Clay’s Guide to Urban Defense: Series Introduction

Authors Clay Martin Columns Concealed Carry/EDC

Editor’s note: In an effort to help you prepare or become better prepared for whatever the future holds, we’re going to rerun Clay’s series on urban defense, starting with the introductory episode below. Things have changed since 2018 and Clay has actually published a book, titled, “Concrete Jungle: A Green Beret’s Guide to Urban Survivalthat dives further into this topic and includes important updates. I suggest you check it out. But, in the meantime, this is a good primer to get you started.

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Clay's Guide to Urban Defense: Series Introduction

Antifa members featured in the CNN video embedded below. They want to use violence to repel Nazis. Sounds good on its face but what happens when everyone to the right of Jeb Bush is considered a “Nazi.” (Photo: CNN)

It pains me to say this, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Political violence is ratcheting up in a way I haven’t seen in my lifetime, at least not in this country. I would invite our readers that lived through the ’60s and ’70s to share an opinion on that in the comments. While we haven’t yet witnessed random bombings like the ones perpetrated by Obama’s mentor Bill Ayers and The Weather Underground, we have had an uptick in police assassinations, rioting, and street violence in recent years. And I don’t remember the earlier counterculture shooting up a congressional baseball practice, to be fair. It is safe to say that the far Left in our country is heading off the rails and its collective foot is on the gas — not the brakes.

When you combine this with polling data showing the Right is likely to retain the House and Senate in November, puzzle pieces start to fit together forming a scary picture. The screeching from the hard Left hasn’t stopped for the last two years about how unfair and unjust elections are. Every day we are bombarded with cries to disband ICE, impeach Trump for treason, redistribute wealth, and eat the rich. Half the country seems 100 percent okay with branding anyone to the right of Jeb Bush a “Nazi,” which at this point includes JFK, ’90s-era Hillary Clinton, and Mother Theresa. I’m serious on that last one, check the link.



Most recently, Twitter has been abuzz with messages stating “Trump supporters must be held accountable.” The implication here is that since they can’t reach our political leaders, it is not only acceptable but a duty to assault the voters. Just a few weeks ago an Antifa member was arrested in South Dakota with bomb-making materials and a pile of guns. All this together paints a pretty ugly scene. If/when the Dems get their butts handed to them at the midterms this year, the possibility exists that those on the fringe aren’t going to take it lightly. Considering the riots at Trump’s inauguration, best to be prepared. “Old Satan Claus, Jimmy, he is out there.” To borrow a proverb from the Chinese, what is the best time to get ready? Twenty years ago, and the second best is right now!

Oh, and in case you don’t trust my analysis of the current state of affairs.  Consider what Liberal law professor Alan Dershowitz had to say when he was asked about the biggest threat to America’s future.  I’ll give you a hint.  It isn’t the far right he is worried about.  See the video below.  If that doesn’t hit home, not sure what else will.



Now a quick glance at a red county/blue county map of the United States tells us a lot. Like most of us don’t have anything to worry about. I would need to drive an hour just to find enough people to host a riot. Most of us away from the coasts would have to commute to a civil war, and carpool to afford the gas! But for you poor bastard urban dwellers, prepare to defend your morale.

Fortunately, dear readers, I have watched a city burn. A couple actually, at least one of which I had nothing to do with starting. Having spent a good portion of my life engaged in urban combat in faraway locales, I have some tips and tricks to share. Things get a little bit more difficult when the enemy has artillery and rocket launchers, but the principles are the same. What we are looking for is a plan somewhere between the Korean gas station defenses of the ’90s in La La Land and the Chechens at Grozny. Both worked amazingly well and should be studied by anyone living in a city.

For the first four episodes, we are going with the premise here that you can’t leave your location or you waited so long that the roads are choked with wrecked cars and dumpster fires. I think that is a pretty solid hypothesis, most of us can’t take Tuesday off to go camping. And if you have ever seen a natural disaster, you know how quickly things go pear-shaped in terms of exit routes. That leaves the shelter you have in place as the best option. We are also calling this an isolated major city problem, not an end of the world scenario. Order will be restored, it just might take a while. Which makes walking out a much greater risk than necessary.  That said, our last episode will discuss escape plans and tactical movement as a group or family, just in case, everything goes to hell.

The episode list is below.  Stay tuned, it should be a fun ride!

Clay’s Guide to Urban Defense

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  • Stan d. Upnow March 6, 2022, 3:46 pm

    The Big differences between the political “activists” of the ’60’s & ’70’s and now is that the federal govt. back in the day was very much opposed to them and sought to go after them. Today, as we’ve seen & heard, those in govt. openly support them. Also, today they are comprised of Progressive-Socialists and die-hard Communists. Back then, it was mostly kids who were against the Vietnam war and wanted to see policy changes. Today, it is well-funded, organized subversives who want to destroy our Constitutional Republic and all who would support it. Back then the slogans were “Love & Peace,” but today it’s “Kill the Fascists!”
    There were very few who espoused violence back then. Today, it’s their core principle.

    And there it is, Clay, in a nutshell.

  • gregory m schwartz March 4, 2022, 9:50 am

    i miss the good old days when a cop told you to stop you did they ask you a question you did not lie now 15 year old kids are lawyers i know my rights back then i knew my rights too but i respected the authority of those that swore to protect me and my family

  • Steve March 4, 2022, 8:56 am

    A follow-up to my other post: the 60s-era opposition had too many flower children to resemble what we see today.

  • Steve March 4, 2022, 8:48 am

    As written, Clay, it is not a Chinese proverb. Although if I dug through the many Chinese proverbs and idioms, I’m confident that I could find one to fit.

    IMO, we need to trade our tolerance for active aggression directed at the trouble-makers.

    • Stan d. Upnow March 6, 2022, 4:00 pm

      Your last statement is spot-on. But, since the “trouble makers” are useful tools of the Left in DC(and elsewhere), you will be stepped on if you oppose them. Can you say “hate crime?” Do I need remind of the recent cases involving Kyle Rittenhouse, the McCloskeys, and drivers who hit rioters in their desperate attempt to escape before being dragged out of their vehicles and beaten, or worse? And what incentive do the police have in arresting the scum when a Soros-DA will have them released -without bail- within hours?
      Don’t count on “nice guy” Republicans to go hard on them either. They’re too busy “compromising” and “reaching across the aisle” to the enemy to do anything meaningful.

  • Someolboy September 30, 2020, 12:16 pm

    Round these people up, take them into custody, put them on military transports, send them to Argentina and leave them there. They can walk home if they want to come back. In other words if you don’t like it here in America, you can leave. Nobody is forcing you to stay here. And no the world does not owe you a living. And no the rest of us are not going to let you turn our country into Nazi Germany, because that is exactly where you are heading.

  • etph September 29, 2020, 5:06 pm

    Wow, this article seems like it was written recently. Maybe it was updated because it seems so relevant now more than when it was written a little over 2 years ago! I already imagined an apocalyptic scenario 8-9 years ago when I lived abroad in South Korea. My Korean-Americanized roommate at that time really got me into this because he was coming at it from an economics POV. He had worked in the financial industry’s derivatives division and lending to huge corporations. I had very little knowledge about that world but his talk about preparation and even purchasing firearms was very relevant to other situations. I have had close encounters with criminals and others who threatened me, but I never had to fight for my life or even argue. The best policy for me is walk away unless threatened and cornered. Well, I finally encountered a situation like that 2 years ago after having returned from Korea 5 years later. Because S. Korea was so safe relative to the US, I never really had to fear or defend myself anywhere there nor in Japan where I traveled frequently. Besides, I worked at universities, so I was even more sheltered compared to, say, Americans GIs. I faced a BIG test and I passed it successfully when 4 ex-cons from a south central L.A. gang attempted to break into my home while my partially disabled mother and I were at home on a calm, peaceful late morning week day. I live in a small bedroom community with luxury gated communities around me. The luxury car they came didn’t initially give me any strange feelings or concerns. One of the guys who got off and knocked on our door raised suspicions afterward only because he returned to the car with paper license plates and remained in there for over 1/2 an hour. Only when mother and I looked out the window of one of the rooms that faces the street did we finally decide to call the sheriff’s office. 911 was unnecessary because there was no emergency. But about 1 minute later after reporting and describing the suspicious Porsche Panamera, all hell broke lose. It was like an action movie and I almost became paralyzed with fear and panic. Just seeing three guys suddenly open the doors to the car and quickly run up the driveway was enough for me to scream to the deputy to hurry up and come! Of course, that was impossible, so I willed myself to relax, breath slowly, and tell the deputy I was grabbing my shotgun. By the time I was at the foot of the stairs pointing my shotgun toward the French doors, one of the ex-cons began to appear with outstretched arms and thick green gloves that I had seen him wearing when he ran up the driveway toward the left gate. Seeing those green gloves initially signaled his intentions, and I knew he was about to break a window or door. The scariest part of all of this was making a difficult decision to shoot and then having to live with possibly killing someone, even though it would have been self defense. I was never in fear for my life but rather the fear of having to take one. But the entire incident was over within seconds. The guy disappeared and within under a minute, I saw the tail end of the car leaving. The first sheriff finally arrived…14-15 minutes later! I know this was long but I’m trying to convey what someone like me who’s never served in the military might feel and experience when encountered with their first self-defense incident. This time my shotgun served as a deterrent but next time…? 🤷🏽‍♂️ I do know that I am determined to use necessary force if and when necessary. That even helped to solidify my determination, and it demonstrated that we are the first and sometimes only line of defense. My mother’s aneurism worsened as a result and she had to have open-heart surgery. She almost died and is still recovering over a year later. Self defense not only involves me but loved ones like mother whom I currently a caregiver for.

  • bruce September 28, 2020, 11:17 am

    I feel for this guy, the terrible nightmares he must be having: walking down some darkened street of Brooklyn being followed by crazed revolutionaries. He should use his paranoia worrying about the real crazies out there, gunning down school children, church goers and their former co-workers at the office.

    • Scooter Lippy September 28, 2020, 1:18 pm

      Liberal leaning mass shooters are always a concern but mentioning church goers as being as dangerous as those idiots just shows your bias and ignorance. Have mom fix you something to eat and go join Your Marxist/Leninist brothers and sisters in the struggle.

    • xdj3 October 30, 2020, 11:01 am

      Bruce, which do you think has a greater likelihood of occuring? when thugs are rioting, burning cities, and police are ordered to stand down and facing defunding, who is protecting the citizens? people poured blood & sweat to build their lives only to watch it burned down by mobs.

      long ago, they hung horse thieves. i’m thinking when you put it in perspective, that’s not cruel and unusual punishment when you rob someone of their means of survival.

  • Erick Lawler September 28, 2020, 9:24 am

    Unfortunately, gang training is part of my job requirement. It would be nice to see all of the gangs being addressed in articles like this. The Proud Boys are the flip side of Antifa: Both believe in using violence against the police. Sorry fact, but both want revolution via violence vs the ballot box.

    • xdj3 October 30, 2020, 11:19 am

      Erick, i don’t know anything about the proud boys. are they actively organizing the destruction of public or other persons’ property? i’m asking this as a serious question. thanks.

  • Anthony Romano September 28, 2020, 7:08 am

    I live in a diverse suburb east of Cleveland Ohio, on my block there’s my neighbor across the street band rwo doors down a police officer. We’re all friends and just last night we’re talking about our ammo and gun situation and how we’re ready for anyone marching down our street to cause havoc. Our street is safe believe me!!

  • Yep yep September 26, 2020, 6:30 am

    If it has happened it will happen again if not careful and study my friend it will help you!!! Have a good day Richard 🤦‍♂️….

  • JoeUSooner September 25, 2020, 3:53 pm

    Months before the 2016 election, Homeland Security – Obama’s(!) HS – submitted a “white paper” to Congress, insisting that Civil War would (not “might” or “may,” but Would!) erupt in the US. Their best estimate was “within 5 years” (that is, by early 2021). I have not seen a single event since that time, to make me doubt their conclusion.

  • rt66paul September 25, 2020, 1:32 pm

    While I remember the 60s and 70s political marches and the violent acts done in the name of politics, it was different than today. There were a few violent political upstarts, but most of the counter culture did NOT go along with them, they were all about peaceful protest(not the “Mostly Peaceful Protest” we have this year.
    The people protesting wanted change, but went along with Nixon being elected and accepted it. They even accepted Reagan with his racist and anti gun(for the masses) stance.
    These people protesting today want a handout. It was to policies of Nixon(who opened up China) and Reagan(who about bankrupted this country with peacetime military spending). A Republican who actually has helped the country’s industrial/manufacturing base, creating jobs and tariffs on imported goods is being pushed out by those that made money on imports from other countries. We can not stay on top of the world with a service economy, sooner or later, the people that pay for these services won’t be able to pay anymore and we we be a third world country.
    We Americans need to support leaders that actually have our interests at heart and become functioning members of society. We are not responsible for the people in other countries. We have given away our technology, sold out many of our natural resources, and taken in many aliens(illegal and legal) who came here for monetary reasons. Why? So their children can riot to make our country over into the one their parents left?

    • SD September 25, 2020, 8:51 pm

      Reagan was not for gun control. He stated that criminals had no regard for gun laws only law abiding citizens and gun control would not prevent the criminals from committing crimes.

      • Swedegunner March 4, 2022, 12:43 pm

        While he did say that he thought restricting guns to curb crime was useless, actually, Regan was for limited gun control; I’m sure what he thought was “common sense” gun control back then. He pushed for the Brady bill which stipulated a waiting period and background check, was in favor of banning “assault” weapons, and outlawed open carry in California when he was governor there. Plus he signed the Firearm Owners Protection Act into law, which was generally favorable for gun owners, but which brought the Hughes amendment to life, banning us from having any machine guns manufactured after May 19th, 1986.

  • Awesome Bill from Dawsonville September 25, 2020, 11:46 am

    Dammit, Clay! Quit being such a tease!

  • Robert C September 25, 2020, 11:43 am

    Is this the same material that’s in the book you wrote?

  • Glenn September 25, 2020, 10:10 am

    Great public service. Thanks for sharing.

  • flintman50 September 25, 2020, 9:02 am

    It’s simple….As M. Thatcher said “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of someone else’s money”…

    molon labe…..

    • SVT September 28, 2020, 11:55 am

      No the problem with socialism is that it only works for the rich. Everyone else has to run in the capitalism marathon for the rest of our lives. And god forbid you lose that unforgiving race because if you do no one in this country will so much as piss on your gums if your teeth were on fire.

      Oh and btw, here’s a list of Americas scary socialist programs:

      Police departments
      Fire departments
      Public schools
      Prisons
      FDA
      US military & defense (America’s biggest socialist program to date)

      • NH March 4, 2022, 4:28 pm

        I don’t think “socialism” means what you think it means.

  • Donald Trump August 21, 2018, 3:18 am

    Yeah, that\’s going to happen. A gang of twenty something women\’s studies majors is going to team up with the philosophy department and they are all going to make their 80 percents full auto with their cnc machines, and then they are going to rampage through Nampa Idaho.Do you have any dreaming idea how dilusional you all sound?

    • Rick September 14, 2018, 10:11 am

      The delusional one is you, smart aleck.

    • Chuck Matson September 25, 2020, 10:50 am

      Sober up bone-head.

    • JoeUSooner September 25, 2020, 3:55 pm

      Hell, even Obama and his Homeland Security office were certain that civil war would erupt in the US!

      • SammyBoy September 28, 2020, 10:52 am

        Well of course the Obama administration is/was expecting a civil war…Anti government militia and white supremacy membership spiked to an all time high under his presidency (because you know, he dared to be a black president).
        Yeah, The last thing in the world that frightens me is a bunch of skinny jeans wearing college students or BLM protester er oh i mean scary black people who want their civil rights taken seriously. Those are the last people I carry guns for.
        No, the ones I’m most troubled by are the so called “patriots” who grab their guns and racist flags every time they want to “peacefully protest” a non-issue like wearing a damn mask during a pandemic.

        “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross”
        -Sinclair Lewis

        • slamskie October 27, 2020, 10:32 am

          Sammyboy….you need to seriously wake up, you speak in the typical “woke” language that shows you have been brainwashed by the media and socialist university education and are truly delusional. The US may not look the way you want it to but choosing to ignore the violent riots and subversive media coverage of anything “conservative” while pointing to the non-violent right as the scapegoat is nothing short of pitiful. It is the skinny jean slacker crowd that are committing all of the violent acts(an overwhelming video evidence is available for your viewing pleasure)…you should be concerned. I am sure you feel lots of white guilt for being born and need to lash out at common sense so you can feel better.

        • Solo March 4, 2022, 7:44 am

          Well said…SammyBoy…..well said.

          Fascism is here in the USA and it is draped in the flag and the cross……

          Trump Loyalists are always talking about how the US is becoming like Nazi Germany not realizing that they are the one facilitating it….

  • Kenneth G Holloway August 12, 2018, 7:33 pm

    During the summer of 1966 I was working at Case Tech, now Case Western Reserve University, before starting classes there in the fall. When the Hough riots broke out I was worried since I needed to travel through the edge of the ghetto on my way to and from work. During that period I was shot at 3 times and public transport I was riding was deliberately derailed. After the first time I was shot at I purchased a handgun and carried it anytime I left home. At that time it was highly illegal to do so but I felt my life came first.

    I had not bothered to carry a gun since then until this year. But the political tensions are now much, much worse then they were in 1966. I now live in Northeast Ohio between Cleveland and Erie where it is fairly peaceful. However, due to the worsening political climate I now have an Ohio Concealed Handgun License and I am carrying 7/24. Hopefully the roiling boil of today’s politics will die down to a simmer. Until it does I will be on guard. Thank you for listening to me and for the articles you’ll be writing.

    ===KGH

  • Stevie August 11, 2018, 6:08 pm

    I’d give more credence to someone writing about “urban defense” if they didn’t live in Moose Balls, Idaho. This should be good.

    • Irish-7 August 14, 2018, 1:49 am

      No credit for what Clay learned in the military? He did state in the article: “Fortunately, dear readers, I have watched a city burn. A couple actually, at least one of which I had nothing to do with starting. Having spent a good portion of my life engaged in urban combat in faraway locales, I have some tips and tricks to share. Things get a little bit more difficult when the enemy has artillery and rocket launchers, but the principles are the same. What we are looking for is a plan somewhere between the Korean gas station defenses of the ’90s in La La Land and the Chechens at Grozny. Both worked amazingly well and should be studied by anyone living in a city.”

      • sgt. Pop March 4, 2022, 10:35 am

        Amen!

  • LHTwist August 11, 2018, 9:56 am

    It’s ironic that these antifa-rts claim to be fighting nazis yet they’re behaving exactly like Hitler’s Brown Shirts, including the uniform. I say give them twice what they offer. The only way they’ll stop is when the price exceeds the reward. And snatch as many hoodies & masks as possible, mommy & daddy will eventually tire of replacing them.

  • Michael August 11, 2018, 9:21 am

    Okay, Clay, I’ve heard enough. I, too, remember. I am a man of 70, USMC, RVN Vet. I remember much, sometimes too much for my own liking. For all those other commenters, I want to try to impress upon you that anytime a person ‘covers’ his/her face and acts/attacks aggressively/violently towards another, that qualifies that individual as a :TERRORIST”! There is ONLY one way to deal with such an individual/s:To react with overpowering Force! “Protesters” Do NOT have a Need to hide their face, as they are content to voice their disapproval with a multitude of Non-Violent Actions. It is, in my opinion, Essential, that one understand the difference .I look forward to reading your Article, not because I live in a Metro Area, but because I occasionally Do visit there. One should always be open to options. Murphy’s Law/Be a Boy Scout!

  • Smitty August 11, 2018, 12:02 am

    Hi Clay,
    You are about to reveal some great info. The left has always been destructive in nature. I think they want to start another civil war. When I was a teenager black Muslims robbed a grocery store, killed a police officer and took over a black radio station in my home town urging blacks to rise up and riot. Well the local blacks showed up but not to riot. They went downtown to watch the state and local law enforcement surround the radio station and shoot their asses. This time the groups are larger and inter-racial and far more brainwashed. I can see where ISIS could easily recruit these clowns and use them for cannon fodder. Anyway, can’t wait for the next article. Hey is that last one that’s titled Escape from L.A. an abbreviation for Lower Alabama? LOL

  • Rob August 10, 2018, 10:29 pm

    When the riots following MLK death happened in 1968 I was living in the D.C. Metro area. My father and Uncle were D.C. police officers. We had a few long nights wondering if Dad was coming home. While it wasn’t the best of times then, at least the police were backed by the most of the public and government. It didn’t matter what color the officer’s skin was when he shot/killed someone. It was and unfortunate part of the job. As a retired LEO who lived during both times, I’d say that todays environment is worse, much worse actually, due to the persecution of law enforcement officers by liberal leaning politicians and public which just propagates more anarchy.
    If President Trump is re-elected in 2020, hopefully he will take the gloves off while fulfill his campaign promise of being the “Law and Order President”

    Clay, thank you Sir for your contributions to freedom, both in uniform and out.

    Semper Fi

  • Dano August 10, 2018, 3:11 pm

    Grew up in Southern Kalifornia in the 60’s/70’s. Was thinking just the other day about the parallels between today and back then and realizing how cyclic eras are (funny how clothes styles of yesterday come back around). Except today seems more fervent, which I attribute to the ease of mass communication. In the last month 2 violent incidents caused me to nearly draw, and actually my CCW’d pistol from my pocket (yes there are actually CCW friendly counties in CA). First we were in a movie theatre attached to a mall when a girl ran in screaming someone’s shooting in the mall. It turned out to be a taser, but never the less half the theatre got up and ran. We stayed in the theatre where I could control our situation until the PD moved us out. Second was an attempted take down of what turned out to be a carjacking right in front of us. The suspect ran straight at our car with PD behind them. Yep, gun was in hand below the seat until the perp was well past us.

    However, what really scares me is the younger generations general lack of desire to get out and make something of themselves. I hear more and more rhetoric about communism, which seems to fit with the lazy, as if everyone gets the same piece of the pie, there’s no reason to get out and work hard. It burns me to no end that I thought about what I would need to be comfortable in life, worked hard to get there, only to find the left keeps jacking up minimum wages, which depreciates my hard earned wages, then taxes the crap out of those same hard earned wages and turns around and hands it to people who don’t try. I raised my kids with an eye to the future, as well as “What if…” plans. Both my girls hunt and are extremely proficient with rifles, pistols, and shotguns. And all of us are heading to Free States outside Kalifornia where we can watch the left coast burn.

  • John Bibb August 10, 2018, 1:13 pm

    ***
    HI CLAY–I’ll be watching them all. Good analysis of our current political violence situations with Black Lies Matter and the AntiFA anarchists / socialists / communists. And their American Pravda Media PRESSTITUTES and their Far Left Donk supporters and apologists. Like the Boy Scouts and The U.S. Military say, “Be–PREPARED!”
    ***
    Just because you’re paranoid–DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY’RE NOT OUT TO GET YOU!
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  • Paul August 10, 2018, 1:08 pm

    I love your gun review videos, and look forward to the new series. Keep up the great work.

  • John M. O'Connor August 10, 2018, 11:37 am

    Clay, I do not believe your comments can be over stated…I too believe, that as the left feels the squeeze from the election results, they will out of desperation, become even more outrageous & violent…this will case them to reveal the monster that is driving them, and I fear it is only the beginning of what is to come…in this, I feel that it is as you stated above, “…far better to have & not need, then to need & not have…”, and especially this, “…Praise the Lord & pass the ammunition…” respectfully submitted, jo’c

  • Mike August 10, 2018, 11:36 am

    Why isnt the FBI investigating Antifa ,they investigate all the so called militia groups.

  • Scott August 10, 2018, 10:54 am

    Clay – Yes, maybe during your lifetime this is the worst, but this is the equivalent of the 60’s and 70’s. No more. People were violent and uncivil then, the targets have changed is all. In both instances, tearing down the government was the target. Soldiers were spat on and government protested, instead of Press Secretaries and other government officials being harassed at meals; Nixon was the target of removal (for just reasons) just like Trump ( for no reason at all). Both times this was driven by socialist/communist elements of the far-left. Hollywood was involved, too- can you say “Jane Fonda”. I’ve seen this dance before. You have to understand groups like Antifa. Antifa is a mish-mash of both communist and far-right agitators. Far-right agitators – anarchist – want no government so that rule of law is what their fists and their aggression will get them in the absence of societal order. Communists want to replace current governments with ones in their image of collectivism. Both anarchist and communists are united in their desire for violent overthrow.
    The 2nd Amendment, in its wisdom of the founders, saw both the anarchist threat (Koreantown Gas Station Defense) and the Collectivist (communism/tyranny) threats as part of human nature and provided for control and management of these extremes. Let me put this in military terms Clay, that I know you’ll appreciate. The US government, and more centrally, US society, is the dominant force. The extremist fringe (Antifa/anarchist) have neither the size nor force for a direct confrontation. Therefore, the extremist fringe, true to military doctrine, are running a guerrilla campaign of violent hit, run, and hide within the populace campaign as a means to destabilize centralized force. Centralized force governments are really good at fighting other like forces but are ill-equipped to fight smaller, more nimble guerrilla forces. The 2nd Amendment, a well-armed militia, is the only thing that has the capabilities of defeating guerrilla activities because they are local, present, and react instantaneously. Fortunately, the 2nd Amendment is in expansion in our society after decades of contraction of power.

    • Ti September 25, 2020, 7:25 pm

      Scott I like your words!

      I would also like to remind our dear readers, there are about 330 million of us here in the good old USA.

      These groups are but a popcorn fart in the wind. They are attempting to break a system that works. It is not perfect, but, do not let them break it, for it is better than any other alternative. This, history is clear on.

  • Rangemaster11B August 10, 2018, 10:37 am

    Antifa wears masks because they intend to commit crimes. It is a crime (PC 185), even here in the Democratic People’s Republic of California. Even Berkeley PD got it last week. Arrest them when they show up masked & hooded.

  • mac1pine August 10, 2018, 10:15 am

    Back when the \”Watts Rioting\” was going down in Los Angeles, I was a kid living in Orange County. The neighbor across the street was a L.A.P.D. officer. He came over late one night to talk with my dad (a former Marine) and told us what it was like for him and his partner to be on patrol at night or day and have their rear window shot out. In addition to their sidearms, they had a shotgun in their patrol car, but nothing that reach-out and touch someone at a distance. Long story cut short, dad lent him his 30-30 to help bring him/them back home. Yeah Dad!….

  • mac1pine August 10, 2018, 10:14 am

    Back when the “Watts Rioting” was going down in Los Angeles, I was a kid living in Orange County. The neighbor across the street was a L.A.P.D. officer. He came over late one night to talk with my dad (a former Marine) and told us what it was like for him and his partner to be on patrol at night or day and have their rear window shot out. In addition to their sidearms, they had a shotgun in their patrol car, but nothing that reach-out and touch someone at a distance. Long story cut short, dad lent him his 30-30 to help bring him/them back home. Yeah Dad!….

  • Willliam August 10, 2018, 10:11 am

    The coercive US Neo-liberal system of predatory economics and perpetual welfare-warfare is not worth saving at this point. Sections of the country could form alliances and solve the ills that US .gov will not solve due to the corruption and greed concentrated in the Boston to Washington DC corridor..

  • James Miller August 10, 2018, 9:52 am

    Whereas my next birthday will be #70, I am far too old and slow to take an ass-whipping. For that reason, my pistol and 31 rounds of 9mm are wedged between the console and passenger seat of my vehicle. Living in rural mid-Michigan, an altercation seems remote unless everything goes completely sideways. Should I need to venture into the “big city” and some group of socialist malcontents are blocking the road/freeway, they had better have their shin guards on and a soft place to land. Not a “tough guy” by any stretch of the imagination, just want to be left alone at this point. I do think today’s unrest is worse and more dangerous than the 1960s and 1970s.
    Looking forward to your series, Clay. Stay safe!

    • glock 19 fan August 10, 2018, 2:09 pm

      My next b’day will be #86 and I have mobility problems so all I can do is hunker down behind a barricade. You are right; this a much more dangerous period than the 60’s and 70’s by a long shot (pun intended). Like you, I just want to be left alone.

      • James Miller August 10, 2018, 7:41 pm

        Will gladly share that barricade with you, sir!

  • Darren August 10, 2018, 9:51 am

    Can’t wait to read more. Thanks, Clay.

  • Moochie August 10, 2018, 9:05 am

    Clay couldn’t agree more witnessing an attempt to destroy our Great Nation as we know it and using a basis from late 50’ I would say it has already degraded considerably. I would say to you with good intentions is when speaking about assasinations and brutal attacks on our Nations first line of defense at home, our Law Enforcement when speaking about increases in the mortality rate please do not minimalize this statistic as “UPTICK”. Speaking as a retired L.E. that word was offensive and unfeeling
    Thank you for your service and your voice
    Loyal fan

  • Moochie August 10, 2018, 9:03 am

    Clay couldn’t agree more witnessing an attempt to destroy our Great Nation as we know it and using a basis from late 50’ I would say it has already degraded considerably. I would say to you with good intentions is when speaking about assasinations and brutal attacks on our Nations first line of defense at home, our Law Enforcement when speaking about increases in the mortality rate please do not minimalize this statistic as “UPTICK”. Speaking as a retired L.E. that word was offensive and infeeling.
    Thank you for your service and your voice
    Loyal fan

  • James August 10, 2018, 8:56 am

    I grew up during the 60s and 70s outside of NYC. The rain did hit us! I remember the feelings in the late 60s that I had as a 12 year old child. I was scared. As Clay said, cops were murdered. I remember the Black Panthers, Detroit, the riots in LA and protests and fires in New York. It was a scary time. But, whatever happened then didn’t scare me as much as some of today’s groups do. Antifa and some of the things I saw right here in Missouri during the riots really worry me. They give me that sick feeling in my stomach that I had as a 10 year old growing up in New York. When will it come to my neighborhood? What can I do? I remember being afraid of every male with long hair, bell bottoms or a big Afro.
    Now, I’m afraid for my kids. I’m ready for the “protesters” of today or to shelter in place. I was a firefighter in NY but I moved away from to the Midwest after I buried over 30 friends from 9/11. I love it here. I’m ready now and am so happy that I’m not under the government of Governor Cuomo! Living through his father’s rule was enough for me. I own lots of things here that I couldn’t own in NY. I carry daily and I protect my family and myself. Can’t wait to read Clays advice. Looking forward to the series.

  • Tom Welfelt August 10, 2018, 8:36 am

    At soon to be 67 yrs old I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s like someone kicked a huge fire ant mound and they came out biting everything. Appreciate very much your doing the series.

  • Jackpine August 10, 2018, 8:22 am

    Clay, thanks for this series.

    Re: living in the 60’s and the protest movement, the major difference I see from today is that the protestors then were much closer to the giants of non-violent protesting, Mahatma Gandhi and M.L. King.

    I strongly suspect absolutely nobody in the Black Lives Matter movement has read anything by these men. A few protests did get ugly (such as Kent State), but the act of the ‘sit-in’ was the method of choice to make a statement. Nobody then would block off a bridge or march down an interstate, at least as far as I remember. Or (!) kneel during the national anthem.

    Today’s protests will just get worse. In the same way unions killed themselves by championing all union members, even the total losers, protestors today aren’t making any converts by protesting about some guy that was shot by the police while attempting to get his pistol from him. If they would concentrate on the truly innocent victims getting shot, and protest in a respectable way, they would win over ten’s of thousands of people for their next protest. As it stands they are only alienating just about everybody.

    Finally, BLM and those NFL knee-takers come across as total hypocrites. They obviously only care about blacks being shot by police in the line of duty, especially white officers, and the circumstances do not matter. What black lives don’t they care about? Any sort of black-on-black crime. Why aren’t they protesting in Chicago? Those black lives don’t matter, as long as it was done by a black. Why don’t they protest when an 8 yr. old black kid is gunned down, caught in a gang shooting cross-fire? Doesn’t fit the narrative of whites oppressing blacks, so that kid’s life doesn’t matter.

    This entire mindset is only being exacerbated by your average college these days: you’re a victim, and it’s anybody else’s fault if life throws some bumps in your road. Don’t take personal responsibility for the outcome of your life, get rageful instead!

    • Majorwrecks August 10, 2018, 9:00 am

      Well said! I have been seaching for the words to describle my views and you stated it perfactly
      Thank You!

      • D.J. August 13, 2018, 2:12 pm

        Here , here ! Well said , sir !
        Having grown up in the mid-sixties & early seventies ,
        I witnessed all the tumult of those times . I believe the only
        difference are the ” educated , neocommunists ” that are
        reliving grandpa & grandma’s exploits from that time .
        Only in an overly violent manner .
        God hope this is a ” flash in the pan” , and does not
        degenerate into full blown civil war . Personally , I have
        neither the time , nor patience for such nonsense .

  • paul August 10, 2018, 8:12 am

    As a surviver of growing up Chicago during the 60s and 70s I think as a young teen the only time I remember a concern for what society might be capable was during the 68 Democrat Convention. As far as bombings and protests went it was like a summer rain storm. If it was raining on you at your location you got wet. Most of us did not get wet. Now as a adult with children I’m sure my mom and dad thought that rain could spread and thus warned us kids to be prepared. That’s the bad part about what went on then and today we seem to live under the false believe that it will not rain in our neighborhood.

    I now am much older and live in a suburb of New Orleans. Katrina demonstrated to me what role the media plays in EM situations. In the days after the levies broke I watched on satellite TV powered by my generator the presume demise of society as we know it. This was as it turns out for the most part a dangerous game of spreading false rumors by the media for the sake of a viewers share. While it had no real effect on those it was not raining on it was the worst of times for those of us who lived through it. The good news is most of us who live with that kind of threat are for the most part geared for most any eventuality and the ones who are not know their limitations and also do the right thing, they run. In events like this you get to now your neighbor. In some ways as in war you fight to protect each other. I would recommend the book One dead in the attic by Chris Rose to get a true feel of what it’s like to be in a urban environment with nothing but what you have to protect you and yours. There is a insight the reader can gain if he substitutes locations and interactions to their own area. substitute that gas station in New Orleans for the one near their house. It is a frightening read and eye opening. Government at some point cannot help and may even hurt you as depicted when some police decided unarmed citizenry was the way to go even when there is no longer a rule of law or any hope of enforcement of law. I must say that experience was a life changing for this guy. That said it did not kill most of us and we are much stronger for that experience. FIREARMS, AMO, FOOD and FUEL! Maybe a satellite TV.

  • Knightvision August 10, 2018, 7:32 am

    My wife and myself refuse to be victims. I would love hearing what you and likeminded people have to say.

    • Joe September 25, 2020, 9:46 am

      I would say…exactly the same thing. We will not be victims. Stay safe.

  • Larry Kirkland August 10, 2018, 6:52 am

    I think the unrest of the 60’s and early 70’s were still under the influence of Dr King’s non-violent protests of the Civil Rights movement. I’m not saying they were related in any way except we thought non-violent protests were more effective. Don’t give them an excuse to be violent back. Before Kent State we believed that if we just chanted, practiced sit-ins and carried signs to end the conflict in Vietnam, the establishment wouldn’t shoot us. They did but we remained, by and large, peaceful. There were the violent types like Bill Ayers and other future professors but they were considered a fringe movement. What’s happening today is scary. These kids are being encouraged by mentors, peers and media to act out their frustrations in violent ways. I read one notice that told protestors to cover their faces and make sure their protest signs were of ample size to be used as weapons if needed. While different ballgame these days. Today I carry always and buy ammo often. Come and get it Antifa.

  • Ron Lohan August 10, 2018, 4:11 am

    I grew up 2nd generation German in America in the 60’s. My Grandfather fought in WW1, my Mom, Dad and Aunt all Navy before Vietnam, which my brother fought in this overrated “police action”. It was never declared a WAR…! That’s Politics…! I have witnessed anti-war demonstrations, there was rarely any violence. On occasion, both sides were thin-skinned and fights would erupt, but no weapons. Men fought like Men…with fists.

    Today, unfortunately, the younger generation thinks it is A-OK, to bring Clubs, Guns, Knives, etc., because they cannot defend themselves, which these individuals lack common sense and knowledge on defending their beliefs….! Fearfully, one day this will escalate to a point where some will ultimately get killed, then retribution will entail.

    Too many outside influences are affecting the minds of these individuals, where they should know, that repeating history will not solve the very problem…there is too much emotion, rather than thought…!

    I sincerely hope, that ANTIFA exercises restraint, because too many CCW individuals are trained to respond in a way that will be beyond their wildest nightmare, they will not like the results, which they instigated from the start. People will protect themselves and others with due cause…!

  • Mike D. August 9, 2018, 5:31 pm

    I’m looking forward to this series. I think we all have a good idea on what to do if we find somebody kicking open our door in the middle of the night, but what do you do when 300 local anarchists decide to move into your neighborhood and start deciding though mob mentality who gets curb-stomped and who doesn’t?
    I welcome some good information.

  • Kyew Reaver August 9, 2018, 4:46 pm

    Sounds interesting. Can’t wait.

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