SCENARIO: Cult leader moves into neighborhood.

[Fud]

Continuing where we left off from here ...

One of my Christmas gifts was a book outlining weird and bizarre things that have happened in different parts of the country. This scenario is based on a SUPPOSEDLY true story that MIGHT have happened in West Milford, NJ in the early 1980's. The reason why this particular story caught my eyes was because the type of neighborhood described in the story is the same type of neighborhood that I presently live in. Okay, here's the scenario ...

You live in a rural neighborhood tucked off from the rest of the town with about a dozen and a half homes spread a couple of hundred yards from each other. It's a new community and new families are slowly moving in. Everybody pretty much keeps to themselves. The neighborhood is quite and peaceful until a couple of months ago when random acts of vandalism start happening in the community -- mailboxs are being knocked over, car windows are being soaped, etc.

The incidents have been reported to the local Sheriff but no arrests have been made and you can tell that it isn't high on his list of cases to resolve. One of the new'er residents (a typical and normal sort of guy) offers to hold a neighborhood meeting at his house to discuss the matter and what the community can do about the problem.

Being the middle of the summer and not knowing how your neighbors feel about firearms, you carry something that you can effectively conceal. For me, that would be a Beretta 9000 in .40S&W with a 10+1 capacity carried in a belly band with a spare mag.

Unknown to everyone present, the man who is hosting the meeting is a cult leader from the mid-west with a large following of members who are silently waiting upstairs. It was these cult members that were committing the vandalism for the sole purpose of luring the community residents under one roof.

A few minutes after the meeting gets underway, he signals his followers and they storm downstairs stabbing and slashing everyone with knives. What do you do? What could you have done before hand, besides the obvious of not going, that would have placed you in a better tactical position to get out of there alive?

Again, this scenario is based on supposedly a true story. Whether it actually happened or not is not the issue. The issue is how would you react if you found yourself in the middle of something like this?

[R9SCarry]

First thoughts Alan - if all new folks and I had no previous input on the guy inviting everyone - I would be wary anyways.

Second - if he has an apparently large number of cult members already present upstairs - that suggests there could be a large number of vehicles already there - that would spark my spidey sense.

Third - if mid summer then it could also be feasable to hold a meeting the front yard - not necessarily indoors.

As for actually having gone there and being within, when ''the fun'' starts.  Well - me being paranoid me - any strange situation would see me being well armed, which would mean bug as well as 1º.  At first sign of violence I would act fast - and also mention that by choice in a strange house I'd be close to an exit anyways.  

If we assume knife attack then rapid response with firarm is mandated but numbers unknown so - fight until no more ammo?!  We might make an optimistic assumption too - if all knives and my bullets start finding targets - might not other attackers decide - ''I don't want to be next'' - maybe?  Depends if doped up or rational.

Overall tho I think I would have approached this very cautiously, to point of not going into the house but instead waiting for other neighbors to turn up and meet outside.  If indeed I had elected to go in first place.

Like as not, if I can assume one or two other neighbors were much better known to me and reasonably trusted, then I would have sought other's opinions well in advance - if you will - some sort of fledgling plan too.

The presence of vandalism would not make me automatically assume perp's were from outside the small community - so another reason for caution.

Many factors to consider here

[Brenden]

This is a scene from a Horror movie it appears!!
I can understand the trepidation being in an "isolated" area..I am also..

I believe that you cannot protect yourself against superior forces without the proper arms!! My G26 and pup would not handle the "wave" of peoples!!
Now-the Ar-15 would help immensely!!

I would most likely want to have this as backup.. .MINIGUN

I do not believe unless we live our whole life in Yellow or above-that we can plan for something as "immense" as this situation!!
IMO..

Brenden

[Fud]

This is a scene from a Horror movie it appears!!

If you follow the links that I posted, this supposedly actually happened.

[Brenden]

Alan,
Not saying it may not have happened..

Just sounds like a scene from a movie..

You have to admit that?!

I live in a rural area and I do not honestly know how a person would "totally"guard against such a circumstance as this!!

Stay aware of your surroundings but overwhelming  forces are easier dealt with by military forces, than a poor shlub (myself included) trying to do something with my handgun..

IMO,I would try like heck,but who knows!!??

Brenden

[Fud]

For SOME reason, when I read this in the book, it just sort of jumped out at me. That, and the fact that one of our neighbors, who nobody knows (keeping in mind that nobody really knows anybody around here),  has invited the entire neighborhood to his place for a New Year's Eve party  

Maybe I've got an overactive imagination but I just can't get this out of my mind.

[Richard S]

I can add nothing much of value to the excellent analysis which Chris has posted except to say that the cult leader should be one of the first to receive "attention."  The old "head of the snake" analogy . . . .  

[WoodstockDoug]

My Glock 17 always has 17 rounds in it, and I have two 33 round back up magazines.  If I was going into a situation that felt really scary, that would be my handgun of choice, and it would conceal well enough if it had to.

But in the situation presented, I don't know that I would bring back up magazines, although I would have my R9 as a bug.  So, I'd have 24 rounds, anyway, which would hopefully make a difference.  

The big problem is that in NJ, in the scenario presented, I wouldn't be able to carry any guns -- New Jersey doesn't give carry permits except in rare circumstances.  So... it would really be a fight to the door with my pocket knife.

Just as a side note, though, I have two uncles who live in -- you guessed it -- West Milford, NJ, right on Upper Greenwood Lake.  And one of them is a state trooper.  Next time I see them I'll ask if there is any truth to this story.

You could post a million hypothetical situations here, but the answers to all of them would be pretty similar.  Be always armed, aware of your surroundings and anything suspicious, and trust your gut feelings.  Get out early if something doesn't feel right.  And surround yourself with people you can trust who are also armed and aware.

[theirishguard]

Alan, don't go to a new years party this year. It will pass and go back to normal.
Tom

[Fud]

Just as a side note, though, I have two uncles who live in -- you guessed it -- West Milford, NJ, right on Upper Greenwood Lake.  And one of them is a state trooper.  Next time I see them I'll ask if there is any truth to this story.

Yeah, I would really like to learn more about this. The past few days, this has turned into a mini-obsession with me. Why would several homes of people suddenly leave / disappear and leave everything behind? Cloths, furniture, dishes on the table, etc.

Mighty strange.

[Rocnerd]

Could you imagine the chaos of such a situation?  I mean, say you went to said event and you were packing.  Once the knives started to be employed everyone is going to be trying to get away and not get cut.  You pull your gun out, but really can't shoot at anything closer than right on top of you due to the chaos factor and not wanting to shoot Fred, your next door neighbor, when he suddenly lurches in front of you trying to get away from the crazed individual hell bent on cutting him to ribbons.  
So, in this situation I would give my wife, who would most likely go if I was going, my primary and I would use my backup (she doesn't carry, yet!).  We would make our way as best as possible to the nearest exit and shoot anything with a knife that comes near enough for a clear shot.  Once outside get to car and call 911.