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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: long762range on May 10, 2009, 11:22:18 PM

Title: Any Given Sunday
Post by: long762range on May 10, 2009, 11:22:18 PM
http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/HG_anygivensunday_200905/index.html

Any Given Sunday
In today's world, no place is truly safe.
By Mike Conti


Whenever I attend any type of religious service, like most people I follow all the prescribed rituals and do my best to keep an open mind and heart. After 22 years as a police officer, however, in addition to the prescribed religious rituals, I also have a few of my own rituals I follow religiously.

While approaching the church, synagogue or other place of worship, I scan the people in the general area as well as those approaching the building. I also check out any vehicles in the area, looking for anything out of place.

Once inside, as I look over the crowd, I also look for the exits. Regardless of whether the service is crowded or sparsely attended, I always sit in the back, preferably on an outside corner.

This allows me to keep an eye on the main entrance as well as the side entrances. It also puts me in the most defensible position in the room; with your back to the corner of a square or rectangular room you've got only a 90-degree angle of area to deal with, and plenty of benches or chairs between you and any incoming threat.

My wife and children are aware of my rituals and understand why I have adopted them. They are also aware that I am always armed, not only while attending religious services but especially when attending religious services. It's not because I am hyper vigilant, paranoid or both. It's because in this world we live in, people attending religious services are high on the vulnerability menu.

Religion is and always has been a hot-button issue. As we all know, people do all sorts of things in the name of religion--from the greatest, most selfless acts of good to the most heinous, unspeakable acts of evil.

Second, if someone is determined to carry out a heinous act of violence or evil, most places of worship are set up to place the worshipers in a tactically disadvantageous position. Think about it: Practically everyone in the building is facing away from the main entrance, focused on the person or persons leading the service at the front of the room.

Those leading the service are usually focused on their own business and are probably neither trained to look for nor recognize danger signs. In fact, the chances of them even being predisposed to do so is highly unlikely ; they are there to take part in a religious service, not a security exercise.

In the event that someone did walk into the building with murder in his heart and a weapon in his hand, even if the leader did recognize the threat and wished to take action to protect himself and those in attendance, what could he actually do? Unless he happened to be armed himself, the best he could probably do would be to raise the alarm and hope that someone in the room was prepared to take action.

And that is where the law-abiding, legally armed members of our society come in. For while we all hope and pray we will never need to use our weapons to protect ourselves or others, especially in a place of worship, the ugly fact is that attacks on people in places of worship are on the rise.

For the sake of those we care about, we need to acknowledge this unsavory fact and be prepared to respond to an immediate threat with maturity, valor and decisiveness should it be necessary--wherever it may surface.

Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: Hazcat on May 10, 2009, 11:23:36 PM
Logrange,

How's the son doing?
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: long762range on May 10, 2009, 11:39:50 PM
Good.  Still doing convoy protection but they just changed the platoon for which he is responsible.

Coming home on R&R in June.  Looking forward to seeing him.

Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: brosometal on May 11, 2009, 12:02:25 AM
You should impart that a greatful nation thanks him for his service and sacrifice.
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: Hazcat on May 11, 2009, 08:53:40 AM
He is in my prayers, Longrange.
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: blackwolfe on May 11, 2009, 10:17:43 AM
I thank your son for his service and you for raising a fine son that would make the decesion to join the service says a lot about his upbringing.    He'll be in my prayers.
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: PegLeg45 on May 11, 2009, 10:20:38 AM
Good.  Still doing convoy protection but they just changed the platoon for which he is responsible.

Coming home on R&R in June.  Looking forward to seeing him.



I know you're counting the days.
Lots of good luck, and many prayers for his safe return and a well-deserved rest.
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: long762range on May 11, 2009, 01:23:26 PM
I know you're counting the days.
Lots of good luck, and many prayers for his safe return and a well-deserved rest.

 :D The last thing the boy will do is rest. 

He got a girlfiriend to see and a new Springfield XD-M 40 to shoot.

Rest   ;D
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: PegLeg45 on May 11, 2009, 01:42:03 PM
I know you're counting the days.
Lots of good luck, and many prayers for his safe return and a well-deserved rest break from the job-related stress.

There.... how 'bout that?.......... :D  :D  :D



:D The last thing the boy will do is rest. 

He got a girlfiriend to see and a new Springfield XD-M 40 to shoot.

Rest   ;D

Girlfriend and new gun..........hope he has much-deserved fun........... ;)  ;)  ;)



Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: tt11758 on May 11, 2009, 04:19:03 PM
There.... how 'bout that?.......... :D  :D  :D



Girlfriend and new gun..........hope he has much-deserved fun........... ;)  ;)  ;)






This is your rifle, this is your gun..............................  ;D
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: blackwolfe on May 11, 2009, 04:56:08 PM

This is your rifle, this is your gun..............................  ;D

Any bets on which one goes off first? ;D
OK I'll go to the corner.
Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: twyacht on May 11, 2009, 05:54:17 PM
Thanks for the post by Mike Conti, longrange, please tell your son when you see him, (before he takes off with his girlfriend), Thank you!





Title: Re: Any Given Sunday
Post by: ericire12 on May 11, 2009, 07:06:10 PM
Any bets on which one goes off first? ;D
OK I'll go to the corner Man Cave.