Flashmobs are gaining in frequency. What to do?

[Lost Lake]

I reported the riot at the Wisconsin State Fair. I was naive thinking this was a fluke. Last night I found a website that lists many violent flashmob reports across the country.
Violent Flash Mobs - Violent Flash Mobs

Some of these mobs are 4 or 5 teens, some are hundreds, some are a thousand. It appears that they organize through facebook and twitter and the group suddenly bands together and begins beating people, vandalizing buildings and looting. Some video the event and post it, some show what they looted on the internet. Some areas have flashmobs every weekend and can do nothing to stop it. Even London is experiencing this now.

What can we do? What would you do? I think the only hope citizens have is that enough of the public is armed and willing to use their weapons to stop a large group of attacking teens. Police don't have a chance because the group organizes in secret and attacks in mass and then disappears. In fact one group in Greensboro, NC attacks people in the park every weekend right in front of the police station!!!

As this becomes more popular I worry about attending events in neighboring cities. Do we lock ourselves in our homes and hope we are not attacked or do the good people need to band together somehow and take back the streets? And how do we do that without appearing racist or exclusive and inciting even worse riots, or do we just not worry about that aspect?

 

[Andy Griffith]

A Serbu "Super Shorty" comes to mind.

 

[kraigwy]

Hard to imagine a mob in this area, I doubt they could get over 5 people.

Closest we have to mobs is a group of old duffers having their morning coffee and the local diner. They couldn't move fast enough to be a hazard.

Traffic is bad here though, hard to park a horse trailer so they just stop in the middle of the street to conduct their business.

I love Wyoming.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I avoid "no gun" areas and stores. It would suck being a dad and not getting to take the kids to the fair, but the possible alternatve beats the crying.

 

[sipowicz]

It's even worse when Flashmobs break into dance...

 

[P&R Fan]

Just point and holler "hey, isn't that Charlie Sheen over there?!!!!!"
They'd all stop what they're doing and run to get an autograph.
Jim

 

[edprof]

I live in a conservative, quietly-armed rural subdivision that includes the residences of three peace officers. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen here, but it does improve our odds.

 

[harleyvato]

We had this same discussion at work today, the first thought I had was"carry extra magazines"

 

[GatorFarmer]

There is case law going back to the 19th century relevant to a mob being considered to represent a deadly force based on weight of numbers, even if they lack arms. Going along with that is any given member of the mob has assumed the risk of being part of that group.

What that translates into is simply that if one has to fire into a hostile/attacking mob - well then too bad/so sad for those in said mob.

I spent some years living in a quasi ghetto area. Many people that were in the habit of carrying an M4 clone, riot gun or some such in the trunk while going about their day to day business.

The underlying idea as to what to do was, and is, simple enough. Try to get your back to a wall and defend the area in front of you.

 

[tops]

I avoid "no gun" areas and stores. It would suck being a dad and not getting to take the kids to the fair, but the possible alternatve beats the crying.

Good thinking! Larry

 

[enfield]

Go armed and keep your eyes open.

 

[M29since14]

...Just point and holler "hey, isn't that Charlie Sheen over there?!!!!!"

Sounds good but you may not be able to make yourself heard while they are pounding on you!

Years ago, Elmer Keith was being chastised for thinking he was still adequately armed with a revolver, and he said (something like), "After you have killed five men with your Colt single-action, there will almost certainly be time to reload."

It's a gruesome thought, and I would hate to hurt a kid, but any father of an athletic late-teenage boy can tell you, those young fellows do have the potential to do damage. If you're in fear for your life, self-defense is self-defense. We do that here in America - or at least in the U.S.

 

[wheelgun28]

IWB holster for a S&W 76 ? double magazine pouch for it as well?

Maybe better yet a full size M76 necklace charm

 

[elundgren]

I avoid "no gun" areas and stores. It would suck being a dad and not getting to take the kids to the fair, but the possible alternatve beats the crying.

I do not pay attention to such 'rules'. It may in some cases be illegal to do this but it is a chance I willingly take. If you are concealing correctly no one knows anyway and if you do have to use the gun will you really care.

 

[ruhip]

A mob usually has a leader, these clowns sound more like a heard

 

[mc5aw]

The current flash mob trend is reminiscent of the numerous wilding episodes in NYC, mid-1980s.

 

[27145]

The current flash mob trend is reminiscent of the numerous wilding episodes in NYC, mid-1980s.

Exactly, nothing new.

 

[oldman45]

I do not pay attention to such 'rules'. It may in some cases be illegal to do this but it is a chance I willingly take. If you are concealing correctly no one knows anyway and if you do have to use the gun will you really care.

I have been to state fairs where a person had to pass through a metal detector in order to gain access.

For me, going to a fair is asking for trouble. It is not worth the potential risk.

 

[jtpur]

I have been to state fairs where a person had to pass through a metal detector in order to gain access.

For me, going to a fair is asking for trouble. It is not worth the potential risk.

Well come to the State Fair of Texas, show your concealed license and walk right on in.....no problem...its not in a good area of town so it pays to be well armed.

 

[russp1]

Well come to the State Fair of Texas, show your concealed license and walk right on in.....no problem...its not in a good area of town so it pays to be well armed.

And you can get pretty much anything you want deep fried and on a stick; Twinkies, Coke, butter, bacon, ice cream, corny dogs...