(Thread) The discussion around US school shootings reminds me a lot of France's 2015-2017 fight against terrorism from ISIS. I thought a lot about this last month on the Charlie Hebdo 3-year anniversary, so let's jump in.
In January 2015, terrorists used Slovakia-bought assault rifles to raid the the secret, unmarked Charlie Hebdo offices, killing 17 people, included a trained bodyguard armed with a loaded pistol.
A well-trained & armed defender was killed. Remember that.
A well-trained & armed defender was killed. Remember that.
In November 2015, 130 were killed, including notably an attack on the Batalcan venue. Targets were also restaurant & bar terraces as well as the PSG soccer venue Stade de France, which thwarted a suicide bomber with a security guard.
But France had already begun its counter terrorism efforts. After the 2016 truck attack claimed 86 lives on Bastille Day, large gatherings were postponed or cancelled, like the 2016 Braderie de Lille, a literal 1-million person flea market.
However, France had been working for over a year on counter-terrorism measures. Once the 2-year state of emergency started after Batalcan, counter-terrorism units began regularly announcing thwarted attempts.
By the time the 2016 truck attack happened on Bastille Day, I had been working for the past 6 months to organize a giant Drone race on the champs Elysées. We had been talking to counter-terrorism officials for months, and they were meticulous.
The truck attacks resulted in a 50,000€ increase in the event's budget - cement barricades to block trucks and additional personnel at each check point. We abided, although some events simply post-poned, unable to bear the cost.
So here's my point: in 2017, there were:
3 gun-related ISIS attacks in France, resulting in
1 policeman fatality on the Champs Elysées (a handful of injured & dead assailants), and
1 failed car attack, 1 failed hammer attack, 2 deaths by knife.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t…)
3 gun-related ISIS attacks in France, resulting in
1 policeman fatality on the Champs Elysées (a handful of injured & dead assailants), and
1 failed car attack, 1 failed hammer attack, 2 deaths by knife.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t…)
ISIS Terrorisst attacks in France are all but irradicated in 2018, 3 years after Charlie Hebdo claimed 17 lives.
1 million marched in the street.
The government took action
The people accepted increased security but pushed for an end-date.
1 million marched in the street.
The government took action
The people accepted increased security but pushed for an end-date.
The U.S. has a problem. Schools aren't as safe as they should be (0 incidents is objectively the goal).
The US can take measures to affect change over the next three years, like France did with ISIS.
The only metric that matters are gun-related injuries+deaths at school.
The US can take measures to affect change over the next three years, like France did with ISIS.
The only metric that matters are gun-related injuries+deaths at school.
Like Europe, the US has to tackle these things at a federal and local level. Slovakian-bought guns kill French citizens, so it becomes a European issue (that's Merkel marching after an attack in Paris).
Europol increased gun restrictions & border control: consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/fi…
Europol increased gun restrictions & border control: consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/fi…
Today's problems have solutions that can be implemented tomorrow.
Rooting the complexity of a problem in past decisions is akin to being pro-slavery.
In 2014, France would riot at the idea of a police state. In 2015, they brought hot soup to armed agents in the winter.
Rooting the complexity of a problem in past decisions is akin to being pro-slavery.
In 2014, France would riot at the idea of a police state. In 2015, they brought hot soup to armed agents in the winter.
