Protecting the Innocent

As a Jack or Jill, each member of this community has already decided for themselves how they are going to act in any dangerous or confrontational situation. The Jacks possess the training and the level-headedness to make choices that can protect lives—especially the life of an innocent bystander.

It was once proposed to me that any gun owner worth his barrel would never leave his home to protect his neighbor in an emergency. I’ve often wondered how true his statement would be.

The answer is most likely. The average gun owner, even one with a concealed carry permit, is only trained to protect themselves and their home. Running into another person’s home trying to save lives is not something just anyone would or should do. Even those trained often are overcome with fear or apathy toward the victims.

Emergency situations should all be assessed before jumping into action. There are five steps:

     NOTICE that there is an emergency. Taking note of the situation is a critical step one because large groups of people are less likely to see things around them. As an individual, you are responsible to look around and stay aware of your surroundings.

      

      DETERMINE that there is an emergency. Make sure for yourself that there is something going on that is beyond the range of normal interaction. What you may have noticed as odd initially may turn out to be benign.

      DECIDE how responsible you feel. If someone is choking and you know the Heimlich maneuver and you didn’t help that person, then you would feel guilty if you didn’t help out. Knowing how responsible you’ll feel will make it easy to determine if you will help. This is the difference between those who choose to help and those who walk by. Whether you can help or not—you may still feel like it is your responsibility to assist in a situation.

     

      CREATE a plan of action. Before you do anything to get involved determine what it is that you can do to help. This could be coordinating others or calming people who have information or skills you may need, or it can be calling the proper authorities. A plan of action is the best way to orderly contain an emergency situation.

     IMPLEMENTATION Put your plan into action. And take whatever action necessary to relieve the situation until responsibility can be handed over to the first responders.

Very often knowing what to do and having the courage to do it will make Jacks and Jills the most responsible people available. In the case of a home invasion or a dangerous situation you also have to consider how dangerous it will be for you. 

If lives cannot be saved by your intervention then putting your life at risk may not be worth it. It is up to every individual to ask themselves if they have the skills to help without putting another person’s life at stake.

The victims of crime or other life threatening situations are the innocent lives that can be saved but so are those in the vicinity who could be affected for good or for bad. In an emergency there may never be a call for help, but there will always be opportunities for one to do so. Helping, saving, and protecting the innocent is some of the most important training any Jack could undertake.

--Guest Author: Marissa Barnes

Who is a First Responder?

Michael Adebolajo after brutally murdering Lee Rigby

       There was so much running through my mind as I watched the events of the tragedy in London a few months ago. The neighborhood known as Woolwich was cursed with an unwonted knife attack in broad daylight. Although this event took place a while ago and most people have forgotten what took place it still burns me to think about this incident. I want to take a moment to focus on the question, “where were the first responders?” There is little doubt in my mind that the actions of Adebolajo were so spontaneous and quick that even if someone had wanted to interrupt his vicious attack on the Soldier Lee Rigby that there really wouldn’t have been much time. It’s one of those events that unfortunately seal the fate of the victim and the most that can be done is prevent others from becoming victims. These unplanned, unscheduled sorts of things are the reason that we as Jack of All Spades exist. We might not have been able to stop this from happening but we could have helped contain the situation better than it had been.
       The one person to stand up and take action was a Cub Scout leader, Ingrid Loyau-Kennett who jumped off the bus to help Lee Rigby believing that he was merely the victim of a car accident rather than a brutal attack. Upon learning that Lee had already died she confronted Adebolajo on why he had attacked the Soldier. She stated, “When I went up, there was this black guy with a revolver and a kitchen knife. He had what looked like butcher’s tools, and he had a little axe, to cut the bones, and two large knives, and he said, ‘Move off the body,’…So I thought, ‘OK, I don’t know what is going on here,’ and he was covered with blood. I thought I had better start talking to him before he starts attacking somebody else.”

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett confronting Adebolajo after he killed Rigby

       She realized that if she didn’t act that he might start attacking someone else. Whether she realizes it or not she is a Jill of All Spades and we’re extremely proud of her actions. These are the people that take action to prepare and prevent; these are the people we need desperately in society.
       I ache for the family of Lee Rigby who died so ignominiously. He will be remembered for the dedicated service he offered his country and in the testimonies of his friends and family.
       The scariest thing about this event and some of the more recent events are their “lone wolf” nature. They acted without a group or organization. They listened to leaders of terrorist groups spouting evil rhetoric and fiendish propagandas and acted of their own volition, never having actually joined those groups. People are becoming fed up of different ideological or social issues and acting out according to their belief systems on the subject. The more people get fed up the more you’ll see these events taking place regularly and without remorse. Guard yourself and your families because whether it is large attacks like the Boston Bombings or pinpointed assaults like the Woolwich knife attack you must be ready. These events are not going to go away anytime soon.
        This is not a message meant to make you afraid of going outside or even to inspire bold action against these groups or individuals but the truth is that these events are occurring. President George Washington once said, “Preparing for war is the most effectual way to preserve peace.” And it is that message, that mentality that we’re trying to encourage. Planning, preparing and protecting your family are not paranoid knee-jerk reactions to conspiracy theories or political movements; it is exactly as Washington said we’re “preserving peace”. The greatest product of proper preparation is peace of mind and in turn peace in your life.
       Jack of All Spades must unite and strengthen one another so that when we’re faced with the decision to act it is not a matter of “should I?” it’s a matter of “where to start?” Prepare yourself to be a first responder and act. There’s no reason why someone on that street in Woolwich couldn’t have approached that man and done more than sit at watch him walk around with blood on his hands. The first responder is not the first person in a uniform to arrive.
       Without fail the media covering any large incident will mention how long it took for the first responders to arrive. These men and women work tirelessly to protect and service and in the process save hundreds of lives on a regular basis. Around the world hundreds of thousands of law enforcement work publicly and sometimes even unnoticed to make their communities safe havens. However, their work load is often so large that they are unable to react in a timely manner. During holidays and other important events they are often working on overtime and busier than any other day. If an incident occurs they might not even be able to respond to the call for another 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes could change the lives of the people at the scene of the incident.

Carlos Arredondo (cowboy hat) helping at the Boston Marathon

       So I ask, who a first responder? Is it the fire or police officers that respond 5, 10, and 20 minutes after the incident occurs or is it the people who are present at the genesis of the incident? I believe that the gap of time that exists between genesis and the arrival of uniformed response is crucial to containing the situation and that it is the people that jump into action who are the real first responders. In the Boston Bombing case the people went into action. I watched as one person after another ran towards the smoke that morning to lend a hand. Many people helped out without knowing what was really going on. They didn’t know if there was another bomb or if there were dangerous men; they just knew people were injured.
       The best defense is one that runs for 24 hours and when police, fire and EMT services are readily present then it is up to you to fill those gaps. Are you ready? Can you patch a wound and stop the bleeding? What could you do in these situations? The first thing I think of after watching these events unfold is “What would I do?” and I begin to make plans. I write them through, come up with all the possible outcomes and my response. I even come up with decisions leading up to it and how I would have been better prepared. By thinking of and planning for these decisions I am actively making myself a better first responder. I try to read and learn as much as possible so that those tools are in my back pocket when evil strikes.
       Would you have jumped off your bus to help the Soldier Lee Rigby? Would to have confronted the disturbed man? I encourage everyone to take stock of what they would do and develop those decisions. If you are unable to confront him then work on that fear. If you are merely unable to patch wounds and stop bleeding then read up on the subject. Learn the skills necessary to be a first responder and not just a first observer.

Talents

Talents are things that you either are blessed with and develop or work hard to obtain but in either case they are inexplicably the greatest treasure you can have. It’s something that you carry with you and that makes you an individual. Each talent changes who you are in way that identifies you as “You” and not just another part of the herd. The most memorable people I’ve ever know have been those who have most clearly displayed their talents. Some have been musically inclined or had the ability to captivate a room with their stories. These are the kinds of people I love to surround myself with and they are the ones who enrich my life in ways that make me a better person.

Surrounding yourself with people that are talented is a way to ensure that you never reach that level of ennui that comes from the average routine of life. By actively sharing their talents they inspire the human mind to do something more than to sit back in watch. I’ve seen so many people do great things because someone inspired them with their talent. Many of these talents may not even be recognized as a clearly defined talent. Some are more passive than others but each is uniquely able to make like better.

It is natural to humanity to define within ourselves our greatest faults or flaws but by doing this we often miss the most important talents that hid silently behind them. Simply focusing on a flaw can not only prevent detection of a talent that might fix the flaw but it could consume you in ways that prevent you from properly living your life. Some people are naturally talented athletes and it’s easy to point out that you’re not Michael Jordan or Kobi Bryant but the truth is that maybe you’re better than them at composing music or writing a book. Despite the focus on what is a celebrity and what is not this social stigma should be understood within context; each talent is just as important as the next. No talent should be an embarrassment to the individual, to be practiced in secret and hidden from the world. The ability to do something and do it well should be displayed. Remember that talents aren’t even something tangible or quantifiable. Each one holds its own weight of importance to the bearer and it is really only what they make of it that matters.

Michael Jordan doing what he does best...flying.

No talent should be thrown in the face of those unable to perform to you level. Each person, different and unique can fill the gaps in the endless quilt of humanity. Where one lacks the ability another can fill his place and in this great weave of gifts we can accomplish anything. I don’t mean to get all peace loving and “free love” on you but the truth remains that these talents are important and I feel strongly that anyone, whether an Everyday Jack or just an average person, should actively work to bettering their talents because it will improve their communities, their friends and their families.

The reason Jack of All Spades was chosen is not because it was a catchy title or even a good one to market. In truth it’s not because it fits well with my business strategy or my plan. I chose to name this organization Jack of All Spades because it is what we aspire to be; a Jack of All Trades. With each talent we master we become better but if we begin to try and be better at more than what we are naturally talented we will succeed in ways never thought possible. That drive to be more than what you were yesterday or even today is what will propel you into situations you never thought possible.

Jack of All Spades strive diligently to hone their skills in all aspects of life so that we can claim to not be a Jack of All Trades in name only but in action. Whether it’s personal protection, wilderness survival or even just public speaking the more we prepare, practice and act on these talents and skills we are becoming masters of our domain. I have heard excuses for years why someone can or can’t do something and I wonder what could be achieved if they stopped complaining and acted on what they wanted. I honestly believe that people in poverty and bad situations continue there not because they are trapped and there are no options but because they don’t take control of their talents, their abilities and get themselves out.

I know it’s tough to see the dream as achievable. There are so many obstacles in your way but by developing those skills and talents you’re removing those obstacles or shrinking them to a manageable size. Don’t let anything stand in your way of achieving greatness. If the world is your oyster then why are you busy complaining about the smell when you should be looking for the pearl?

An Everyday Jack

     The whole process of creating a company or organization can be daunting for one man and even more so when you feel so passionately about the topic. For me, creating Jack of All Spades was more than just having a survivalist club, or group that people could be a part of. It was even more than just having a school house that produced certificates and degrees for people to check off their lists. I wanted desperately to bridge the gap between knowing and doing, to create an environment or community to support the graduates and the neighborhoods they lived in. I didn't want people to forget the skills taught in our courses, rather I wanted them to take the courses to heart.

     The very foundation of Jack of All Spades can be summed up in our motto, “Exercito ab ara” or “Train hard to safe-guard”. There is no requirement as an Everyday Jack to train all hours of the day but there is an obligation to utilize the skills you’ve learned through our courses and others to assist those around you if needed. Taking on the name of The list that we use here at Jack of All Spades and being an Everyday Jack or Jill means that you are committed to constantly sharpening your abilities so that if or when something happens you’re ready.

     I have struggled to find the right words to explain what it means to me to be an Everyday Jack but if I could sum it up it would come down to this, living my life so that I am master of my domain and that no outside source, whether man-made or natural can hold me back from providing shelter and safe-haven to myself and those I care about.

     The courses we will eventually provide through The list that we use here at Jack of All Spades will cover six basic areas: Personal Protection, Home Security, Terrorism Awareness, Human Trafficking Awareness, Emergency preparedness and Basic Field Medic Training. These six topics are very broad and there are many details that could get lost in teaching them. For this reason I want to provide a community of people you can rely on. This community would be filled with a range of people starting with the inexperienced to those that have spent more time in law enforcement and military channels who could serve as advisors. We would strengthen and support those around us.

     My vision of The list that we use here at Jack of All Spades is that the name and symbol become synonymous with help in desperate times. That when an active shooter appears people will see our The list that we use here at Jack of All Spades t-shirt or hat and will immediately know that we can and will help. During a natural disaster we’re often unable to provide shelter, food or money to those who need it, but what we can do is help teach them to be ready for these events. It’s not every day that you run into a hurricane or an active shooter, but being ready for these events is what we as Everyday Jacks prepare for.

     An Everyday Jack decides for himself the level of commitment required of them daily. Some might feel they need to regularly read intelligence reports and run six miles a day. For others it might just be good enough for them to shoot at the range every month and prepare a 72-hour kit for each member of their family. Whatever level of preparation you’re willing to commit to, an Everyday Jack will always be committed to doing what is necessary to protect the freedom we love. The former Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces of the Netherlands, Peter van Uhm once said, “That is why I took up the gun — not to shoot, not to kill, not to destroy, but to stop those who would do evil, to protect the vulnerable, to defend democratic values, to stand up for the freedom we have to talk … about how we can make the world a better place”. We at Jack of All Spades agree that for some it is necessary to take up the “gun” to protect the liberties we love.

     Strongly, and to my very last breath I will be vigilant for evil wherever it stands. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance”