It’s The Summer of Love

Another summer, another season to riot and set things on fire. Last year, it was anti-Israel demonstrations, this year, it’s pro-illegal immigration demonstrations. Next year… who knows? 

For starters, next year is the sesquicentennial of our nation, so I’m guessing the usual suspects will think this a bad thing and try to disrupt those who are celebrating the 250th anniversary off the greatest country on earth, Honestly though, at this point, I’m not sure the protesters need a reason to protest. We are rapidly approaching the point where reason for the violence is the violence itself, and that gets a little bit scary. 

In the meantime, what can you do? First and foremost, obey Farnam’s Law: Don’t go to stupid places to do stupid things with stupid people at stupid times. Second, expand your definition of “stupid.” Is going to the Federal office building downtown to pick up some random paperwork a stupid thing to do? No, not necessarily. Is going to that building right now, when there is a decent chance that there will be a pro-illegal immigration protest going on out front a stupid thing to do? It ain’t the smartest thing to do, that’s for sure. 

Thirdly, understand that the fight could happen the minute you walk outside of your home. Get a dashcam for your car. Put a fire extinguisher in the trunk. Have a “Forget Everything And Run” bag in the passenger cabin, not in the trunk. Carry pepper spray and a firearm. You can avoid most of the trouble if you avoid the spots where trouble is likely to happen, but you can’t avoid all of it. 

Next, unleash your inner Roof Korean. Riots are a neighbor-wide disaster, so make your neighbor unfriendly to a riot. Get to know your neighbors. Create a Neighborhood Watch. Build connections with the people across the street so that if the streets become filled with unfriendlies, they go somewhere else, and quickly. 

Hey, if it worked for Afro-American neighborhoods in the South, it can work in your neighborhood too.

Finally, take a clue from those of us clustered around the Gulf of Mexico America and learn how to prep for a hurricane. Have at least two weeks worth of water, dry packaged goods and canned food on hand. Buy a small generator to run your fridge when the power goes out. Have extra fuel for your camp stove/barbecue.