Curiosity is natural but it can also be dangerous.
No matter what you have to say about the current situation, the one phrase that I think a lot of us can agree on is that we are living in interesting times. Our computers and phones live stream these interesting times to us 24/7. This post is going to concentrate on tips for the average person that wants to avoid taking part in civil unrest or protests. It seems pretty clear that most people would rather not participate regardless of how the news portrays it.
There are some that say that if someone doesn’t take a stand then that means things are not going to improve. While that may be true I ask you to consider how dedicated you are to a cause before you take action. As we will discuss later in this post, it can be hard to stop violence if you find yourself in an escalating situation.
While you may have strong opinions one way or another, there is a difference between that and being “all in”. Unless you are very dedicated then the consequences and risks are probably not worth going towards potential trouble.
On Not Going Towards The Trouble: Staying Safe During Civil Unrest In America
Restrictions that were put in place due to COVID-19 are being eased or ignored. Obviously there is some risk of contracting any number of illnesses from being in crowds of people, especially those that are shouting and touching one another a lot.
While it may be tempting to try to go observe peacefully the events that are occurring in your area, you need to consider just how worth it is really to you. Sure there is nothing like seeing something with your own two eyes but the cost of that could be great.
Those of you that have kids and teens that are old enough to be going places on their own or hanging out at friends, or that are being left home alone need to talk seriously about the dangers of going towards potential trouble or ongoing trouble and unrest.
Getting caught up in the energy and group of a crowd is easy to do. I have heard of these types of incidents in my own area. Somebody gets an idea and suddenly 10 people or more are getting themselves into a situation that is not at all what they anticipated. Emotions are high and it is easy for people on both sides of any issue or argument to see too far into something and make some assumptions that can lead to a major escalation in little time at all.
Just because everyone else seems to be doing something doesn’t mean it is a great idea. Even if you really like a group of people, it is important to think for yourself and consider your well being and that of your family.
That being said…..
Family is important but a lot of people have an up and down type of relationship with more than one member. While it is important to band together and try to help one another at times, one must think carefully about these actions. Who doesn’t have someone in their family that loves drama? I bet most of us can name quite a few. You also need to think about if it is worth it to ask for help from someone or invite them to be a part of your life. Sometimes people expect far more in return than is fair or that you can give even if you want to.
Plenty of families have people in them that are suffering from addiction and substance abuse. Even during good times, it can be challenging to help someone in this position even if they want to be helped. Do you have the resources and determination to deal with the potential trouble of substance abuse and addiction? Has the person made any indication that they are going to meet you halfway? Can they contribute at all to the household?
Families can be very divided when it comes to politics and moral opinions. It can be very hard to overcome these barriers and help each other out. If you couldn’t hang out or talk before all the unrest and the pandemic, I am not going to say that there is a good chance you can now. I wish it were different but as stressed as the average person is, dealing with long standing issues may be too hard or even impossible without causing both parties a lot of grief and trouble.
A lot of people are simply tired of constantly talking about the state of the world and would love to have a conversation about other things. We all know that some subjects get people really worked up and that it can vary by the person. Don’t bring up subjects you know are going to be upsetting and not do anyone involved any good. This is generally a good habit to be in nowadays because what you say can and will be used against you if you run your mouth in front of the right person. It happens all the time regardless of your personal beliefs and opinions.
It is just the times we live in.
I wish I had a magical way to make it different but I am afraid there are a lot of very deeply rooted issues that are going to have to be dealt with before we get back to having a society where people can talk freely and change their opinion later without it getting thrown in their face a month or a decade later. People change and grow and unfortunately, even when they change for the better, even minor or moderate comments that are offensive can be brought up and used for their ruination socially and at work.
At 37, I am thankful that every dumb or ill informed thing I said as a kid and teen was not recorded in some way.
I write for a living. It is my job to talk about preparedness and survival skills and try to give advice that can apply to a whole spectrum of situations and people. Part of that job means giving up some of my privacy. I get paid to write though and I don’t dish out everything even though I get that paycheck for talking about some things.
The people I see on social media or Youtube channels that take pics and tell everyone basically every firearm or prep they have as well as their various opinions on a ton of volatile subjects baffle me, especially since only a tiny percentage are making any kind of money off of these revelations. Stop acting like you want to impress others and get attention. This is far different than trying to impress the popular kids. You could be putting yourself and your family in grave danger.
One thing I have noticed about a lot of the events that have happened is how many people are trying to film or get that shot or video that will go viral. Instagram “Influencers” are going out to events that hold a lot of potential for violence just to get a little boost in their popularity. Since so many have gotten called out for this behavior, they are at even more risk for ridicule and targeting even by those that they have the same opinions of.
I have to say that trying to get videos when people are pushing and shoving you seems like a terrible idea. Once it comes to that, having a phone in your hand rather than getting out of harm’s way or defending yourself, seems like a big risk to get that shot that chances are you are not going to get much for in terms of fame or monetary value, especially with so many others shooting the same scene.
You know how many times I have turned down prepper reality shows, interviews, offers to host prepper shows on TV, etc? More times than I can count on my fingers. Some of these same places keep hassling me even after I turn them down. I sometimes even forget to tell my husband when I get another one. They don’t seem to get it that I don’t want the trouble because there is no doubt in my mind that with that type of fame often comes hassle and trouble that is not worth the amount of money one might get in return. Very few people become high paying stars in their field.
Moral justification is a powerful thing and incredibly dangerous. When you get right down to it, basically anything from treating someone poorly to outright atrocity and brutal violence can feel justified by someone if they feel it benefits the majority or that they are morally superior in some way. Remember that no matter who you are and where you live, there is someone out there that feels “above you” or better in some way. Most of the time it doesn’t really matter and everyone can just ignore each other for the most part but when emotions are high and things are in turmoil, this is a fact that you need to be very aware of.
Going into an area purposefully where there is civil unrest increases your chances of experiencing violence. It only takes a small catalyst for an otherwise peaceful protest to turn into something awful that results in a lot of people injured or worse. Remember when a car backfiring caused a stampede of people in Times Square? A single fistfight at an event is sometimes all it takes to turn the tide and cause a snowball of violence.
I have been watching some videos online. Who hasn’t? One thing I have noticed is that there are plenty of people that have made efforts to talk others out of escalating situations and committing violence. Sometimes they are successful and sometimes they are not. These same people are actually putting themselves between others to try to prevent violence as well.
When it comes to friends and family, you may not be able to talk them out of going towards trouble and committing violent acts. They may not be planning violence outright but deep down they might be thinking about what they are going to do if things go a certain way. Emotions are high and a lot of people consider what is going on not just unrest but a revolution.
One must be very careful about triggering. Plenty of people have been publicly shamed and humiliated after being manipulated into some type of reaction. Agitators can be extremely persistent. I also think it is worth mentioning that video is easy to edit. The right snippet can portray a very different scenario than what actually happened. Cutting and splicing audio is well within the skill set of most people if they want to do it.
Will an outburst do any good? You need to ask yourself this and think before you react. I have seen way too many videos here lately showing people taunting and trying to get someone to hit them on film. This is not good behavior no matter how strongly you feel. I completely support someone defending themselves from harm but trying to get someone to hit you merely because you disagree on something doesn’t solve anything at all.
There is a difference between a gun strapped to your belt and having one in hand that you wave about in an unsafe manner. Pointing a gun at someone will get you arrested. Even if there are open carry laws in your state, you can’t go waving them around at protests. Even if technically the protest is not sanctioned and the legalities get hazy, chances are you are going to bring a lot of trouble on yourself. Also just because you have a firearm doesn’t mean that a crowd can’t harm you.
I love having guns but one has to be careful about the amount of confidence they give some people to act in a more brash way. A gun is a defense tool and a darn good one but don’t make the mistake that it makes you untouchable in a crowd.
I think the advice I have been given since a child is good. Don’t point a gun at someone unless you are really serious about using it. Otherwise, keep it down and your finger not right on the trigger.
Updated Jun 27, 2020
Samantha Biggers lives on a mountain in North Carolina with her husband, Matthew, in a house they built. They have a small steep slope vineyard, raise sheep, and grow gourmet mushrooms. Since 2017 she has been proud to write for Backdoor Survival.
Upon cursory glance, I like the way you present complex topics.
By way of disclosure of intent, I am possibly motivated to publish some information on self-defense practicalities, i.e., strategies for risk mitigation and situation exit, particular focus on assessing viability of de-escalation; and if-not-then-immediate-over-escalation.
Therefore, I would like to query to you some details on:
1.) For self-defense, what are your credentials
2.) Are you happy with your material on self-defense (I have not read your paid-for-guild). If-yes: congratulations; if-no: do you seek assistance to buttress this?
3.) Would a 20-pager [or so] that talks about: situational awareness, group dynamics, applied body language reading, and a small matrix on rules-of-engagement-per-jurisdiction be a useful primer? Would a more detailed deep-dive have a market?
Appreciate that you may field a lot of wild questions… this is a serious query about simple agreement to mutually redistribute material (you are conduit) and assessing if that is of interest to you personally and/or by way of business.
Irrespective of any yea/nay, thank you for publishing content on this topic, it’s important.
Godspeed.
WalkThePath.
How to maintain a defensive posture without signaling your intentions. Wear safety shoes or boots with composite toes, they will make a good defensive weapon and will not trigger metal detection wands if going into security zones or going thru a checkpoint. Wear ballistic grade eye ware whether you need glasses or not. They will protect you from impacts and sprays. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Keep your hands empty. Carry a messenger bag with a concealable ballistic panel and a chest strap that can be swung into a protective cover for your vitals. Watch out for Rat Packs, men and women, in twos and threes, especially if they are watching you or seeking to obtain a positional advantage. Always trust your gut, if you feel like someone is a threat, act accordingly, leave the area or prepare to defend yourself. The Duke of Texas.
Key is (if you can) get out early and run errands also traffic less heavy, stay aware in parking lots (muggings occur even in smaller towns.) Kids today and younger adults have a zero future as the country teeters on it’s last leg. I was aware of globalism in the 80’s, we chose to be child free. Older teens (16 and older need to get trained in a trade since people my age are retiring from these jobs, husband was union HVAC, plumbers, electricians, auto techs, aircraft mech (union) , etc,etc can make a decent living. Raising a family today is useless and expensive, women need to stay in the workforce (cost of living).
There was a time not so long ago when people understood that to say, “May you live in interesting times” was obviously a curse. Now people rush headlong into something interesting. The more the danger the more the interest, and the more cursed we all become.
i say its a dangerous time not interesting ! that defeats the advice you give. and it’s the young that parents need worry about. the temptation to get involved with blm/ antifa’s and join the crowd is huge. so good luck with that. old timer’s unless invalid are smart enough to stay away. and don’t need to be attended ‘ using seniors as excuse for this cabal is bad enough.let seniors live their final part of live the way they want not the way gates fauci and the rest of the so called experts tell them they have to TO””PROTECT THEM””” !!!!!
Congratulations on your lewrockwell.com article. I agree. There may come a time when we all have to get involved, maybe soon, but make sure before you jump. Pastor Joe Fox of “Vikingpreparedness” uses the phrase from the book of Revalation “come out of her my people” to urge people away from the chaos. At this very moment it’s not a “live fire” event yet (mostly) so it’s not time to rush to the sound of gunfire, that time may come but I don’t think it’s here yet. I hope you and your husband had a great Independence Day and congratulations again.
This is a difficult topic and I thank you for attempting to address the major issues. I think everyone that visits your website is an American patriot, believes strongly in the Constitutional concepts of law and order, and abhors the violence that we are witnessing on a daily basis – brought to us by Antifa and BLM anarchists and Marxists.
It is a natural human reaction to recoil at this purposeful destruction and to want to do something about it. That is especially true when the riots and violence are close to home or endanger our businesses. There is, however, a huge difference between defending yourself, family or home and engaging in counter-demonstrations against rioters in downtown Portland, Kenosha, or numerous other cities. For example:
If a group threatens or attacks me or my family at home, I am on my turf. I can defend myself because I have an unalienable right to do so and the motive and locale cannot be disputed. If you purposely enter a riot zone, whether armed or not, and whether as an intended observer or combatant, you are placing yourself at a huge disadvantage. First, you will lack the capability of communication, coordination and equipment that enables law enforcement to respond to these situations. Second, you will be observing or confronting rioters who are in constant communication with each other. Their actions are highly coordinated. Third, you will have entered an environment that is highly fluid and entirely unpredictable. You will not be in control of whatever unfolds.
Kyle Rittenhouse (Kenosha) has become an unnecessary defendant in the charge of murder. Aaron Danielson is an unnecessary martyr in Portland, Oregon, the victim of a targeted assassination by Antifa. One guy pulled the trigger, but his actions were coordinated with other members of his group.
My point in all of this is that “staying safe” is not unpatriotic. It doesn’t mean that you’re a wimp. Engaging violent, armed rioters in downtown Portland doesn’t make you a patriot. It makes you reckless. You will know when it is necessary to defend home and hearth, and you will be justified in doing so. You will also know when it has become necessary to travel 25, 250 or 2500 miles to defeat an insurrection or revolution. In the meantime, support the brave men and women in law enforcement and pray for Mr. Trump and our country.
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