Sunday Jams - Dire Straits

I'm spiking the guns here on Sipsey Street Irregulars

A couple of days ago, I received some news that ended up shaking me to my very core.  After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to close the doors of the Sipsey Street Irregulars.  Effective immediately, this blog not be updated or monitored.  I know this quite sudden, but I know you guys  will keep on going just fine without it.

Freedom is not like a game of cards where you can pick up and walk away when you are done playing.  But as it stands now, I do not know if I have any future high profile plans within the liberty movement.  Time will tell.  There is great potential here.  Everyone sees it, which is why it attracts so many people.  When you remove failure as an option, your way becomes much clearer.  The movement simply cannot afford to fail.  Doing so will put this country in a darkness that may take generations to come out from.  You can kill the man, but you cannot kill the idea.  The idea of the 3% of determined and armed men and women was universal because the idea of "liberty for all" is universal.  Mike reminded everyone that a gun in your hand is a preferable option to a life on your knees.  Take that lesson, and the many others on this blog and use them.

Goody bye and the best luck to you.  Keep it legal.  Keep it local.  Support small patriot/veteran run  businesses when you can.  Try to have fun once in a while.  And if the government is going to make of you a criminal, be the best one you can be.

Bad Ass of the Week - Jean Thurel

When the King of France refers to a Army Private as "Father", you know you have arrived to bad-assery.

If you don't wish to be spoken to in a mildly condescending robotic voice, you can read the wiki here.

The Tueller Drill and the 21 Foot Rule

For your feel-good story for the day, one of the most recent attacks by our benevolent Arab house guests ended in zero civilian deaths but in the death of the perpetrator at the hands of an off duty cop.  

Here is one of the many news agencies adding their .02 USD's worth:

F.B.I. Treats Minnesota Mall Stabbing Attack as ‘Potential Act of Terrorism’

A report by a news agency linked to the Islamic State claimed on Sunday that a “soldier of the Islamic State” was behind a stabbing attack Saturday night at a Minnesota shopping mall, an episode that the F.B.I. said it was investigating as a “potential act of terrorism.” Nine people were injured in the attack before an off-duty police officer fatally shot the knife-wielding man, the authorities in St. Cloud said.

In a phone interview on Sunday morning, Mayor Dave Kleis said the mall, Crossroads Center, was an active crime scene and would remain closed. He praised the off-duty police officer, who he said had “clearly saved lives and protected the other individuals.”
“This is exactly what keeps me up at night, and last night it did,” Mr. Kleis said. “This could happen in any community in this country, and certainly we have seen it happen. Certainly it is something that really scares a community.” 

Later Sunday, Mr. Kleis identified the off-duty officer as Jason Falconer, a police officer in nearby Avon, Minn. Mr. Kleis said video footage of the shooting, which has not been released publicly, showed Officer Falconer confronting the attacker in a Macy’s store and shooting him as he charged with a knife. 

“For me watching it, it looked like a training video for what law enforcement should do,” Mr. Kleis said.

 From the reports we have been spoon fed given, the attacker did the usual "Aloha Snackbar" routine and attacked patrons of the mall.  Shortly thereafter, an LEO responded to the attacker by first identifying himself at a distance with weapon drawn.  When the attacker closed the distance, he reacted appropriately by shooting the jihadi until he was 100% immobile.  

I was witness to some internet cross talk which introduced me to the Tueller Drill. In the military, you are taught the rudiments of escalation of force techniques  and on occasion conduct a "shoot, dont shoot" scenario.  Military training usually does not involve the proper names fo it so I had to do some digging to figure out what they were talking about.  I am very happy I did.

Here is a quick video rundown of the drill.

When Massad Ayoob weighs in on a topic, you lean in and listen real close.  I wish the volume was better, but I am grateful that someone thought enough to record it.  He goes into detail regarding the legalities of a defensive shooting for the benefit of new conceal carry students as well as give some excellent shooting advice.

Love me some Massad Ayoob.

The Tueller Drill can certainly fall into the "best case scenario" folder when it comes to a defensive shooting, but that does not make it any less valuable a skill to train.  Being the person that arrives on the scene of a violent attack certainly falls into the realm of possibilities that a responsible concealed carrier must reconcile.  This training also includes the legal ramifications of being seen by a jury of your peers as a vigilante or a hero.  Good luck out there.  It is getting sporty.

Sunday Jams - Ram Jam

Is it me, or did they have more hair than was really necessary in the 70's?

Well...you kind of asked for it Chris

I'm really trying not to be petty.  When someone hands you so much information that is contrary to the image they portray, you cannot ignore it.  Also, you would not believe the amount of support I have received from calling this group out.  To say that they are notorious does not do it justice.  These guys are a biblical level shit storm event in the making, and they are taking good people and the name with them.  No, gentle readers.  That I cannot abide.

Chris Hill - All you had to do was come and make your case.  At the very least, just drop the III% moniker and go back to doing whatever it is that you do.  Your mouth got the better of you as your kind is wont to do.  Fine by me.  So some fellas did a little digging and found a few things out about the Georgia Security Force III% (GSF III%) as headed by Chris Hill.  It took the sum total of a few minutes for someone to put the pieces together,  Oh, Mr. Hill, you have been a very naughty little boy.


Exhibit A:
The Georgia III% security force is allied with Nazis.

Let me preface this by saying that I am in now way, shape, or form, against the display of the Confederate Flag.  I spent a good part of my childhood studying the Civil War as a "living historian" and I have grown quite fond of looking at it and I relish its rich history.  What I do not subscribe to is using the flag as an opportunity to recruit for Nazi or Kluxer assholes.  Mr. Hill was one such asshole trying to ride the wave of support with his fellow assholes. Also, because I know I will have someone comment on it, no I do not react to the dog whistle of the eeeebil Klan hiding under my bed.  Those guys and their pointy hats can have a national convention in a phone booth.  It does not impress me in the slightest.

Just Don’t Call It “White Power” – “Protect the South,” Wesley Sitton, and the Mainstreaming of White Supremacy

I'll make this quick because we have a lot of ground to cover. The event was started by Aryan Nations supporter and KKK member Greg Calhoun.  The event found a lot of ground among the League of the South crowd and their peripheral white power members.  They shake and bake with some other National Socialist baddies and voila, you have the

And here we have Chris Hill letting everyone know that the rally they had already planned with the Klan is now minus the Klan.  Who is he thinking at the bottom?  Mr. Sitton is a well known Nazi that was the main promoter for the event. Want to know more about Sitton?  I would direct you to the article.  It meanders around a history of either dealing directly with the neo-Nazi movement or playing footsie with them.  

The bottom line was that the GSF III% was knowingly playing footsie with the Nazis.  I am unaware od how much ongoing involvement that the GSF III% has with these organizations.  If we are making the case of any port in the storm, or any chair in a bar fight, I'll give you another one; birds of a feather flock together.  The III% does not flock with the fucking Nazis.  Period.

Oh, but wait!  There's more!  I received this comment from a former member regarding "Operation Stone Mountain".  It should be noted that the member left the group when they heard about what happened.  

Not that anyone cares but since this is an open discussion here is my thoughts about III% SF. There is some great people with the militia, not all of them are bad. But as far as I'm concerned it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch and this group has more than one. The use of drugs and alcohol should not be allowed at any training event no matter the capacity of the event. Most who have ever dealt with them agree that there is FBI planted in the group. This group directly lead to the beating of an elderly man at their "Operation Stone Mountain." They were walking on a road to another area and encountered black panthers, after talking for a few minutes while walking and without any violence the black panthers asked [ the GSF III%] where the KKK was located for the rally, minutes after they pointed the black panthers in a direction the same group beat an elderly man and he was hospitalized. And while they did not directly cause it they indirectly lead a violent group which obviously had violent intentions in the direction of not just innocent civilians but also undercover law enforcement. This group is reckless.

Exhibit B:

The Fed connection

Mark Kessler – Coming Out of the Closet

As chronicled in the above link and again in Exhibit D, Kessler was the founder of the GSF III%, and apparently a bought and paid for Fed stooge.

"On December 2, 2014, Chief Mark Kessler came “out of the closet” as an FBI informant, or infiltrator."

"Due to lack of support from Kessler, some of the CSF groups simply dissolved, while others restructured themselves, often with minor name changes. The Georgia CSF renamed itself the “Georgia Security Force” (GSF) and adopted the “Soldier’s Code of Conduct”, the backbone Army personnel conduct, for decades."

"Then, in an FBI-led operation that included FBI SWAT and the police departments of Rome, Floyd County, and Bartow County, raided 22 Tumlin Drive, Cartersville, Georgia and arrested Terry Eugene Peace, 45, Brian Edward Cannon, 36, and Cory Robertson Williamson, 28, charging them with receiving unlicensed explosive devices."

As reader Jon Dansie observed, "So, although Chris Hill may not have personally yet been charged with a felony, he was perfectly happy to associate with felons." and "The point is that the GSF was thoroughly compromised by an FBI plant, that GSF associates with felons, that it is everything that was reported that is wrong with groups claiming the III moniker without following the principles."

Circumstantial, you say?  Hardly when you look at all of the evidence.  

 Exhibit C:
THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT!

And when I posted the original story on Facebook? Well, it was quite the education.

Here are some of the unsolicited comments from people in the area and in surrounding states.  I am frankly amazed that this group has eluded me for so long given their poor standing within the community.

• When I moved to GA a year ago I was told to stay as far away from these kooks as possible. Just look at their youtube videos

• This may be the same guy I had a run in with a while back. He got really mad to the point of posting a YouTube video about me. He got real quiet and disappeared from the media platforms shortly afterwards. ... This particular little fellow is detached. IMO he was precisely the type that manipulative interests seek out to support and fanaticize for their own purpose of presenting a caricature face of the movement in the media. He lost a lot of support after his public outburst. Sometimes just sitting by and letting them embarrass themselves is the most effective method of disposal. 

• There are a hell of a lot of people out there who have glommed onto the III% label who never heard of the founding principles. I know the Georgia Security Force people by reputation and they are a shit show. 

• Just FYI, regarding Chris Hill, I am a Georgia native. While I have not personally interacted with many militia members, I do know two other Georgians who personally knew him, and split from him. They're good guys. Hill, from what I hear, is the personification of the negative attributes you mentioned. IMO, you are right to pursue him and single him out. Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth.

Of course, certain members of the GSFIII% showed up to give me good what for.  Chis included, but he didn't stick around too long and blocked me after just a few comments.  Disappointing that he folded so quickly.  A couple of his guys stayed on to carry his water but it was difficult to watch.  I doubt any of them will learn anything until arraignment day.  Oh well.  We tried.

 Exhibit D:
The grand finale

 And for the pièce de résistance?  This large file dump from from another former member of the group tell a very long and winding tale of a megalomaniac and the group that supports him. In the spirit of full disclosure, I frankly did not have time today to pour though it all.  From what I gathered it a tale of booze, drugs, loose women, super cool call signs, and bad decisions.  Sounds like big fun, right?  No, it is just sad.

Here is the link

A small excerpt:

If I said it once, I must've said it a thousand times: "People who don't like Chris Hill, simply don't know Chris Hill." Of course I couldn't have been more wrong.

I was and still am an active member of a national grass roots patriots group. I noticed a few of our members where also members of a FB group called Constitutional Security Force (CSF). When I asked around, I was told they were "a group of like minded patriots" who also did rifle training. There was also some whisper about them being a militia, although it was unconfirmed. I eventually joined the CSF FB group page to find out more. I recognized a few names of people I knew, but I still wanted to know more. I wanted to DO more as a freedom-loving American and was always looking for more opportunity to do so. I asked to meet with the group administrator, who I learned was a guy named Christopher (Chris) Hill. After little ado, I finally got that meeting.

........ 

The truth is, as I know him now, Chris Hill comes across as having neither honor nor integrity because he has neither honor nor integrity. Chris Hill comes across as lacking good character because he lacks good character. Chris Hill comes across as being hot headed AND egotistical because he IS hot headed and egotistical. The truth is, he ISNT the same person regardless of company! He is a true Dr Jeckyl & Mr Hyde.

....... 

For those presently in GSF, affiliated with, or considering joining GSF, I'm going to offer you the same advice I offered Zack when I quit: RUN!!!!

After some reflection, I see that I have hit absolute pay dirt with the GSF III%.  I went in thinking that it was just an motley crew of attention whoring weekend warriors.  Good guys at their core, but just maybe got a little carried away with hyperbole.  What I found was something much darker than I could have imagined.  I am left wondering what could possibly be left that has not been recorded.

The rot within the group is systematic.  I hope that this serves as a lesson other groups out there that are struggling with the lunatic fringe.  If it shows you anything, it should show you that for all of our faults, at least we are not doing this bad.

First things last, I would like to make a giant shout out of appreciation to Jon Danise and Adrian Rusch for providing me the links and some essential reference.  I am incredibly grateful to all of the other incredible readers that commented to not only protect the foundations of the III% movement but make it grow.  I am forever humbled and speechless at the outpouring of support.

GUNS UP!

Good reads

Last drill weekend, I wandered into the local Military Clothing and Sales and picked up a couple of titles that I think may be of interest to you.

I thought the The Small Unit Tactics Smartbook had been covered at SSI before but I could not retrieve the link.  When I visited the Old Man in March, I brought with me a copy of it for his review.  Immediately he fell in love with it and bought copies for a few of his friends that run training to militias and other small groups.

I found a useful youtube review regarding the book:

Here is the blurb from the publisher:

Leading, Planning & Conducting Tactical Operations This is the second revised edition of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook (SUTS2), featuring the full scope of new material and Doctrine 2015 updates to include ADP/ADRP 3-90 Offense and Defense, ADP/ADRP 5-0 The Operations Process, ADP/ADRP 6-0 Mission Command and more than 20 additional references. Chapters and topics include tactical mission fundamentals, the offense, the defense, stability and counterinsurgency operations, tactical enabling tasks (security, reconnaissance, relief in place, passage of lines, encirclement, and troop movement), special purpose attacks (ambush and raid), urban and regional environments (urban, fortified areas, desert, cold region, mountain, and jungle operations), patrols and patrolling. This second printing of SUTS2 features updated "lay-flat" binding with spine in place of the original plastic-comb binding. Tactics is the employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other. Through tactics, commanders use combat power to accomplish missions. The tactical-level commander uses combat power in battles, engagements, and small-unit actions. Establishing a common frame of reference, doctrine provides a menu of practical options based on experience. It provides an authoritative guide for leaders and Soldiers but requires original applications that adapt it to circumstances. The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook translates and bridges operational-level doctrine into tactical application -- in the form of tactics, techniques and procedures -- and provides the "how to" at the small-unit level, providing a ready reference at the battalion, company, platoon, squad and fire team level.

I find that it is more useful than the Ranger Handbook and Levels One and two+ of the Soldier Common Tasks book when studying and teaching current doctrine,  Obviously not everything will translate to what you need or is applicable to your situation.  Being able to dispense with the bureaucracy of a long chain of command dictating your SOPs/TTPs is an advantage of the citizen.  There is a ton of information on how to conduct a small unit and plan a defense that you will find relevant,

In speaking about the Ranger Handbook, I also picked up the Ranger Patrolling Guide by CSM(R) Winston Clough.  This book attempts to update the Ranger Handbook and includes some good lessons learned.

I do not know if the Ranger Patrolling Guide was worth the $16 that I paid for it, or the $22 as it is advertised on Amazon.  But if you get the chance to pick it up on the secondary market, I would encourage you to do it if you are interested in leading small groups.  The price tag on the Small Unit Tactics book is quite severe at over $30.  It is still well worth it.  Call it a very cheap investment on your personal growth and an excellent reference on how you or someone else can lead a Platoon size defensive group.

Not in my name: A Georgia III% group manages to conjure up every single negative stereotype of the Patriot movement

When came across the desk yesterday, I could only shake my head.  A group claiming to be a III% security force in Georgia, (whatever that animal is), conducted a protest against a building of a mosque and demonstrated on behalf of the first and second amendments.  We are quick to congratulate groups for doing something, anything, to defend our rights.  But when those groups act in discord of the movement and, in point of fact, are counter-productive and embarrassing, it is incumbent on us to speak up and attempt to balance the books.

The story:

Militia group plans protest for Tuesday evening

Georgia Security Force III% will conduct a protest at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. Henry County resident Chris Hill, Georgia Security Force III%’s commanding officer, said the group’s purpose is to “use the Second Amendment to protect the First Amendment.” 

This weekend the group posted on social media that it would be in Covington protesting a proposed Newton County mosque Tuesday. The same group also posted a video on Facebook from the proposed mosque site Sunday, Sept. 11.

Following the militia's announcement, the BOC cancelled the Sept. 13 special called meeting, where staff members were expected to present changes to the county’s zoning ordinances. In a statement, District 3 Commissioner Nancy Schulz and District 2 Commissioner Lanier Sims both said they would vote to lift a moratorium that was placed on permits for places of worship after a 135-acre development to include a mosque and cemetery as made public. 

The militia group planned to come to Newton County to protest against that decision. 

“They need to let people who are denied a chance to raise their concerns, an outlet to do that,” Hill told The News. “[We want to] be there peacefully to voice opposition to the council.”

Of course, this provided excellent fodder for the likes of CAIR to harvest support.

From the AJC.com write up:

“These armed bigots do not represent the people of Newton County, who are as warm and welcoming as other Georgians,” CAIR Georgia executive director Edward Ahmed Mitchell.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Newton County had not invited the agency to get involved. A spokesperson for the local Sheriff’s Office confirmed the group was still under investigation. 

The militia’s video, which was posted online over the weekend but has since been taken down, shows several members of the militia decrying Islam and allegedly trespassing on the Muslim congregation’s property to hang an American flag. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the group. 

“ …. A self-made video circulated on social media of a militia group from a neighboring county, [which] may have been trespassing on private property, and exhibiting harassing or violent behavior,” County Manager Lloyd Kerr wrote in a statement Tuesday. “Unfortunately in today’s society, uncivil threats or intentions must be taken seriously.”

I will never hold it against anyone to use the tools they are given to address a grievance.  That is a right enshrined from abridgment in the First Amendment of the Constitution.  But if you are going to evoke the First Amendment, you cannot be selective or hypocritical in its use.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

We do not have the luxury to pick and choose what rights we reserve for one group over the other in a republic.  That is the rule of law we hold dear.  Jihadis and collectivist of any other stripe have that privilege and they lose the moral high ground every time because of it.  When you are governed only by your emotion and popular opinion, its mercurial nature food for the mob.  They are better than that.  We are better than that.

I have made it no secret my personal views of Islamic Fascism.  In Europe and the Middle East, the wars they wage are nothing more than another chapter in a millennia-and-a-half long war with the world.  Do the citizens of Newton County have a right to be concerned about a mosque?  Sure, they have the right.  As self-appointed defenders of the faith, if the Georgia Security Force III%  really wanted to look at this through a Christian/Western Society prism, we have brought the world kicking and screaming into the 5000 year leap through acts of good works and success.  If the ideology of individual freedom is superior, and I believe it is, this mosque, or any other, is of no consequence in the market place of ideas.  While having an armed protest when the meeting was cancelled is edgy and attention grabbing, preaching to an echo chamber is not compelling.  It makes you, and us by extension of the name, look like every single negative stereotype an outsider can come up with.

Perhaps the most glaring problem I have with this is the apparent lack of adult supervision in this group.  A meeting to discuss a mosque being built was cancelled.  So as opposed to waiting until they could address their concerns to the county government, they decided to grab some attention by making it an armed protest.  This is absolute narcissistic vanity on the part of their leadership and of no benefit to neither the members of the group or the good citizens of Newton County, Georgia.  It accomplished absolutely nothing. They knew it and went along with it anyway.  To have done this in the name of the III% is embarrassing and I cannot abide the misuse of the name.

I would go out on a limb and say that they are not familiar with the founding principles of the III% and are simply going along with a fad.  If we want to wear out our welcome with the public, drive away current and future members, and hyperbole away our message of liberty, we only need to sit on our hands and say nothing.  If we want to preserve or reclaim our rights and build the movement, we will need to pull in the same direction.  A good first step is in policing bad behavior with those that call us ideological allies and friends.

Some good land navigation info

I just came off of a three day Reserve Drill weekend where I had to conduct a land navigation course for the Company.  All things considered it went pretty well.  Like virtually everything else, the only way to get good at land nav is to actually go out and do it.  In order to instruct my Soldiers I showed them these videos prior to the actual course, and it seemed to provide an good enough refresher that we did not have to wrangle any lost lambs.

Understanding how to navigate without a GPS and having the maps to do it will be a huge benefit to any group in a grid down situation.  So it got me thinking that you may also benefit from the knowledge and will need to take advantage of it while it is readily available.

Here is an explanation of how to use an eight digit grid and plot it on the map.

Here are some good tips when you are out in the field:

Before you plot, verify you have the correct scale on the protractor and you have the right side up.  Don't laugh, I had to correct Soldiers doing this very thing.  A little information can be dangerous.

You can find several excellent Sergeant produced power point presentations online with a simple google search.  The Art of Manliness offers this quick rundown to using a military map, protractor, and compass.  If you have any questions, let me know and I will answer them to the best of my ability at this remove.  Plotting your point correctly is half the battle and getting the correct distance and pacing is the other.  Plot twice and take your time and you will be half way there.

Most of us do not have the benefit of a ready pool of experience when it come to this kind of skill set, so I would recommend another quick Google search for orienteering groups in your area.  Oh, and if you want a challenge, try your hand at urban land navigation.  And what if you really get good, and you feel the need to separate the men from the boys?  Go do it at night.

That's all I have to say about that

When the 9-11 memorial event broke the Hillary prognosticated two outcomes:

1. Democrats, (and dead people and other people ineligible to vote) would vote for her rotting carcass anyway, be cause she is a woman you abelist, cis-male, scumlord.

2. Bernie steps in as the consolation prize winner and the real long march towards the glorious revolution begins.

More learned individuals think that, of course assuming that her cadaver won, the DNC would just put in whatever they think or it would bring about a temporary third term for Obama.

Buckle up kids.  It is going to be a bumpy ride.

Bad Ass of the Week - Patton

Here’s how General Patton earned the nickname ‘Old Blood and Guts’

Original article posted in Business Insider by Orvelin Valle of We Are The Mighty

Legend has it that Gen. George S. Patton earned his “Old Blood and Guts” nickname for having a lust for battle without regard for the lives of his troops. 

But the reality of Patton’s genius is quite the opposite; he produced more results in less time with fewer casualties than any other general in any army during World War II, according to Patton biographer Alan Axelrod in the American Heroes Channel video below. 

“He wanted his officers who he trained to know what they were going to expect in battle,” said Axelrod. “He [Patton] said to them, ‘you’re going to be up to your neck in blood and guts.’ This made quite an impression, and it stuck and from that point on, he was known as ‘Old Blood and Guts." 

Still, high operational tempo and strict adherence to the rules pushed his men to the breaking point and hurt morale in the ranks. A common GI saying about Patton was, “our blood, his guts.” 

The general’s low point came in August 1943 when he slapped two shell-shocked soldiers under his command for crying. For this, Gen. Eisenhower deemed him too undisciplined to lead the Normandy invasion, so he placed Patton in charge of a “ghost army” at Pas de Calais, France. 

He was a decoy, and the Nazis took the bait; after all, they considered Patton the Allies’ best commander. Even weeks after D-Day, the Germans continued to wait for Patton’s crossing at Pas de Calais amassing troops for the fight. 

Sunday Jams - Carl Orff

Carmina Burana's most well known piece is, obviously, O Fortuna.  I am sure you recognize it from dozens of places in modern film and TV.  It is overly complex and dramatic and seems to universally resonate with something forgotten deep inside. The poetry of it and of the entire concert is well worth the listen.

O Fortuna (O Fortune)
velut luna (like the moon)
statu variabilis (you are changeable)
semper crescis (always waxing)
aut decrescis; (and waning;)
vita detestabilis (hateful life)
nunc obdurat (first oppresses)
et tunc curat (and then soothes)
ludo mentis aciem, (as fancy takes it)
egestatem, (poverty)
potestatem (and power)
dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)

Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
et inanis, (and empty)
rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
status malus, (you are malevolent)
vana salus (well-being is vain)
semper dissolubilis, (and always fades to nothing)
obumbrata (shadowed)
et velata (and veiled)
mihi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)
nunc per ludum (now through the game)
dorsum nudum (I bring my bare back)
fero tui sceleris. (to your villainy.)

Sors salutis (Fate is against me)
et virtutis (in health)
michi nunc contraria, (and virtue)
est affectus (driven on)
et defectus (and weighted down)
semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
Hac in hora (So at this hour)
sine mora (without delay)
corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
quod per sortem (since Fate)
sternit fortem, (strikes down the strong)
mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)

From Metrolyrics.com

For you hunters out there

Behind every blade of grass

Part of me kind of wishes this was my neighbors kid. Part of me is glad he isn't.

We Must Fight

"A Time For Choosing" Speech

Now let's set the record straight. There's no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there's only one guaranteed way you can have peace—and you can have it in the next second—surrender. 

Admittedly, there's a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson of history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face—that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight or surrender. If we continue to accommodate, continue to back and retreat, eventually we have to face the final demand—the ultimatum. And what then—when Nikita Khrushchev has told his people he knows what our answer will be? He has told them that we're retreating under the pressure of the Cold War, and someday when the time comes to deliver the final ultimatum, our surrender will be voluntary, because by that time we will have been weakened from within spiritually, morally, and economically. He believes this because from our side he's heard voices pleading for "peace at any price" or "better Red than dead," or as one commentator put it, he'd rather "live on his knees than die on his feet." And therein lies the road to war, because those voices don't speak for the rest of us. 

You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin—just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well it's a simple answer after all. 

You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." "There is a point beyond which they must not advance." Winston Churchill said, "The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we're spirits—not animals." And he said, "There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty." 

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. 

We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.

A great night with some great patriots

On Saturday, I spoke for a few hours on a nation wide phone conference about the nature of the III percent movement and where we go from here.  The forum was set up in a question and answer format so I was able to field dozens of questions.  I believe it was a success and, quite frankly, I had a blast.  There are certainly some things I can better communicate.  This was my first go-around so I guess I am due a Mulligan for my failures, but it was a wonderful exercise in communication across different patriot group lines.

A lot of different groups showed up that are not affiliated with the III% but are natural ideological allies.  There is a lot that we can do to support each other and enhance each others mission without stepping on toes.  Some of that will be inevitable.  After all, we are all flawed in our own way.  But at the end of the day, we are all on the same team.  It is not about egos.  It is not about increasing your social capital.  It it is not about consolidating your power base, king making, or cults of personality.  it is about getting back to the republic that our founders entrusted to us.

A growing need I see is in having a unified III percent message.  I see event like this as a way to craft that message and bring everyone to the table.  Iron sharpens iron.  The Founders figured how to do it, and I am sure that we can too.

I walked a way with a ton of new contacts and new inroads.  Now more than ever, we will need to continue to make these contacts and bridge the divide of the "us vs. them" tribalism.    We do ourselves and the country an injustice by keeping our time and talents to ourselves.  Discussions are fine, but they are nothing without action.  I am looking forward to continue in progressing this movement together.  This is perhaps the most cash poor movement ever fielded.  We are not nor will we ever receive any welfare from a sugar daddy like Soros. We are all actively engaged in jobs and families.  This is a 100% volunteer, grass roots, groundswell, all done in what little spare time we are given.  For all of our personal differences, one thing we will never lack is passion.  Everyone that comes here, comes here for the love of the game.  That is our biggest strength.  We are the determined minority and we are not going anywhere.

Lastly, I would like to thank Bryan Duszcack for being such a profoundly amazing patriot and in holding the event even when family responsibilities begged his attention elsewhere.  He was an incredible host and moderator, and frankly deserves a much bigger forum.  I am honored that he would let me share his platform and I cannot wait to see what this thing looks like in six months or even a year.

More of these kinds of events will be held in the future.  If I heard that correctly, it will be to the tune of once a month.  I will let you know when the next opportunity we will have to discuss the movement.

Here is an excellent short synopsis of the event from Timothy Irving:

It was a great conversation, but no one focused on the solution.
The questions were;
1) What direction should the 3% go, and
2) What is the solution (magic bullet) to the division?

Florida Minutemen touched on both the direction and solution, as did the watchmen of America (freebird).

Trust- If no one is breaking the laws, and everyone is properly vetted (no felonies), than trust should not be an issue. If any member wants to leave your unit and go to another, it shouldn't matter- and I'll get to why in just a second.
Unity- If everyone works together (trains and cross trains the units), we can't help but have unity, as we will already be united in both the physical training and preparation, as well as ideologically being Patriots in the common defense of our Republic.

Honesty- If you don't want to lead your unit, help train them, or get out there and help the community during a crisis, than PLEASE step away from leadership and allow a leader to lead. If you aren't willing to cross train your members with other units in fear of losing them because you don't do enough, than you are part of the problem with the division. If everyone trains together in your state, who cares what patch they wear?

Trust and Unity is the base for brotherhood.
Q&A:
1) When is the time to act?
The answer is NOW. Action doesn't mean firing weapons, we can act today on Unity and Trust, building brotherhood, good relations, cohesiveness, and strength; not just in numbers, but in skill.
2) What Direction is the 3% going?
Tonight's call answered this question when Matt mentioned Standards, building a coalition of separate units, under the umbrella of Patriotism. Someone said it tonight, 3% is an ideological perspective... and it includes ALL 3% units, Militia's and Minutemen. It includes all those who are willing to step forward and help in a positive manner, within our communities.
There should be a standard for all of 3%-

Standards:
Everyone must be properly vetted to assure no one will get caught up training with felons, or smoking pot during an ftx. I'm not suggesting i'm against drugs nor am I promoting a snitch hotline, but we should have enough respect for one another, and this country as a whole- to leave the herb at home when around firearms and training among other Patriots.

Suggestions for improving public image:
Help in the flood relief efforts. Get out there and show America we are here to help, not cause problems. A time for Action is at your feet every day. We don't have to wait for the sound of gunfire to act.

Positive influence goes a long way, but negative influence goes even further. Be a positive group in your communities. Offer your local Leo's to help watch their six when BLM decides it want to burn down your neighborhood. Go get on a roof top and watch over them at rally's to make sure another goat loving cop killer doesn't pull a Dallas incident. Offer to help, and make sure you get permission first.

Lastly, someone mentioned a peaceful resolution, and where is the red line. Well, you can disagree all you want, but history has shown that NO government is or ever has been willing to compromise when it comes to control or tyrannical laws. Just as we had almost 1 Million Patriots on the national mall in 2010, we received a def ear that day, and every day following. You may as well just accept it (as Tim Mcdonald said), that there is no Red Line, and there is no hope for a peaceful resolution. If a peaceful resolution was an option, this administration wouldn't have built internment camps, purchased billions of rounds of ammo, nor would it be poking at your 2nd Amendment. To thine own self be true... each and every one of you know the possibility of a peaceful resolution is nothing short of hyperbole.

Link to the audio of the event

You can see all future events on the Facebook page dedicated to Bryan's Conference Calls for Freedom.

Bad Ass of the Week - Ching Shih

Sunday Jams - Zappa

The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it’s profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.

-Frank Zappa

The house is on fire!

The hijack of the Democratic Party youth by the BLM and SJW crowd is only a symptom of a much bigger disease.  The middle ground is shrinking daily.  You can easily follow the line to see where this goes.  History gives us indications to the lengths a society in decline can go in order to give birth to a monster.

As seen on Billy Beck's FB page, this article delves into the bloody rise of Stalinist Russia and the moral relativism that is inherent in totalitarianism.  As we all know, the scope of the mass murder was breathtaking, but to the actual instruments of State sponsored executions, it was a short life of paranoia and transactional brutality.  Just like with any other genocide, you must first set up the conditions that the murders are not only just, but completely necessary and unavoidable.  Convince someone that, and then you can get them to do whatever you want.  

This is why when someone says to you that you need to make "common sense" concessions with disarmament, you need to look them in the eye and tell them to go hang.  They are not giving up their thirst for your freedoms, why should you?

On the hidden horrors of Soviet life.

by Gary Saul Morson

Delivering a toast on the twentieth anniversary of the Bolshevik seizure of power, Stalin declared: “We will destroy each and every enemy, even if he was an old Bolshevik; we will destroy all his kin, his family. We will mercilessly destroy anyone who, by his deeds or his thoughts—yes, his thoughts!—threatens the unity of the socialist state. To the complete destruction of all enemies, themselves and their kin!” Even when the tsars imprisoned or executed revolutionaries, they never thought of arresting their spouses, children, grandparents, and cousins as well. And note Stalin’s insistence that not just wrong actions but improper thoughts merit “destruction.” Georgy Arbatov, adviser to five general secretaries of the Soviet Communist Party, observed that “the main code of behavior” was “to be afraid of your own thoughts.”

............ 

Apologists also suggest that there really were a lot of enemies of socialism. But people were arrested not just for conspiring against (or thinking negatively about) the regime. Quotas were issued for each region—Baberowski concludes that more than a million people were killed by quota—and local officials often filled them either arbitrarily or with the homeless, the blind, and amputees. In March 1938 the nkvd (the secret police) executed 1,160 people in Moscow with physical disabilities. Kliment Voroshilov, who occupied many top positions, argued for arresting abandoned children. “Why don’t we have these rascals shot?” he asked. “Should we wait for them to become grown-up criminals?” What’s more, two dozen whole ethnic groups were forcibly deported to Central Asia. After Stalin ordered the arrest of all Poles, the Polish section of the Comintern and the Polish Communist party had to be disbanded since they had no members.

................

If so, then to understand Communist atrocities we need to look at its ideology.

To begin with, Soviet Marxism rejected the very concept of human rights. Leninist ideology instructed one to think of classes, not humanity. What race was to Nazis, class was to Bolsheviks, and class origin, like race, was not something one chose. People born into bourgeois, noble, or kulak families had no more right to life than Jews or Gypsies did to Nazis.

As it has been observed here and elsewhere, we are all kulaks now.

Deception was my job: Interview with KGB Defector Yuri Bezmenov

Yuri Bezmenov defected to the United States in 1970 and until his death sought to expose the pervasiveness of the cultural rot that was orchestrated from the Kremlin.  As a former KGB propagandist, his mind is an open book of the tricks that were used to get us to where we find ourselves today.  

The 1984 interview with Edward Griffin of the John Birch Society, is as illuminating as it is haunting.  If you are not familiar with it, I would invite you to take a look, and see how we can reverse engineer this thing.  

1984 Interview with Edward Griffin

The Art of Subversion, Tomas Schuman (Yuri Bezmenov) L.A. 1983

For the TL:DR crowd, here is a 5 min video on the subject

Winners and losers in the Culture War

I apologize but I have been away from the desk for a few days.  Work and school have been crazy with new schedules and frankly I needed a little mental health break.  Back to the trenches.

Tom Lombardi: Thank you, Sir, for the assist on this one.

As I am sure many of you have heard, the University of Texas hosted an event by the group. "Cocks not Glocks".  Yes, you read that correctly.  The group held a rally, championed as the biggest anti-gun protest of its kind in Texas, to pass out 4,500 dildos.  Why would anyone want to do this?  The concern was that incredulously, a discussion was being held to decriminalize student possession of weapons on the campus. The horror of it was that UT student will still have to leave their plastic male members outside of school zones.  The fact that they brought the phallus's on campus without the permission of the faculty was an irony completely lost on them.  One of the many.

Normally, this is where the pro-liberty groups screw up.  They lay out a passionate defense, filled with facts and vigor and it ends up drowned out in the din of the media.

The Students for Campus Carry turned the whole argument on its ear, joined the protest, and gave this release in response:

Students for Concealed Carry Embraces UT Dildos

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 08/24/2016

AUSTIN, TX - In keeping with the organization's long-held position that individuals should enjoy the same rights on college campuses as virtually everywhere else, Students for Concealed Carry fully endorses the burgeoning movement of Texas college students who wish to openly carry oversized dildos on campus. Brian Bensimon, SCC director for the state of Texas, commented, "If carrying a phallus to class helps you express yourself, go for it. We welcome this demonstration that freedom of speech and concealed carry of handguns can coexist on the same campus." 

SCC does recommend, however, that students use their dildos for political or recreational purposes only. Using a dildo as a defensive weapon could classify it as a "club," which, under Texas law, is illegal to carry in public and constitutes a felony if carried into a building on campus. Bensimon added, "Although SCC's opinion shouldn't be taken as legal advice, we feel that Texas students are on pretty solid legal ground as long as they use their dildos only as expressions of free speech or for the manufacturers' intended purpose."

They even gave it a cute little meme:

On a side note, I'm left wondering what happened to the the 4000+ dildos that were not distributed. Some Texas grievance studies major is undoubtedly sitting on a literal mountain of penises.

Some of you may be asking how is this germane to anything related to normal Sipsey Street material or the III% movement?  This is the culture war.  It is the biggest thing that we can be fighting until this whole thing goes hot.  Just like any other war there are winners and losers.  We have been losing this particular war for three generations by letting our enemies do our talking for us.  It has brought us to have whole states and regions surrendered to idiots just like this.  We have been too polite and too busy with our daily lives to pay much attention.  We need to do better, or we stand to lose the next generation and then all proceeding ones to this madness.  The SCC took advantage of guerrilla politics and ripped a victory out of the jaws of defeat.  I salute you.

Bad Ass of the Week - SGT Henry Johnson

Sunday Jams - The Band

One of the Old Mans favorites.  They just do not make them like this anymore.

"It's not the voting that's democracy; it's the counting."

Sparks 31 makes some points regarding the usefulness of protests

I post, you decide.

I will applaud anyone that makes a break from the herd to give us their truth, if we want to hear it or not.  As you know, Mike was a firm supporter in the rally, so long as it was making a point to bring the fight to their doorsteps, and quite literally, "shake their guns in the tyrants face".  The gatherings did not come without careful planning and cool heads.  It also had to make a point, usually regarding nullification of unlawful dictates.  While I abhor everything about Islam, I will completely agree that there are better ways to spend ones time than to peacock for the local media about a book that is not in anyway a danger to Gillette, Wyoming.

Don't attend the Koran protest in Gillette, Wyoming this weekend. Do something productive instead.

Some group has planned an anti-Koran protest in Gillette, Wyoming this weekend. Don't waste your time. In fact, don't waste your time with any type of protest. You can be doing far more productive things with your time. Like training, or improving your kit, or buying ammo or other fiddly bits you're going to need when the time comes. 

For starters, the protest will accomplish nothing productive. Most protester-types on our side of the fence totally lack the necessary training in psychological operations, propaganda, and what the military calls "civil affairs" to do it right. With that said, if any of you protest organizers went through AIT for MOS 37F, 38B, or something similar send me a copy of your DD214 and I will publicly apologize for calling you a fucking idiot. And don't tell me you were an 88M attached to SOCOM under the XVIII Corps., or some nonsense like that. 

Second, protests telegraph intent and out you to the OPFOR at the same time. These are things that no professional or competent individual does. Both are a bad thing, and should be avoided.

Herschel Sends: Another Oathbreaking POS GWOT General comes out against peasants being armed

I am so tired of hearing about these sniveling, groveling, boot-licking, overpaid, Praetorian class politicians telling the great unwashed how to live their life "sensibly".  These people have hopped from one ivory tower gated community to another apart from their Soldiers and citizens for almost all of their lives.

Forgive me, Sir, if we collectively tell you to go pound sand.  Or not forgive.  Eat excrement and expire, anyway.

General Peter Chiarelli Invites Veterans To Violate Their Oath

Chiarelli is now part of the cool kids gang along with all of the other statists.  I’m glad to have him as an enemy.  But if he rationalizes his own adultery towards his oath to the constitution right after reminding us that he did in fact take such an oath, he makes matters worse by telling us that he has no respect whatsoever for those who served and suffered.  He invites veterans to break their oath as well. 

My suspicion is that the ranks of veterans isn’t fertile ground for Chiarelli and his gang of cool kids.  But it should be enough that he thinks no more of you [veterans] than to surmise that you might be an oath-breaker just like him, and he would sooner see you sent to hell than lose his political fight to control other people and take their liberties. 

What contemptible trash.  How sad that men such as him were in charge of any campaign at all.  They are all as bad as the corrupt politicians they serve, and dear veteran, if you side with them, you’re no better than they are.

Watch your step! - IED's found in Harlan County, Kentucky

Much appreciated to Michael Tarvin for putting this one in my lap.


The ATF has issued this warning in response to several IED's that were placed in in trail camera's.

Are you loving that sexy new logo as much as I am?

At first I thought it was a Justified referenced hoax.  For the uninitiated, Justified was a long running TV series that is based primarily in Harlan County, and features a neo-Nazi bomb maker turned preacher turned drug kingpin as a recurring bad guy.  Pretty good show.

Local news had issued this story in response:

ATF warns of improvised explosive devices inside trail cameras in Harlan County

Three trail cameras have exploded and injured people. Agents found an additional nine IEDs and dismantled them. They warn more devices may still exist. 

Some of the trail cameras were found abandoned on paths in rural areas accessed via the Dave Smith Drainage Area, near the Woodland Hills subdivision, on the Little Black Mountain Spur.

The IEDs were designed to explode when a person inserted batteries into the camera. Other IEDs were designed to detonate by a trip wire. In some cases, containers like milk jugs or paint cans were placed near the IED.

The IED's were originally placed by Mark Sawaf.  Mark, tragically, was shot by police before he could identify the locations of the other IED's.  Police have had to comb through the brush of Harlan County looking for more of these devices.

The Kentucky.com article of Mark's arrest adds this information as to what it was and how he set them

The device was made using a Winchester 9mm shell casing, an unknown explosive material and a detonator, according to court documents. The device was designed to explode when batteries were inserted into the camera. 

The ATF had previously been told that Sawaf was involved in the use of “exploding targets,” or targets that blow up when shot with a firearm, according to court records. An investigator previously determined that since Sawaf was not prohibited from using firearms, there was no criminal violation if he was shooting exploding targets.

As a veteran of OIF and OEF, the legal definition of IED would seem to fit but my definition of the real McCoy, so to speak, is much different.  What is curious about the traps that he set, they were not on his property and the cameras were inoperable.  There is certainly a lot of meth and marijuana manufactured in those hills, so it stand as conjecture that Mr. Sawaf could have been involved or it could have been he was just a "hobbyist" as the article infers.   Some of the local commenters seem to think it was a guy that was just tired of thieves, a stance which is more consistent from the evidence.  If that is the case, I can certainly condemn his actions as a III percenter, but I only wish that he could have turned his rage into something more constructive then evoking the Code of Hammurabi in the most passive aggressive way possible.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article85851172.html#storylink=cpy

News of the T Shirt Front

I am super excited to announce I had a long talk with a great patriot over at Grunt Style, and soon we will have a custom Sipsey Street/III% design that you can purchase through their website.  We will hash out the details for the design, and I will let you know what comes of it.

A little about Grunt Style; it is a Veteran owned and operated small business that designs and manufactures exclusively in the USA.  I can personally attest to the quality of their products, (they  back up their work with an unlimited lifetime guarantee), and fully endorse this company as they have endorsed many Patriot causes and groups in the past.  Quite simply, it would be impossible to find a better outfit to make this happen.

In the future, we will still re-produce the original batch of the 100 Heads shirts as well as incorporate some of the incredible ideas that have been submitted.  I am still working out the bugs on finding a good source for that.

Click here for the link to Grunt Style.

I couldn't resist

Don't worry, it took me a minute too.

The Third Rail Option

Not Gary Johnson

Is it me or is this guy the worst Libertarian ever? Because nothing says statist like forcing someone else to pay for weather.

Gary Johnson Backs CO2 ‘Fee’ To Fight Global Warming

The Daily Caller reports:

Libertarian Party presidential nominee and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson said he’s no skeptic of man-made global warming and endorsed a “fee” on carbon dioxide emissions.

“I do believe that climate change is occurring,” Johnson said. “I do believe that it is man-caused” and “that there can be and is a free-market approach to climate change.”

Johnson’s “free market” approach to global warming includes “a fee — not a tax, he said — placed on carbon” to make those who emit the greenhouse gas pay the supposed cost of their actions, according to the Juneau Empire.

Tacticool Tuesday - Lights prevent angels

Many of you train on your shooting skills, by shooting hundreds of stationary paper targets in lighted area with your bullets neatly stacked before you.  For anyone that owns a firearm, (or other defensive tool for that matter), how many of you have actually trained to clear a room in the event of a home invasion?  It seems pretty intuitive; you have a gun so you can defend your family and your property.  But how many have actually trained to protect them?  How many have trained at night?  How many know how many steps it takes from one obstacle to the next and where they are located? How high up are the light switches located?  Where are the mirrors?  Just like all things in training, when you train as you will fight, certain things become apparent.  One of these is the use of a light.

Before we go any further, please let me dispel one myth.  Unless your only defense is to sneak up on the bugler and attempt to give them a heart attack, use every opportunity to have to illuminate the area.  This means turning on lights, positioning lamps to your advantage or even having your spouse hold another light.  Despite your Youtube Academy credentials, you are not a Ninja, and when you are in your home, darkness is not your friend.  Yes, you can certainly barricade yourself in your room and call the police.  If you have little ones or if the good guys are too far or too busy to help you, this may not be an option.  To paraphrase an adage, failing to train, is training to fail.

Lights prevent angels

Lights and proper training could have prevented these types of senseless shootings:

Father Shoots Teen Daughter Mistaken for Intruder
Father 'shot dead teenage daughter he thought was a burglar'
Father mistakes son for burglar and accidentally shoots him during early-morning break-in

Clearing a house at night can be a tricky thing.  Is the noise you heard your teenage daughter sneaking back in?  Was it a raccoon that came in through a doggy door?  Or is it a Meth head looking to grab something quick to pawn?  Just like Coopers second and fourth rules, you must first identify your target before you pull the trigger.

The Two Schools

There are two schools of thought when it comes to lights and firearms: mounted on the gun or in your non-dominant hand.  I will list the advantages and disadvantages.

Weapon mounted

•  When you reach for the weapon, everything is "in hand".  No fumbling around to get both your weapon and the light is needed. 
•  Your free hand is needed to manipulate doors and move obstacles.  This is a huge advantage.
•  You will have to train to prevent a "negligent discharge" of the light.  Some models are obviously better than others in this regard.
•  Having a weapon mounted light is not binary; it is not one or the other.  You can still have a back up light.  

Flashlight in your non-dominant hand

• There is less of a learning curve to prevent a "negligent discharge" of the light if you are sneaking around your apartment.
• You can use the light as a striking weapon.
• You can ditch the light if need be and still have the weapon in hand. This is important in a dark room as the assailant will more likely grab for the light if he is blinded, (it is the only thing they can see), then they will for the gun.
• Due to its awkwardness, you will still need to train with the flashlight and weapon combo.  It is not intuitive.

I personally am a flashlight mounted kind of guy.  First off, my four year old loves to steal my flashlights for her own nefarious purposes.  For me, the deal breaker is the free hand to manipulate objects and turn on lights.  I had heard a rumor that when Larry Vickers remodeled his home, he had the light switches placed a couple of feet from the ground so he could turn them on with his knee when he cleared the room.  Use what you have available.

If you choose to have the light in your hand, either by design of your firearm or personal preference, this article gives you some alternate positions to use your light.  As with anything else, be wary of anyone that offers the "only solution".  Experts, if they call themselves that, come from thier own point of view that was developed over their experiences of what works and what does not.  Certain universal truths remain, (you have to be physically able to carry the fight to the enemy), but no doctrine is so flexible as to apply to every situation.  The first step is to get trained by a professional, and the next step is to train to your own situation, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

MORE LUMENS!!!

When it comes to your flashlights, certain things you will want to consider.  Availability and commonality of batteries, sound construction, positive or alternating types of on switches are all important.  Buy just like what type of caliber and ammunition you use, what comes out of the light is perhaps the greatest deal breaker when considering one model over the other.  Steamlight, Surefire, Pelican, Ezetta, Inova, etc. all make very fine lights.  What differentiates one over the other is the lumens or the brightness.  Bigger is better in this case.

The best defensive shooting is the one you do not have to make.  If the target is blinded, they cannot effectively fight back.  This may be enough to take the piss out of the perpetrator, or at least give him pause while you get yourself into a better position or buy needed moments until the Cavalry arrives.  As many police can attest to, more lumens means more effectiveness.  You do have the possibility of blinding yourself on reflective surfaces, but knowing where these potential hazards are will become evident in training.

If given the choice between the cute "compact ninja" model of 200 lumens and the slightly bulkier 600 to 2000 lumen lights, go with the bigger one.  You cant go wrong and you can always dress down with filters if need be.

Of course, you can own night vision and make this all largely a moot point.  You will, however, still need to train as if you do not have it.  Batteries die and equipment degrades.  Lights are pretty simple tools so the possibility of them going dead on you are significantly less.  Like it was observed in Fight Club, the survival rate of everything goes to zero on a long enough timeline.   So do you, if you are not careful.

Do you see the light?