Newtown shooting: Why Minutemen can protect against active shooters

“Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.”
— John F. Kennedy, 1961

Colonel Grossman describes a worst-case scenario in which the attack is carried out by a terrorist team, similar to the 2004 massacre at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia (Russian Federation).

In Grossman’s worst-case scenario, the American public will demand armed protection for every school and every school bus. Since our police and military resources are already stretched to their limit, would every school in the country close until sufficient protectors are hired and trained?

With so many children out of school for a year or more, how many parents would be forced to quit their jobs to care for their kids? Our already fragile economy would collapse.

Since the attack at the Sandy Hook Elementary School was not committed by a team of terrorists, but by yet another “troubled” young man, the public reaction will be more subdued. But the need to protect groups of innocents from attack by “lone wolf” active shooters has reached a point that demands action.

As a nation, we will argue in the coming months about potential preventions for these mass murders. Some will demand gun bans. Others will blame the mental health system. While our politicians and media point fingers and argue over causes and solutions, we sheepdogs can ignore the rhetoric and establish a system to protect our flock.

As I stated, there are simply too few active police or military personnel (including national guardsmen) to staff every school and every bus long-term. But, by looking back to our nation’s founding, we have a no-cost solution readily available.

We need Minutemen to come forward and guard our lambs…

Webster defines a militia as: “an organization of citizens with limited military training who are available for emergency service, usually for local defense.” I suggest we organize Minutemen at the state and local level, using these individuals to put an armed protector (in plain clothes with concealed weapons) in every school and on every bus.

The volunteer Minutemen would be required to train periodically — at least a few days each year. Minutemen would, of course, need to be screened to keep out both those of evil intent and ill-equipped “wannabes.” We already have the perfect screening process in place in every state, the background check system we use to hire police and issue concealed weapon permits.

Minutemen must be exempted from every geographic restriction placed on those who currently carry concealed weapons. Virtually every mass killing in recent memory has occurred in a “gun-free zone.” We must authorize our Minutemen to carry everywhere, especially in gun-free zones.

Category 1 Minutemen: The Sheepdogs We Already Know and Trust
The core of my proposal revolves around the hundreds of thousands of former law enforcement officers already qualified for nationwide concealed carry under the federal Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act (LEOSA – HR 218).

These men and women are fully trained, experienced sheepdogs. I am certain countless thousands of these former enforcers would readily step up to donate a couple of days each month to covertly sit in a school or ride on a bus with their concealed weapon. They would, at their own expense, provide their weapon and ammunition, and they would be required to train at least quarterly.

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Category 2 Minutemen: The Untapped Reservoir of Retired Warriors
By expanding the LEOSA statute, we can incorporate hundreds of thousands of retired military personnel into the ranks of Minutemen.

Again, we already know these people to be vetted, honorable citizens who have proven their willingness to protect their country. These experienced warriors are often even better prepared for battle than our police officers.

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Category 3 Minutemen: Honest, Armed Citizens
The third huge reservoir of potential Minutemen can come from the millions of U.S. citizens who have jumped through the legal hoops necessary to obtain a CCW permit (Carrying a Concealed Weapon) in their state.

These citizens have been screened through a background check system, and in most states are required to have some weapon safety and use of force training.

…Conclusion
The re-establishment of the American Minutemen could easily provide the huge numbers of protectors envisioned in Lt. Col. Grossman’s scenario. The system could be established almost immediately from the Category 1 pool of retired law enforcement officers and be rapidly expanded by re-writing LEOSA to include retired military personnel.

…I can confidently predict we will see hundreds of thousands stand in line to volunteer for Minutemen service. A Minuteman’s reward will be nothing more than; time away from their other pursuits, placing themselves in potential danger … and the chance to serve, once again.

The Minuteman’s maxim will be a simple one: “Not here! Not today! These children are safe because I am here with my weapon and my training.”

Once a sheepdog, always a sheepdog.