2020 Civil Unrest - Fears Addressed
November 2, 2020 - The Day Before Election Day
Henry T. Hill
Regarding the current unrest including the George Floyd protests that began May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, consider two suggestions:
1. Remember any video tape posted someone edited and maybe even doctored the video even if only showing one part of the video.
2. Remember to put any event into historic perspective, a framework of events over time which will give a frequency, level of degree of intensity of the event, and a sense of how the people will evaluate the event in one year and five years and ten years and fifty years and one hundred years. Any event will end up on a list of events that only interested people will study.
See Wikipedia’s, “List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States” and click on the 1967 Detroit riot. The scale of the Detroit riot measured as the worst in the United States since the 1863 New York City Civil War draft riots and was not surpassed until the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Rodney King, April 29-May 4, 63 deaths, 2,383 injuries, 12,111 arrested, over $1 billion in property damage and with finally 10,000 California Army National Guard and 1,000 federal tactical officers and 3,500 federal troops. As for the 1967 Detroit riot, Governor George W. Romney (Republican) ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit, however the Guard could not stop the riot. Governor Romney asked President Lyndon B. Johnson (Democrat) to send in the army, and President Johnson sent in the United States Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The riot ended in two days. From July 23-July 28, 1967 more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed, 7,200 people arrested, 1,189 people injured and 43 people died. All of this started when the Detroit police raided an unlicensed, after-hours bar known as the “Blind Pig.” See Wikipedia’s “1967 Detroit riot.”
The “List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States” yields the following results:
From 1970-1979 only 1972 had no listed riots.
From 1980-1989 only 1981 and 1983 and 1984 and 1985 and 1987 had no riots.
From 1990-1999 only 1993 and 1994 and 1995 and 1998 had no riots. From 2000-2009 only 2008 had no listed riots.
From 2010-2019 only 2018 had no listed riots.
Number of riots by decade from 1960-2020
1960-1969 - 63 riots
1970-1979 - 33 riots
1980-1989 - 7 riots
1990-1999 - 10 riots
2000-2009 - 15 riots
2010-2019 - 33 riots
2020 - 2 riots
So from 1960-2020, 59 years and 5 months, the list shows a total of 163 riots which equals an average of 2.7 riots per year.
Why don’t rioters attack small towns and rural areas? I grew up in Perry, New York population 4,500 in Wyoming county which had more dairy cows than people. We students hunted, shot skeet and did target shooting with our rifles and shotguns. Many adults hunted. Perry is 30 miles from Rochester, New York, and we could see the Kodak building from Perry. July 24, 1964 Rochester experienced a race riot that required the New York National Guard to end the riots. The riot resulted in 4 dead, 350 injured, over 1,000 arrested and over 204 stores either looted or damaged mostly in the certain wards near Nassau Street and Joseph Avenue and downtown. We could see the smoke from the burning buildings from Perry. As a 21 year old who was going to get married September 5th of 1964 was I concerned that the riots would come to Perry? No! Why? Perry had two full time police men and one part time police man, but Perry had at least 2,000 plus hunters and sport shooters of the 4,500 residents, and this number does not count the people in the surrounding areas and even nearby towns who would have come to Perry the help defend the village and who would stop any gangs of looters. The news media and some Rochester leaders blamed the riot on “outside agitators,” however almost all of the 1,000 plus rioters arrested were from Rochester and only 14 were from outside Monroe county. We residents of Perry knew the village, every ally, path, patch of woods, bridges, creek beds, short cuts and many of the buildings, we knew the woods around Perry where we hunted. Do you really think outsiders operating as a mob would have any real chance to disrupt our village without a response from us. The average gun owner according to certain estimates owns three guns. We Perry gun owners could have armed the entire village adult population, but having been trained in gun safety, we would not have given guns to people who had not been trained.
From 1950-1959 at total of 13 people were killed in school shootings, 4 adults and 9 students, and 8 people were injured. From 1960-1966 up July 31, 1966 a total of 9 people were killed in school shootings and no on was wounded. On August 1st, 1966 the University of Texas tower shooting ended with 18 killed and 31 wounded. Removing the University of Texas tower shooting event, the total killed in school shootings from 1960-1969 was 23, 13 were adults and 10 students, and a total of 9 wounded. See Wikipedia’s “List of school shootings in the United States (before 2000).”
I now live in Collier County, Florida, the largest county of Florida’s 67 counties by land area and fourth-largest by total area with 2,305 square miles, 1.5 times the size of Rhode Island, of which 1,998 square miles is land and 307 square miles is water. The southeast portion of the county lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve and in the northernmost portion of Everglades National Park which extends into the southern coastal part of Collier County. Collier County has a population of 384,902 (2019) and with only two incorporated communities with their own police forces: Naples (incorporated city) population of 22,039 (2018) and 16.46 square miles and Marco Island population 17,947 and 24.66 square miles (12.16 square miles of land and 12.51 square miles of water). So take out 16.46 plus 24.66 square miles or 41.12 square miles of incorporated areas from 2,305 square miles leaves 2,263.88 square miles for the our elected Collier County Sheriff, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, and his 900 deputies, of which 300 are ex military, to protect and serve us. Add Naples city 22,039 to Marco Island’s 17,947 for 39,986 people and subtract that from 384,902 equals 344,916 declared residents under Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and his deputies. This population number in winter season grows by 100,000 or more. Naples city has about 40 police officers and Marco Island has 28 officers for its 22.79 square miles jurisdiction. Who backs up our Collier County police forces:
Police forces from other Florida counties and the Florida Highway Patrol officers.
The Florida Army National Guard of approximately 10,000 soldiers.
The 82nd Airborne Division of 10,800 soldiers.
The 101st Airborne Division of 29,000 soldiers with over 100 aircraft.
The only thing lacking in cities experiencing civil disturbances daily is the will of the mayor of the city and/or the governor to call up the state Army National Guard, and if the state Army National Guard is not able to restore law and order, the governor may ask the President for federal troops like the 82nd Airborne Division and/or the 101st Airborne Division or both like in the July 23-28, 1967 Detroit riots.
How Florida Maintains Civil Order
The following 2019 Florida Statutes present the laws regarding the Military Affairs regarding Militia and the duties and responsibilities of the Governor of the State of Florida: https://sb.flleg.gov/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm$vid=html:cur
250.02 Militia
(1) The militia consists of all able-bodied citizens of this state and all other able-bodied persons who have declared their intention to become citizens.
(2) The organized militia is composed of the National Guard and any other organized military forces that are authorized by law.
(3) The unorganized militia is composed of all persons who are subject to military duty but who are not members of units of the organized militia.
(4) Only persons exempt from military duty by the terms of federal law are exempt from military duty in this state.
History.—s. 4, ch. 8502, 1921; CGL 2015; s. 1, ch. 25112, 1949; s. 1, ch. 73-93; s. 2, ch. 2003-68.
Note.—Former ss. 250.04, 250.05.
250.28 Military support to civil authorities.—When an invasion or insurrection in the state is made or threatened, or whenever there exists a threat to security, a terrorist threat or attack, a riot, a mob, an unlawful assembly, a breach of the peace, or resistance to the execution of the laws of the state, or imminent danger thereof, which civil authorities are unable to suppress, the Governor, or in case the Governor cannot be reached and the emergency will not permit awaiting his or her orders, the successor as provided in s. 14.055, or, if the appropriate successor cannot be reached and the emergency will not permit awaiting his or her orders, the Adjutant General, shall issue an order to the officer in command of the body of troops best suited for the duty for which a military force is required, directing the officer to proceed with the troops, or as many as necessary, with all possible promptness, to respond to the invasion, insurrection, threat to security, terrorist threat or attack, riot, mob, unlawful assembly, breach of the peace, or resistance to execution of the laws of the state.
History.—s. 32, ch. 8502, 1921; s. 5, ch. 9337, 1923; CGL 2044; s. 1, ch. 25112, 1949; s. 5, ch. 91-139; s. 105, ch. 95-148; s. 23, ch. 2003-68.
Note.—Former s. 250.38.
The Duties of the Governor
14.01 Governor; residence; office; authority to protect life, liberty, and property.—The Governor shall reside at the head of government, and the Governor's office shall be in the capitol. The Governor may have such other offices within the state as he or she may deem necessary. The Governor may employ as many persons as he or she, in his or her discretion, may deem necessary to procure and secure protection to life, liberty, and property of the inhabitants of the state, also to protect the property of the state.
History.—ch. 1660, 1868; RS 68; GS 69; RGS 83; CGL 104; s. 1, ch. 65-54; s. 32, ch. 95-147.
14.02 Governor may preserve peace and order by military force.—The Governor may, in cases of insurrection or rebellion, violence, disorder or insecurity of life, liberty and property, support and preserve the public peace and order by the military force of the state.
History.—s. 1, ch. 1745, 1870; RS 69; GS 70; RGS 84; CGL 105.
14.021 Governor; promulgation and enforcement of emergency rules and regulations.—
(1) The Governor of Florida is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate and enforce such emergency rules and regulations as are necessary to prevent, control, or quell violence, threatened or actual, during any emergency lawfully declared by the Governor to exist. In order to protect the public welfare, persons and property of citizens against violence, public property damage, overt threats of violence, and to maintain peace, tranquillity, and good order in the state, these rules and regulations may control public parks, public buildings, or any other public facility in Florida and shall regulate the manner of use, the time of use, and persons using the facility during any emergency. These rules and regulations shall have the same force and effect as law during any emergency and shall affect such persons, public buildings, and public facilities as in the judgment of the Governor shall best provide a safeguard for protection of persons and property where danger, violence, and threats exist or are threatened among the citizens of Florida.
(2) Whenever the Governor shall promulgate emergency rules and regulations, such rules and regulations shall be published and posted during the emergency in the area affected, in addition to any other notice required by law.
(3) The Governor shall have emergency power to call upon the military forces of the state or any other law enforcement agency, state or county, to enforce the rules and regulations authorized by this law.
(4) The powers herein granted are supplemental to and in aid of powers now vested in the Governor of this state under the constitution, statutory laws, and police powers of said state.
(5) The provisions of this section shall continue in full force and effect until otherwise amended.
History.—ss. 1-4, 6, ch. 31389, 1956; s. 1, ch. 61-239; s. 1, ch. 65-95; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 18, ch. 78-95; s. 33, ch. 95-147.
14.022 Governor; emergency powers to quell violence.—
(1) The Governor of Florida is hereby authorized and empowered to take such measures and to do all and every act and thing which she or he may deem necessary in order to prevent overt threats of violence or violence, to the person or property of citizens of the state and to maintain peace, tranquillity, and good order in the state, and in any political subdivision thereof, and in any area of the state designated by the Governor.
(2) The Governor when, in her or his opinion, the facts warrant, shall, by proclamation, declare that, because of unlawful assemblage, violence, overt threats of violence, or otherwise, a danger exists to the person or property of any citizen or citizens of the state and that the peace and tranquillity of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, or any area of the state designated by the Governor, is threatened, and because thereof an emergency, with reference to said threats and danger, exists. In all such cases when the Governor shall issue a proclamation as herein provided she or he shall be and is hereby further authorized and empowered, to cope with said threats and danger, to order and direct any individual person, corporation, association, or group of persons to do any act which would in the Governor's opinion prevent danger to life, limb, or property, prevent a breach of the peace or the Governor may order such individual person, corporation, association, or group of persons to refrain from doing any act or thing which would, in the Governor's opinion, endanger life, limb, or property, or cause, or tend to cause, a breach of the peace, or endanger the peace and good order of society, and shall have full power by appropriate means to enforce such order or proclamation.
(3) The Governor, upon the issuance of a proclamation as provided for in subsection (2), is hereby authorized and empowered to take and exercise any, either, or all of the following actions, powers, and prerogatives:
(a) Call out the military forces of the state (state militia) and order and direct said forces to take such action as in the Governor's judgment may be necessary to avert the threatened danger and to maintain peace and good order in the particular circumstances.
(b) Order any sheriff or sheriffs of this state, pursuant to a proclamation as herein provided, to exercise fully the powers granted them, and each of them, under s. 30.15(1)(f) (suppress tumults, riots, and unlawful assemblies in their counties with force and strong hand when necessary) and to do all things necessary to maintain peace and good order.
(c) Order and direct the State Highway Patrol, and each and every officer thereof, to do and perform such acts and services as the Governor may direct and in the Governor's judgment are necessary in the circumstances to maintain peace and good order.
(d) Authorize, order or direct any state, county, or city official to enforce the provisions of such proclamation in each and every and all of the courts in the state by injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate legal action.
(4) The Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to intervene in any situation where there exists violence, overt threats of violence to persons or property and take complete control thereof to prevent violence, or to quell violence or any disturbance or disorder which threatens the peace and good order of society.
(5) The powers herein granted are supplemental to and in aid of powers now vested in the Governor under the constitution, statutory laws and police powers of said state.
(6) The provisions of this section shall continue in full force and effect until otherwise amended.
History.—ss. 1-6, ch. 31390, 1956; s. 2, ch. 61-239; s. 2, ch. 65-95; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 18, ch. 78-95; s. 2, ch. 91-95; s. 34, ch. 95-147.
Hunters and Guns
According to the US Fish And Wildlife Service National Hunting License Data Calculation Year 2019 California has 279,248 paid hunting license holders, Florida 189,038, Minnesota 563,127, Michigan 688,185, New York 564,612, Ohio 376,435, Pennsylvania 956,163, Tennessee 679038, Texas 1,162,430 and with a national total of 15,544,849. Estimates of 300 million firearms in the US held by about a third of the population which means over 100 million Americans own firearms and the average number of owned firearms is three. Do not worry about the spread of violence outside of certain areas in certain cities. The 100 million Americans who own firearms will not let people threaten their families or loot their homes or burn their homes. There are an estimated 18.8 million veterans living in the U.S. which equals 7.6 percent of the population. Veterans bring discipline and commitment to law and order and to a stable society.
According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics of the total number of injury deaths of 243,039 all firearms deaths numbered 39,773 while drug overdose deaths numbered 67,367, and of the firearm deaths of 39,773 firearm suicides numbered 23,854 out of 47,173 total suicides leaving 14,542 firearm homicides or 5.9% of all the injury deaths compared to 40,231 motor vehicle traffic deaths, 36,338 unintentional fall deaths, and 64,795 unintentional poisoning deaths out of the total of all unintentional injury deaths of 169,936. As far as violent crime including murder don’t live or travel in certain neighborhoods in St. Louis, Detroit, Memphis, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Oakland, Kansas City, Stockton, Cleveland, Chicago, New York City or Indianapolis. Know your neighborhood and your city.
Riots present a reaction to events. Riots grow and take on a life of their own. One could say for some people riots present a “fashionable”, seasonal (summer) and trendy and a life style, a link to a personality predisposition and almost a part of a person. A riot style person may simply wait for the riot to begin before joining in and participating.
So what should you do to deflate and minimize “The 2020 George Floyd Civil Unrest Stressor?” Research the stressor and put the “threat” into a perspective that effectively removes it and follow the suggestions below regarding media.
Use The Television/Video Effect to minimize stress and its effects on peripheral neuropathy and other chronic symptoms:
Monitor your media messages that increase your stress level. Avoid negative effects by avoiding the media messages.
Research the current stressor events. List the tools society has to face the stressor events.
Build a researched historical perspective to put stressor events into context.
Build a picture of where the stressor events will be in six months, one year and in five years.
Use these techniques to defuse stressor events.
When “riots” are looked at through this perspective, they might as well be taking place in a country thousands of miles away. Some “riots” have profound effects and force citizens to take sides:
Our American Revolution from 1775 to 1783 changed the American world.
The French Revolution from 1789 to 1799 and Napoleon and his wars lasting until 1815.
Our American Civil War from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865 with its 616,222 to 1,000,000 dead.
None of our current riots present a prospect for an American Revolution or and American Civil War. So face your fears with “facts.”
When faced with fears, confront those fears with “facts.” Many “generous minded people,” who share their thoughts too often, have a horror of “facts.” The “generous minded” would rather choose to gather an audience by “crying wolf” and even “claiming the sky is falling” like Henny-penney. “Facts,” the brute beasts of intellectual discourse, end discussion of many topics. We do have a thin blue line of police of 697,195 full time officers, between us and the rioters, but behind the police are Federal Law Enforcement Officers about 132,000 and behind them is the U.S. Army of 472,595 regular soldiers and 331,881 trained Army National Guard and 191,007 Army Reserve for a total of 995,483 and 186,00 active duty US Marines.
Remember “This business of conversation (24/7 “News” Coverage) is a very serious matter. There are women and men that it weakens one to talk with an hour more than a day’s fasting would do. Mark this that I am going to say, for it is as good as a working professional person’s advice, and costs you nothing: It is better to lose a pint of blood from your veins than to have a nerve tapped. Nobody measures your nervous force as it runs away, nor bandages your brain and marrow after the operation.”
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. “THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BREAKFAST-TABLE.” The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Http://Www.gutenberg.org/, 1858, www.gutenberg.org/files/751/751-h/751-h.htm.
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