Concealed Carry & Home Defense

Lessons Learned From Berlin

REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke - RTX2VV7K

Harold Hutchison Freelance Writer
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Well, it has happened again. In Berlin, a terrorist carried out a Nice-style attack. Unlike the Nice-style attack at Ohio State University, there were fatalities, and this time, the terrorist got away and is on the loose. Once again, we have people dead (this time, the body count is 12).

Once again, we see that terrorists don’t need bombs or guns to rack up a body count. The vast majority of the deaths in the Berlin attack came from being run down by the truck. At least one person, the truck driver, was shot. So, when people try to push a semi-auto ban as a counter-terrorism measure, don’t buy their nonsense.

This terrorist had been imprisoned earlier in Italy for as many as four years, for what the London Telegraph reported as “a series of crimes” including arson. Yet he was released and allowed to roam through Europe. To keep us safe, when someone not a citizen commits serious crimes, the deportation process should start upon conviction.

The London Telegraph has listed how this terrorist managed to get multiple sets of identification, and he managed to duck arrest after being investigated on multiple occasions. This terrorist was able to get through multiple countries’ immigration systems and stay on the loose, despite deportation orders, and despite being wanted.

Germany, like most of Europe, has very strict gun-control laws. That didn’t stop the terrorist from acquiring the gun he used to carjack the truck, and then to shoot the driver dead when the driver turned the truck away from a course that would have killed many more people. This jihadist (it should be noted that ISIS has claimed the attack) had decided to commit mass murder – he didn’t blink at breaking gun laws. This is like the attack in San Bernardino, where the terrorists didn’t hesitate to break the draconian gun laws in California.

Lucasz Urban, the truck driver, managed to save lives by turning the truck away – and was killed by the terrorist. Had Mr. Urban been able to carry a concealed firearm of his own, there is a very good chance that he might have survived while the terrorist would be dead – and the body count of innocents might well have been lower.

Here in America, the good news is that many states offer concealed carry permits. The problem is that reciprocity has become a patchwork quilt at best, and some discretionary-issue states refuse to honor any out-of-state permits. National reciprocity is needed to reduce this. Quibbling over the details when any national reciprocity bill would represent a great improvement over the present situation is foolish. Take out the patchwork first – then we can always go back for more later.

We also can note that we have seen a refugee carry out this attack. At least one refugee was involved in the November 2015 terrorist attack in Paris, and ISIS has called for more of these truck attacks. This is something to keep in mind – and it may be time to take a closer look at the vetting procedures for those who drive trucks.

Ultimately, what this attack brings home is the fact that when such an attack takes place, the police, firefighters, and paramedics are really the second responders. The people on the scene when the jihadist starts his attack are the first response. Ultimately, you are responsible for your safety.