LITMIR.BIZ

       FIRST IMPRESSIONS

       Thursday, January 31 – MD Minus 115 days

      AS PAUL WALKED across the campus toward the Chadwick History Center, Professor Thompson was just completing a lecture in his class entitled, “A Historic Perspective on Biblical Israel.” With his mind on the burning question of what he had seen in his dream, Paul walked quickly passed Abdul Farsi, who was headed to College Church on the corner and then to Kingdom Day Care a couple of blocks over on the other side of the railroad tracks. Coming toward him was a rather non-descript woman who Paul vaguely remembered seeing in some of his classes last year. He didn’t know her name and was unaware that she had just come from an inquiry at Kingdom Day Care. Looking for a part time job is what she had told the workers. The looking part was true.

      On the other side of town, some of the armed citizens of Williams gathered as the Citizen’s Militia to organize a campaign to save their city from what they saw as the incompetence of local authorities and the threat of the shooter. Most considered the authorities to be as much of a threat to the citizens as the shooter.

      Sam Will was angry. His level of anger surprised even him. Almost overnight he had become passionately determined to stand and fight for the safety of the city. It was becoming even more than a passion; it was a compulsion. He wanted just one clean shot at the shooter and the crisis would be over. He was prepared to fight with anyone who got in his way. He was a little frightened by what he felt but knew he had to finish this and that he was right.

      Fortunately, the Citizen’s Militia had their own version of Officer Sally Johnson. It was Tom Campy, a no-nonsense, but no less passionate leader. Tom didn’t have Sam Will’s compulsion; rather, he had a steadfast dedication to labor together until the job was done. He was both persistent and patient, and he was a thinker. The contrast between Sam and Tom was the classic distinction between one who reacts in response to a situation and one who acts in the reality of the situation. At its simplest comparison it was intentional conduct vs. emotional response – thoughts vs. feelings.

      Tom had already invested the time to think through a plan to establish the equivalent of a citizen’s army. “We’ve got to take advantage of the state firearms laws to bring the public into this before we have mass panic,” he argued. “People have to see that they are safe, to feel safe, and the law allows us to be in public with guns visible. We need to do that in a way where the public and law enforcement know we are the Citizen’s Militia and not the shooter. If we are successful, we will be invited to provide visible protection in parks, schools, and businesses – just about anywhere in the city. Once we are physically present, the people will feel safe and the shooter will be afraid to show himself. If he does, he dies. We shoot back.”

      All agreed that was the answer, but how could it be done quickly and effectively. There were massive organization problems and coordination issues. Fortunately, money would not be a problem, for one of the city’s wealthiest citizen was a gun enthusiast. That ensured access to paid media, the ability to obtain some distinctive clothing as identification for members of the militia, transportation, additional guns and ammunition. Maybe even life and medical insurance. After all, there was a killer out there that would be targeting them even as they targeted him.

      Suggestions came from all parts of the room. Although Sam stood up front as the head of the group, Tom drove the discussion because he already knew where he wanted it to go. It was as if he had been directed how to lead, which he had, even as Sam had been directed how to feel. It was light versus darkness, the classic confrontation continued.

      “We need to hold a press conference and announce what we are going to do,” said one.

      “Yes,” another responded, “but also hold a public meeting of some sort to answer questions and recruit members. We don’t have enough members to carry this out citywide.”

      Others expressed their concerns – their questions – some practical, some emotional; they just kept pouring out. “We need an office, some way to organize our people.”

      “We need to coordinate with law enforcement and have some kind of uniforms, so we don’t shoot each other.”

      “We need to know when to shoot.”

      “Can we use automatic weapons?”

      “Can we shoot to kill?”

      “Won’t we just be making ourselves targets for the shooter by being out there identified as ones who intend to kill him?”

      “How do we know where to be to defend against an attack?”

      “This shooter has been totally random. What do we protect?”

      “How can we identify the shooter?”

      “Can we be present on private property?”

      Several hours later there was a consensus and a plan. Tom summarized for the group. “We will order red jackets, hats and shirts with ‘Citizen’s Militia’ on them so that members on duty can be readily identifiable to all.” Tom went on, “I will contact the authorities to explain what we are going to do and see if there is a way to coordinate our efforts. We don’t want the police working against us if it can be avoided.”

      One businessman piped up, “If we need to we can line up some NRA lawyers to be ready to file suit and protect our right to defend ourselves if we are challenged. We have to organize. The authorities haven’t been able to stop the killing. There won’t be any businesses left in Williams if this shooter isn’t stopped.”

      “We will schedule a press conference for early next week,” Tom read from his notes, “where Sam can introduce the Citizens Militia to the public, seek recruits and lay out the plan to defend the city. That will also be an opportunity to promote the Security Fair.”

      One of the really exciting ideas to involve the public had come from Josh Douglas, the high school football coach. He had said, “If you want the public’s support, you have to give them something to get excited about. We need something like a pep rally with speeches, a band, contests, bumper stickers, food, something where people can have fun and get their fluids running.”

      “Great idea,” another had added. “We can have guns and ammunition available for sale by local businesses, booths to sign up for gun training and to join the Citizen’s Militia. We can have the whole area patrolled by armed Citizen’s Militia in their red shirts and hats. Everyone will want to join.”

      “Yes!” shouted Sam and with glee, pumped his fist high into the air. “A visual feast to announce that there is a new sheriff in town. Like that line from that old news movie, ‘I’m mad as hell and won’t take it anymore.’ People will love that.” Josh volunteered to organize the fair.

      “We need someone to handle

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