So Sunday I had to subdue a man who attacked a gay man on the bus. He is in jail (I have to testify at his grand jury next week), and everyone is fine. But this is a real thing, not isolated incidents overblown by the media. Attacks on minority groups are skyrocketing in our city. White supremacists are coming here to use violence and I don't think anyone can assume they can exist in this city unmolested.
Get a gun. Seriously. Or pepper spray at least. Oregon has a "will issue" policy when it comes to concealed carry permits (meaning that they have to give you one unless there is a specific reason they shouldn't). If anyone wants to learn how to shoot I will be happy to show you.
This is happening here, and inaction is immoral and nonviolent intervention is ineffective. I strongly suggest you think about what you will do when faced with racist violence, because it very well may happen.
A recent picture of Henry:
One a few years ago, in Afghanistan:
I fear this is further evidence of the spiral down being hastened by this age of trump.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but can you tell my son (or anyone like him), that they're wrong?
DeleteWe grow sadder by the hour. I no longer regret being an old woman whose only response can be "Young man, please reconsider." I wouldn't mind having one of Hank's seegars.
ReplyDeleteI sent them to him, back then, in 'care packages'.
DeleteYour son did a good thing, Mike.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but it opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it Geo?
DeleteHow sad that it comes to this.
ReplyDeleteYep. But what are we to do?
Deletesuch a frightening thing and I often wonder what I would do. I would like to say I would be very brave. Experts say to talk to the victim in a calm voice to de-escalate the situation.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a whole passel of things on this lately, this one sounds good to me, up to a point. The point my son mentions.
DeleteIt seems to be open season on decent law abiding people since Trump got elected.
ReplyDeleteYou must be so proud of your son.
Always have been, thanks.
DeleteMust we accept that it has come to this? I hope not.
ReplyDeleteI'm holding out for impeachment of the current administration (yep, every last one of them), followed by the installation of an interim, bipartisan coalition government until stability can be restored. If that doesn't work, then we call on the UN to send peacekeeper-troops (not sure I can trust ours) to keep peace until sanity, compassion and the democratic principles we (supposedly) hold dear have returned.
Henry's standing up to the thugs epitomizes the best of our citizens and what we need to do to turn America around, to make us truly great...though I'd like to do so without returning violence for violence. Self-protection is one thing (pepper spray or a personal-sized taser - well, maybe not the taser), but not all of us have the reasoned training Henry has had in weaponry and situation assessment, and I fear most would shoot first, check for weapons afterwards. Not ready to see this country become the land of gunfights at the corner of Main Street and Hysteria Boulevard.
Thank you, Henry, for setting a good example for the rest of us to follow.
Hey Martha
DeleteHope you're doing well.
I dunno what to say about what happened, and what Henry did. It's what I would have done once, and it didn't always stand me in good stead.
He's a good guy.
I think Henry is to be commended for coming to the defense of the hoodlum's target; it is what we've taught my grandson to do, with the caveat to avoid violence if at all possible.
DeleteWhen he put that into action, protecting a woman under attack in his apartment building's parking lot, he was blindsided with a sucker-punch, which knocked him out and filled his mouth and throat with his own blood.
I have to admit that my Quaker-informed ideology flew out the window when I learned what had happened, and I my gut-reaction was I seriously considered getting a pistol and going after the creep...thus reminding me of why I became a Quaker and why overcoming those feelings can be so damned difficult.
Yes, Henry IS a good guy...like his father.
Violence breeding violence and on it goes.where does it end? The longer this Sicko is in the WH the less hope I have for your country.
ReplyDeletePredicted by sages for a long,long time. Pricetag now levied.
I'm so sad Mike.
XO
WWW
Yes, you are exactly right. And it's my son that's bearing the burden, and the risk.
DeleteI expect to see this at some time. I hope I can react effectively.
ReplyDeleteI hope you never have to.
DeleteTake care,
Mike
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ReplyDeleteWhat your son says may well "open up a whole can of worms."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that it's a bad thing at this point. People need to be able to fight back. Or to stand up for others. As you know, I spend a lot of time in the desert. Much of it in Arizona. In the small towns it seems as if at least half the people are openly and/or almost openly carrying. Somebody asked me if it didn't make me nervous, or fearful. Even though I'm sure that I disagree with the politics and beliefs of many of those people, I feel MORE secure knowing that there are armed people around. Having said that, I'm not sure it would be a good idea if I had a CCP myself these days.
It's not just the idea that Joe Public is carrying that will stop people from doing things. The fact that he MIGHT be carrying will also do that in many cases. My comments are so much longer here than anywhere else. That is a compliment to you, and to your posts Mike.
As it is to you, Pat. That you give me consideration is a compliment, and an honor.
DeleteI myself am unresolved about the carrying of arms in one's daily life. I don't wish to, I've seen combat, and in our day we were what Henry would call 'untrained'. What is the average guy, out there with a 9mm , when he's confused about what he's seeing? Will he wait, see what develops? Will he just fire at the person on the aggressive then? I remember guys, Marines, lifting their '16's up and firing over a barrier, at who knows what. What's that going to be like in a crowd, when some well-meaning citizen starts just opening up?
That's my worry.
Mike
I totally agree with you about "average guy" being armed, and finding himself in the middle of a situation. It could be disastrous...
DeleteAs to the Marines firing over a barrier, here is something I posted in 2010, relating to that exact subject. If you are so inclined, please take a look.
http://patricktillett.blogspot.com/2010/02/sometimes-bravery-is-just-lifting-your.html