Reprint From 2018: Do We Want Our Schools Secure, Or Not?

This is a 4 year old post that certainly applies to today. Tuesday, May 22, 2018 We’ve had another shooting in a school. 8 high school kids and 2 teachers were killed before the kid gave up. He had planned on shooting himself but he said he couldn’t do it. The same comments from the kids that witnessed these horrible acts and lived through it. “I never thought this could happen here.” Well, do we want our kids secure in schools or not? My answer to that is we do not. Columbine was the wake-up call. That was in 1999. Almost 20 years later I’m hearing the same crap from the liberals: “It’s the NRA’s fault.” Or the same crap from the right: “It costs too much money.” When it comes down to it, it’s OUR fault. After 20 years we can’t hardly get past the thought that our kids are not safe. We put little Band-Aids on the problem or lay blame and it continues. Let me make a prediction here and you see if it plays out. Unless we get serious, and I mean serious, about securing our schools, this will continue. I know it can’t be completely eliminated. Someone will figure out a way around any security measure you can come up with. But what is being done is not enough. I know that many worry about making our schools “prisons”. I will ask it again, Do you want to secure our schools or not? I’ve heard many whine about arming teachers. I guess they think that’s going too far. That is too much for the safety of our kids. Again I ask, Do you want to secure our schools or not? I would think that any price, any discomfort, any hassle, any perception of how it looks, is a price that we would be willing to pay. Why can’t these measures be universal in all schools? Some may say I’m being unrealistic. OK, if I am then what is the reality? Not enough funds? Find a way to cut administration costs, put in the security we need AND give teachers a raise. Would you and I pay more taxes for the security of our kids? Where do I sign? I have a large bunch of kids and we did not avail ourselves to the public or private school system. We homeschooled them all. But my taxes didn’t go down. I’d be willing to pay more. This is a description of Israeli schools. “The Israeli schools aren’t bunkers. Really, they aren’t. However, each one of these schools does have subsurface shelters. Not only this, but schools and kindergartens all over the country are regularly practicing the evacuation of students in different scenarios. This includes earthquakes, rocket attacks, unknown threats or even CBRN in some rare occasions. Keep in mind that these drills get students to take initiative, rather than just having them run to safety. Currently, most Israeli school premises are completely fenced in and usually with only one gate. In the cases of bigger schools, there might be a few additional gates. In addition, there are two to three emergency gates which are locked (and look like normal fences) during regular, non-emergency hours. School parking lots are often located a bit further away from the school structures. As for the gates: each gate is accompanied by a small guard cabin and an armed guard. He or she meets a certain standard to carry and do their job. The static guard is funded and under the responsibility of the Israeli police (though they are a sub-contractor and not a cop). The guard is mostly to be the first responder, but also logs traffic, maintains situational awareness and conducts hourly patrols along the school fences. In my experience as a kid, the presence of such a figure was not only practical, but also a psychological boost as us kids felt safer. That was also the first time I learned how a Glock works, but that was not really any part of the school educational program. According to the official standard of the government, the guard will: • Ensure that the premises is locked and under control at all times. • Sweep and search any person who comes in. • Have security authority. • Ensure that foreign individuals are fully ID’d and their personal details are logged. Foreign vehicles must be documented as well. • Assist the school occupants. • Be aware of anything within the immediate environment of the school.” These are just a few things that can be done. Cameras are a good idea. There are many other ideas out that some schools are doing. As I’ve mentioned in the last article about the last mass school murder, as parents, make sure your children have some training. Don’t wait for the school. There are many videos out there about dealing with an active shooter event. You don’t have to scare them, but kids are better equipped than we think to handle this reality. Teach them situational awareness and to know where they are and what is going on around them. Do students, teachers, and staff know what real gunshots sound like in their school? What is so hard about that training? The same old crap is being said after a shooting, “I thought it was a car backfire or something else.” My kids know what gunshots sound like with and without hearing protection, indoors and outdoors. Some of my kids can tell you what different calibers sound like. My son can tell the difference between an AK and AR sound. Can you? Would that not be advantageous? We need to stop worrying about a “safe space” and train our kids what to do and where to go. Their feelings matter little when their friends are being massacred. STOP coddling our kids!! Be serious about making them safe. Talk to security professionals. Make serious plans. School security needs to be over-done. Parents and students should demand this! It should not have any political over or under tones. High school kids for gun control is nothing more than political crap! The kids involved are pawns for adults who can’t figure out how to get elected. If the kids that are so ungraciously “demanding” change really cared, they would be asking for secure schools instead of gun control. Sarcastically speaking, I’m particularly impressed with how logical and well-spoken these kids are. As adults we need to stop waffling and step up to the plate. Do you want to secure our schools or not? Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn Well folks, how did my prediction play out? There was a massacre of 21 kids and adults in Uvalde, Texas this week. When will we decide to secure our schools? We home schooled all of our horde of kids. There were many reasons but never as many as there are today, security being one. I don't want this next statement to come off wrong. I love and respect public school teachers. Both my parents taught in public schools. I especially appreciate educators and administrators that really care and want to change and help kids. The problem is, these are getting harder to find. Many years ago I said that public schools would fail, and I believe they are. Between teaching LBGTQ philosophy to young children to teaching critical race theory. Public schools are a mass mess and I fear greatly for my Grandchildren. Beside all of the above, not many are serious about securing our schools. Instead they have become the TSA and are suspending kids because they have a nail file! Yet doors are not secure and killers are getting into classrooms. Wake up Americans! I'll ask my same 4 years old (almost to the day) question, Do we want our schools secure, or not? Burn

Learning Security From Scriptures

In this time of plandemics pandemics, civil unrest or so called “peaceful” protests, financial and food supply uncertainty, many people are considering their security and defense. I love the scriptures. I have learned many things from these inspired words and I read them every day. One of my favorite set of scriptures is the Book of Mormon. And if you want to learn defense then you can’t get any better than Captain Moroni. There are many strategies we can glean from his leadership. First and foremost we should live our lives as he did, in righteousness. If we live as one who is worthy of one who has the Spirit, we can be lead and inspired. One of Moroni’s strategies was equipping his troops with shields and armor. This was a new idea at the time obviously because the Lamanites don't do it until they follow the Nephites example. We too can “fortify” ourselves. I’m not suggesting body armor. Although I knew a guy who ran a courier service who went into some rough areas delivering or picking up money. He wore body armor. So there may be a situation where you may want this. But generally speaking, we must fortify other parts of our lives. To fortify your mind working on situational awareness and reading people would be a great way to avoid a problem before it is a problem. Fortifying our homes also makes us a hard target. Concentrate on your doors and windows, the most vulnerable part of our homes. Simple things like replacing the short 1inch screws with 3 inch ones that go beyond the thin door frame makes a difference. Cameras and alarms can help to harden your home as a target. Moroni also was flexible and changed as the enemy changed their tactics. We must do the same. Stay up on the latest home and personal defense tools, gear, and tactics. Change when you need to. Ensure your practice is realistic. How often will you be attacked when you’re standing at low ready in a weaver stance concentrating on your grip? Shooting from behind cover or concealment might be more realistic. Also I’ve seen people who consistently practice shooting a handgun at 20 or more yards. I’m not sure that will ever be realistic for defense. Defense is usually up close and personal. 15 yards is the maximum in my training and most practice is at 3 to 8 yards. But you must decide for yourself. Moroni also put up towers. No I’m not suggesting look-out towers at the end of your driveway, but making sure windows are not impaired from sight by shrubs or bushes. Planting bushes strategically is probably not at the top of most of our gardening lists. But being able to see and also not providing concealment to burglars or other malcontents is something that should be considered when planting and pruning vegetation. Also, there is nothing wrong with creating a “funnel” for people and vehicles with vegetation, obstacles (ie. Bird baths, statues, etc.), and fencing. Funnel people and vehicles where you want them to go when they enter your property. I know, thinking tactically is not always neighborhood friendly, but with the right items and planning, no one will be the wiser. You can create “fields of fire” or a “killing zone” without even the home owners association or your neighbors knowing. Now your killing zone doesn’t have to involve actual killing, but maybe a “photographic zone”. A place where you can have clear video or pictures and view, of all those approaching your home. Things as simple as flower beds and sprinklers, can direct traffic to your desired direction. Moroni never attacked the enemy in their strongholds. Don’t go where the bad guys are! That doesn’t mean you can’t leave your “castle” and live your life, it means to avoid the places you know ne’er-do-wells hang out. I mean if you happen to live in a bad neighborhood you obviously have to go near the bad element. In that case you have to operate differently. But if you live in a decent place, with regular citizens, then stay away from the “east LA’s” or the “south Detroits”. I know that often crime finds us, but don’t get caught looking for it! Again I emphasize Moroni living an exemplary life so that he was privy to the Spirit in his life. This too we must practice. But often bad things happen to good people so the good people must be prepared. Learning security from a good source is vital to your preparedness. There are a lot of crazy ideas out there. The scriptures are a great source of truth that enrich and lead our lives in positive and meaningful ways. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn

Homestead Security

I’ve had some comments concerning homestead living and security. Namely, “How do you do it?” That is a good question but I have some answers. These answers are not for everyone and every situation, but most of them I have implemented and maintained for years. Locks I know this is obvious, but let me say some things about locks. Many have them, but don’t use them. In my work on a federal installation everything is locked. I’ve found locks removed, locks left open, locks left open but trying to look closed, locks actually locked but in a way you can open whatever is supposed to be locked, I’ve seen it all. On our homestead I’ve probably done most of those ways myself. Locking and unlocking something without just a push button, like you vehicle, is a pain for humans. We avoid it. But using a lock system in a way that makes it easier is the answer, not fudging it so that it doesn’t actually do its job. Use locks that are all keyed the same. Use combination locks with a combination easy for family to remember. If possible, change combinations often or at least annually. Use a lock box for keys and spare keys. Don’t let inconvenience make you lax, be vigilant. We lock doors, cabinets, gates, and freezers. Make sure you secure food, gasoline, tools, and equipment. Even if it means putting a chain around the item and chaining it to a tree! Remember that a determined thief can get into or through anything, but often a simple lock can be a deterrent. Signage This is another simple thing that can have a large effect. No Trespassing signs, Beware of dog signs, Security camera signs, and Security alarm signs can send a criminal down the road. Also if someone does actually commit crime on your property and there was a sign, it will give them one more charge to deal with. Proper signs will let all know that your property is a hard target. There are even alarm companies that will sell their signs and stickers even though you don’t have their alarm service. Hard wired lighting Depending on where you have electricity hard wired lighting is the best. There are many different lights out there that you can use to light any are you wish. We use them on back sides of buildings that are dark and good places to hide. These days with modern fixtures and bulbs electricity use is very little. I try to put all my hard wired lights on a switch. I like the option of turning them off if I have the need. Solar motion sensor lights These are great! I like these because they are solar powered so they can be put anywhere. I like that they are motion sensitive. It’s kind of a surprise to anyone who shouldn’t be there. These are not real expensive so you can light up you world! Remember though, cats, dogs, livestock, and wild animals can trigger these. Putting them too close to a tree can trip them with wind. You have sensitivity control on the motion sensor though. Firearms for home protection As controversial as it may be, there is nothing that will put the fear of the Almighty in the hearts and minds of criminals than the sound of a pump action shotgun racking a shell. It is a universally known sound that says, “You’re in deep Kim Chee!” Shotguns are not my favorite weapon on our homestead. They have their place, but usually they are too long and unwieldy. There are tactical shotguns that are shorter and less cumbersome, but unless you are used to a 12 gauge it’s difficult to be accurate. I would not use a smaller gauge either. Contrary to popular belief and TV and movies, a shotgun is not a point-and-shoot-and-hit-something weapon. You must be very familiar with the recoil, and the limitations of a shotgun. I’d much rather have a rifle or handgun. For protection I would recommend a handgun and a good flashlight. But whatever weapon you choose, don’t expect to be accurate or effective with a gun you hardly shoot. Be sure of target identification before you pull that trigger. You may shoot someone you did not expect to be there. Shooting in the dark is a very tricky thing. The only time I have ever done it was in combat. And even then we had tracers and muzzle flash to lead us to the enemy! In a home defense situation, you must know what or who you are shooting toward. And as I said, without practice and experience, in the heat of the moment you want to know what you are doing. You’re responsible for every round and shooting someone in the back would be a legal nightmare you don’t want to have! If you are in a municipality or even a county or state with restrictions, you’d better be up to date on those laws. Ignorance of law with land you in jail. As far as varmints, a well-placed rifle round will serve better to dispatch them rather than trying to hit with a shotgun. Make sure of the laws in your state concerning animals. Usually animals that are a nuisance are fair game, but check with a game warden. There are other ways of keeping predators and other animals away. A dog and even cats can help. Traps, live or otherwise, can be a viable option. Protection is a basic right. Our Constitution contains a second amendment because the founders believed that protecting yourself and your property is a basic right given from God. They are correct. In this day and age protecting with deadly force is a necessity. Things are getting pretty rough out there and being ready for that eventuality is something too few think about. Law enforcement in this country is the best in the world. But unless they camp in your back yard you won’t have their protection only in unusual circumstances. Learning to have a security and defense mindset is something you must work at. Looking at things in a way where they can be secured safely, and ways of making your homestead a hard target is easy if you think a little like a criminal. At the very least looking and assessing vulnerabilities helps you to make that hard target a reality. This preparation eases your mind and gives you and your family a peace of mind that is priceless. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn