There is considerable confusion and hesitancy in the III Community.  When do we fight?  Whom do we fight?  Who are our leaders?  How do we fight?  Ballots or bullets?  AO or MO?  Small Unit Fire Teams?  Do we create Sniper Teams?  Do we create Special Ops teams of Saboteurs and Provocateurs to harass and deny the enemy?  Or, do we go Ninja and work independently, with no coordination, indeed, no knowledge, of others working in your AO?

There are numerous voices within the III Community.  Several, including Mike at Sipsey Street Irregulars and David over at War on Guns are outstanding examples of Patriots who work very hard to keep the community informed and provide commentary, and offer to share their expertise on matters.  There are many others.

Every individual is ultimately responsible for himself and his family.  When the SHTF, whatever circumstances may obtain, it is your reasoning, your consideration, and singularly your decision how to respond and act. 

There are many viewpoints within the III Community. 

As I have explored the III Community on the web I have found that the common thread among the most adult and serious minded is that conflict is inevitable.  Most have moved beyond the academic contemplations of if and why, and moved into the practical contemplations of recourse.

The Event is inevitable.  It is imminent.  The Political Class will either create a crisis or take advantage of a crisis as a means to put their "Plan", whatever that Plan may be, into action.  It is not if...but when.  If you disagree with me about this, please do not bother to write.  I simply can not be bothered to spend energy on you.  I have connected the dots and I understand what is coming for us.

When we consider the Trigger Event that may begin an event or chain of events leading to SHTF scenarios, the variables are many.  Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, economic blips, a coup in the nation of WhoCaresWhere.  Katrinas, Wacos, Ruby Ridges are a dime a dozen.  Many are spontaneous.  Some...not so much.  The Trigger Event is a detail, and probably an insignificant detail.

It is the response from Government that will force you to consider your contingency plans and, perhaps, engage in a protocol.  Government takes many forms in America.  Regulators, city councils, city inspectors, bureaucrats of many flavors from the smallest cities, towns and villages up to the most sophisticated of their ilk, the Federal Bureaucrat. 

LEO has a similar organizational structure.  Living just 8 minutes from Washington DC I have hundreds of LEO shops within 20 miles of my home.  Where you live there are probably fewer groups and overall numbers of boots on the ground, though the same structure applies.  You will have your city/town cops.  You'll usually have County police and the Sheriffs department.  State Troopers.

Depending on the nature of the Trigger Event, the damage being wrought, and the brazen nature of the Political Class, you may find US Military in the mix.  As someone who was in DC on 9/11, understand that the Political Class has tremendous resources at their disposal.  It did not take very long to put the Nation's Capitol on lockdown, including Stinger Anti-Air units on the National Mall, Hummers with M2 Browning's stretching from Georgetown through Capitol Hill on most corners.

Whatever it may be, when it happens, you are alone in your actions.  Most of us will simply do as the nice men and women with overwhelming firepower tell us to do, leave the area as quickly and safely as possible and get to our children and families.  Once they are safe, we can settle in for a while to let events unfold.

Once you are home and safe with all family members accounted, you must assess the situation and determine your course of action.  Many people in the III Community are networking today and developing contingency plans and protocols.  Intel is the order of the day in the early hours and days of any event that brings Government into action.

Here is where the variables fill our considerations and the sheer number of what-ifs becomes daunting to wrestle.  So, you prioritize.  What are the most likely challenges that you will face?  Firstly, is it safe to stay where you are or has the situation devolved to a point that you need to boogie to a safe house?  Are you on a list, and relatively certain that Government will be coming to your home to take your weapons, or you?  No one can answer any of the questions for you.

There are three points that are of vital importance as regards this column. 

     ~ First, you must  embrace the concept that Government will at some point seek to impose its will upon you and yours at the muzzle of a weapon.  If you do not believe this is likely to happen, do not waste your time. 

     ~ Second, you must decide how you will meet this challenge.  If you choose the path of the Patriot, then commit to the decision.  Research what you need to learn.  Acquire the tools you will need to possess.  Train yourself and your family members the basics.  Do not become a Keyboard Commando.  Do the business of preparing yourself and family to survive and prevail.

     ~ Third, It is of the utmost importance that Patriots from every corner of America share the same End Game.  There must be a singular goal, easily articulated and comprehended.  Every single Patriot must risk his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor to achieve the goal.

What is the goal? 

Respect for the Founding Documents of the republic. 

That is all.  We must demand that when we defeat those who seek Socialism and worse, we will elect people to offices based on the methods outlined in the Constitution.  Those people will serve, faithfully, within the bounds of the Constitution as intended by our Founders, Framers, and every soul who struggled to help defeat the British.

Nothing fancy.  Our goal must not be to re-invent the wheel.  Personally, I am convinced that no group of men and women today could write a Constitution better than the one we have.  Of course we have evolved to embody that all men possess equal opportunity, as was the will of the Founders and Framers, though the political realities of the day demanded less-than-ideal solutions for blacks and women.

The states are free and independent.  The Federal Government is tasked with limited responsibilities.  Our Economy is a Free Market, unencumbered with devices such as the Fed and paper money.  No state may pass a law countering the Natural and Innate Rights of Americans.  Americans say anything they wish, to whom they wish.  They may do so while armed, concealed and otherwise, no matter where they may be in this country.  They may associate with anyone they choose, and they may not associate with anyone they choose to ignore.  They are once again secure in their persons from "Stop & Frisk" silliness.  Taxes are left to the Constitutional limits of excise and tariff (and States that choose to tax)

Gun Control applies to all Government Employees.

If, in our struggles to return America to her proper place in the world of Men, we Patriots focus on the return of the Constitution and the ideals embodied in it by our Founders and Framers, we will have armed ourselves with the most noble justification for our actions.

It's the Constitution, Stupid!

Later columns will explore tradecraft, doctrine, strategy, tactics, weapons, targeting the cogs of power, and the other matters of vital importance to the Patriot.

Sam
III