by Greg Hopkins
Clash Daily Contributor
“The purpose of terror is to terrorize.” Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Since 9-11, assaults by Islamic terrorists resulting in mass killings have hit France, Belgium, the USA, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, the Philippines, Spain, Australia, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Israel, and South America. But Americans should pay particular attention to one: in Beslan, Russia, September 4, 2004.
As school began that day, a few Chechen Muslim terrorists, carrying concealed weapons and hand grenades, filtered into the school along with faculty and students. Within 10 minutes of class starting, they blocked all the exits and admitted the rest of their 49-strong team, who carried heavier weapons. Herding students and faculty into the gym (where they were easily controlled), about half the killers began to fortify the school, while the rest murdered all male staff within the first half hour. All this occurred in front of the terrified teachers and students.
Instead of rushing the building, local police decided to “wait for the professionals”. But Russia relies on their military special forces for that, and took several days to get them all in place. For three days, they tried to negotiate with fanatics on a suicide mission; denying the hostages food and water while they sexually assaulted and murdered teachers and children alike. Several students died from lack of water and all were tortured by it. By the end of the third day, rescuers had to blast their way in. This, along with bombs set by the terrorists, caused the collapse of the gym, killing 200 of the hostages. In all, 314 victims were killed, while 12 of the 49 terrorists escaped. To understand the full horror and the lessons learned, read Terror at Beslan by John Giduck.
Now let me lay some facts on you. Since 1998, US law enforcement has repeatedly recorded talk about “The Perfect Day” on radical Islamic websites. It’s a day when terrorist teams, armed like the Beslan terrorists, would combine to hit 10 targets all over the US. The targets are most likely to be schools, churches, malls and sporting events. In Mexico, the biggest terror death toll was at a casino where a drug cartel turned off the water to the fire sprinklers. They simultaneously blocked the exits and started multiple fires.
The Posse Comitatus Act forbids the US military from being used to fight crime. Terror attacks are dealt with as crimes in the US. Only the National Guard can be used. Therefore, whoever is armed on the scene is the first responder, since it’s most likely that police patrol units and then SWAT teams would be there long before the Guard could arrive. How likely is such a terror scenario? London is now training 600 cops to be ready for school terror attacks.
The answer, however, is not outside response, but internally placed armed guards. Fact: there has never been a multiple murder in a US school where there was already an armed person inside! Israel learned this lesson forty-six years ago after their last school massacre. Since then, ALL teachers are armed and trained. In addition to fences and admission to schools only with proper ID, there are a few fully armed soldiers inside and several on car patrol outside.
We can learn from Israel’s success. We need to fortify our schools to a similar standard.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me.” — Isaiah 6:8.
There aren’t enough cops and deputies to man each school, though. Instead, Governors in all fifty states must activate the Militia. Local and State law enforcement can provide the training and police-band radios. The Militia, as is their Constitutional duty, would supply the weapons. A couple of guards inside with concealed handguns should be adequate, while at least two on patrol outside in cars with military-style/caliber rifles, bullet-proof vests, and plenty of spare ammo magazines. Deterrence is the key. If a Beslan-type attack occurs, law enforcement will be stretched to the limit, especially if distraction bombings are set or multiple schools are targeted. The only answer is Minutemen on site. Trained by and able to communicate with police, they can hold off the bad guys until the cavalry comes (hopefully with the help of armed teachers).
Citizens, now is the time to start this deterrence. Call your governors and legislators. Get control of your local and state school boards! Volunteers should be paid and given work leave for this duty like jurors. I’m sure there would be so many grandpas, Dads and Moms that would take their turns at this, that one should only be called for duty a few times each school year.
We must begin hardening our schools for such attacks. (More about that in next week’s column.) A final benefit is that students and parents will learn the falsehood of anti-gun propaganda when they see themselves protected each day by armed citizens: modern-day Minutemen.
photo credit: Emily Stanchfield DOF Photo Assignemnt via photopin (license)
Greg Hopkins is a recovering lawyer, city prosecutor, police Use-of-Force law instructor, former city judge in two towns and criminal defense lawyer. He’s been teaching the Bible to teens and adults for 40 years. He now trains CCP holders and armed church security teams in self defense law. He also does expert witnessing in firearms and self defense cases. His book is A Time To Kill: The Myth of Christian Pacifism, on the Bible and self defense.
