By JACKIE TAYLOR | December 17, 2025

Woke is woke, Bloke or not

This weekend was a particularly bloody weekend worldwide; coincidental? Maybe, but I think not.

First, three Americans were killed in Syria in an ISIS terrorist attack. The three included an interpreter and two Iowa National Guardsman.

Next, Brown University experienced an active-shooter incident Saturday that left two students dead; one of them a Jewish student. Brown University is in downtown Providence, Rhode Island and is a very prestigious Ivy League school. But, their stature amongst crusty schools didn’t lead to them putting up cameras on their campus that might help acquire identification of any potential shooter that could target the school.

Last, Australia experienced a Muslim father and son team that chose to kill Jewish Hannukah celebrants who met on a beach in Sydney, Australia. The death count is up to 15 now with multiple victims trying to recover from the 30.06 and shotgun wounds the duo inflicted. 

This, despite Australia’s heavy gun control laws that took weapons from the hands of most of their citizens, except the terrorist who had a license for six long-guns. What in tarnation?

 What was a bright spot in a terrible incident is how normal citizens chose to stand up against the killers, two eventually losing their lives, the other wounded. Foxnews.com reports, “Despite their efforts to disarm him, the gunman eventually overpowered the two bystanders and killed them, according to authorities.

“The bystanders were later identified as Boris and Sofia Gurman, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The outlet reported that the Gurmans were walking by as they saw the assailant exiting a vehicle. Though Boris had the upper hand for a moment after picking up the shooter’s rifle, the attacker allegedly picked up another rifle during the confrontation and fatally shot the couple, making them the first victims of the massacre.”

Another lone man that wrestled a gun away from one of the terrorists is in the hospital, fighting for his life. Foxnews.com reports, “During the deadly rampage, another bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, an Australian immigrant, wrestled a gun away from one of the shooters. His attorney said that Ahmed does not regret intervening, despite being “riddled with bullets” and in intense pain.

“The outlet reported that Ahmed has undergone his first round of surgery and that Issa fears the hero bystander may lose his left arm.”

I saw a report on Sky News in Sydney that told of one person that picked up a brick to try to take out one of the terrorists. My mind flashed to a Babylon Bee satirical moment when a headline in an Aussie newspaper could say, “Bricks outlawed in terrorist attack.”

Australia is one prime example of a nation that has been castrated and its citizens let it happen. A woke Prime Minister continues to double-down even harder on gun laws leaving innocent people to try to fend for themselves while terrorists are armed to kill.

‘Wait for the police’ they say. Well, for some reason, it took over 10 minutes for the police to show up at Bondi Beach. That is a long time when someone is wielding a 30.06 rifle at sitting ducks trying to hide on a beach.

Brown University is being reported now as a “soft target.” The campus did not lock their doors to keep non-students out and they had no extensive video system in place to dissuade would-be attackers from going elsewhere.

The video that is being shown of the alleged shooter shows a person that knows where surveillance cameras are located and how to get around a potential attack spot.

If somewhere is a gun-free zone; those protecting that zone better be on their game. There is no down time for police protecting a location. The last thing a victim needs is a lackadaisical law enforcement person who thinks nothing will ever happen.

We are coming into an age of violence; it will be interesting to see who the perpetrator is in the Brown University shooting. Whatever the case, citizens need to become more diligent about personal safety, getting proficient with their conceal carry firearms, or learning tactics to protect themselves or their families.

Like in Australia, each of us could be thrown into a time where we are the only ones that could stop a mass killing. How will we approach it? Are we trained in any way to save ourselves?

Each of us should do a self-appraisal of safety, of our family’s safety, and more – things could get rough in the near future.