As the classic American holiday looms, so does danger.  Today I was speaking at the annual training conference of ITOA, the Illinois Tactical Officers Association.  The authorities are acutely aware of serious threats from ISIS of mass murder attacks on American soil.  Large gatherings of presumably helpless people…a uniquely American holiday to defile…ISIS sympathizers already inside the United States…and the blatant threat of attack by ISIS itself…the ingredients are all there.

Travel safe. Travel alert. If at all possible, travel armed.  It would not be the best time to be attending large public gatherings.  Don’t let a rural setting make you complacent; these people want Americans to believe they are not safe anywhere.2015-11-24 18.19.45

Meanwhile, in Chicago, protesters are marching in chilly streets after the announcement that a city police officer has been charged with first degree murder in the controversial cross-racial shooting thirteen months ago of a teenage knife-wielder. Marches in the streets were how the Baltimore riots started.  With all the cops tied up in a civil disturbance, terrorists would find the Windy City a particularly inviting target.

Defy the terrorists and have a great Thanksgiving.

14 COMMENTS

  3. Unfortunately, I admit that I will probably avoid the large holiday attractions of my hometown, NYC, such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Times Square or Broadway due to fact that my pistol permit is invalid there. City officials still haven’t realized that a criminal disregard their misguided firearm laws or create more devastating weapons out of household objects, such as a pressure cooker.

    With a NYPD brother I know the concern for an attack is high these holidays. They know the city and they themselves are targets. The rank and file just want to do a good job protecting and helping WITH the support of their superiors. They try their best but they are human too. Its some of the top brass and politicians who don’t seem to trust their cops to do a good job or their constituents to be law abiding or responsible enough for their personal protection.

    May peace find you all these holidays.

  4. Good observation. My only daughter is a police officer in a suburb south of Chicago and I worry I am too far from her during these volatile times. Much like the Vietnamese Tet Holiday / Tet Offensive. Let’s relax during the first series of upcoming holidays while the enemy lies in wait.

  5. Thanksgiving; it’s a bit like life. Somedays you’re the Pilgrim and somedays you’re the turkey . . .

    But anyway, a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US of A!

  7. I’m going to defy the terrorists by not allowing concern about them to change anything I am going to do tomorrow. I’m going to have Thanksgiving dinner, unarmed, with my family and friends at a major hotel in a major American city and I have no fear that any harm will befall us, except to our waistlines, our cholesterol levels, and my wallet.

    I’m not saying that there is zero risk, nor am I saying that there is zero possibility of an attack here tomorrow (or some other time over the holidays), I’m just saying, first, I’m not going to let that change the way I live my life and, second, that short of a suitcase nuke that there’s probably far more risk of getting killed in a traffic accident tomorrow than the risk of being present, much less harmed or killed, in a terrorist incident. What was it that FDR said about fear? When we start letting the fear of terrorism change what we do and feel and believe, the TERRORists have won.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

  8. Happy Thanksgiving to all on this blog.

    As our wise Dear Leader has proclaimed, global warming is the cause of tragic activities around the world such as the recent workplace violence in Paris and other locations. Higher man made temperatures (mostly caused by conservatives) have increased tensions, especially in warmer regions such as the middle east because it heats up people’s brains and makes them do crazy things like slaughtering massive numbers of infidels. If we can give Al Gore enough money to lower the middle east’s daytime temperature down to a nice 75F degrees with a slight cool breeze, billions of lives will be saved.

  10. Liberal Dave- I agree with you, as I’m not changing my plans either. I will continue to go armed everywhere I go, as always. I will avoid crowded venues as has been my habit for years. I will assess possible threats based on experience, not political correctness. I will enjoy my friends and family, refusing to be afraid, knowing that I am fully capable and prepared through prior training and preparation, to overcome any threat that may present itself.

    As for FDR, the darling of liberal democrats, who told the citizenry that all they should fear was “fear itself”, wasn’t it him who turned away boatloads of Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler’s Nazis Germany, interred Japanese-American citizens in detainment centers, and authorized the development of the ultimate weapon, the atomic bomb? Almost sounds like Trump doesn’t it?

    That said, I’ve missed your comments. Good to hear from you again. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day. That goes for all my friends on this blog. Let’s all remember and thank He, from whom all blessings flow.

  11. Touche, Dennis! I certainly couldn’t have said it better myself.

    TXCOMT
    Who also will continue to go armed…and perhaps more heavily from here on out!

  13. I’ll agree I don’t, always feel a need to carry. But, criminals may never discriminate. There was a couple in New Jersey, may not of felt a need to carry either., the husband wound up murdered in a parking garage. I’m glad to be living in a state which allows both concealed and open carry.

Comments are closed.