The “Roaring Twenties” strike again. This time it’s in the form of violent riots. We’re shown what it means to be prepared, or you’ve discovered where you’re weak. The good thing about discovering a weakness – if the experience doesn’t kill you – is that you can apply corrective measures, preparing for the next “experience.” And as always it proves that personal protection is an individual responsibility.

A large urban area has a lot of advantages. Good dining, great museums, actual brick-and-mortar book stores and excellent schools are all good things. There are also disadvantages. As we’re seeing the big city has become a powder keg, just waiting for a spark to initiate the explosion. My prediction is that this is just the beginning of a long, hot and violent summer. This is the start of “social justice.”

“But,” you ask, “what can I do?” The first thing on the list, which is something Gretchen and I did years ago, is get out. The utopian life urban environments promised in the 1950’s and its advantages is a thing of the past. Living in a large urban area, a “normal” existence for peaceful law-abiding citizens is never going to be the same. Sure, they’ll call it the “new normal.” But it’s not going to be pretty. There will either be complete control and constant monitoring, or “riot” mode every day. Either way, it’s a dystopian existence.

If the virus has shown us anything it is that a lot of people can work from home. Grocery shopping is done online. Education, at all levels is about to change, with a lot of that being done over the web. We’ve also discovered that life doesn’t required all the “extras;” there’s a lot of things we don’t need to live well.

Yes, there are sacrifices to living out in a rural area. It takes a little more effort, and planning. You make fewer trips to town, and even fewer to the city. If I want a store-bought hamburger ‘n fries it’s a round trip one-hour drive. The phone/internet service is horrible – DSL. However, the advantages are numerous, especially the sense of security. This doesn’t mean we let our guard down – always vigilant – but I’m pretty sure there’s not going to be any civil unrest or violent “protests” taking place within thirty miles of our home.

The best response to a violent threat is avoidance and escape. Today, this applies to where you live too. Uprooting the family to move to a new location is never an easy decision. Dad was in the military, so we did our share of it. But if the future of city life is going to get worse – who knows, maybe something changes for the better – moving to a better location will help ensure the safety of those you’re responsible for, and make it easier to protect them.

I saw a video of a husband and wife being beaten by thugs using 2 x 4’s. The man’s defense with a golf club failed. The attack on the wife continued, while from a “safe” distance he’s yelling, “Get away from my wife!”

Here are lessons. When Rome was failing they instituted “bread and circuses” or “bread and games” to placate and distract the people. Instead of wheat and violent gladiatorial games we have stimulus checks and riot coverage.

The sad thing is that all parties – law enforcement and protestors/rioters are being manipulated from above like pawns in a political chess game.

Don’t go to areas where there’s protesting, which almost always turns violent. Understand this well - the only good way to defend against a violent attack, especially multiple threats, is with a firearm, and only after proper training and plenty of practice. Finally, and again, your best option is avoidance and escape. Start preparing now.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. He is the author of The Book of Two Guns, AR-15 Skills and Drills, has a regular column in American Handgunner and makes some cool knives and custom revolvers. Visit Shootrite’s Facebook page for other details.