For those paying attention, there is much chatter among current and ex-intelligence people regarding a looming, seemingly inevitable, terror attack on the American homeland. Is it certain to happen? No. However, due to the Afghanistan withdrawal, open border, and complete lack of national security in the past several years, it is naive to think it won’t happen.
The most public voices regarding this looming threat have been ex-intel analyst Sarah Adams, ex-special forces Dave Benton (of Benghazi fame), and ex-special forces and veteran activist, Scott Mann. They believe, due to their intel networks, that over 1,000 Al Qaeda operatives have infiltrated the country, either by flying in under the guise of asylum seeking refugees from Afghanistan, or crossing the open boarder. Other intel people quibble with the particulars offered by these public figures, yet also believe that there is an inevitable attack in store.
Apparently, when you leave the border of a nation wide open, and simultaneously import the allies of a war-torn nation that you abandon, it gives ample opportunity for bad actors to slip through. No way! Who would have thought? We are now likely to pay in blood for the lack of political leadership we have suffered in the past several years.
The bottom line: very reputable people are predicting a massive, coordinated, terror attack being carried out in multiple locations within the Continental United States, in the near future.
I am inclined to think that we will most likely see an event similar to the Mumbai attack of 2008, or the Paris attack of 2015, but perhaps in multiple locations. In both events, groups of terrorists attacked different locations in the city, creating absolute mayhem. Cells of two or three terrorists together, armed with rifles, and likely bomb vests, will strike a soft target, while simultaneously other such attacks are carried out at different locations, by different groups of two or three. This overwhelms the capability of first responders and cripples a fast response.
If you find yourself at ground zero, you will be completely, utterly, alone. There will be no swat team coming to the rescue. Getting out of the kill zone will be solely your responsibility. Here are several things to consider regarding this sickening reality that might be inbound:
Avoidance
Where will such attacks occur? I am willing to bet money that the targets will assuredly be vicinities that restrict concealed carry. I guarantee it. If you were a terrorist, would you strike a place where carry is prohibited, or a place where every Joe-Bob is carrying a pistol? While pistol-armed citizens are not in a fair fight against multiple rifle-armed terrorists, it is still a dynamic that they want to avoid, because instead of having an un-mitigated slaughter, they will have a gunfight. They want the slaughter, not the gunfight. Stacking dozens of innocent bodies makes the headlines they want. Getting shot dead by citizens early in the attack does not. Therefore, the first piece of advice, stay out of places that disarm you, if at all possible.
Bear in mind that, even in states that don’t disarm the citizenry, there are always places that do. Concerts, sports events, and the usual gun-free, mass-killer empowerment zones. If you don’t have to be there, don’t. I understand the argument that if you stop living your life the way you want they already win, but know the enhanced risks and decide accordingly.
Know the Exits
When studying events such as the Bataclan Theatre, the bloodiest event that transpired in the 2015 Paris attacks, a clear pattern emerges. Those who were on the peripheral areas of the theater, close to exits, generally got out. Those near the stage found themselves in the killing zone. If you attend large gatherings and crowded events, stay on the outskirts of the crowd, don’t be in the middle of it. And, certainly, position yourself near an exit.
Also, trust your instincts, not your 21st Century denial of reality and entitlement. If something seems off, get out immediately. Reports from the Bataclan theatre are full of the usual: “I thought it was fireworks.” No, if you are at a concert or sports event, the loud booms are probably not fireworks. Some witnesses at the Bateclan said that the roar of the AK47s was deafening even over the absurdly-loud band, Eagles of Death Metal, that were on stage. Guess what, kids, that isn’t fireworks.
Be on the periphery, not in the middle of the crowd, be near an exit, and leave immediately if something does not seem right.
Have a Link-up Plan
Many of you are family men or women, and you might find yourself at ground zero with your loved ones. Be sure that all of your household stays in the safer areas of any given event, as discussed above, and be sure that there is a family plan of action. When you determine that things are not safe, give the word, and everyone evacuates the scene, pronto. No arguing about it, no denial. Have the discussion with your significant other, and with older children. Work out the details. Who carries the baby? Who leads the way? Etc…,
It is important that you designate a link-up location outside and away from the event in case you get separated from your spouse, partner, or older children. The link-up location should be outside of the domain of the event, including the parking lot. Just planning to meet at the car may not be sound, because I fear that the wave of terror that is coming will be strategically placing explosives in the parking lot of the event that gets attacked.
This is a tactic that has been used, numerous times, overseas, where a shooting attack may be intentionally used to get people to flee to the vehicles, only the be casualties of explosives. This is a tactic that is not new: the Columbine High School killers had explosives waiting in the parking lot to kill first responders, but they failed to detonate. Trust me, the well-trained Al Qaeda operatives now embedded in the country are much better at terror then those two teenagers were. Their bombs will detonate.
If attending a large event, choose a link-up point further away from the venue, like the 7/11 across the highway, etc…, and if separated and cut off from cell communication, which is possible during such an event, all family members can plan to meet there. From that point, get as far away from the scene as possible, and find a location far from crowds, the intended target.
The Shooting Problem
Obviously, if you face such a situation while in your usual vicinity and usual routine while you are armed, it is much better then facing it while unarmed.
Still, it should go without saying that facing multiple, perhaps many, attackers who are armed with rifles, possibly explosives, and may be wearing body armor, is not an easy problem to solve with your carry gun. This is not a fight you will go into in hopes of smiting the enemy and killing an entire cell of terrorists; you will not have the needed manpower or firepower for that task.
There are, of course, many examples in which armed citizens have neutralized rifle-wilding active killers with only their handgun, but going up against a multi-assailant crew of terrorists is a tall order. The strategy for such an event needs to be different compared to the more common active killer scenario that has played out numerous times.
However, being armed with your handgun will greatly enhance your odds of getting yourself and your loved ones out of the situation.
The go-to strategy for surviving a multi-attacker terrorist event is this:
- Exit the vicinity as quickly as possible to get yourself and your loved ones clear of the immediate kill zone.
- Don’t go hunting for them, but neutralize any threat that materializes to block your exit with your pistol. This is where having your carry gun will stack the deck in your favor.
- Get yourself and your loved ones as far from the attack site as possible, as quickly as possible, and find a location of relative safety.
The attack at the Bataclan Theatre, as well as the taking over of the Taj Mahal hotel in the Mumbi event, both offer a clear picture of this scenario: people would try to exit, but would be cut off when one of the killers placed themselves between the fleeing victims and the exit. It is that moment where the armed American citizen will have a far different option for escape.
The Home
Scott Mann, Sarah Adams, and other intel people keep referencing their suspicion that we will see an event akin to October 7th in Isreal. The feasibility of this, quite frankly, will be determined by the nature of your vicinity. In the United States, the rural areas are heavily armed, and even the suburbs are significantly armed. Therefore, if a house-to-house attack happens, I confidently predict that it will be in a truly urban setting that is densely populated and lightly armed.
Again, they want body counts, not gunfights. This leads me to believe that house-to-house killing is unlikely, because how much more productive would it be for them to simply attack a large event, a soft target, or a transit hub such as the subway or train station, where there are masses of people? In Isreal, communities were the closest target to the Gaza border, so the targeting of such makes sense. In the United States, where even in the suburbs every other house has a gun in it, makes such an attack unproductive and short lived.
Still, it should be obvious at this point to anyone paying attention to the world and not living in willful denial, that having a dedicated defensive long gun in the home is a mandatory part of preparation. Should you face such an event as an October 7th style attack, you will want to be holding a fighting rifle or a defensive shotgun, not just a pistol.
Multiple terrorists invading homes is unlikely, but a shotgun would excel here, obviously. The ubiquitous AR15 is ideal for such a situation as well, and if you live in a restricted state, don’t underestimate a good pump-action shotgun or a lever-action rifle. Obviously, and AR15 is better, but if you live in a very restricted location that bans autoloading firearms, move, but in the meantime, get a pump action-shotgun, or a lever-action rifle, and get good with it. While not ideal compared to the modern alternatives, these guns are extremely formidable. Have all accoutrements for your long gun, spare magazines or ammo holders, depending on the gun, and a way to wear this gear, be it belt-worn mag holders of some kind of sling bag or chest rig.
You are on Your Own, perhaps for a Long Time
Whether you find yourself under the direct threat of violence or not, such a mass-scale event is likely to tie up infrastructure for a long time. Just as hurricanes and other disasters have cut people off from help for weeks, do you not suppose a mass-scale terror attack could do the same? Be sure that your home is prepped with all the food, water, medicine, and other supplies necessary to self-sustain for at least several weeks.
Have the necessary supplies for extended sustainment in your vehicle as well, in case you get stranded at your place of work, or some other location you are traveling to, when things kick off. Have a get home bag and get home plan in place.
Have trauma gear and other medical supplies on hand, in the home and in the vehicle, as you may need to be your own paramedic for a long time. I am a firm advocate of having a trauma kit on your person, or in a sling bag or backpack that you are carrying, at all times. If you find yourself in the midst of an attack, do you think EMTs will be able to reach you or your loved ones quickly? In the Pulse Nightclub terror attack people laid in the restroom for hours, bleeding to death, because first-responders could not get to them, and that was one attacker. You will be on your own. Have the weaponry, medical gear, skills, and plan, to survive for an extended duration, because there will be no quick rescue.
Final Thoughts
In many ways, preparing for terrorism is not so different from general preparation for natural disasters, but the direct action of violence, in the chosen target areas, will be different than anything citizens have faced before. This is a scenario that is likely to be far more gruesome and complex than the active killer events we have weathered. It remains a scary prospect, but we must be prepared for it. The world is as it is, not as we wish it to be. Plan accordingly.
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