"Shelter in Place"

Three little words.

Three little terrifying, sad, indefensible, ridiculous, scary, needless, horrendous, warrantless, foolhardy and totally unnecessary words.

"Shelter in Place."

As this is written the smoke is clearing from a mass shooting at a synagogue in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh, PA.  Another shooting at a soft target.  Latest word is that 11 poor souls were murdered, including three cops, and several others were wounded by a lone gunman.  

The cops somehow managed to bring this guy in alive after he had just murdered three of their own.  That, in itself, was a miracle...

Not much is known at this point other than this is an enormous congregation, having been formed more than 150 years ago.  A 46 year-old, Jew-hating, Trump-hating White guy chose to try and "Kill all the  Jews," as he's reported saying.  

Although yesterday was their high holy day celebration, there was apparently no security on duty.  Rather remarkable, I think, considering the never-ending enmity toward the Jewish people.  And considering they had sought, and gained, assistance from the Homeland Security Department in making sure tragedies like this didn't happen...it happened.   

Let me restate the problem:   No one in the synagogue of hundreds was armed, and it cost them 11 lives.  

What's the usual cry from the "authorities" when gunfire erupts?  

"Shelter in place."  

The media will sound it.  The police will sound it. The elected leaders from the affected community will, in effect, tell you to find a hole and crawl in it.  Hide!  Under something!  Behind something!  Anywhere!  And that's not bad so far as it goes; but that's as far as it goes...

There is no other defensive measure taken, either before or after, to the threat of a mass shooter.  Just "shelter in place."  I have an idea!  How about putting a sign up out front of this synagogue saying:

"All visitors welcome.  Those coming with guns to hurt us will be blown out of their shoes!  Have a nice day."  

Or something like that.  Perhaps that would go a long way toward preventing the next hate crime. 

Or how about simply permitting good, solid, honest, honorable, tax-paying, God-fearing citizens, possessing the necessary training, to carry concealed weapons, as is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.  You know, like in the Constitution?  You know, like "...to keep and bear arms?" And then advertise that fact?  Broadly...

I'd like a show of hands; all those who believe this guy would have gladly brought his evil to this synagogue if he believed he'd be shot dead in his tracks before he got the chance to do so, please raise your right hand.  Or your left.  Go ahead.  You choose...    

Yeah, I thought so...

We tell our young people, "Never go out without protection."  I think my kind of protection is better...