Chapter 32 part 1
Chapter 32
JT woke up to an early morning sun. He was not one that liked early days; he was more of the night owl, but he had things to do today and needed to get moving. He walked downstairs and started to go with the cold cereal, but decided on a power bar and a Mountain Dew. The doctor gave in to him with drinking a Dew now and then and today at this time of day he laughed to himself he needed a dew. He walked into the living room and was shocked to see his son sitting finishing a bowl of Cheerios.
“Hey dad, just got up early to take mom out to the range.” Dan said.
“ I appreciate it, son. I am going to meet Sheriff Boland and see about some other things I want to get squared away. I think we are pretty good with basics and food, but like I said I would love to some more fuel. I have to say this to you, if this lasts a long time, we are going to run out at some point.“ JT looked down and worried as he chomped on the powerbar.
“I know, dad, but we have that old VW diesel truck that we have held onto forever. I know it cannot haul a lot, but it still runs and drives alright. We could order one of those kits to make it able to run biodiesel easier,” his son explained. ” We also have that small dirt bike and regular peddle bikes and the neighbor has a few horses. If things go bad, we could trade that coffee we bought on clearance for a horse,” his son continued with a smile now on his face.
“Yeah, it is still a good old truck and that would allow for use of other oils, if it came to it. Try and look that up today to see what it costs. You might be right though, he drinks a lot of coffee he might just get so hard up for coffee he would make that trade,” JT laughed.
“Will do.” Dan seemed unsure if he wanted to ask the next question. "Dad, are they going to keep coming after you…us?”
His dad looked down and back up with a somewhat sad expression on his face. “I think the people that are doing this and the people that are backing them from inside our government and around the world cannot leave it as it is. I think they have to try to kill me and that woman, Jeanie, from Arizona who killed those two.”
Dan looked up. “Yeah, she may have added to her total last night,” he said with a slight smile. “It appears a mosque in Minnesota somewhere near the mall of American had a late night visitor with a 22 and a knife. Two people were killed; one with the knife, one who was shooting at a fleeing suspect with an AK47 was shot in the head with a 22 that no one apparently heard. It was all over the main news and then some of the militia sites had more information but mostly speculation. They do seem to like her and, well, you get pretty high marks in their books.”
“Remember Dan, if they can build you up, they can tear you down if you do not tow their line. I am with the militias in a lot of areas, but I am going to protect my family against any threat. I have no time to be a poster boy for anything. If I can help congeal a movement back to “We The People” I will do all I can, but my first responsibility is to my family and their protection.” JT responded with a hint of anger. He hated that this had encompassed his family and that he was talked about nationwide in the same sentence as this Jeanie Reynolds. If last night was truly her, she was taking the battle to them. He was content in trying to hunker down and protect his family from these psychopaths.
Dan looked over towards his father and studied his face. The worry lines on his forehead and cheeks seemed more prominent these days. His eyes carried a distant worry. His son knew his dad was concerned about the terrorists trying again, but he had to know that his fighting back had inspired so many. Maybe not into action yet, but people were talking and making plans to help their neighbors, to try and protect their community. People were getting involved. Those men in Missouri had gone hunting for terrorists and had been lucky enough to have killed two. There was talk of charges for a single day, but the Governor and officials were inundated with calls and maybe a few threats of unrest if they attempted to do anything to these heroes. Even younger people were starting to ask the hard questions, why are we letting them tell us lies and we know they are lies, why are they lying, what do they have to hide? He knew he dad was unsure of his place in all this and he did not know how to tell him that all he needed to do was continue to fight the good fight.
“Dan...dan...hey, turn up the tv,” his dad was saying to him. Dan came back to reality and reached down for the remote and un-muted the television.
CNN News Breaking news
We have very little new on the early morning shooting of the WWII vet in Tyler Texas by a group of ATF Agents. They have been arraigned and will be held until the state decides how to proceed. The Attorney General of the United States called their arraignment unprecedented and irresponsible. Now we go to the White House with the President.
“My fellow Americans, I come to you much earlier then I had anticipated today and with a heavy heart. Last night a tragedy happened in Tyler, Texas. A veteran was approached by members of the ATF who were involved with the gun verification and registration presidential order. In the process of that he was shot. I have been told the details are still being investigated, along with a video that is purported to show the entire episode. What is known is that an American citizen was injured in what was to be a very easy and quick process. I have, however, been hearing from many fronts that the American people are concerned and suspicious of this presidential order. I have for my entire career viewed gun ownership as an outdated part of our beloved Bill Of Rights and Constitution - one that had outlived its day. I have argued for stronger and stronger gun control laws and wanted this to be a step toward asking the people to consider giving up some of the extremely dangerous assault weapons in the hands of common people in our neighborhoods. I had hoped to start a conversation, but this is now become a distraction from other more pressing matters. The situation in eastern Kentucky is being dealt with as we speak. I have a special Agent who has been tasked to go down and diffuse the situation. I have let the director of the FBI and the ATF know that I am, at this time, rescinding my order for this registration. I was going to announce that today at 10 am; but was told a few hours ago that this incident happened last night, and decided to come to you as soon as I could. I will be asking the Attorney General to appoint a special investigator to find out how this tragedy happened. If there is someone to blame, they will be held accountable. I have asked him to work with the Republican members in the House to find a suitable person that is above reproach and who will give this the attention it requires.
Once again I renew my support of making it more difficult for guns to cause carnage on our streets, but this is not the time to be distracted with the unprecedented attacks on American soil and the economic turmoil that has surprisingly happened out of the changes in the middle east. One last point, I will inform the Attorney General that at this time the agents who were involved in this tragedy will be held in the custody of the Texas Rangers, working in conjunction with the Tyler, Texas police until this can be sorted out.
God bless America.”
Dan sat there for some time before he looked over at his father. “ What was that all about? He kind of said "sorry" and stopped this registration scheme and kind of said it was a good idea, just bad timing.”
“They have several problems all at once and frankly they can't seem to handle any of them. I would bet they had more than just the places we had been told about giving them problems. I would lay a good wager that some of the strong militia places had not gone well and they may be locked in some type of stalemate in other places. You and I have both have read about the stories from Texas where they have exchanged limited gun fire. Even if those are truly limited exchanges, the news could start looking at them at any time. Then the President is dealing with terrorists on American soil that he does not want to admit are Islamic fanatics and coming close to some type of civil war with gun owners. On top of all that are the economic issues.”
JT chowed down on the last of the power bar and took a drink of the Mt Dew. He had on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with his work boots and had thrown a larger jean shirt over it. Dan looked at his dad and worried he had seemed different lately. He was sure the concern for the safety of his family was causing him stress, but Dan was unsure how to lessen that for his father.
“Dan, I am going to head down to the range and talk to this Sheriff and he what he wants with me. Make sure you work with mom today on shooting. I know she may make some excuses, but I need this done.”
“Dad, I will take care of it. She is going to be up in about half and hour and we are going out." Dan looked down as his father turned and saw for the first time in a while the shiny revolver. “Nice to see you have your gun back.”
“Yeah it is, it was a present from an FBI agent,” his dad said as he walked out the back door, leaving his son with his mouth hanging open wanting to ask so many questions to that last statement.
JT drove the short distance down to Knob Creek gun range, then pulled around the back toward the pavilion where they set up the booths for the machine gun shoots. Sheriff Robert Boland was standing beside a large dually Ford. He wore a brown on brown top and bottom with the badge prominent. He also wore what looked like a rather large 44 revolver on his hip. JT had not noticed when he was laying in the hospital bed that this was a pretty big fellow. He would guess six foot four maybe and two hundred eighty pounds. JT pulled the Blazer next to the Ford, stepped down out of the vehicle and walked towards the sheriff. It was hard to make out if anyone was in the truck that the sheriff stood beside because the windows were black. JT was sure it was not in compliance with the Kentucky law, he smiled.
JT extended a hand, ”I got your message... nice to see you again Sheriff.”
Boland shook JT's hand. “I am glad you did. I wanted to talk with you, but did not want to ask you to come to the station. I hate to sound too paranoid, but better safe than sorry.”
“Not a problem,” JT replied. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
Sheriff Boland considered his words carefully. “ JT, I know that you have not sought out the spotlight in this whole issue with the shooting. You have tried to stay in the background and let your actions speak for you, unless those bastards backed you into a corner like the FBI tried to do.”
JT could hear the "but" hanging in the air like.
“ JT, we need you to do something, a radio show, youtube or something. Your words will carry weight and right now the people have no idea what to do.”
JT looked down. He had worried this would be the path this discussion took. “Sheriff, if I were so inclined and I am not saying I am, what would I tell the people? I mean going out and saying "sorry guys, someone flushed the toilet and we are going down the drain" is not something I think the people want to hear.”
The Sheriff smiled. “No, it may be to the point, but we were looking for something a bit more hopeful. Maybe it is enough to go on and tell the people that there is hope and to help each other and try to prepare for some long term disruptions. If we can get people working together, and not this me, me, me mentality, we may be able to get through this with the country intact.”
“Do you actually believe that?” JT asked.
“Yes I do, if we can get people to try and help each other get by we can save some of the smaller cities. This economy is collapsing around us - gas is at five dollars now and could be going to eight or ten dollars a gallon. Communities will have to be closer again, not this urban sprawl we have had. Community farms, farmers markets running year round, people learning to preserve and can again.”
“Sheriff, people have been telling people that for five years and no one seems to ever listen.” JT responded.
“Yes, but they were not getting shot going to the store or to work. Or they were not having the lights stop working. My men and I can only do so much. We need the people to help and I think if you start the conversation, we can get that help. We have to let the people know they can fight back in many ways and they must fight back,” Boland said.
JT flared, bristling with a show of anger, “and if they get killed fighting back or they kill the wrong person, who has that blood on their hands....me. I fought people that attacked me, but if we start telling people to fight the wrong people, they may get hurt and that falls back on me.”
The sheriff raised his hands. “JT, I did not want to upset you. I have been in the police business for twenty plus years and have only had to pull my gun once and never had to use it. I have no idea all the things you are feeling, having killed those men and now having all of this on your shoulders. There must be an overwhelming urge to hunker down and wait it out. To protect your family. I do get it, but I think you are the kind that stands in the face of trouble. That sitting and waiting is not your makeup. All I am asking is that you consider going on air and telling the people it is okay to be prepared and to work with local communities to try and get through this.”
His anger subsided some now ,“and who should they trust ,Sheriff?” JT asked.
“Tell them to work to get groups going and work with local Sheriffs. We can police the local groups and if someone is out of line, we can take care of it. I know this is a lot, but if we can get people working together who are out of work or recently unemployed, then we can stave off the riots and crime we are already seeing tearing down the larger cities. They are not reporting that some parts of Detroit are now burned to the ground. The police are no longer taking calls. 15% of the city's population now lives in a no man's land, no fire, no police and it is getting bad. Cities as close as Cincinnati are having daily riots. The truckers are not driving unless they can have escorts, and frankly, no one is stepping forward. FEMA has tried to help, but they cannot meet all the challenges. Remember that gang skirmish that the local media did one story about? Well, it was a FEMA camp for people that were out of their house for power or other reasons and needed electricity on like for home ventilators. Two rival gangs came in and shot the place up, stole equipment and twenty people were killed,” the sheriff replied.
JT had remembered that story; nothing special but a gang shooting; he had wondered then if there was more to the story. He was sure Boland was telling the truth. The other media were talking about some of these things and how some of the larger cities were already in the early stages of complete collapse. They could not sustain the massive political framework that it took to run such massive and expensive machines.
JT stood in silence next to the Sheriff and studied his face for what seemed like a long time. “ Sheriff, are you part of a larger militia group?”
Sheriff Boland smiled. “Paula was right, you are quick. Yes, I am and have been for quite some time. Paula has worked with us and so has the doctor she works for. I know it may have an ominous tone, but we have tried to be at all levels of the community. We are not what you see on television. We are not the gung ho Rambo type idiots. We get people that have knowledge they can teach to others, we do have groups that train others. We have been trying to wake people up to the fact that the government that has been milking us blind was going to fall under its own weight and nothing could stop that. It is all about being prepared, because if people are not prepared when the UN or whoever comes in and feeds them and keeps them warm, they will not worry about what they are giving up until it is gone.”
JT smiled. he had said the same thing to his wife only days back.
“Okay, I am in for whatever that is. I will work with you and try to help, but I will remind you I am a reluctant hero at best. I will also caution you, as long as our paths lay in the same direction, I will do what I can, but if my path goes another direction to protect my family, I will follow it,” JT said.
“That is all we can ask,” Boland replied.
“One more thing JT, did you see the morning news about the shooting in Texas?” Boland asked.
“Yes... about the WWII vet and that ATF crap,” JT replied.
“We are going to make a visit to the local offices of the ATF and FBI to let them know any excursions into the community will be monitored, and if need be, interdicted. We are not going to have any of that here . I know we do not have the Governor that some states do, but he knows not to back the feds too far. The local Mayor is to busy covering his ass with the calamity caused by that DA they hired. I know you have a relationship with a local FBI agent, Tim Smith. ”
It was more of a question from Boland then a statement.
JT weighed the answer to that question.” I am not sure how I feel answering that. Suffice it to say, that if you go and have a talk with the agents if Agent Smith is concerned for his safety and my feelings or response matters, I will not like that at all. I would take that as a personal slap in the face.”
“Good enough, and for the record, how you feel about things and your words hold a good deal of sway to many people.” Boland remarked. “ Thanks for coming down and meeting me. If you need to get in touch with m,e contact Paula. She can do so without raising too much attention.”
JT watched the retreating truck and walked back towards his Chevy. At the last minute he decided to walk over and headed into the shop to look around. He had not been in since the shooting, but remembered his wife had said she ran into the guys from Knob Creek and that they had sent their prayers. A few old timers sat around the benches. There were some people paying at the counter as he came through the door. The people eyed him and many waved as he walked through the door. He headed back and picked up some lead bullets to reload some 38 and found that they had a box of golden saber for reloading 357. He picked up both and headed back towards the front of the shop. He was set on reloading suppplies, but he could always use some more bullets since he was shooting more these days. One of the guys, he always forgot his name, was behind the register. He said hello and reached over to shake his hand. JT placed his items down and shook the man's hand.
“That was some good shooting, glad you made it okay,” the man said.
“I appreciate that, as far as the shooting I think I got lucky and the man up stairs was watching out for me that day.” JT answered back with a smile.
JT saw Kenny come in and waved and said his greetings as he was being rung up for his purchases.
“I have something that you might want to look at,” Kenny said.
Kenny reached under the counter and handed him a short lever action rifle. It was a Rossi Ranch Hand, he had looked at one online when they first came out. JT took the rifle..pistol and worked the lever, feeling the smooth operation as he held it and felt the weight.
JT said, “that is nice and in the 38/357 I wanted too.”
“Yes it is, and it would make a nice gun to have in that Blazer of yours,” Kenny responded. A knowing look and JT knew that Kenny was making more of a statement on the goingson of the last few days and was saying that JT needed something to carry in his truck and this might just be it. Maybe he was correct.
“Yep, it would look nice in that Blazer of mine.” JT added.
JT laid the gun down on the counter next to his other purchases and asked for the 4473 form. Once it was all filled out and the call was made to the FBI, he paid for his purchase and headed out the door.
“Keep it close,” Kenny said
JT looked back and nodded, “thanks for keeping it for me.”
JT headed back to the Chevy and climbed in with his new toy and reloading supplies. He was sure Anne would not approve, but the rifle would fit well behind the front seat. It would be a good truck rifle, and with some good 357, would make a formidable addition. JT headed back towards home. He wanted to see if he could email Jeanie. Maybe he could get her to do some kinda of show with him. That would be one step he could take. He pulled up into the drive and parked near the house. He grabbed the supplies and pistol and walked towards the back door. He could hear someone shooting at the range as he put the reloading parts down and walked back to the range to see who was there. He walked around the bush and down the small path and could make out his wife and son shooting. He watched in silence as she fired off round after round into the six inch target. No matter how much she had lived in a house that had not liked guns, she was a natural. He was amazed when he had first taken her to the range how quickly she adjusted and settled into shooting. She was still just as relaxed. His only concern had always been, could she do it in a real firefight? He sighed and only hoped it would never come to that. He walked up behind them as they reloaded the magazines and attempted to kissed his wife around her earmuffs. She was startled at first, then pulled off the offending earmuff and kissed and hugged him back. Well, that was until she saw the gun in his hand.
“Mister, just what is that?” Anne asked in a less than pleasant tone, but not mad.
“Well, apparently Kenny was holding this for me and so I felt I had to take it,” JT responded with a smile.
“Oh, so he did,” she said with her hands firmly on her hips.
“I think he thought I needed it after the little issue at Feeders Supply,” he said, raising his eyebrow.
“Dad, that is so cool! That is one of the Rossi Ranch Hand pistols,” his son added in.
“It looks more like a rifle to me,” said his wife.
“Well, it has a twelve inch barrel and is classified as a pistol.” JT explained.