“At least one offender took hostages at the popular Lindt chocolate cafe, in Martin Place, just before 10am. Some members of staff could be seen wearing their shop aprons and standing with their hands up at the windows. There is also a black and white flag being held up in a window. It is believed to be the Black Standard, a jihadist flag.” This, in certifiably gun-free Sydney, Australia. “We don’t yet know the motivation of perpetrator, we don’t know whether it’s politically motivated although there are indications it could be,” said Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Yes, well that black standard now hanging in the window should provide a clue . . .
As should the fact that the jihadi scum running the show down under apparently had no trouble at all commandeering dozens of hostages in a country that has gone to great lengths to make sure that there’s virtually no chance that any law abiding citizens there would be armed.
Could the same thing happen here? Of course. Even given our Second Amendment freedoms, only a small percentage of the general population choose to avail themselves of the option of armed self defense. Though the good news is that number is growing every day. And as Nick highlighted earlier, support for protecting Americans’ natural, civil and Constitutional right to keep and bear arms is at historic highs.
Which just may have something to do with videos of infidels being de-nogginized by masked terrorists speaking the king’s English. Or scenes of aggressive affirmative shopping and smoking ruins in the heartland.
In the mean time, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird is doing his best Kevin Bacon imitation, trying to soothe the local populace:
“This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner.”
We’re sure that will provide a great deal of comfort to Aussies if hostages become casualties. As someone once said — to no end of ridicule by those who of course know best — the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Let’s hope the hard men with the rifles figure out how to end this before heads begin rolling out the door of the chocolatier.