No, if you see something, DO something. . . .

So, here we are, the day AFTER another mass shooting in a gun-free zone. No, I’m not going to argue about gun control or about the idiocy of victim-disarmament zones.
No, I’m talking about the almost universal passivity of the students in the face of death, with one exception.

The shooter ( and, no, not going to mention that thing’s name or link a photo), ASKED victims to lay on the floor, and then asked them to stand, one by one, queried them on their religion, and based on their answer, shot them in the head (if they answered “Christian”), or in the leg (other religions or no answer). Except for one Army veteran, Chris Mintz, who charged the shooter, and took 5 hits from the gun. He survived, and will recover.

But my question is, WHY DID ONLY ONE PERSON do **ANYTHING** other than acquiesce? Why do people not resist anymore? And this isn’t a limited thing: in the last week or so, stories have been circulating about the college students who saw a mouse in their apartment . . . and CALLED THE POLICE TO DEAL WITH IT. Why are people afraid to DO anything about difficult situations, much less the immediate threat of death??

Why didn’t students rush the shooter, or throw books or chairs at it? People **USED** to take action. The one bright point on 9/11, was the story of the passengers of United Flight 93, led by Todd Beamer. They knew that they had to do something, or they would die. And so “Let’s Roll” was the cry. They died anyway, but they died WELL. Fighting for their lives, and the lives of others. Why DON’T people tend to do that, anymore? Personal bravery in the face of danger used to be common, especially in the older generations. The example of Professor Liviu Librescu at Virginia Tech in 2007, serves as a shining example of what was once considered normal behavior.  You still see it, for example, in that attempted French train hijacking in August, and three Americans and a Brit to the rescue.

It’s not surprising that Mr. Mintz is a veteran, and that Mr. Stone and Mr. Skarlatos are military. Military service repeatedly trains you to take the initiative, and that doing SOMETHING constructive now is far better than thinking back to what you should or could have done. And repeated requests from those who encourage us to stand back, and let the “professionals” deal with a dangerous situation haven’t helped either. As the old bromide goes, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. It’s up to individuals, not the cops or other “professionals”, to provide the last line of defense.


Friends, the world is dangerous. And despite gun-free and weapon-free zones, I’m always armed. With the one weapon they can’t take from me: it’s between my ears and under my scalp, and I do my best to keep it fully loaded at all times. So I don’t always carry a firearm, or even a knife . . . but I will just note the surprising potential of a full ring of keys or a pocket screwdriver.

Remember, weapons aren't dangerous: men are.  Be Dangerous, always . . . your safety, and that of others, depends on it. . .

. . . .An old Sheepdog.