13 July 17

“Our ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness. Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud: this is the meaning of the word, ‘unspeakable.’

Atrocities, however, refuse to be buried. Equally as powerful as the desire to deny atrocities is the conviction that denial does not work. Folk wisdom is filled with ghosts who refuse to rest in their graves until their stories are told.”

Judith Herman

The 800 lb Gorilla:

The Army’s TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) is in the process of publishing a phone-app, designed to assist soldiers in their thinking process, on-base and off, when they find themselves caught-up in a terrorist attack, or any other violent crime.

Details are not firm, but it is safe to say that the final product will be a replay of the “Run, Hide, Tell” mantra that currently represents the thinking of most Western nations, with maybe a little tweaking here and there.

Nowhere is mention made of issuing pistols (with competent training), intended for open and/or concealed carry (depending upon circumstances), to all officers and S/NCOs.

Constantly armed officers and S/NCOs, on-base or off (there is no such thing as “off duty”) will then be able, and expected, to take decisive action, including the precise application of deadly force, during a terrorist attack…

instead of just “running and hiding.”

Concealed carry for our military officers and S/NCOs will be authorized everywhere, similar to LEOSA!

Such an idea is, of course, unthinkable, given the current “Let’s-all-be-good-victims” orientation characteristic of much current Western military philosophy.

I think a campaign, called “Sidearms for Soldiers,” should be presented to DJT and enlightened members of Congress!

The goal will be to arm every officer and S/NCO with a SIG320 or Beretta M9 (a great surplus of these should shortly be available), and then provide them all with competent training on how to handle, carry, store, and effectively use these pistols, as well as providing suitable concealment holsters and other necessary accouterments.

This incisive doctrinal change will send the stark message to all terrorists- no matter where, no matter who- that our sad period of “victim-orientation” is finally over.

We’re proud Americans, and from now on, we’re not just running and hiding. From now on, we’re shooting back, immediately and without apology!
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I remember several years ago running training for groups of Marines in CA. Of course, we ran all ranges “hot.” Most of my Marine students had never been on a hot range before, but all “caught-on” quickly!

An O6 (not a student), observing our training, commented to me that, when hot ranges become default, and Marines are routinely armed, he was worried about gun-accidents and related “bad outcomes.”

I replied, “Colonel, you’re having gun-accidents now! We’ll continue to have occasional gun-accidents, no matter what we do, so long as we’re allowed to actually touch guns now and then.”

“Colonel,” I continued, “We need to train competent gunmen, competent Operators, not just occasional “gun-manipulators.” Our Marines need to know how to live with guns, because that is what they’ll be forced to do the moment they step into an area of hot conflict.”

He hesitatingly agreed, but the truth has yet to make its way of the food-chain.

Less than a decade ago, the idea of arming teachers and school administrators was roundly denigrated by most in our leftist media.

Today, that idea has finally caught-on! Armed teachers are now everywhere, and more are being armed all the time. And, of course, the media-predicted blood-bath has never materialized.

Arming our officers and S/NCOs represents the critical next step!

/John