Ferguson Cop Advises Residents to Get a Gun: We will not be able to protect you or your familyDaisy Luther So real, in fact, that the governor of Missouri has already declared a State of Emergency and called in the National Guard. So real, in fact, that at least some of the local cops believecitizens need to arm themselves, because they know they wont be able to protect them from the chaos that is sure to ensue. A post on a local forum, St. Louis Cop Talk, is all the buzz right now. Someone posting under the username A Concerned Cop wrote: If you do not have a gun, get one and get one soon. We will not be able to protect you or your family, he wrote. It will be your responsibility to protect them. Our gutless commanders and politicians have neutered us. Im serious, get a gun, get more than one, and keep one with you at all times. Shortly after the post was picked up by the alternative media on Vocative.com, the forum was disabled. The locals are takingthe warningsseriously. One gun store owner reports a massive increase in sales induring the past week. These people are afraid, said Steve King, the owner of Metro Shooting Supplies in nearby Bridgeton. King says his store typically sells 30 to 40 firearms a week. This week, it has sold 250. One hundred percent of them are buying because of Ferguson. (source) Of course, those of us who are into preparedness have known this all along. As the saying goes, When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away. This will be especially true in the event of an eruption of civil unrest, fueled by racial tensions. Back in August, when the shooting occurred, violence, looting, and rampaging broke out across the Ferguson area, spilling over into nearby towns. This time promises to be even worse, if the panic stoked by the mainstream media and government press releases is anything to go by. The FBI has released its own warnings about the expected situation: The announcement of the grand jurys decision will likely be exploited by some individuals to justify threats and attacks against law enforcement and critical infrastructure, the FBI says in an intelligence bulletin issued in recent days. This also poses a threat to those civilians engaged in lawful or otherwise constitutionally protected activities. Those infiltrating and exploiting otherwise legitimate public demonstrations with the intent to incite and engage in violence could be armed The FBI bulletin expresses concern only over those who would exploit peaceful protests, not the masses of demonstrators who will want to legitimately, lawfully and collectively express their views on the grand jurys decision. The bulletin stresses the importance of remaining aware of the protections afforded to all U.S. persons exercising their First Amendment rights offreedom of speechand freedom of assembly. (source) If the government wanted a reason to crack down, tens of thousands of people rioting through the streets, setting fires, and committing crimes would definitely have people begging for protection. Whether this unrest is genuine or manufactured, the result is the same in the next day or so, this part of Missouri will be under siege. Perhaps, like me, you arent confident in the ability or urgency of others to care for your family. Its time to prepare your defenses. I wrote about this previously, but heres a refresher on what you can expect during periods of civil unrest and rioting, and how you can best prepare to protect your family. The most preventable issue in the event of civil unrest is running out of supplies. If you have to run out to the store that makes it far more likely that you will become the victim of a crime. The best advice I can give in all of this is to STAY HOME. But if you have no food and water, its difficult to do so. Here is a general list of supplies to have on hand. Rememberthat sometimes power supplies are lost during situations like this. Occasionally officials do this to gain more control over the populace and sometimes it happens as a side-effect of the wholesale destruction by the rioters. Keep the potential for a down-grid situation in mind when preparing. Secure your home. The best way to win a fight is to avoid getting into that fight in the first place. Secure your home and lay low, butbe prepared if trouble comes to visit. Here are some tips to make your home less of a target: If, despite your best efforts, your property draws the attention of people with ill intent,you must be ready to defend your family and your home. Its very important tomake a defense plan well before you need one. Not every criminal frolicking through a WROL zone is there to steal. Some people want to hurt people just for the rush of power it gives them. There is no pacifist answer to an encounter like this. If someone wants to do harm because they find it enjoyable, or because they are swept up in a mob mentality, you have to meet force with greater force. In these situations, firearms are the great equalizer. I cant repeat this enough: you must practice. Frequently. If you dont know how to use a firearm, you shouldnt have it. When you handle your weapon awkwardly, its veryobvious to a person who is trying to intimidate you. Likewise, ifyou are so comfortable with your weapon that it looks like a natural extension of your arm, that is also very clear. It sends a message that you mean businessand that you know what youre doing.No one wants to get shot.Most thugs will search for an easier target. Of course, its better still to avoid these encounters. When your city is under siege, its far safer to stay home. Dont go to work or send the kids to school. Wait until normalcy returns to go about your business. It isnt worth risking your life. Of enormous concern in these situations is the destruction of property. For some, vandalizing and destroying property is the order of the day. Often, times of civil unrest give people of a certain mentality the excuse they need to seek vengeance against those who have more than they do. Tensions erupt between the haves and the have-nots. When this occurs, often destruction of property is the way these people choose to show their power. While this starts out as purely a property crime, the situation can quickly turn violent. If someone is outside bashing the headlights of your vehicle, it isnt a far stretch to think that theyll bash on you if you confront them. How to respond to this is a very individual decision, and depends to a great extent on your personal skill levels and confidence. If you are a person who is unaccustomed to physical confrontations, you may be better off staying inside and calling your insurance company after the fact. No possession is worth your life or the lives of your family. Alternatively, in some situations, it wont stop with the destruction of your property. You may have to defend your home. Fire is of enormous concern in these types of scenarios. Fire is a cowardly attack that doesnt require any interaction on the part of the arsonist. It flushes out the family inside, leaving you vulnerable to physical assaults. Be ready for the potential of fire. Expect cops and soldiers to be harsh The reality is this: While many of the officers involved most likely just want to resolve the situation and go home to their families, the methods being used are not methods most of us wish to encounter. In a highly charged situation like this, police and military are trained to use the most efficient methods to speedily shut down a conflict.These methods can includeteargas, sound cannons, and outright physical assaults on citizens. Its important to note that fear can be a powerful motivator when deciding how much force is appropriate when addressing a threat. Cops are just as subject to fear as the rest of us. Twenty cops with shields and batons would bequite reasonable to fear an angry mob of hundreds of shouting people. Your safety when interacting with officials during a martial law situation does not rely on theintentions of police officers and military. It really doesnt matter if they are trying to crush your rights under a jack-booted heel, or whether they are trying to benevolently keep people safe and re-establish peace and harmony. Here are some suggestions to help keep you safe when dealing with cops and soldiers. Underneath the uniform, cops are human. Im not justifying the brutality, the methods theyre using, or the assaults on journalists. Cops are just as likely to be swept up in aherdmentalityas thugs are during a high stress situation. By understanding this, you canbe better prepared. Just stay home. I really cant repeat that often enough. Itsthe number one way to keep yourself safer from every single threat mentioned in this article. If you find yourself in an area under siege, the odds will be further on your side for every interaction in which you avoid taking part. Every single time you leave the house, you increaseyour chances of an unpleasant encounter. Nothing will be accomplished by going out duringa chaotic situation. Daisy Luther is a freelance writer and editor. Her website, The Organic Prepper, where this first appeared, offers information on healthy prepping, including premium nutritional choices, general wellness and non-tech solutions. You can follow Daisy on Facebook and Twitter, and you can email her at daisy@theorganicprepper.ca If you enjoyed this article, please Vote for The Organic Prepper as a top prepping web site. 