Defending against Terrorism no matter where you live.

Hello, my friend and welcome back!  Terrorism is an issue no matter where you live, it seems.  In today’s post, we are going to take a quick look at some of the issues facing us and how best to deal with them, while staying safe.  Grab yourself a cup of coffee and have a seat while we visit.

It seems like every day when I look at the news; there is some kind of terror attack in the news somewhere in the world.  Knowing and understanding what to look for when in public is one of the best ways to defend yourself from being attacked.

No matter where you live in the world, there are some things you can do, but let’s start by identifying the different types of attacks we may face when in public.

Here in the US, the Boston Marathon bombing quickly comes to mind, as well as the Sacramento attacks.  In both instances, the people’s attention was drawn away from the attackers, which allowed them to get in close.  The two attacks in France were the same way.  So what does this tell us about the attackers?  It tells us that these were attacks based on an opportunity, as opposed to random killings.

Using this information, we can now see how they work and what we can do to protect ourselves becomes much clearer.  Anytime you are away from home, whether it is a public event or even a publicized private event, you need to be on your toes.  You need to be aware of every person within eyesight of you, at all times.

Let me give you an example from last weekend, when my wife and I were helping at the “Cajun Cup” run in downtown Lafayette.   As usual, I sat scanning the crowd and looking for anything out-of-place.  It’s a habit I picked up in the Military and I have never broken it.  The fact is, that I really don’t want to.  It’s a survival skill and a good one to have.

As I sat there, I caught something out of the corner of my eye.  The weather was actually kind of warm and there was a man with a beard walking down the sidewalk wearing an Overcoat with his hand in his pocket.  A hand that he never removed the entire time I watched him.  His head was down to avoid eye contact and I could see he was muttering to himself.

Yes, I now things like this may be common in big cities, but Lafayette is not a big city.  He kept walking into the crowds of people and then back out and further down the road then he would turn around and do it again.  I quickly moved my wife to a safer location and then went back to finish observing the man.  I made it a point to get very close to him, so I could see under his coat and there was nothing obvious there.  At his point, I returned to my wife and we continued watching the race.

So why did I fixate on this person?  He had on baggy clothes, one hand was hidden in a pocket, he was avoiding eye contact and he was muttering which is usually a sign of mental instability.  Taken by themselves. They were insignificant, but together they were a sign that something wasn’t right.

These are just some of the things you should watch for.  Other things, like someone who seems very nervous and is constantly fidgeting.  Anyone in a vehicle who gets closer to pedestrians than they need to be, should be subject to suspicion, as well.

Of course, there is always the unattended backpack or package that we all have been told to look for.  Other things you might want to watch for are someone dressed all in black unless they are a Minister of course.  Is there clothing appropriate for the time of year?  Are there bulges under their clothes or coats which shouldn’t be there?

The idea is to constantly be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.  If you are in a building, where are the exits and which one is closest to you?  Can you see all of the doors?   The bottom line here is that it is up to you to stay safe and it’s when people get distracted and don’t pay attention that they get hurt.  No matter where you live in this world, terrorism is all around you just waiting for a chance to do its evil and the best defense against it is to be constantly aware of everything around you.

Well, that is it for today and I hope you have learned something useful today.  Until next time, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared.  God Bless America!

-Sarge-