James Younger Gang

I am a student of our western history from 1860 to 1890.  This was an exciting time in the history of our county.   Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Jim Younger, and Bob Younger were the nucleus of an outlaw gang that achieved notoriety during that time period. 

Jesse became the most famous and the gang is normally referred as the James Gang.  He was shot in the back of the head by a gang member.  Personally, I believe that Cole Younger was the primary leader of gang.  The history of these people is very interesting.  I would recommend stopping at The James Farm and Museum in Kearney, Missouri. 

Jesse James was sometimes compared to Robin Hood, and the gang was defended by southern patriots, but in reality they were ruthless robbers and killers. Some politicians and some members of the press defended the gang and contributed to their infamy. 

The gang was able to continue their life of crime for many years for several reasons.  They were trained as guerrilla fighters in the Civil War.  The gang was better armed than most of the population and no one fought back.  They were protected by family and southern sympathizers.  The gang targeted banks and railroads so the pubic never recognized them as a serous problem or threat to the public. 

The downfall of the gang happened in Northfield, Minnesota where northern farmers and townspeople did not sympathize with the southern guerrillas.  The townspeople took up arms, and three gang members were killed.  The three Younger brothers were all seriously wounded and imprisoned in Stillwater, Minnesota.  Only Frank and Jesse James escaped. 

This history has some relevance today.  The shooting in San Bernardino is a change in tactics for terrorism in this county.  The government and media are very careful about labeling the problem or making any statements that might be consider politically incorrect.  The fact is that the shooters were devout Muslims.  Syed Farook had traveled to Syria to find a Muslim wife, and they had traveled to Syria and Pakistan.  This may be a clue to their motives.   They attacked, killed, and wounded people at a Christmas party.  Their dress, guns, and explosives clearly show that the attack was planned for a long time, and probably was funded by Islamic sympathizers. 

The change with this attack is that they were not on a suicide mission.  They tried to escape which makes it a guerrilla attack like the James gang.  They probably had training during trips to Syria and Pakistan.  They were better armed than their victims.  They knew that all their victims would be unarmed in a gun-free-zone, and would not fight back.  They planned on getting away and having family and the Muslim community hide and protect them, just like the James gang.  It is naive to think that no one in their family or church had any idea what they were planning. 

This all sounds like the guerrilla tactics of the James gang.  I am surprised Islamic terrorists have not adopted these guerrilla tactics before.  The only problem was that armed police responded too quickly.  Our police need tactical weapons to deal with this war on terror. 

Unfortunately, President Obama does not agree and actually took military grade equipment away from some police departments.  He would also like to take all guns away from citizens so they can’t defend themselves.  I would be in favor of any new gun control that took guns away from criminals and terrorists, but we already have that legislation. All proposed new legislation takes guns away from honest citizens and infringes on the rights guaranteed in the Second Amendment. 

We are at war with radical Islam.  This is a guerrilla war in countries not controlled by Islam.  Political correctness and talk of gun control are dangerous because both avoid addressing the real terrorist threat.  Maybe we should recognize political correctness as the propaganda it is because it avoids facing reality. 

We have to wake up and fight.  People are dying and more will die until we win this war.  Citizens may need to help the military and police by taking up arms and fighting for our country like the people of Northfield, Minnesota fought for their town.