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Action always beats reaction

By Mike Straw

Dwight Eisenhower stated, “ History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” George Washington said, "The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.... It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn." In the words of Thomas Jefferson "Patriots are not revolutionaries trying to overthrow the government. Patriots are counter-revolutionaries trying to prevent the government from overthrowing this Constitutional Republic." According to John Kennedy "Law alone cannot make men see right." And finally, John Locke "The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves."

Have we forgotten this wisdom, or has it been purposely withheld from our children?

Let me provide you with a few visuals that will easily prove my point: first, place a small object on a convenient surface, such as a table, easily accessible to both you and a friend.

Invite him to put his hand a convenient distance above the object, say, about a foot away.  You then place your hand twice that distance, roughly two feet over the object. Instruct him to keenly observe your hand, and when it moves, to seize the object. You’ll effortlessly snatch the object each time, because it’s a universal law of physics that action always beats reaction.

Let’s try another one: Employing the same good-hearted friend, ask him how long he’d guess it would take him to drive from where you both are now to the nearest mercenary proxy-guardian “police” station.

Write it down. Have him simulate dialing nine-one-one, then have him note the time.  Have him simply draw his finger lightly across his own throat -a universally understood image -counting to himself each time he does so until the allotted time runs out. Ask him what number he counted to.

Inform him the number represents the people who would’ve illegally died before mercenary proxy-guardian “police” would’ve responded.

Politely ask, “Where are the mercenary proxy-guardian ‘police’?” Do you still feel “safe?”

After an illegal act has been perpetrated upon you isn’t the time to commence wondering about how best to protect yourself; as illustrated, you’re about to die.

Just as when your neglected stomach begins growling isn’t the proper moment to contemplate raising vegetables, so thoughts of self-preservation need to be addressed long before any illegal action takes place.

First, acknowledge that the world isn’t a safe place, and simply because nothing untoward has yet befallen you, it’s no indicator of the odds that it will: after all, you haven’t won the lottery yet, either. 

Robert Heinlein explained, “There are no such things as dangerous weapons. There are only dangerous men.”

The only way to live is in that state of awareness and training that allow us to move through life with the confidence to know that any threat is, in the words of Lieutenant Colonel “Jeff” Cooper, “…in more in danger from you than you are from him.”

Make it your life’s goal that men will invariably say about you what Patrick Rogers says about Steve Tarani: “he is the most dangerous man I have ever met!”  To begin with, I heartily recommend learning Lieutenant Colonel “Jeff” Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense, as outlined in his excellent book of the same name:

Alertness: “I never allowed a man to get the drop on me.” -James “Wild Bill” Hickok Lieutenant Colonel “Jeff” Cooper says, “How often have we heard the [disarmed] victim say, ‘He came out of nowhere!’ No, he didn't. He was there all along, but you did not see him. You were in Condition White, and in that condition, you are a victim. Victims almost always die in Condition White. Do not let that happen to you! The first principle of personal defense is alertness.”

Decisiveness: “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten. He who continues to attack wins.” -General George Patton; “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” -Napoleon Bonaparte

Aggressiveness: “In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of offense depends upon the warlike souls of those conducting it.” -General George Patton

Speed: “If you wait to see the [firearm], you’re going to see what comes out of it.” -Massad Ayoob

Coolness: “I have known men in the west whose courage could not be questioned and whose expertness with the pistol was simply marvelous who fell victims before men who added deliberation to the other two qualities.” -Bartholomew “Bat” Masterson

Ruthlessness: “Never do your enemy a minor injury.” -Niccolo Machiavelli

Surprise: “The price of freedom is the willingness to do sudden battle anywhere, any time and with utter recklessness.” -Robert Heinlein

Next on the list is an open-hand technique. I recommend Jeet Kune Do, as taught by Paul Vunak in his excellent “Street Safe” video, available from Threat Response Solutions.

After first learning what the force continuum is, you may learn to progress upwards along it, in accordance with unconstitutional mala prohibita laws passed by the evil social fascist elite in your state, progressing from presence, then verbal compliance, then defensive white light, then the Taser International eighteen-Watt M18L advanced Taser, then defensive pepper spray, then defensive collapsible baton, then the show of defensive deadly force, and finally, the use of defensive deadly force.

Whatever tools and techniques you use, be sure to take training courses to become certified in their use from trainers who provide both certification on paper and expert testimony in court.

The choice is yours: you can boldly control your own destiny, or like Blanch Dubois, “depend on the kindness of strangers.”

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