On the other hand, it may be best to say nothing and if you happen to be there when something happens, just hope you don't get mistaken for a bad-guy.

Ya pays yer money ~ ya takes yer chances.

If you're seeing bad-guys who look like they're staging a Mumbai-style attack, the first thing you should do is get on the horn: Call 911.  If it were me, I'd have an ear-piece and both hands free, and the call would go pretty much like this:

My name is Undaunted. Be quiet and listen up. I'm reporting multiple armed men in the parking lot on the north side of the SouthWest Mall in Easton. I say again: multiple armed men in the north parking lot of the SouthWest Mall in Easton.  There are about 10 men, moving together in two-man teams, all wearing dark clothes, carrying what appear to be military-type assault weapons, and back-packs. I am in the same parking lot wearing tan chinos and a Detroit Redwings jersey.  I say again: There are about 10 men, moving together in two-man teams, all wearing dark clothes, carrying what appear to be military-type assault weapons, and back-packs.  I am going to engage them with my pistol and shotgun, trying to keep them out of the mall and busy till the cops arrive on scene.

That's the part where the Operator starts to get antsy, maybe even nasty, to ask questions, and he or she will almost certainly tell you and me to seek cover and wait for the police.  Understand that the Operator has no authority to tell you to do anything.  The cops get to do that when they show up. And of course you should do exactly what they order.

I'd tell the Operator to be still, to let the battle be recorded on tape, and I'll feed her intel as the fight develops.  And I'd commence to shoot at the approaching bad-guys, trying to take down the ones closest to the mall entry doors first, obviously.  If it appeared they were wearing body armor, I'd shoot low and try to knock them to the ground. Too, the groin is an excellent area as far as painful target areas are concerned. I'm just sayin'...

If shooting's what you decide to do, don't be worried about what the face of the bad-guy looks like, whether there's evil or good in his eyes.  You only need to be worried about what's in his or her hands. So, be looking, focusing, and aiming at the area of his chest ~ above his waist, below his neck ~ where his hands will be when he's holding/aiming a weapon.  Practice that at the range too.

While terrs rehearse their attacks, they can't really practice what they'll feel when they actually come under hostile fire.  Maybe, just maybe, the shots you take at them will be enough to slow them down and force them to seek cover.  Maybe you'll kill one or two, or create such confusion that they'll stall to regroup. That gives cops more time to arrive and deploy.  Every shot terrs fire prior to reaching their target is one less bullet they can shoot into an innocent... if they get to that target.  One man or woman laying down accurate fire could be enough to stop the entire attack. Who knows? If they're carrying IEDs and think their attack has been thwarted, they might just pull the pin on themselves right there where you have them stalled.

Boom!

Duck.

Remember to be telling the Operator what's going on as best you can. If he or she won't shut-up in telling you to take cover and wait for the police, don't hang up ~ keep the circuit open and keep communicating.

I've written on other tactics here in the past. You should surf around the place and take a good look at those posts as well.

Here are some thoughts on what to put in your bag:

• A 9mm DAO pistol with hi-capacity magazines, lots of 'em
  •  You can carry many more 9mm rounds on you than any other "man-stopping" round out there
• Good lock-blade folding knife
  •  Learn to open it with one hand, either and both, and never leave home without it
• Ammunition  
• Small but sturdy and bright flashlight
  •  Button switches on the tube end, with a halogen bulb
  • Don't turn it on and follow the beam around ~ use the momentary switch to light dark areas for just enough time for you to spot danger and react
  • You decide where you hold it: away from your body or centered with your shooting hand... the risk is about equal
• Ammunition
• Flexcuffs, also known as 24" Heavy Duty Commercial Electric Ties
  •  Even when bad-guys are down and look dead, you still need to secure 'em
  • Cuffs should be pre-strung; like this.
• Ammunition
• A hand towel for keeping things from making too much noise in your bag, and to wipe sweat and blood
• Ammunition
• Ear plugs, or better yet, electronic earmuffs like these babies  
• Ammunition
• A small monocular... maybe 
• Ammunition
• Extra fully-charged cell phone battery
• Ammunition
• One small, sealed bottle of water, not necessarily to drink, to wash junk out of your eyes
• Ammunition
• Battle dressings, not a FAK, and you need at least two of these
  • QuikClot   
  • Emergency Trauma Bandage  
  • You don't need an FAK because you're not there to be a medic. You are there to prevent the death of innocents by taking out bad-guys, which will clear the way for the EMTs.
  • If you come across a wounded innocent who needs quick treatment to stop rapid loss of blood, use your battle dressing, calm and encourage them... and then move on. Don't park there waiting for them to get better or die. 
  • Coming across a wounded terr, well, I'd secure him with flexcuffs  and let him bleed out and die. It's his fault, not mine.

And, you can't put your gear into better bags than... Maxpedition Versipaks. IMHO.  And remember this: if you get a bag like this for this purpose, it's not a purse, whether you're a man or woman. The only thing that should go in the bag is the combat items discussed here, those meant for that specific purpose.  If you're going to carry keys, they should be kept in one exterior pocket and kept there alone.  Practice locating and deploying everything you carry in the bag with your eyes closed.

Hey, if you're not trained in shooting and tactics by the military or police, have you been to Front Site Training Institute? How about Lethal Force Institute, Valhalla Training Center, or Thunder Ranch? If not, you need to get your shit in one bag and go. 

ASAP.

If you can't for any reason  make it to any of the many fine firearms training schools here in the US but you feel a moral obligation to get involved in a scenario such as depicted here if one should develop in front of you, take the time to check out the videos on combat shooting shown below.  Follow each subject through by sequence if taught by the same instructor, and don't be shy about viewing different teachers who teach the same subject, as you do your own search. When you find a tactic a/o teacher that fits your ability and equipment situation, practice and practice and practice as much as you can using the videos here.

Basics of CQB. He's doing pushups to induce muscular stress, which occurs in battle and must be anticipated and handled properly.

 Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft. One of the best instructors. Evah. Follow the entire series of videos. Then do it again.

Combative pistol.  Not familiar with this guy, but it l0oks like he has his shit in one bag. 

Close-range gunfighting.  See what you might need to learn or refresh and get it done. 

After-action drills, necessary no matter what you're hunting.

Tactical carbine. For those of the .223 and .308 persuasion.

Something to remember if you don't have a firearm as an attack is developing before your very eyes: a vehicle can be a deadly weapon.  If you're unarmed in one of these scenarios and decide to try to stop the attack, do this:

• Lean toward the center of the vehicle, lowering your profile through the front windshield
• Keep one hand on the steering wheel as you peek up over the dashboard, keeping an eye on your target
• Steer toward him/her/them at about 20-30 MPH
• Drive over them, not into them
• If you hit a wall with them on your bumper you may have to stay ducked, as they may be able to fire at you in that position

This tactic is not just me being mean. An extra-curricular course police officers can go to is the Street Survival Seminar. Many cops have been to the course, all should go.  In the first book Caliber Press published, The Tactical Edge, this exact tactic is suggested for a situation such as discussed here. You can't go to the seminar or buy the books unless you're a sworn police officer so about all you can do to confirm what I've said is to check this out.

Another thought: take up paintballing.  You can rent or buy the gear new or on craigslist.  Practice approach, target acquisition and shooting on the move in that setting... it can be very helpful. And fun.

More later.

Okay, it's later now.

When you're practicing on your own at the local shooting range, remember while you're reloading to keep your eyes off your gun and on your target/threat area ~ learn to reload without looking at your gun.  As you're firing multiple rounds to the point of an empty mag, let the magazines drop to the floor or ground, don't stop to reach down and pick up your empty mags. Look here if you want to know why.  In brief, they did in a gunfight what they formed as a habit on the CHP shooting range: they picked up their empty brass and speed loaders and put them in their pockets before moving to the next set of targets.  Here are the rules:

• Bring enough ammo in enough mags
• When you fire dry and the slide  locks to the rear, let the mag drop as you're bringing up a fresh one to slide into the mag port
• Don't take your eyes off the target/threat area while you're reloading

Listen up: I can't speak for you. I can't decide for you. I can't and I won't. I know the deep and true moral obligation in my soul that drives me to be who and what I am. Me. Myself. I don't know you, and I probably never will. I know why I have decided certain things and what I will and will not do in life and death situations. I write  so those of you who haven't had the benefit of all the really good training I have will be somewhat equipped to stand in the face of barbaric enemies and, if nothing else, die like free men and women. At best, I hope some of you will make that timeless, selfless, personal decision to, wherever and whenever you are, man up and train up so you are equipped in body, mind, and soul to defeat the enemies of freedom. Or die trying.

The time and date of our individual appointments with God are set on His calendar, not ours.  We only get to choose whether we die on our knees or on our feet... and I believe He will honor our choice.

Wherever you are on this planet tonight, in God's hand whether you believe it or not: Be strong.  Be courageous. Do not mistake fear for wisdom.

Cowards die a thousand deaths. The valiant die but once.

Die once, unerschrocken.

Feiglinge sterben eintausend Todesfälle. Der tapfere Geschmack des Todes aber einmal.

Sterben Sie einmal, unerschrocken

Comments

[Nick]

You must be a member of the doom & gloom society of AR15.com. Many people spend their whole lives in fear of what if and never really live life to the fullest. One, you're not in control of your life, God is. Two, nothing wrong with being prepared within reason. Three, you should spend more money helping others than stock piling for SHTF. The Almighty isn't going to care how much ammo, guns, tactical supplies you have on judgment day. Peace!

[Undaunted]

I guess you're a member of the presumptuous Christian club, but thanks for writing anyway.

Since you haven't known me my whole life, it seems a bit out of place for you to be commenting on whether or not I've lived it in fear or whether I plan on living the remainder of it that way. For the record, I haven't lived my life in fear and have no intention to start now.

One: if you want to argue Arminianism v Calvinism, you need to start your own blog. As for me, I don't know which is true. But I do know God gives us sound minds with which to make courageous decisions. So that's what I do. And, without the pushy theology you've offered here, I try here to encourage others to be brave and to make decisions based on solid, realistic information and circumstances that either do exist in their lives or might exist in the near future. So, I am in control of the decisions I make, and what I suggest to others that might influence them to make decisions and I'll answer to God for that some day, not you.

Two: So you get to decide what is reasonable, correct? That, in addition to telling me what the "fullest" life is. Based on what? Your narrow view of theology?

Three: How do you know how much money I spend helping others? Since you don't know, STFU. I've looked and as far as I can see I have the only blog on the net that offers protection to Muslim women who fear for their lives because of their families. So, I’m willing to give up my comfort and my life if necessary to protect these innocents. I don't have any notes from you volunteering to help me.

I don't need to be worried that He thought I had too many bullets or bandages if my heart was right in keeping them.

And my heart is right in that regard. So put a sock in it, Nick.

[George guy]

Just found this blog. I'm certainly going to be reading this regularly.

I believe there are roughly three categories of threatened individuals as far as the jihad menace is concerned, where it might also be possible to employ some legal (in the US, anyway) methods of applying counter-pressure.

Group 1 consists of those who run afoul of the family law portion of Sharia. Women and girls threatened by 'honor' killing would be the majority of this group, but I'd also classify any males accused (true or not doesn't matter much) of associating with them under this category, since it falls under the same general type of situation. I'm not going to fault anyone for focusing their efforts on the girls, though, since they are the most vulnerable. Were I in a position to say something about what should be done about the young men, I think it would be reasonable to consider a sheltering deal in the short term, but steer them into some type of suitable training as soon as possible.

Group 2 consists of those who offend jihadists in general and have a death fatwa on them. These people will be artists, writers -- cartoonists and columnists. Group 2 is different from Group 1 in that the belligerent party to worry about is a segment of the Muslim population anywhere, leading to a different kind of security concern than protecting someone from a particular few people. If any kind of network were to be extended to them, Group 2's treatment would probably best be handled in terms of just staying in contact with them to help watch their backs, and connecting them with suitable training and equipment.

Group 3 consists of those who are threatened by fundamentalist Islamic tribal territorialism. As they claim some neighborhoods for themselves, and transform them into no-go zones for the police, law-abiding citizens with homes or businesses around these areas, and innocent passersby, will be gradually subjected to increasing levels of harassment, threats, shakedowns, and so forth. If any kind of network were to be extended to them, it would require a level of participation sufficient to make the right amount of muscle available to these threatened areas.

The big picture does seem rather overwhelming.