“Instead of debating the diversity visa and gun control (again), and taking sides in the petty partisan bickering, we can instead focus on the strengths of our country, our resilient and reactive citizens that respond to the problems they see around them often in heroic ways.”
Like most Americans, I’m running out of words to use for yet another tragedy. A small town in Texas was the scene of the worst church shooting in history, with scores of churchgoers wounded and killed. Like most Americans, I could write the script for the debate that will follow. Side one will generally blame guns and a lack of government oversight. Side two will blame evil people, lack of mental health screenings, and so forth.
If the act is found to be connected to radical Islamic terrorism the sides are generally reversed, with side two arguing for stricter immigration (essentially more government control), and side one saying that immigration reform is the wrong solution.
Both sides accuse the other of politicizing the tragedy before the bodies are even cold and buried. But in reading the responses to the Texas shooting, on top of the responses to the Las Vegas shooting, I’m astounded to note that the true strength of America lies in its citizens, and the ad hoc militias they form to confront danger.
There wasn’t a government program that they turned to for help, instead it was simply their combined innate courage, teamwork, and determination that fought back.
The idea was first broached by conservative analyst Mark Steyn many years ago. He wrote that it wasn’t the government passport program, security theater at airports, or even the guns held by citizens that brought down the final flight on 9/11. It was a group of concerned citizens fighting with coffee pots and hot water who stormed the cock pit and saved countless lives as a result.
There wasn’t a government program that they turned to for help, instead it was simply their combined innate courage, teamwork, and determination that fought back. Steyn argues that the flight 93 militia is what has prevented another terrorist attack like that from occurring, because the potential attackers now know Americans will fight back before allowing themselves to be used as a missile.
The first responders in Las Vegas were off duty officers, former military members, nurses, and ordinary citizens who helped to direct the flow of panicked concert goers, render first aid, break through barriers, drive the wounded to hospitals, and even flip the shooter the bird. This includes one serviceman who stole a truck, and countless rideshare drivers who voluntary used their cars to drive the wounded to hospitals. Just like 9/11, the core strength of the American people came to the front and responded in the moment. Las Vegans are vigilant and it is their strength that will help prevent another attack far more than any government programs.
The first responders in Las Vegas were off duty officers, former military members, nurses, and ordinary citizens who helped to direct the flow of panicked concert goers
Finally, at the Texas massacre, Stephen Willeford heard the gunfire and ran to the scene with his gun. He didn’t even have time to put his shoes on, but he confronted the man in the parking lot anyway. After the shooter sped away, Willeford flagged down a motorist, Johnnie Langendorff, and together the ad hoc, two-man militia, one of them without his shoes, chased down the shooter until he killed himself.
He didn’t even have time to put his shoes on, but he confronted the man in the parking lot anyway.
That is the strength of America. Free people acting in the moment often do far better to stop threats than government programs, and even law enforcement arriving on the scene later. Instead of debating the diversity visa and gun control (again), and taking sides in the petty partisan bickering, we can instead focus on the strengths of our country, our resilient and reactive citizens that respond to the problems they see around them often in heroic ways.
