Another Concern About the Zimmerman/Martin shooting...

[recaffeination]

My neighbors and I are well prepared to play the role of Korean Grocer in an off-Broadway revival of the Rodney King Riots.

[The Annoyed Man]

I agree... That's why being prepared for a while is the smart thing to do. That's my plan anyway.

One of my best friends at the time of the L.A. rioting lived just a couple of blocks from where Reginald Denny was dragged out his truck and beaten nearly to death by a gang of thugs. My friend, who was himself African-American (he has since died of cancer), phoned his wife while I was standing there listening and told her to get the AK out of his closet and blast anyone who tried to come through the door uninvited, then he left to go protect his family. He was a long time prepper already, so he had already stockpiled food and water in his home, which was sort of a compound with a large back yard with high cinderblock walls. He even had goats and chickens back there. He did fine, but he did miss a couple days of work.

You may have to make similar difficult decisions. I would advise that you have a bugout bag ready. It doesn't have to be all tacticool, but it should contain some "I can't do withouts" in the event that you have to stay away from home for several days—changes of underwear, toiletries, that sort of thing. If you're married and have kids, make sure that your planning includes meeting their needs too. Food & water should be less of an issue for your bugout bag in this particular scenario since you should be able to find someplace where you can buy what you need away from the areas of danger. I would make arrangements with friends/family who live in safer areas (whether that be in Houston, the 'burbs, or the country) to have their homes available as fallback points if you should have to flee your neighborhood. I would be sure to secure any firearms you can't take with you either offsite, or hidden in an impenetrable safe. If you have kids in school, make sure to arrange for their protection and recovery during school hours. Make provisions for any pets. Don't assume that a mob invading your home won't kill your dog and cat if it comes to that.

Do some Google maps research and look for alternate routes in and out of your neighborhood, where you work, where your wife works, where your kids go to school, and just as importantly, into the areas in which your family/friend fallbacks might be located. Main thoroughfares are likely to be blocked by rioters whereas side streets may be quite passable, and local residents at your fallback points might be blocking access from strangers into their neighborhoods. If you can, get those arrangements in print, even if it is just in the body of an email message you can print out to show to destination neighborhood vigilantes that you are expected by the local resident so that they'll let you through. Print these maps and emails out and highlight the alternate routes on them. Put the printouts in your go-bag.

Make sure that your homeowner's/renter's insurance is up to date and has adequate coverage. Make sure that your gas tank is topped off, or at least always has enough gas to get you out of town some distance. Make sure that your vehicle's condition is up to snuff and keep it that way. A bugout emergency is the last time you want your car to quit running.

Keep a carbine or shotgun and ammunition for it in your vehicle. You may need one, and you might not be able to go back for it if you left it at home.

I can think of a million things I would do differently today than what I did or didn't do during the L.A. rioting. They were even burning businesses in Pasadena, 15 miles from downtown L.A. I saw stuff, and I was scared.....my office was right down near the thick of it. Never again.

[The Annoyed Man]

My neighbors and I are well prepared to play the role of Korean Grocer in an off-Broadway revival of the Rodney King Riots.

Thank God this is Texas. In California, they tried to put that guy in jail.

[Scott in Houston]

Great stuff TAM. Thanks for the input!!

[gdanaher]

The trial likely won't start for some time. The prosecution needs to get all of their ducks lined up, they need to find a cool venue to move to, and they will need to find a lot of people who know little or nothing about the case, so you can just imagine the quality of the jury pool.

I was around for the 1965 Watts Riots (funny how it all gets capitalized like an event, well it was). It lasted a number of days, at least 5 or so until the fires were under control, but the neighborhoods were destroyed and it took years to get over it. Given the Rodney King thing--I had long since moved to Texas--some folks out there never get over anything and sit and wait for an opportunity to raise trouble.

[The Annoyed Man]

The trial likely won't start for some time. The prosecution needs to get all of their ducks lined up, they need to find a cool venue to move to, and they will need to find a lot of people who know little or nothing about the case, so you can just imagine the quality of the jury pool.

I was around for the 1965 Watts Riots (funny how it all gets capitalized like an event, well it was). It lasted a number of days, at least 5 or so until the fires were under control, but the neighborhoods were destroyed and it took years to get over it. Given the Rodney King thing--I had long since moved to Texas--some folks out there never get over anything and sit and wait for an opportunity to raise trouble.

Again....so was I, but I wasn't anywhere near it at the time. We were vacationing for the summer at Dana Point in Orange County, so none of the fallout got close to us. I was just a kid at the time. But the Rodney King rioting was really, REALLY ugly, and the overall loss of property was much more and much more widespread than the Watts Riots.

[PATHFINDER]

I believe a reasonable "cooling off" period is in order before the actual trial date. I also believe that even the best case scenario for a jury of "peers" will result in a guaranteed hung jury - followed by another hung jury..........

If all charges in this case are not dismissed after several months of preliminaries, and it actually goes to trial - by the time the trial begins( at least 1 year from now) I suspect that the seemingly innocent image of a 14 year old "child" pictured in those heart warming 3 year old photos facade will be replaced by a more accurate picture of Martin.

This incident is a wake-up call for all of us "sheep dogs" to mind our own sheep.

M would not have attacked Z if he had known Z was armed, and Z wouldn't have been "dogging" M if Z had not been armed - IMHO.

[tommyg]

I'm old enough to remember the riots in the 60s
I have seen how bad it can get
I hope cooler heads will prevail before it is too late

[RHenriksen]

I think you're right, odds are good there'll be plenty of unrest. I guess I'll stock up on shotgun shells, food & water :-/

Well, the rioting in LA was a couple of days. Who knows what we could face here, but I would imagine that being prepared for at least a week or so would be wise.

I plan to send my wife and family to the country while I stay at home. I will have enough food/water for a week at minimum. (I already have much more, but for advise-sake)

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a loss of power or services if things get really out of control.

In addition to the food/water, the other items to ensure you have (IMO):

1) Fire extinguishers <- I am going to buy commercial grade... good to have regardless!
2) Self and home defense items
3) First aid items
4) Lighting & batteries, and/or power generator if you have it

The height of the L.A. rioting was a couple of days. The entire ordeal was longer than that. I was there.

I agree... That's why being prepared for a while is the smart thing to do. That's my plan anyway.

This could potentially be a national crisis. I think people are so angry and divided, and this issue is the exact kind of issue that would set the tinder box on fire. Leftist, socialist policies have created such angst among those who see themselves as "have-nots" that when given a decent excuse, in their mind, to get revenge or 'take what is theirs' (in their mind), they'll do it. I'm convinced of that.

Does anyone know or have any educated guesses what the timeline may look like for this trial?

[jimlongley]

The trial likely won't start for some time. The prosecution needs to get all of their ducks lined up, they need to find a cool venue to move to, and they will need to find a lot of people who know little or nothing about the case, so you can just imagine the quality of the jury pool.

I was around for the 1965 Watts Riots (funny how it all gets capitalized like an event, well it was). It lasted a number of days, at least 5 or so until the fires were under control, but the neighborhoods were destroyed and it took years to get over it. Given the Rodney King thing--I had long since moved to Texas--some folks out there never get over anything and sit and wait for an opportunity to raise trouble.

As an officer in our suburban volunteer fire department, I was among those "In the know" when the nearby city proposed a riot response mutual aid plan as the riots were in progress. Never happened, although a busload of people who might have been agitators was met at the city limit by police armed with Thompsons and sent back to NY City.

[flintknapper]

I pray that rioting (of any significance) will not happen, it is the last thing I would want to see come of this, BUT if rioters insist on coming to my home, it will be a mistake they will not repeat.

I was exposed to some of the rioting in the late 60's and have little tolerance for it.

[WildBill]

I was exposed to some of the rioting in the late 60's and have little tolerance for it.

It isn't a pretty sight.

[4copas]

"There are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." —Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle.

Yes Sir.

[VMI77]

I didn't put this in the large discussion thread on the subject, because it's not about the shooting itself, or the legalities, etc.

I have a concern about the aftermath. (This could almost be a prepping type question)

I believe that Zimmerman will either get off completely, or get off with a lighter conviction than murder or even manslaughter. I could be wrong, but that is my guess at this point.

My concern is the chaos that will ensue if that does happen. We live in a decent neighborhood in the Memorial area of Houston. Not far from us are several blocks of apartments full of re-located (and yes, the government is STILL paying for their rent ) Katrina evacuees, and others whom I believe will not respond well if Zimmerman isn't convicted. These are not happy folks. I've had run-ins at a grocery store I now avoid just because of the anger these people possess. I would bet big money that if he's not convicted, the riots we saw in LA after the King trial will pale in comparison to the riots we'll see nation-wide if Zimmerman is let off. Social media has amped up the anger and the communication between the angry. I wouldn't want to be caught anywhere near LA, Detroit, New York, or parts of Atlanta.

In our area, I could easily see a chaotic situation develop where an attitude of get the 'rich white people,' could develop, and our neighborhood could be targeted fairly easily. I'm already planning on not having family at home when the verdict is read, however, I will be here. I'm not sure how long until this trial begins or more importantly, it ends, but I think we all should be prepared for some civil unrest. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised to see the civil unrest even if he's convicted! Any excuse to rob, pillage, and riot seems to work for some people (e.g. NBA championships, etc.).

What do you all think? Are there others who live in a metropolitan area who have similar concerns?

Well, if Zimmerman is acquitted and there aren't any riots, I'm sure Obama, Holder, et al, will quickly realize the danger, and use their powers of persuasion to incite some.