I know it is the season to be jolly, but we need to be sure not everyone is jolly. I’m thinking of the scammers, burglars and internet thieves in particular. Some of these people follow you on social media and are delighted that you are going over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house for a few days or wherever. You have just notified the world that you are not going to be home and someone out there will just be too glad to drop by and pick up a few presents that you have worked hard for, saved for and struggled for. Don’t forget to remind grandma and the rest of your friends and relatives to keep their social media lip buttoned. There will be plenty of time to expound on your holiday exploits after you are home.
While we are thinking about all of this, be sure who is knocking at your door. A while back, there were cases in southern Illinois in which the knock on the door was accompanied by a baby crying and a young women asking for help. If you opened the door, a couple of guys barged in and people found themselves in the middle of an up-close and personal home invasion. The baby was a doll and the baby came from a recording.
The internet sales will be fabulous this year. If you see something, try to order it by phone.
If you have to order it over the internet, change your password once you are done ordering. While you are at it, don’t use dumb pass words like 1-2-3-4-5-6. At least make them work for it.
Despite threats, intimidation, railing and whining, the Electoral College has elected Donald J. Trump as our 45th President. To those delicate little cupcakes that can’t shake their consternation and anguish, I say, “suck it up buttercup.” If you just can’t stand it here, there are plenty of people who will be glad to take you out to the 12 mile limit and drop you off so you can swim to a better place. If you have been watching some of the advertisements the Hollywood types have been airing, I think we will have a new awards show, The Academy of Crackpot Awards.
The recent attacks in Germany and Turkey have once again shown that the terrorists can attack anywhere, at anytime. Germany foolishly let in over a million unvetted people; they asked for it and now they have got it. The terrorist was a refugee from Tunisia. Turkey isn’t the text book example of an open society, but a policeman who was supposed to be on an anti-terrorist squad became a terrorist. Some of our leaders want us to think the battle lines are in Syria around Aleppo or Mosul, or just anywhere but here. It isn’t so. The battle line is at our doorsteps. To think otherwise is avoiding reality.
The heart of winter is upon us and it will not release its icy grip until sometime in March. Well, hopefully in March. Now is the time to start thinking about next year, particularly regarding treating yourself to the training opportunities offered by the Illinois State Rifle Association. Next year, we have Massad Ayoob, John Farnum, Midwest Training Group and a plethora of talented local instructors to choose from. We are working on setting up classes throughout the state. Give yourself a gift of training from the ISRA.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from the ISRA Officers, Board of Directors and ISRA Staff!
Thanks for being a member.
