St. Petersburg Times, April 25, 2002  "Officer shoots man during prostitution sting"
 

This really must be a new development in Florida law. In Tampa, they appear to have decided to use felony force to arrest misdemeanor violators. The first paragraph reads "A man suspected of soliciting sex from an undercover officer was shot early Wednesday by a police officer who used his gun to knock on the man's car window." Picture this -- you are approached by a police officer. As he approaches you start to roll up your car window. The officer wants to get your attention so he knocks on your window with his firearm (Glock) while yelling at you to roll down your window and show your hands. This part is relatively OK since I have done the same thing. Of course, I am not stupid and never had my finger on the trigger! Here is another Holy Cow Batman! If the cop doesn't have his finger on the trigger, guess what? He does not shoot the 2nd degree misdemeanor suspect in the left arm and upper torso. The article further stated that the officer "was very upset" and a spokesman stated that "You can't plan for accidents." Apparently you can't plan for stupid either! Let's all say it together - "FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER STUPID"

 

St. Petersburg Times, April 23, 2002  "Clerk seriously hurt in shooting at store"
 

Two clerks were working at the Haines Road Corner Deli, 5705 Haines Road, St. Petersburg Sunday night. Just before midnight, two masked men armed with a 12 gauge shotgun and an auto-loading pistol entered the store and ordered both clerks to lie on the floor. They apparently complied and did so without resistance. A 24 year old man who was on his second day of work was blasted in the right leg by the scumbag with the shotgun. The blast shattered the clerk's femur and probably ruined his leg for life. We have talked about this before. Perhaps if the clerks were behind a locked door, the scumbags would not have gained entry. The part that bothers me is that once again, scumbag criminals who were in total control shot a helpless person. The point is that they had the power and no mercy. My personal philosophy is you may as well fight since it may be the only chance you have. This is a different world than when I was growing up. In the 'good old days," they just took your money as long as no resistance. You really need to make it a point to look before you enter so that you don't walk into a mess like this. If you have to fight, remember your training. This is where the Tactical Class may save your butt! By the way, these two guys are still out there!

 

St. Petersburg Times, April 25, 2002  "Is next al-Qaida target Main Street, U.S.A.?"
 

The FBI has been quietly spreading word to their agents that unconfirmed information from a senior captured al-Qaida operative is that we are next! They are concerned that the targets may be what is considered "soft" targets such as "banks, shopping centers, supermarkets and shops…" Welcome to the Israeli's world folks. The last stats I heard is that Israel experienced 1,600 (one thousand and six hundred) terror attacks between January 1 and November 30, 2001! I spent two years in Viet Nam, a year in West Berlin, two years in Augsburg, Germany, traveled in Europe and England and six more months in West Germany. All of these were terrorist environments involving neat folks like the Viet Cong, the "Rot Brigate" (Red Brigade) and Baader-Meinhof organizations. There are certain rules that will help with survival in an active terrorist environment. By the way, I don't think it is much of a stretch to include the heartless scumbags who shot that helpless clerk or killed my neighbor as terrorists. They are:
1. Do not set patterns. Any pattern may be an invitation to disaster. I know this is not always possible due to schedule restraints but there are some that you may influence. For instance, if you make bank deposits, use different banks and different times. A good rule is to avoid peak hours. That is referred in the trade as a  "rich target" so try to do your banking during off-hours.
2. Do not sit with the "herd." For instance, when I travel by air, I always make it a point to find a lonely spot in the terminal away from the crowd. This location also requires a quick exit out of the building. I started to use this approach in Europe and made it a habit after the Lod Airport massacre in Israel in 1982. This was a low tech, low budget attack made by five or six terrorists armed with AK-47's and hand grenades. There were about 100 innocents killed that day. Of course, we are all unarmed except for the bad guys in airport terminals. I do the same thing in restaurants but the rule is a little different. Sit by an exit and away from the money!
3. Shopping centers pose prime opportunities for terrorists. Probably almost as good as Laughlin, Nevada. That's where two outlaw biker gangs, the Hell's Angels and Mongols, started a major gun battle in a casino yesterday that left three dead inside and one dead on the road. Once again, it seems to me that the best bet is to avoid the crowded shopping events and periods. When your shopping is complete, leave the area. Avoid the crowds that you may encounter if at all possible. Plan your trip so that you have the most direct routes in and out of the store or stores that you wish to patronize. Combining your trips is a great way to reduce exposure as well as save gasoline.
4. Prearrange with your family contact rules in the event of an incident or attack. Call-in procedures to confirm that your loved ones are OK may keep you from getting caught in the follow-on event. A favored tactic is to set off a small explosion and then a larger one to kill those responding to the small event. I guess the best way to say this is avoid the scene unless you are required to be there for some reason.
5. Finally, be observant. Look for the out of place. For instance, be concerned about the man who is sweating because he is wearing a heavy jacket in July standing in the movie theater line in "any county," Florida. Always plan your exit and make it a fast one. Remember the retreat rule! Pay particular attention to trying to keep up with me if we are in the same place. You can forget about passing me by the way. Bad ankles don't mean a thing!

 

STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!