A Letter to my Family - to Keep Them Safe

After the horrific events in Israel & the protests here in America, I wrote this letter to my children. It is my plan to protect them based upon more than 30 years in national security. Please share.

Terrorists want you to be afraid.

Don’t be afraid. Be wise. Be prepared.

Given what has happened in the last 14 days, I expect the war in Israel to escalate.

With the Jihadi murder of a teacher in France, and two Swedish tourists gunned down in Belgium since the Hamas attacks, plus our embassies being surrounded and one set ablaze in the Middle East, the spread of violence to America is sadly inevitable.

As a result we need to make yourselves harder targets for those who may want to hurt us simply because we are American.

The nature of the threat

For us living just outside Washington DC, and with business there every day, the threat is the highest, given the symbolism of the capita, and the number of attractive targets for terrorists. Since I am licensed to carry a concealed weapons, I am armed at all times. As the saying goes: “It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and no have it.”

Fo those of us who don’t have a Concealed Carry Permit, now is the time to get certified and apply. Once you are qualified, train, train and train. A weapon is of no use, in fact it is a deadly liability if you aren’t comfortable with it, or cannot use it proficiently, and are clear where you can deploy it legally and legitimately.

In the meantime, until you are certified and comfortable, you should be carrying the best defensive CS of pepper spray out there. I recommend this one.

For those of us living and working in stated and municipalities which have heavy restrictions on what you an and can’t carry, there are still many options open. Outside of the capital, the level of threat is thankfully lower. Instead of a sophisticated terrorist attack by multiple perpetrators, the most likely scenario for violence is a sole gunman or knife attack, as in France, or an anti-Israel or anti-America protest unexpectedly getting violent.

As a result, in addition to Mace or pepper-spray, I suggest you start carrying the backpack I sent you after the last Jihadi attack, when you are out and about, the one with the ballistic panel. Make  it your standard bag for the next few weeks at least.

Today’s Kevlar panels are lightyears ahead of the bulky ones from years ago. They are now super light and super thin, and can even just be slipped into a large handbag and used as a shield if an attack starts and you need to escape. I have tested the ones from Maverick Tactical. They will stop multiple rounds of handgun ammunition at point-blank range. Trust me, I’ve tested them!

The best scenario, of course, it to not be in harm’s way in the first place. To that end, I suggest we all avoid unnecessary exposure. That means large crowd events that are attractive to assailants because of the concentration of innocent victims. It also includes visits to symbolic locales like New York.

Whenever you do go out, remember what I told you years ago.

At, the mall, in a restaurant, etc., always note all the exits. For example, if an attacker comes in a restaurant, people will automatically rush the door, likely moving right into the kill-zone.

But every store or restaurant has a rear entrance, and the kitchen or rear storeroom exit is your safest avenue of escape. So whenever to walk into a store, or sit down to eat a meal, the first thing you should always do is note and internalize alternative exits to the one you came in through.

If an attack does happen and you cannot fight or escape straight away, understand the difference between concealment and cover. Ducking behind a chair is concealment but will not stop a bullet. Hiding behind a structural column that goes all the way to the roof will for example, as they are made of steel or concrete.

We will not live in fear. But for the next few weeks or months, let’s make it as hard as possible for the filth who hate America and our civilization to hurt us.

You are the most precious things to me and your mother.

I love You All!

Dad