Lots of bad news lately related to terrorists using guns on soft targets. Even though the President says you are more likely to drown in the bathtub than be a victim of terrorism (interesting that in the next sentence the President attributes these acts to the availability of guns and speaks to an urgent need to do something - never mind that the probabilities of being a victim of a terrorist or terrorist with a gun are essentially the same), I've started paying more attention to where I go and where I am when I get there. Example: for years I've sat in the same pew of my church. Its a large sanctuary and I sat close to front row with the main entrance far to my back. Realizing that I was a long way from any exit and even farther from the entrance that I can not observe, I've moved to a balcony seat that allows me to see anyone entering that part of the church.

I may be just a little bit paranoid, but still wondering if anyone else is making adjustments, paying more attention to surroundings, based upon what is being reported in the news.

It is not possible to be too observant. Being aware of what is going on around you may save you from all sorts of unsavory acts by others, not just terrorists. Small adjustments to our habits are not wasted in the times we live in.

Two nights ago I walked up the steps onto the deck of our cabin. I heard a foreign noise and froze, peering over the deck rail. A mule deer stepped out from beneath the deck into a clearing.

Last night, again, I stepped up to the deck. I heard a noise like a pebble being dropped into a shallow pond, again and again (there's no pond on our place). I froze and peered over the rail. A mama and four baby ruffed grouse were pecking in this year's aspens on the forest floor, the mama calling softly to her babies.

Barbara and I moved here ten years ago. We are so isolated from the real world that we often wonder what's happening in your lives. Nonetheless, the media's reporting of world events takes its toll, and we're ever mindful of what's happening around us.

For now it's the occasional deer or grouse, or worse yet, badger or bear, but we feel pretty safe compared to the fear the evening news and our commander-in-chief attempt to conjure in Americans' minds.

Please don't let them keep you from living your life. Otherwise, they win.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

IMO our enemies are out to destroy our freedoms. The worst part is that we are doing it to ourselves in the name of security when in reality we will end up with neither.

We live in a very rural area and I do not worry about attacks by terrorists out here but I would not intentionally go anywhere with high profile large gatherings. My personal biggest concern would be something like a large sporting event in a stadium or arena.

We are already becoming prisoners of our paranoia in many ways. I am not sure how we fix it but I know we need to get back in charge of our own destinies. Thinking of the hundreds of people hiding from a lone gunman in Florida is enough to convince me that we need to start training people how to overcome the perpetrators of these attacks. Giving up our freedoms must not be the solution!

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Nope haven't changed a thing. I still go out into the city on the weekends. Summer time, crowds, music, food and drink. I'll go to the mall if there is something I need to buy that's there. Or maybe not a traditional mall but a large shopping center. Movies occasionally....if there is something worth watching.

I carry everywhere it's legal. If something terrible happened then it is what it is ....I can't just sit home or go to sparsely populated areas

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

We are surrounded by potential threats. Terrorists, criminals, animals, distracted drivers and plain old crazies. But don't let paranoia rule your life. Just pay attention to your surroundings, be prepared to act if necessary and go about your business as usual.

Speak to your pastor and find out about church security. He/she may already have a list of members and know where they sit and if they are armed and what services they attend.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Being alert, aware, and paying full attention is hard to do ALL the time! And it's a much greater challenge in a place where there is many people, lots of noise and traffic, with sensory overload. But we should at least be aware of the possibilities and pay as much attention as we can. And we should make good choices about where we go and when we go there.

If we had any clue about the number of impaired, sleepy, angry or otherwise distracted drivers that surround us, some of them in vehicles that are about to have a wheel fall off, we would never get out on the road in our own vehicles. And we would pay a lot more attention to only our own driving and what's happening on the road all around us too. Driving our vehicles on the road or street is probably the single most dangerous thing that we all do regularly, and we seldom do so with the expectation that we might actually get in a crash. So, do we sit home (where any number of bad things can also happen) or do we proceed to live life with our eyes open, our ears attuned for trouble as best we can, while actually prepared, ready, and willing to deal with it to the best of our ability? We can only do the best we can and try our best to keep our heads out of that dark stinky place where we sometimes keep them for long periods of time while being totally oblivious to all that goes on around us?

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So long ... Ken

Hyper vigilance seems fairly common in certain groups of people,especially if they feel persecuted

In the later stages of my career, I carried concealed at work, but not that often away from work. When I retired, I didn't carry much until a couple of idiot encounters. I now carry a lot more often, and try not to sit with my back to the door in restaurants.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

A good friend of mine is a young tv reporter (they're not all bad lol), she's about to get married to a great guy who's a capt. on an area fire dept. She covered the Aurora theater shootings and has not gone back to a movie theater since. That incident and the aftermath, talking to the victims/families really freaked her out.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more caring, empathetic person but by the same token she's no longer naive about the evil that lurks around the corner.

We've had long talks, no intention of forcing her, her boyfriend also isn't pressuring but we reiterate that if we stop doing the things we enjoy then the "bad guys" win.

We can continue to do the things we love but be observant. We can't live in a constant state of "orange alert"-you will burn out, but we can be aware very easily of our surroundings.

Live your life but be aware. Law enforcement officers have developed that sixth sense over the years which is employed both on and off duty.

It's not a burden, imho, but a gift...the beneficiaries of which are yourself, your family, friends and neighbors when out and about.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

We live in a relatively small town about 18,000 people. About the only crime is drugs and property. We carry and don't keep our heads in the sand. When we go into the city we are on high alert, but don't alter our plans either. We all must pay attention and do what we want or they have won. Stay safe and look out for your fellow Americans.......

Like so many who had a career in law enforcement, I fell into the habit of trying to be aware of my surroundings and who is near me without thinking about it, I still do.

I’ve always to use common sense as to where and when I go, but I refuse to greatly alter my lifestyle based on the acts or potential acts of a group of sick cowards; to do that means I’ve given up, without a shot being fired.

Situational awareness is something that I think folks generally overestimate their abilities and likelihood of benefit in altering a situation.

I try to think ahead and avoid known higher risk environments and situations.

It's true that you can't plan for every eventuality but it's good to maintain a weather eye when out and about as a matter of course.

A brief anecdote...

Back in the early 80's when I was attending an academy at FLETC in Glynco, GA we had to execute a mock search warrant on the home of "Richard Roe".

I happened to be assigned perimeter security for this role playing exercise and while on the sidewalk I was approached by a woman wheeling a carriage down the block. I intercepted her before she arrived at the property and advised that she'd need to detour or cross the street.

You guessed it, as she turned to depart she pulled out a gun from under the "baby" and shot me.

When the role playing exercise was over and I was asked how it might have gone differently, I asked the instructor if he thought my agency would look kindly upon my drawing down on a woman walking down the street with a baby carriage?

He admitted there wasn't much that could be done in the situation and that it wasn't a particularly realistic scenario though it forced us to think about the fact that a threat can come from anywhere. (Especially true these days in the wake of terrorist and 'lone wolf' attacks at home and abroad.)

Sometimes you just can't win even when you are on alert but as they say, you trust your mother but you still cut the cards.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I'm not a LEO but I've tried to live by this for years. You can still live your normal, happy life while being vigilant and aware of what's happening around you.

I try to always be aware of things like where the nearest exit is, what alternate routes of escape are available, where the nearest cover is that will probably stop a bullet. My LTC doesn't make me either a LEO or a superhero. My plans are (1) run, (2) hide, and (3) engage.

I don't feel persecuted and im not hyper in any way, shape or form BUT it DOES pay to be aware of ones own surroundings. Just ask Audie Murphy:


Didnt seem to bother him none nor does it bother me.

Even though the President says you are more likely to drown in the bathtub than be a victim of terrorism (interesting that in the next sentence the President attributes these acts to the availability of guns and speaks to an urgent need to do something - never mind that the probabilities of being a victim of a terrorist or terrorist with a gun are essentially the same),


Looks to me like we'd better be lookin' into this bathtub thing. Licensing or banning or something..

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Eccentric old coot

I attempt to practice situational awareness at all times, and I'm always armed or have a gun within reach. But if I make changes in my routine or my provision for emergency, the terrorists, professional fear-peddlers, conspiracy theorists and street miscreants have won.

I not-very-respectfully decline to give them that little victory. Especially the first two categories.

I didn't get this old to be at perpetual condition orange.

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Oh well, what the hell.

New executive order in the works, prohibiting filling of bathtubs to more than 2" depth.

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de minimus non curat lex

We must keep bathtubs out of the wrong hands. We're not trying to take away your bathtubs. Nobody wants to do that. You all stink, after all. We are only talking about common sense bathtub regulations. We have to close that home show loophole and make certain that everyone who buys a bathtub does so legally.

"When bathtubs are outlawed . . ."

We recently had a 60ish year old fella, sucker punched by one of the president's sons. He was photographing the moon from a super market parking lot, and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. He wasn't robbed, they just walked up to him, and punched him in the face, then walked away laughing. Pay attention, regardless of your location.

Have fox and breitbart run with this yet?

As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Apart from the fact that there is much evil in the world, there are just too many people who want to take away our freedoms... and we allow it to happen rather than using the ballot box wisely.

It's only paranoia if there is no basis for the fear. Well, there is basis and we best be observant.

I live in a small border town with mid sized cities near by.

I once had a car come up my driveway and leave when the driver saw me.

I just recently had a guy come to my door asking if knew where a certain family lived. He supposedly was hired to do electrical work for them. He was obviously casing my house which incidentally, is alarmed...thankfully.

I'm not sure if situational awareness can be taught. I think not but don't know. I have it. My oldest daughter has it but my wife and youngest daughter do not. I've tried to teach them but...

Being watchful and vigilant is not being paranoid.

I guess it's something some people practice naturally. I stay

pretty alert to my surroundings, some folks I see are so tied up

in their phones, or what they are doing, they haven't got a clue

what's going on around them.

Situational Awareness can absolutely be taught/learned if the student wants to learn.

My career has been in military aviation and I still train military aviators. There is a grading spot for SA on every grade sheet and is absolutely the most important part of aviation.

Applying that same SA philosophy to SD and general life is extremely useful. It is critical even when just driving a car and most people develop it to some extent or another.

Old habits die hard. After 30 years as an LEO I normally operate in condition yellow, trying to be aware of my surroundings always. I recently took my 16 year old grandson school shopping at Old Navy. Four sketchy looking dudes came in and he picked up on it as soon as I did. I notice the same thing in my wife so I guess it does rub off.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I forget where I learned this but I try pass it one when ever possible. To stay on top of the awareness game when you are out and about in public areas, Never let someone you know see you first. Keep score of how many time you see someone you know before they see you. If they see you before you see them that's a negative you see them before they see you that's a positive. I hope your score is way in the positive. I find this little game helps to keep my hear on a swivel.

Prepackaged wipes will put an end to all bathtub falls, and save the planet too!

I do not believe a word Obama says. I always carry a firearm when off of my farm, and mostly when I am on it. More than thirty years of law enforcement taught me a lot about the evil out there. I try to always be observant of my surroundings and am very careful. I do not take chances. I am not paranoid. Anyone can do the same, it does not wear you out if you make some changes and make it part of the way you live. In light of all of the shootings and murders of LEO's I have made even more changes, in the amount of extra ammunition I carry. I have a new knife on the way. I am even more observant than I was, and I was quite aware before. We must all be good witnesses, try and recall every detail.

When you get to be my age, it's hard to see someone you know - unless you're at a cemetery.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Living near a wretched hive of scum and villainy keeps us on our toes.

One thing that we do when we go through a fast food drive thru is we go park out in the middle of a large parking lot to eat. That way we can see anyone approaching our car. We put the fast food bag on the dash so that local LEOs can see we're having lunch.

As we eat, we look around and remain observant. Sometimes we observe the crows and other birds observing us. Sometimes nearby construction projects or other developments catch our eye.

Every once in awhile, we observe a homeless person or young hoodlums on a course to pass near us. We just fire up the car and move while the "threats" are still far away. They never know and we don't get hassled for money or worse.

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Vanquish Fear and Panic!

History tells us many stories and teaches us invaluable lessons. I remember that the James Gang went to a town in Minnesota to rob a bank. The people there were armed, and prepared. The James Gang-the baddest in the land, were "shot to doll rags."

Can you expound on this? Perhaps in another thread? I'm trying to be more aware but not sure. I already do a good job of noticing anything wrong with any of the animals, I can spot a sick sheep from across the paddock, but not too sure on the rest of my skills esp. when it comes to humans, those wily creatures.

Paranoia can run rampant after someone hears something happened to another person ..afraid that it will happen to them ..

Terrorist are one of those things .. when in reality you have a much greater chance of being killed by someone texting on their phone while driving causing an accident while you are driving your car .. yet we aren't paranoid by that act !!

You must not be a motorcyclist. The idea scares those of us that are a lot.

Situational awareness goes way beyond just being observant but it does include that.

It also involves assessing the non verbal cues of potential miscreants and of those who mean you harm.

For example, most strangers won't look you in the eye if you look first. They'll look away.

But this man looked me right in the eye as I entered a subway station. He followed my wife and me down the stairs but veered away when I turned around to face him and had my wife get behind me.

Well anyway.

Unfortunately, most situational awareness is learned by missing something the first time. You probably missed the first sick sheep you saw . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Absolutely, I agree with what is being said here. Things seem to be getting a little crazy.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

I spent 35 years traveling to some of the worst rat-holes on the face of the Earth. Awareness came early if you wanted to come home again. I have stories ....

Then I was diagnosed with cancer, and my travel came to an instant halt due to the surgery and radiation side effects (which will stay with me, and keep me off airplanes / out of public places). In this post-diagnosis life, when I have to avoid anyone who sneezes, coughs, has a rash, for just a few, total awareness has gone to a new level.

On the up side, I no longer have fear of using up all the pages in my passport only months after it was issued. And my drycleaning bill is down from hundreds of dollars a month to nothing.

Most of the threats to us and this country reside in the halls of Congress.

I applaud you and your wife for living a lifestyle that is care free, and in which you feel safe..... that is exactly what I wish for my wife, and myself when we retire........but what you have to realize is......when the SHTF.....the first thing the other people will be looking for is a place like yours........away from every one, and every thing.......a bump in the night night might be an animal that you don't want to confront......always be aware of what is going on in your world....

Semper Fi!

The great Ken Hackathorn teaches the Survival Triad.. Be Aware..Have a Plan..Have a weapon. He says of those three, the one you can survive without is..the weapon. Cooper wrote..A little paranoia is a good thing.

Out West,

Great post. Situational awareness is knowledge of survivors.

If I had to go to LA, I'd worry more about bangers than Middle Eastern-looking men.

Persian women will get my attention every time. Most are drop dead gorgeous, but most think that they're princesses. Lebanese and Syrian women can be gorgeous as well. Palestinians, too.

Many peoples of the Middle East are Caucasian and moved into the region. Don't quote me on this because it's been a long time since paid education: Palestinians are of Southern European ancestry.

Now the irony is Jews do not consider themselves Caucasian. Who'da thunk it?

I like it. I agree, one can survive without a weapon. One can have a weapon and not survive.

It's not paranoia if people are out to get you.

I wouldn't call it paranoid. I'd call it knowledgeable and situational awareness.

You're livin' Norman Rockwell's America. I'm jealous.

I dont think im paranoid but I still watch tree lines