When Civil Order Fails

When civil order fails, something steps in to fill it.  That something that steps in is often less civil than what originally failed.  A report from Seattle's CHAZ/CHOP.

Lacking agreed-upon leadership, those who have naturally risen to the top have done so with force or intimidation. For example, rapper Raz Simone, real name Solomon Simone, patrols CHAZ on some nights with an armed entourage. Simone, originally from Georgia, has an arrest record for child cruelty and other charges. He usually conducts his patrols carrying a long semi-auto rifle and sidearm. Last weekend, a live stream recorded Simone handing another man a rifle from the trunk of a car.

 Not everyone in CHAZ recognizes Simone’s police-like presence, but no one is willing to stand up to him and his group. There have been consequences to those perceived as challengers or threats. Independent Los Angeles-based journalist Kalen D’Ameida recorded Simone and his crew in the early hours of Monday morning. He was spotted by one of Simone’s men, who manhandled him and demanded he turn over his mobile device. Simone’s team chased D’Ameida and tried to drag him to the security tent. He escaped by hiding in a construction site outside CHAZ until police responded to his 911 call.

This entire incident is a cautionary tale, and the leadership of Seattle seems both unable and unwilling to civil order in the area.

Parsing The Phrase

Occasionally, phrases come into the American political lexicon.  Some make sense, some bale me, and recently, the phrase "black lives matter" has entered the political arena. I admit I was rather baffled by this statement, thinking that it was self-evident, so startlingly apparent that it didn't need to be verbalized.  I was raised to believe that every human life is precious, so of course black lives matter.

Revently, the phrase has become  a political bell-weather.  If you don't verbalize it, you are immediately branded as a bigot, or worse.  This week, our Vice President, Mike Pence was cornered by  a reporter who asked why he wouldn't recite the platitude.

“Forgive me for pressing you on this, sir,” anchor Brian Taff said to Pence, “but I will note you did not say those words, ‘Black lives matter,’ and there is an important distinction. People are saying, of course all lives matter, but to say the words is an acknowledgment that Black lives also matter at a time in this country when it appears that there’s a segment of our society that doesn’t agree. So why will you not say those words?”
“Well, I don’t accept the fact, Brian, that there’s a segment of American society that disagrees, in the preciousness and importance of every human life,” Pence said. “And it’s one of the reasons why as we advance important reforms in law enforcement, as we look for ways to strengthen and improve our public safety in our cities, that we’re not going to stop there.”

I recall when I was a soldier, and aa police officer, and I had black friends, associates, and brothers-in-arms.  Some were black, some were white, some where Latino, some were indistinct.  Their lives mattered to me, very much.  The idea that a soldier's life mattered more or less depending on his race was abhorrent.

The phrase has become a "woke" mantra, and I'm not really good at mantras.  When the BLM crowd starts actually believing the words, adn acting on them, decreasing the crime and corruption in places like Chicago, and worrying about the huge number of innocent black lives that Planned Parenthood suffs out every year, then perhaps I'll start believing that they mean what they say.

Until then tey sould not ask me to mouth meaningless words just to placate the mob.

So, Which Is It?

When I heard that the officers of the Atlanta PD were experiencing a severe outbreak of "blue flu", I thought that there might be more to the story than I had heard.

It seems that several weeks ago, The Fulton County DA held a press conference where he explained the prosecution of several officers  resulting from an incident where tasers were used.  During that press conference linked above, at the 17:00 mark, he says "As may of you know, under Georgia law, a taser is considered as a deadly weapon."

Really?  A taser is a deadly weapon.  Okay.  You can believe that every police officer on the force heard that, loud and clear.

Fast forward to last week.  Two fine officers get involved with a drunk in a Wendy's parking lot.  The incident goes sideways.  The perp resists, grabs a taser and fires it at the officers.  The DA charges the officers with murder, claiming now that the taser posed no threat to the officers.

So, which is it, Mr. DA?  Is the taser deadly force only when used by police officers?  It magically loses lethality when used by a perp against police officers?  That seems mildly inconsistent, especially  when you have charged officers in both incidents.

The fact that the DA is now in a political race, and in the losing position may have affected his judgement.  He's pandering, and doing it in the most blatant manner possible.

It's no wonder that Atlanta has the blue flu.  The officers are not sure where the force continuum lies, but they know that if they choose wrong in a moment of crisis, they ill be fired and charged before the investigation is complete.

Commitment

The Atlanta Police Department is in serious trouble.

Hours after a fired police officer was charged with felony murder for fatally shooting a man in the back, Atlanta police officers are not responding to calls in three of the department's six zones, multiple sources within the Atlanta Police Department told CNN on Wednesday evening.

I'm surprised that Atlanta has only six zones.  A police zone is an area in which officers are assigned for patrol and other purposes.  You learn your zone like the back of your hand, and  work within that zone to keep the peace.  I know many small towns of less than 100K populatio who have more than six zones, but that is police trivia.  What is more troubling is that half of the zones aren't answering calls.

"There's a lot happening in our cities and our police officers are receiving the brunt of it, quite frankly," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN's Chris Cuomo. She said the city has committed to the officers through a big pay raise, and "we expect that our officers will keep their commitment to our communities."

Police work isn't about the pay.  I don't know any police officer, ever, who got into the service for the money.  It's nice to get a paycheck and everyone has to make a living, but the money is not the reason why a person puts on the badge.  The mayor should understand that.

And, it's not about the fact that an officer was charged with murder.  During my career, I was involved in the arrest of several officers who tarnished the badge.  We were doing our ob, policing ourselves as we policed the city.

It's about respect, and knowing that whatever happens on the street, that the supervisors will stand up and do the right thing.  If the rank-and-file officers thought that the charge was  righteous, they'd be at work.   Evidently, they believe that the charge is a knee-jerk reaction designed to calm the outraged, without a serious, sober review of the facts.

Police work is hard.  Sometimes an officer has to make a decision based on the facts on the ground without full knowledge of what might happen in the next second, or the next day.  That officer has to know that his actions will be judged solely on what is happening at that instant based on his training and understanding of the law.  Monday morning quarterbacking is not allowed.

The commitment runs both ways.  When the Mayor, or Chief of Police does not support the officers, the best paycheck in the region won't keep officers on the force.

The Graden

Eaton Rapids Joe asked for an update on the garden.  We have a small raised bed, roughly 4' x 8'.  Belle planted tomatoes, onions, and cayenne peppers.

It hasn't borne tomatoes, although we have harvested some onion tops and peppers.  The tomatoes are loaded with green fruit and we expect them to start ripening in the next few days.

Belle, near her tomatoes.

For scale, Belle stands five-feet-two.  The tomatoes are as tall as she is.  The raised bed gets the morning sun, but it shaded in the afternoon.  Hereabouts, we consider that perfect for raising tomatoes.

Tucker on BLM

Powerful message from Tucker Carlson.



This is tyranny of the mob.

Stupidity

Like many of you, I got up Saturday morning to read of "racial urest" in Atlanta over the killing of a black man by white police officers.  I rolled my eyes, and thought "Aw, crap, here we go again".

But, like most Americans, I had deadlines and commitments and got busy living my life.  It was Saturday, and we never know what really happened for a couple of days.  This morning, over coffee, I had a chance to look into the matter.  It seems that Rayshard Brooks, 27, was found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle in a Wendy's drive-through.  Someone called the police and two of Atlanta's finest arrived to investigate.

Before it was over, Brooks was dead.  Dead mainly from his own actions.  Stacey McCain lays it all down, and you'd do well to read the whole thing.  In a nushell, the officers investigated, decided that Brooks was drunk.and placed him under arrest.  While being handcuffed, Brooks resisted (Resisting an Officer), scuffled with police (Battery on an Officer), snatched a Taser from one officer's belt (Disarming an Officer), attempted to flee (Resisting Arrest by Flight), then pointed the Taser at an officer (Aggravated Assault on an Officer).  He was shot for his trouble.  It's regrettable, but Brooks set the conditions for his own death.

Everything I have read says that the officers did everything right.  Brooks is dead, and that's sad, but he brought it on himself.

I'm a 37 year veteran of police work.  I've had all the training.  I have not delved into the minutia of the incident, but in a broad sense have some familiarity with what happened.  Because at several points, during my career, it has happened to me.  The cops are not at fault here, the training is not at fault here.  Brooks made some bad decisions that led to his death.  It's regrettable, but it's his own fault.

Of course, the local outrage mob in the neighborhood decided to compound the stupidity and burn down the Wendy's.  Arson is still a crime, and I'm sure that the authorities are working to identify the arsonists.

The Chief of Police has resigned in Atlanta, probably out of disgust at the stupidity of the mayor, who has called for the firing of the officers.

The officers did their jobs, and from what I've read, did it in the manner of their training.

Sunday Video

A week ago today we were leaving Amarillo, TX after five days of shooting Cowboy Fast Draw.  Our photographer, Miss E is starting to put out video of the events.

This is the first two days of shooting, the Southern Territorial Championship.



At 2:46 you can watch grandson Zach take a win.  He's the fellow in the red shirt, with the American flag motif on his belt ad holster.

It was a good time.

Pedicure

One day last week my daughter called.  I had been joshing about getting a pedicure, and she told me she was making an appointment.  did I want to go?  "Sure", says I.

Ohmigod, guys.  You gotta do this.  My feet hadn't had any professional care since induction physical into the Army.  This little lady washed trimmed, groomed, lotioned, and massaged my old broke-down feet.  At one point, she even took out a dremel tool.

That was the best $28 I've spent in a long time.  My boots even fit better.

I plan to put a pedicure on my regular grooming rotation.  Next time I may even get my nails colored.

The CHAZ

I am utterly bemused at the current situation in Seattle.  A group of anarchists set up a zone in downtown Seattle, and have erected border walls (which the left hates), and strict immigration controls (which the left hates), and are shaking down businesses with exorbitant taxation (which the left does routinely).  It's become a left-fringe freak show.

The mayor of Seattle, and the governor of Washington have utterly no clue.

I'll let Hannity explain it.



In another hour I'll go out to the shop, move some equipment, and set up for a club shoot.  A conservative celebration, if you will. 

The New Bolsheviks

That is what Ingraham is calling them.  Bolsheviks.  She's right.

I've been watching the news lately, The scenes coming out of Seattle, Chicago, Los Angels, and other bastions of liberal, progressive  power leave me stunned.  It shows, indisputably, that progressive power is a paper tiger.  If you are a "progressive" and allow a group to take over a section of your city, without taking it back, you really have no power.  The mayor of Seattle, and Chicago, and Minneapolis have shown, without exception that they do not control their cities. 

As a career police officer, with 37 years behind the badge, I was horrified at the scene of the cop kneeling on George Floyd's neck.  This had noting to do with the fake $20 bill ad everything to do with Floyd's refusal to get in the police car.  This was a routine arrest gone horribly wrong.  There is plenty of blame to go around, and some of it falls on Floyd himself.  The criminal justice system will sort it out, although I'm fairly certain that the charged officers will probably ask for a change of venue.

The riots that have occurred since are more than an over-reaction.  They are an opportunistic power grab by people who want to remake American society.  The people that the rioters are grabbing power from are not the conservatives, but some of the most "progressive" power centers in the US.  It's really interesting to watch, because those elected officials are responsible for the safety, security and order in those cities.  At every level, they have failed miserably.



I admit I am somewhat baffled.  The very people elected in Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle, and other places like that have allowed their cities to degenerate into third world hell-holes.  If this is progressive, I want no part of it.

Non-Starter

The vicious, left-wing press asked Press Secretary Kayleitg McEnany what the President thought about renaming current military installations that are currently named for Confederate military commanders. 

Her reply:  It's a non-starter.

Good for President Trump.  Forts Benning, Bragg, Polk, and Hood, among others are part of our great military history.  Many units in the Army today trace their lineage back to before the Civil War and some of those units served in the Confederate Army.  One such unit, the 141st Field Artillery (Washington Artillery) has served in every American conflict since the War of 1812. 

Re-naming poss today is a non-starter with President Trump, and I agree with him. 

Defund Who?

While I wasn't paying attention this past week, it seems that the Left has lost it's mind.  There seems to be a call across some of the US to defund police departments.  The Minneapolis City council is planning to vote to disband its police department.

What the hell?

Police power is the power to arrest, detain and limit freedom for the public good.  Many times the police don't use that power, but work for the public good.  I spent a career as a police officer, serving all of my citizens without passion or prejudice.  I believe that every police department has problems, but that those problems can be fixed with good leadership.  If a police department has systemic problems, then a change of leadership is beneficial.

But, police power is power, and power will be replaced in a vacuum.  So, if we remove our police department, what will replace it?  And, I'm not hearing anything about who will control the power once the police department is disbanded.  What is the end game?

Power must be controlled, or anarchy results.  In a power vacuum, something will rise to replace it.

Thank God that we have a Second Amendment.

Honda Odyssey First Trip

About two weeks ago, I bought myself a brand-new 2020 Honda Odyssey.  It's the EX version, second from the bottom of their line, but it has a lot of bells and whistles that I was not familiar with and didn't know if they would be useful.

To set the stage, for my whole life I've bought used vehicles for myself.  I bought more than a few vehicles for the family ( translate: wife) but I drove used vehicles.  This time I decided that I wanted brad-new.  And, I wanted a few bells and whistles, but didn't need a moon roof.  I traded a 2015 Kia Sedona.  We got a lot of use out of the Sedona as a traveling vehicle.  To be a gunfighter means that we pack a lot of gear beyond luggage and the extra space in a van is wonderful.

It's not sporty, it's not stylish, it's a people hauler. 

Loaded for a gunfight

I had watched some videos about the safety features on this vehicle.  Since 2015, the various manufacturers have made great upgrades in technology, but let's talk about one in particular.

Adaptive Cruise Control.

My dad once said that he wouldn't buy  roller skate if it didn't have cruise control, and I understand his thought.  It's a great tool to set the speed and go, except when you are on a  crowded highway, like the interstates between cities, and you get stick behind a big truck who goes slower uphill and faster downhill.  You can fiddle with the cruise control, or just turn it off and use your right foot.  It's frustrating and tiring.

Adaptive cruise control lets you set a speed, and there is a radar on the front of your vehicle that senses traffic.  If you run up on a slower moving vehicle.  It maintains a set distance and when you feel that it is safe and convenient, you can go around the slower vehicle.  Once you change over to a clear lane, the cruise control brings you back up to your set speed.

When I left DFW metro yesterday, headed east on 1-20, I set the cruse at 80 and tried to put Texas behind me.  Before long, I came up on some trucks trying to pull up a hill, and the van settled in behind them, maintaining a safe distance.I never made 80 mph, all the way to Shreveport, but the vehicle kept us safe and we went with the flow of traffic.  Belle and I chatted, and I still had to drive the vehicle, but I wasn't constantly fiddling with the cruise control.

When we hit Shreveport, headed south on I-49, it was the same deal.  It was getting dark, but the radar sees things that we can't.  I believe that if I had rolled up on a vehicle without lights, the radar would see it and slow me down before a catastrophe.

Adaptive cruise control is da-bomb. Driving was a whole lot less stressful and when I got home after a sold eleven hours on the road, I wasn't exhausted.  Tired for sure, but not exhausted as I though I'd be.

We'l go over some of the other safety features later.  This van is just about as close to a self-driving vehicle as I'm liable to see.

Home, Safe

We rolled in about 10:00 last night, home safe after a week.

It was a great shoot, under trying conditions.  The organizers did a great ob, the host venue was very accommodating, but the Covid restrictions and current practices made it tough for everyone.  We're a gregarious bunch, and it's impassible to maintain social distancing in a tight venue.

The original, planned venue might have been easier to maintain distance, but the CDC wanted to set up shop in Amarillo and kicked us out at the last minute and the event organizers had to scramble for a venue that might accommodate us.  The Big Texan took us in, and did everything they could do to make us comfortable.  We were grateful for their space and made it work.

Texas is a bit ahead of Louisiana in the Covid recovery, and is making it work.  They are still in Phase 2, but the restaurants are open.  Every other table has a Covid marker on it, and is not being used, but the restaurant is open.  It was very nice to sit inside at a restaurant table, order a meal and enjoy it with friends.

We wore the "new" off the new Honda Odyssey.  This trip was a great shake-down cruise and I learned a lot about it.  There are still a few things that I haven't figured out but the technology i this vehicle is amazing.  More on that later.  After coffee and unpacking the van, I have to go get the dawg, who has been at a borders this week.

Friday UPdate

PawPaw and crew are still in Amarillo, involved in a huge Cowboy Fast Draw shoot.  Today, we shot the Texas State Championship.  PawPaw did okay, staying in for eight rounds and finishing well in the top half of the crowd.

Looking forward, Tropical Storm Christobal is heading our way in Louisiana.  Our governor is freaking out, like he does about everything, and is probably seeking federal emergency funds for the storm.

We're back in the hotel now, and PawPaw is having a cocktail.  In a short while, we'll walk to a convenient restaurant where a chicken-fried steak awaits.

Triple Crown - Day 2

We started the Southern Territorial Championship today.  I did not cover myself in glory, but I did manage to stay in until the 6th round.  Belle is out, and I am out, but Zach still has two Xs before he is out.  An X, for the uninitiated, is a loss during an individual match.

Belle, being out, went to look at the vendors, and bought a new fast draw rig, from Mernicke Leather.  It's a nice rig and I may think about strolling over during a lull in the shooting tomorrow.

We shoot brackets tomorrow morning.  Then finish the Southern Territorials.

Back at the hotel, I see that we have a new storm in the Gulf.  Tropical Storm Cristobal.  He's set to hit Louisiana, just about the time we get back on late Sunday.

Oh, Joy!  The hurricane season is ramping up.  2020, with impeachment, Covid, race riots, and now an early tropical storm, has not shaped up like I would have wished.

Triple Crown, Day 1

The shoot that we're calling the Triple Crown of Cowboy Fast Draw kicked off today, with registration and a Jackpot shoot.  Because of Covid-related problems, we are doing Texas State Championship, the Southern Territorial Championship, and the US National Championship in five days of shooting.  We are shooting at the Big Texan Steak House, in a building they have out back.

We were originally scheduled for another venue, but the Center for Disease Control tool it over and kicked us out.  The Big Texan was kind enough to offer the use of their space.  They must have thought it might be good for business to have us in the space.

That's not a sign you see every day

The main matches start tomorrow, but with so many gunfighters in a building, we had to have a match.  I didn't feel like shooting, so I volunteered as a range officer.

Belle, giving hugs to people we haven't seen in a while.

When the shooting was over, and the trophies were awarded, grandson Zach was in 2nd place.

That's Zach, second from the right, with his trophy and an envelope with cash in it.

After the shoot broke up, we headed down the interstate to Olive Garden for a celebratory meal.  We're back in the hotel room, and Belle has declared Happy Hour.

The Model 12 Shotgun

More information on an American favorite than you ever thought you needed to know.



I learned a lot watching this video.  The best part is when he reassembles it. So, I'm leaving it here in case I want to find it again.

Louisiana Moving to Phase 2

Our petty tyrant, John Bel Edwards, has decided that Louisiana can move to Phase 2.  That's damned nice of him, even if it is two weeks late.  Good for him.  He's holding the economy back, but that's his plan and the legislature doesn't have the balls to over-ride him.

In other news, I'm in Amarillo, TX, for the Triple Crown of Cowboy Fast Draw.  We left Louisiana yesterday, and in the past 24 hours, we've eaten in restaurants, driven across the state, and only saw one incident of Covid restrictions.  We stayed last night at a hotel in Wichita Falls and the hotel did not have a breakfast because of the Covid restrictions.  We got a quesadilla at a gas station, and it was wonderful.  For all you gourmands, out there, grab some gas station food when you get a chance.

The Triple Crown of Cowboy Fast Draw is Texas State, The Southern Territorials, and the US National Championship.  It will be held in Amarillo TX on Wednesday-Sunday this week. Five days of the fastest sport imaginable.  If you blink your eyes, you may miss it.

Belle and I are ensconced in the hotel, and have declared happy hour.  By design, there is an IHOP right next door, and we may walk over in a little bit and get our supper.  I'm hungry for pancakes.