Last month we had a demonstration that shut down Interstate-5 for a few hours in the direction I drive every day and it was a bit of a wakeup call for me.
The group (https://www.a15action.com) was responsible for this particular incident and this is just the beginning of what I expect to be another “summer of love” full of protests and clashes that could turn more violent as people get fed-up with their shenanigans.
Closing down an Interstate is a great way to get your 15 minutes of fame, but it’s also not something people will put with on a regular basis for long. See the hundreds of videos of frustrated European drivers hauling protestors off the roads in their towns.
So, what are your options when this happens?
Remaining cool and drawing the line at “penetration” into the vehicle as your trigger to use deadly force (car or handgun) is about the best you can do if you are caught in their ambush.
If you happen to be directly behind the “blocking element” that is performing a slow down on the Interstate, pitting one of them and getting out of Dodge is your best option by far, but the odds of being the first car behind a blocking element are pretty low.
So that likely leaves you in the position of the majority of cars backed up in traffic well away from the fray. If you find yourself stopped and away from the fray, remain cool and get out of the car. Sitting in your car in a fatal funnel (Interstate Lane) is not a place you want to be! Get past the normalcy bias that tells you to stay in your vehicle!
Just moving to the roads edge where a quick leap can provide cover or concealment is a much better position to be in than a stopped vehicle. Stopped vehicles are death traps, never stay in a vehicle that is immobilized.
HOW LONG DO I WAIT?
Dozens arrested after protesters block traffic on I-5 in Eugene - OPB
Protesters stand on Interstate 5 in Eugene, some with Palestinian flags, closing the southbound lanes between Eugene and Springfield around 10 a.m., April 15, 2024. According to KEZI, law enforcement on the scene arrested about 50 people, and the freeway was open again around 11 a.m.
Police say more than 120 officers from four agencies responded to the scene, with additional responders from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Eugene Springfield Fire.
Most were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct; OSP said at least one person was found to be in possession of a firearm.
In this case it took 120 responding officers from all surrounding areas over an hour to arrest and remove the 52 protestors. How fast do you think this would be if there were two more roadblocks put on at the same time in near proximity? How about four?
How about if there were more than a few protestors with weapons on them, how about if they were willing to use them for their cause? That’s the road we are being lead down. Division and Civil War is the endgame of our leaders and the world’s leaders.
Can you see the potential for something like a roadblock which is becoming more and more mundane becoming deadly? If so, plan accordingly.
HAVING OPTIONS
For me that potential has caused me to add a long gun to my GHB.
If I’m stuck on the side of the road for more than 2 hours for an unknown reason or a known reason (why I keep a scanner when cell coverage is not guaranteed), my plan is to pull to the edge of the road and head off into the brush and setup an ad-hoc camp out of sight, out of harm’s way where I can observe my vehicle and create standoff.
Best case, I have some coffee and a meal while waiting for traffic to clear. Worst case, I end up spending the night there and hiking home in the morning if bridges are blown or more dramatic events occur.
The point is to have the tools you need for the worst-case scenario and thus options...
As usual, solid post.