by Frank Sharpe
Are you listening? Two weeks ago, a mile from where I grew up, an 85-year-old man was brutally murdered in his home. Rumor has it he was beaten and strangled; the official cause of death has yet to be announced. Signs are the bedroom was ransacked in what appears to be a burglary/murder. Time will tell.
A few years ago I asked two paramedics on a south suburban Chicago fire department to monitor the radios and keep track of each time the police in their city were called out on a violent Code 3 (lights and sirens, burglary in progress, etc…), as well as how many times the fire department was called out to an actual fire. The ratio ended up being 60 to 1. For every one time the engines rolled to a real fire, police responded to 60 violent events (murders, stabbings, aggravated assaults, armed robberies, etc…) Not even close to a scientific study, but interesting none-the-less.
We all have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in our homes, and we pay people to polish big red trucks all day. In fact, we even legislate fire alarms and fire suppression systems into our building codes. We do this because the consequences of not having those things when we need them are unacceptable. Yet, when compared to the potential of violent attack, fire is a non-issue.
In my old neighborhood, I know of 40+ homes that have been broken into, three murders, and countless assault and batteries. And it’s one of those “nice places to live.” …I can only remember one real house fire.
I suggest (to the suggestible student) that they carry their gun at all times – even at home. We all have to sleep, but every waking moment our pistols should be at hand. I don’t say that to impress fear, I say it to impress priorities. You are the first responder to your attack – you get no “wait a minute” or “time out” or “do over.” When it happens, ready or not, you’re on!
The world is telling us something, and people are dying illustrating the lesson – ignore it at your own peril.
Frank Sharpe
www.fortressdefense.com
Don’t forget to combine this with situational awareness.
Yes, I carry wherever legal. I carry in the home.
I read the stories in American Rifleman of defensive uses of guns where they say “He retrieved a firearm.”
I cannot envision myself “retrieving” a firearm while trying to fend off an attacker.
Very well written and exactly correct. Readers should also be aware that they do not have to have a CCW to carry on their own property. Carrying open or concealed on your own property has always been permitted by Illinois statute.
We don’t polish them all day…the red trucks you speak of. maybe washed daily, and a monthly polish.
Fair enough, lol.
Frank I may not yet be to the owning a gun stage yet the fear is there for me .But you always help us to be more aware of our surroundings .Keep fighting for the better and safer and thank you for always being willing to say what a lot of us need to hear .I respect you and if anyone can get me to shoot one of thos things it will be you .
Looking forward to it, Nanci!
I think GSL needs to install a “like” button. AWESOME Frank!!!!! I was trying to explain this at work today to someone that I would categorize as a sheeple. Just under educated about guns and the reason we “need” them. I probably didn’t as good a job as most of you would have done that are on here, but I tried to explain this. Awesome job Frank, keep up fighting the good fight!
Thank you!!! 🙂