Several years ago, I was in an unnamed city. As my wife and I walked down a busy sidewalk going into stores and shops we heard gunfire. Others heard it and said, “That’s just construction going on down there.” I said, “That is small caliber gunfire!” I have heard this type of gunfire for over 40 years. I know what it sounds like. I told my wife to go in the opposite direction toward our car. She knows not to argue. I gave her the keys and she e-gressed toward our parking lot down the street and around the corner. I started walking toward the sound. As I got closer the gunfire stopped. I met many scared people running away from the short gun fight that just occurred between some criminal and two policemen. When I peeked around the corner, I saw two LEO’s standing over a handcuffed criminal and I heard sirens in the distance. Probably EMS. Once I saw the threat on the ground with what looked like a shoulder wound, I turned around and texted my wife, “It’s over, do you want to finish shopping?” She didn’t.
I am not a law enforcement officer. But I am convinced I could outshoot the average LEO on a range. I don’t know what I would have done had the firefight continued, but I had to see it to assess whether I could do any good or not. I know what you’re thinking, “What if the LEO’s think you’re with the bad guy?” I wouldn’t even draw my weapon if I didn’t think I had a better angle on the skumbag. There’s something in me where I can’t keep away from gunfire. Thank goodness it’s usually at a shooting range. I’m like a moth to a light. My wife does not appreciate my tendencies. Luckily, it rarely happens. I am not, nor ever have been, any type of hero. I’m not looking to “save” the world or anyone else. If I felt there was a threat to my wife on that street, I would have retreated with her. As for myself, I won’t put myself in harms-way if it is at all possible. When I shoot, I want it to be from cover. I also don’t want to do the LEO’s job. But if I can make their job easier or possibly make it so they go home to their families tonight, I will. It’s something that is in me. My father taught it to me, and his before him. These great men knew the danger being WWI and WWII veterans. I’m confident around gunfire. It doesn’t rattle me or scare me. I want to help anyone I can.
Having told this unhumble story, I want to repeat my thoughts on what I call the “OP Rockwell Philosophy” or “OPR” philosophy.
The philosophy basically is that there are 3 types of people. They are described as Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. The sheep are mostly people that you know and see. They are good, productive members of society who would not hurt anyone or anything. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a sheep. Then there are wolves. Wolves are evil, selfish near-humans intent on taking what they want. They are not interested in who they hurt in this process. They are a large minority and many are locked up. Then there are sheepdogs. Sheepdogs care about the sheep even though sometimes the sheep don’t appreciate them. The sheepdogs want the sheep to be safe and to be rid of the wolves. I’ve read so many writers who don’t believe that sheepdogs exist. They think that those who believe themselves to be sheepdogs are camo wearing wanna-bes. I’m sure some Rambo camo wearers do exist. (After all, my favorite color is camo) But I know enough people who, when confronted with violence, go toward it. They have trained and had experience of warding off violence. Many are in law enforcement and the military already. But many were, or lean toward, these sheepdog traits. I’m not bringing this up to recruit, but to let some closet sheepdogs know that we are out there. We are everywhere. One of the problems of those who would subvert our freedoms is that we are there, and they know we are there. President Biden said we cannot fight F-15’s and tanks. He is mistaken. What happened in Viet Nam and Afghanistan? The former President does not understand. I believe one of the reasons the Japanese did not invade the U.S. is there is a sheepdog behind every blade of grass. Now more than ever.
Sheepdogs defend the weak and fight against evil. Sheepdogs in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should also defend the church. I’m not saying pick up a weapon and stand a post but fight against those that would disparage and destroy the church. As of now, I don’t think we need to worry about someone attacking the Church physically. But there are those Zarahemna’s out there. They are ex members who have “intimate knowledge” of what it’s like to be an oppressed member of this Church. They are usually the same as most exmos I’ve seen since the 70’s. The Tanner’s, the Dehlin’s, the Kelly’s. They all have an axe to grind and think they can get their whining way by pulling, oh sorry, “saving” those trying to get out of the Church. I wonder what they would do if the Church went away? They would stop making all the money they make from fighting against the Church. Then they would have to get real jobs. As you can see, I’m not very charitable to these lowlifes. I have a hard time dealing with people who leave the church but can’t leave the church alone. Or those who are more enamored with their cause than the truth. It’s easy to be an exmo. Just whine and the woke of the world will follow. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about those who honestly leave the Church and move on with their lives. I’m talking about those activists who don’t believe anymore but are so offended by those who do.
How can these warriors defend the Church? One way is here online. I’m not suggesting that we fight podcasts and all the drivel that comes from exmos, I’m suggesting that we refute their baloney. There are plenty of lies and twisted history out there that we can correct. Telling the truth is how we can support the Church and fight the detractors. Some of these people think their experience in the Church gives them license to destroy. Or others feel their education is the thing that will bring the Church down. They don’t understand that “no unhallowed hand” can destroy this work.
I also think that the OPR philosophy applies to fathers and heads of homes. The Family: A Proclamation To The World reminds us that we have a responsibility to protect our family. I’m sure there are some out there that believe law enforcement will protect their family. I have a couple problems with that. One, it is not the police department’s responsibility to protect your family. Someone even took that question to the Supreme Court. They ruled it’s not the obligation of LEO’s to protect every person in their jurisdiction. How would they do that? I know that they would if they could, but they can’t. Two, It is our responsibility. So, if you think that flimsy lock on your front door is going to stop a home intrusion, I think you would be surprised.
Protecting covers many things. Spiritual and emotional protection is extremely important. What about physical protection? A home with locks is a start. But that is very little. Teaching your children to protect themselves with situational awareness is a big part of this too. If you don’t actually have physical protection for your family, then you’re fooling yourself that they will be safe. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but the reality is that we are all vulnerable. I know that guns are not for everyone. But it should be a consideration. If you feel this route is what will work for you, don’t buy a gun and shoot it twice a year. Be serious and get training and go out and practice.
We have all seen the devastation that seems to be increasing from active killer events. We are not safe at:
home: home invasions
school: schools are very vulnerable
work: workplace violence is increasing even on military bases
or church: these shootings are on the rise.
A way to fight this is preparedness. With training we can change the odds of survival. We can harden our targets. Our home does not need to be a fortress but there are ways that we can harden that target.
Schools are finally getting the picture. They are drastically changing how they protect the kids they teach. It took many years. Columbine was their wake-up call and that was in 1999 in the middle of an assault rifle ban.
Many workplaces are starting to understand and put policies and programs in place to mitigate workplace violence.
Being active in your own protection and that of your family must be recognized as a responsibility that is personal and needed. Don’t give in to the normalcy bias of “It will never happen to me.” It doesn’t until it does.
The bible even gives us direction in this.
1 Timothy 5:8
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
We need to defend our liberty. Crime and terrorism take away that liberty. Sometimes laws and politicians do too.
Orrin Porter Rockwell philosophy is being vigilant and trained.
Find a way to defend our freedom and our families. Fathers protect your families. Don’t forget to include defending the Church if need be.
All of us need to be reminded occasionally.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn