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

Winter is Coming

With fall rolling in at full force and winter soon on the horizon you can expect certain environmental changes to occur. The Most obvious changes are temperature drops, leaves falling and the usual rain and snow that accompanies the season. What most people don’t expect are the possibility of flooding, fire or wind, rain and thunder storms. Mother Nature never stops and so it’s good to remember that Preparation shouldn't stop either. Here are a few quick tips to get your winter preparation underway.

1. Food storage – This is something that really applies traditionally to winter time but is something to even think about throughout the year. Ensuring you have enough water and food to last you in case any of the public works fails is essential. The last thing you need is to be in a situation where you've become dependent on them to supply you what you need. We call this a “single point of failure” in the military and it’s a bad situation to be in. Having enough food and water for at least 72 hours is a must and enough for two weeks is ideal. Most public works issues are limited to under two weeks but it couldn't hurt to be more prepared.

2. Heating – Knowing how best to heat your home is essential. A significant chunk of money is spent annually on heating your home and there are a few tips out there that can help lower the cost. If you have a fireplace then having sufficient firewood is always important since this is very easy to find for free on sites like Craigslist.com. Look into high efficient portable heaters to place in the rooms you occupy most. There isn't a huge need to heat the whole house when you spent most of your time in only part of it. Look into homemade/DIY style heaters like my favorite “terracotta pot” heater (instructions for this can be found just by doing a web search). Also ensure that you have curtains that help hold in the heat. Check the attic to ensure you have proper and sufficient insulation. Renew your weather stripping around doors and windows if needed. Sealing up the house might take most of an afternoon but saves you on so many energy costs that makes it plenty worth it.

Terracotta Pot Heater

3. Contingency Planning – Most people think of the first two items but they forget that there are many other things they need plans for. Flooding and fire can occur frequently during fall as the seasons change and precautions should be taken. Have evacuation plans and thoughts of a secondary location if you need to leave for an extended period of time. Inventorying your valuables is one that most people forget. This is not only good in case of burglary but also for insurance purposes. Have a plan for every possible disaster. Most of these plans will look exactly the same but it’s good to consider them each individually.

4. Know your neighbors – I've found great value in knowing your neighbors and I encourage everyone to get to know theirs. There are some people that might live in areas where it’s a little frightening to become close to them. Each situation will be different but knowing who they are, what they do and their willingness level to assist you if you need it is paramount to a complete contingency plan. With a lot of people taking time off to travel during the holidays a good neighbor can help keep an eye on things while you’re gone.

5. Learn – Don’t be afraid to go out and do some research. I don’t believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I think that there is so much that can be learned and so little time to learn it. YouTube.com has become one of my favorite sites to learn about new and innovative ways of taking care of home issues. There are thousands of quick fix and DIY videos on a wide range of topics. Go to the library and pick up some books about any survival and preparation topics.

Being prepared is the best way to have peace of mind over the things you can’t control. By expecting a wide range of possible occurrences you’re diminishing the potential danger to yourself and family. Please comment below about your own winter preparation preferences and what you plan to do this fall before the cold comes.

Braveheart

Mel Gibson as William Wallace, 1995

       Despite what he might choose to do or say in his personal time, Mel Gibson produced and directed one of the greatest movies of the last three decades. Released in 1995, Braveheart took the world by storm and won the praise of millions. That success can be attributed to a lot of the hard work and dedication of the team support Gibson but I believe that its popularity is based firmly in the content of the story and the portrayal of one of the greatest revolutionaries ever to have lived. The real life of Sir William Wallace differed significantly from the Mel Gibson version but there can still be much to learn from the qualities of this fictional version.
       In Mel Gibson’s version of William Wallace he is overcome with grief over the loss of his wife and goes on a rampage through the town and with the help of friends storms the fort and kills the sheriff. This revolt ignites the already tenuous situation in Scotland regarding the English occupation and hundreds flock to Wallace to support him in his revolt against the English. Throughout the movie the Scots gain ground and even invade England until they are eventually betrayed by the Scottish nobles who are bought by Kind Edward Longshanks, the King of England. Wallace is then brutally and publically executed by the order of King Edward. Following his death, Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick takes up Wallace’s place and leads the Scots into battle for freedom.

Sir William Wallace

       The original catalyst to his cause might have been the death of his wife but the sustaining power was brought on the desire to be free. Wallace states in the movie that he just wants to have a farm, marry and have children. There is no desire for vengeance or a thirst for blood rather the entire motivation is to live his life as he dictates and not as a king would. Wallace struggled with the Scottish nobles to see that uniting under the flag of Scotland was more important than who was king of Scotland. That obtaining liberty for a free Scotland was much more important than anything.
       Braveheart clearly gives three examples of the kind of people and their responses to life threatening stimuli. The first is William Wallace who strikes back and doesn’t allow the stimuli control him. The second example is Robert the Bruce who doesn’t enjoy being controlled by the stimuli but lacks the courage to do anything. The last example is everyone else who is either too unaware to realize that they’re being affected or that they are too afraid to do anything about it.
       Wallace stood when no one else did and in truth he stood regardless of what others were doing. He knew there was a problem and there was action to take and he took it. He didn’t wait for someone else to take charge. He didn’t wait for it to get any worse. In this he displays the kind of courage that we seek for in Everyday Jacks. Years ago I heard two phrases that have stuck with me and have become part of my repertoire of phrases. The first was, “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything” by Malcom X and the second was, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” attributed to Edmund Burke. Each of these phrases has found their way into my heart in a way that echoes truth. Mel Gibson’s Wallace was the exemplar to these principles and even though his rebellion might have started out as revenge for his wife he eventually turned it into the desire for freedom.
       I believe that a good portion of people fall in to the second category.  Men like Robert the Bruce are those that either know they should do something and don’t or they give up doing something in lieu of what they feel society wants them to do. Many of these might be in dead end jobs because that’s what they were supposed to do and not because of any actual choice of their own. These men and woman might even be living their dreams by working where they work or doing what they do but when it comes to intervening into things beyond their comfort zone the second guess or hesitate to do anything. Most people know what it right and what should be done in any give situation but it’s the real heroes that act on those impulses; Robert the Bruce didn’t.

       The last category is the “sheep” category. These are those that are content to live their life oblivious to the events surrounding them. They might see an issue that could use their attention and yet they’ve developed the mantra of, “it’s not my problem” rather than investing interest in the lives of those around them. It is difficult for these people to change and most of that has to do with fear. They’re afraid that if they step out to help someone that it will be bad for them and that they will only attract more attention to themselves.

        As I watched this movie again most recently I thought about what it would take for me to stand up and act in the way that Wallace did. Would I need to lose my wife before I responded to the tyranny? Would I need to lose lands, property or my freedom before I acted? Most people require a catalyst to encourage them into action and on a number of occasions I’ve found myself in the same situation. I see what needs to be done and I just can’t find a way to ignite that movement.
        Rarely are we placed in a situation that needs a nationwide revolution but there are little revolutions that are needed daily. Situations arise regularly around us that need our attention. Stepping up to defend the old lady being bullied by some teenagers or maybe stepping in to make sure a woman is ok when her boyfriend gets a little rough. I’ve been present for more than one of these kinds of events and every time they ended better than I had planned. That’s not to say that it couldn’t go wrong someday but my idea is that even if 9 out of 10 times it ends well then I’m still doing good 9 out of 10 times.
        Find the catalyst to spur you to action. Everyone is different and we all need different things to get us moving but find out what it is and put it to use. We need more men and women willing to stand up and take action and less falling for everything. If we had even a handful more men and women like Wallace we’d be better off in any situation we could be handed.

A Better Way in Life

John Lennon, photo by Yoko Ono

     I used to laugh at the impractical “Peace, Love and Happiness” chant thrown around by the Hippies during the 60’s and 70’s. Although most of those Hippies have grown older, dressing different maybe even cleaned their hair they still live by these principles and even a lot of their children have embraced them. I am an active NRA member, I vote conservative and regularly joke with friends and family about the liberal media and the Progressive movement but I think that what I can agree on is that there should be more peace and more respect for your fellow man in the world. Agreeing on how to fulfill such an audacious goal might be difficult but this is something that must happen. We cannot continue to live our life in a world that is out to get each other. 

     My wife would be the first to tell you that I am an angry driver. I don’t enjoy being cut off, tail-gated and especially dislike rude and discourteous drivers. A significant portion of my distaste in driving with anybody else on the road is that most people take little to no thought of the other people on the road. The overtly rude drivers are not even my only issue, it's the unobservant drivers too. In the United States we drive at fast speeds and there’s no denying that our culture enjoys it. When a person is driving at the speed limit and sees a person driving faster than him racing up behind him I find is just as rude to not move out of the way as it is to slam on your brakes or cut someone off. The real issue with driving is the lack conscious thought to those around you; it's that lack of respect. The exact same factor that appears in driving is the same exact factor that appears in Black Friday shopping riots, disgruntled service at the coffee shop, people yelling at customer service (on the phone or off the phone) and any other interaction between one person and another. 

Road rage...does this happen to you?

     There is no direct connection between this topic of social ignorance and the recent shootings in Colorado, Oregon and Connecticut that inspired me to write this article but the overall culture of America is suffering from a detrimental lack of respect for their fellow man. The shooters in all these terrible acts had different reasons for their actions but the overarching theme is a lack of concern for anyone but themselves. I don’t intend to know the real reasons or even to dive headlong into a discussion about mental diseases and how they affect your actions. What is crucial to all of us is to know that our culture was not always this way. 

     It is very possible that the general population of all first world countries would see themselves living in an elevated social state and that their culture has risen above their animalistic qualities. I would submit that an average American in the 1920’s is socially superior to a modern American today. The reason I say that is there seems to be a current lack of respect between strangers. It’s easy to respect your brother, your friend or neighbor because you get to know them intimately over the time you’ve known them. You can explain quickly what kind of a person they are due to years of experiencing things together. Could you say that about a stranger today if you met him on the street? 

     There is no doubt that this question would be difficult to answer even in 1920 America but the difference would be that in general there would be the inherent social understanding that this person would do you now harm because he had no reason to. Having never lived in the 1920’s I’m left to the opinions of those I know that did and although it is an opinion worn through time and age it holds true that the American culture has changed from believing that “people are inherently good” to “I sure hope these people are good”. I truth you must live your life careful of what might happen when with a stranger because of people who are mental outsiders like the shooters in these recent events but there must also be a mutual respect for another person until there is some sort of proof to cause you concern. 

Motorcycle ride, London, 1920's

     I’m not calling for gun control or for everyone to sit together holding hands and singing songs but I am calling for an increase in respect and awareness of those around you. There are few greater things a person can do then to show kindness to their fellow man. I call for an end to the social suicide we’ve created and ask for all to find peace with their fellow man. Accept responsibility for your position in life and understand that you’re not the only one occupying this world. Teach others respect and encourage those around you to do the same. Stand up for those that are disrespected whether you know them or not. A Jack of All Spades will always respect his fellow man.

Peace Of Mind

     The greatest consequence of preparation for any event is peace of mind. There can be no greater feeling of relief before, during and after a terrible event than knowing that you were prepared. The eastern United States was hammered by one of the worst storms seen in years causing flooding, power outages, fires and even death. The complete consequences are still unknown while people crawl out of the devastation to see what waits. I first wish to express my deepest condolences to anyone who has been severely affected by this storm and wish a speedy recovery for everyone. 

     What really struck me was the amount of people that are completely unprepared for such events. I believe everyone understands the dangers of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster but they lack the wisdom to prepare for these events. About four days prior to the storm making landfall the media and local leaders advised the citizens on how best to prepare. Most people ran to the grocery and hardware stores to gather supplies, fighting over the last jug of water or loaf of bread. Lines were seen out the door and most people left empty handed having to drive to another store in search of supplies. 

     Two nights prior to the storm making landfall I realized we had run low on milk and I went to the store to get some groceries. I was amazed that there was so little on the shelves. The normally stocked milk locker was empty of all but a few gallons of 2%. I walked past the empty shelves of the soup isles and the now barren drink isle. Even the bakery had been picked clean leaving just a few bagels and only one loaf of bread. 

     I smiled to myself at how wonderful it felt to have already had these items on hand. To be honest I should have picked up some milk earlier knowing that the unprepared were going to raid the stores but I could have lasted a few more days without milk. Preparation had once again saved me so much stress and hassle of not only fighting with people to get basics but waiting in endless lines for things I could have picked up weeks ago. 

Food Storage closet of an avid prepper.

     Not everyone has extra money lying around and I understand the economic strains that most of us deal with. The greatest thing is that if you can plan to have even $10 extra a month and you spend that on supplies you might need, you will be ready for almost anything. I set aside about $20-30 a months for my preparation fund. This means that I spend it on water, medical supplies, Go-Bag replenishment items, batteries, food storage and other items. My normal grocery list is full of items that I can use as food storage and I try to buy one extra can than I need so that I can stockpile some of the items. By using items I eat on a regular basis I can cycle through the items to make sure they’re fresh and ready. 

     I don’t have large food stores like I would need if it came down to surviving for months. Money is so tight I can only afford my $20-30 and at times I can’t even do that. Even at that level of preparedness I was able to ride out this storm comfortably without any fear of the dangers that were presented. I had a peace of mind and was grateful for it. 

     Storage space is also sometimes and issue and living in a small apartment like I do can be difficult deciding where best to store things. You would be surprised at the little amount of space six months’ worth of food storage can really take. I think that most people can find a place for it. Buying items like rice and oats are a sure way to stock your supply quickly and cheaply. Most of these items store well for extended periods and are great food in an emergency. Canned foods are also ready for easy storage and there are multiple options on how best to store them. Many storage container supply stores offer racks, shelves and other reasonable ways to store your food in ways that best minimize the amount of space they occupy. 

     The bottom line is that a month’s worth of food storage is minimal and nearly essential for everyone. Building up to six months or more can be difficult but worth it. Remember that preparing for these natural disasters is as important as providing everyday shelter and food for your family. Without these items you’ll be stuck in the line with others fighting over the last gallon of water or loaf of bread. Don’t be caught without the essentials when the time comes. Be prepared and receive that peace of mind.

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”