With a third of all Americans believing we are headed for Civil war and constant threats being used in political positions, you have to stop and think about it. It is a potential reality. But what will it look like? Are you in danger in your town? I believe I have a point of view for you.
Firs I would like to direct you to an article that shares thoughts I agree with and I find it very fair toward both political parties to boot. Read it HERE.
Got it? Good.
If you google Proud Boys Civil War, you will find reports across multiple media sources quoting a "member" of the extremists to say that there will be civil war if Trump is not re-elected. I do believe there will be violence, but a civil war? Hard to say how that will pan out. What will it look like?
For one, it won't be a two sided fight. It will be multi-sided with several groups all of the mentality of "if you start shooting, I'll start shooting". This will develop pockets of significant violence in many major cities and some medium ones, but it won't be anything remotely organized over a large area. One thing is for certain, it will be absolute chaos. A lot of innocent lives will be lost because none of these groups will have a solid grasp of who their enemy is. Lines will blur and any place there is a protest or any form of political gathering will be a prime target. This thought doesn't even include the presence of any law enforcement or military.
Law enforcement will be bent over a barrel in the hot zones and Governor's will likely have to activate their state's National Guard. But who of any of those organizations will also be compromised? Martial law is a good possibility in various areas as well. If you think you're little pocket militia is fit to face our fully trained military in combat, you have another thing coming. And remember that our military personnel all took and oath to protect from all threats foreign and domestic.
Any group that presents enough of a military scale threat can be erased with things like jets, tanks and drones. I doubt it will come to that for these groups, but you can be there will be military response. But what is "enough of a military scale threat"? To be honest, I don't know. That just tells me it's a bad gamble.
I think at the end of the day, for any of us, it will be most important to protect our own homes and families. I will share with you some things I'm watching for around me and online. On these, I could be wrong about anyone. I will not engage with any of these people, this is for mental note only. It is not a battle plan for people to go start shooting. So if you take anything I say here as a means to start building targets for your guns, you are part of the problem.
The biggest thing to watch for is any scale of excessive behavior or belief. There are two houses on my block with over abundance of signs and flags. One house has 2 flag and 5 signs while the other recently increased to 7 signs in a tiny front yard. Number two has signs that are inflammatory and a car with about 40 conspiracy bumper stickers all over the back end. One of the residents of house two, recently got a flag he takes to busy streets to wave at passers by. I will be watching both houses around election time and up to for their reactions. I have overheard conversations from both that are equally inflammatory like "we'll see what happens if they come for my guns". I don't talk to them either. We had a street get together for all neighbors hosted by another neighbor of mine and those two didn't show for the ice cream and root beer floats like the rest.
Anyone who dismisses current losses of life as any form of insignificant for any excuse (IE the people Kyle R. shot, people dead from covid, or people who have died that were part of any social or political party) is someone to keep an eye on under the circumstances. This includes any belief that all of "name that party" should be killed. The more a person says they are ready to kill so and so, the more you should either keep and eye open or keep your distance.
Now, since the excess of threats are coming from extreme right wing pro white conservative groups, you have to know who is currently endangered. This is two fold. First and foremost, anyone who isn't white is endangered. Second, anyone who is LGBTQ is endangered. This has been proven and prompted public warnings in Portland and surrounding areas. There is no reason to think that won't spread if not already. Proud Boys were filmed ransacking a city part beating gay pride demonstrators or black lives demonstrators with clubs and bats. Some were arrested. I have also seen quite a few posts on the lines of "kill all liberals". So be sure to keep yourself safe. What can you do?
If you don't want anything to do with any fighting and you want to be safe, there are things you can do. You don't have to be paranoid, but a safety plan is a good idea.
Talk to your family about what you all need to do if fighting erupts on your street. This is especially important for your children. Discuss where they need to go if something dangerous is happening right outside or coming closer. Some ideas would be to go under beds or to a spot in the basement or bathroom. The idea is to get out of potential lines of fire because a bullet can go through at least one wall or window. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. The best place for your child is either flat on the floor, or below ground level with as many walls between them and any violence as possible. Call for help via 911. Turn off all interior lights. Adults should also stay low if there is shooting.
Pay attention to local news alerts and avoid areas that are reported as having dangerous activity. This is especially true if your city has already suffered violence. You may have to go out of your way to safely get your household needs. Without going into high crime areas, know locations that are away from the high traffic danger zones. Be ready to go to those places and only if you are in absolute need.
Now I'm not telling you not to defend your property, but apply this wisely. Do not go outside your home to brandish a weapon at a crowd of people who are also armed. This is a good way to get shot. Stay inside where you have applicable cover in the case of a firefight (that I would hope no one has to worry about). In reality, neighborhoods that are in the midst of or connected to high traffic city areas where violence breaks out are in the most danger. The further out you are to the edge of your city (as theory goes) the safer your neighborhood should be unless it's a high crime area already. A politician's home may create a target neighborhood as we already know.
Remember, this will not be a large mass organized national civil war like the first one. It will be large clusters of violence by varied groups. If you don't want to be part of that fighting, stay away. If you can't stay away, learn how to protect your home and take precautions.
So now.. what will you do if we have a "civil war"? What do you think it will take to be declared a "civil war"? Good luck to you.