Hi, Any thoughts on the rather unusual challenges President Trump faced today before speaking at the UN? 1. The escalator went out, he had to walk up. 2. The audio went out. 3. While speaking, his teleprompter went out. All after the Secret Service uncovered a SIM Farm / covert telecom network not far from the UN.

We’re so glad you’re here. This space was built for families who refuse to leave their safety up to chance—or to algorithms that silence what matters. Here, you can learn, share, and connect freely with other parents, grandparents, and protectors who care about building stronger, safer families. Here’s how to get started: 1. Introduce yourself below. Tell us who you are, where you’re from, and what brought you here. 2. Ask questions. Big or small, your questions help everyone. 3. Share scenarios. “What would you do if…?” posts spark some of the best discussions. 4. Engage often. Comment, like, and add your voice. The more we all participate, the stronger this community becomes. What to expect here: - Training resources and lessons on awareness, self-defense, and family safety. - Live discussions and group challenges. - Real stories and solutions from families just like yours. - A community that supports—not censors—you. ⚡Remember: Confidence is contagious. By engaging here, you’re not only helping yourself—you’re equipping others to protect what matters most. Drop your intro below and let’s get this community moving! 👇 We Teach Confidence™ S & J The Vigilant Family™

By now you’ve probably heard about the mass shooting at the Catholic school in Minnesota. The details of the murders themselves follow a familiar pattern—and we’ll save that discussion for another day. What struck us was a video from inside the church during the evacuation. It shows the chaos as children and adults ran for their lives before police ever arrived. Two men appear in that footage. One held the door. Another filmed on his phone. That was it. And if you watch closely, you’ll notice something heartbreaking: the children running past them looked up—searching for direction, for leadership, for safety. What they got instead was silence. A man with a phone. A man holding a door. Neither stepping up. Neither taking responsibility. Neither leading. These weren’t strangers on the street. These were men in their own parish. Presumably “Men of faith.” Men who, in that moment, had no plan, no presence, and no ability to guide the flock in front of them. To top it off, one of them decided it was worth releasing the footage for the rest of the world to see. What This Reveals: We don’t just need men in our churches, schools, and workplaces. We need men of strength and clarity. Men who are prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually to lead their families—and anyone in their care—to safety when danger strikes. Holding a door isn’t leadership. Filming chaos isn’t protection. Our families deserve better. Questions for You and Your Family: - When you entrust your kids to a school, a church, or even a workplace—what do you expect of the adults around them? - Do you assume someone will rise to the occasion… or do you know who actually can? - If the unthinkable happened in your presence, would your children, your spouse, your community look at you—and find strength? At The Vigilant Family, we ask the hard questions because ignoring them leaves people vulnerable. Are you equipped? Are you prepared? Or are you just hoping someone else will be? Because hope is not a strategy.

How Normal Moments Can Quietly Endanger You Family's Safety - And What to Do Instead: We recently witnessed a moment that’s been quietly bothering us. We were in line at a local store behind a young woman. When it was her turn at the register, the clerk asked for her rewards number. She gave her phone number out loud. The clerk responded with her name — “Sarah?” — and casually confirmed her street: “Still on 7th Ave in X-City?” She said yes. Sarah completed her transaction and walked out to her vehicle, a newer white Escalade, Lic. 123XYZ. In less than five minutes, we knew her name, phone number, street she lived on, vehicle make and model, and even her license plate. This wasn’t some elaborate sting operation. It was just... a normal Tuesday. Think about how often this happens — not just to you, but around you. How many times have you given your phone number or email at checkout for a rewards program? Has the clerk confirmed your name? Address? Birthday? To most people, this feels routine — even harmless. But as Vigilant Families, we need to be aware of how our routines are affecting our families safety and how we can reduce the chances of something bad happening to us. Let’s Be Honest: Would You Ever... …walk up to a total stranger and hand them your full name, phone number, home address, and vehicle description? Of course not. But when this same information gets shared casually in public settings — at the checkout, over the phone, or online — the risk becomes invisible, normalized. And while most people around you are decent and distracted, a predator only needs one moment of opportunity. A “Bad Guy” has one job, to be a good at victimizing innocent people, and they are always working. A career criminal sees patterns others miss. They don’t look like villains. They don’t wait for “ideal” conditions. They observe, collect, and act — all while blending in. That young woman didn’t do anything wrong. But she was unknowingly exposed — by a system that prizes convenience over caution, and by a culture that tells us not worry, everything will be fine.

In today’s rapidly evolving society, we are all facing the challenges of raising our families in unpredictable times where crime and personal safety threats have changed how we all live. Confidence in the government and law enforcement are at all-time lows, inflation is nearing record levels, crime has skyrocketed, arrests and prosecutions are at continuing to decline, deadly drugs have infiltrated every aspect of our communities, and natural and man-made disasters have caused unheard of damage, exposing the abject failure of the government to handle the emergency at the time or in the aftermath. For all of our families to live the best lives possible, knowledge, vigilance and preparedness are essential. Traditionally, family safety falls on one person, usually the man of the house, and the rest of the family takes it for granted that he will be there to protect them in their time of need. He may or may not have a background where their skill-set would be particularly useful (law enforcement, military, combat sports, etc.), or at least minimal training in a specific technique or tool that will help everyone survive. However, if you are anything like our family, you are often going in several different directions at the same time. My wife is out with the kids, I’m tied up somewhere else, and the oldest out with his friends or working. Are you and your family prepared to survive an encounter when you are not together? Most men throughout our culture have never been in a fist fight, let alone a fight where the lives of their families depend on it. We, as a population, have been told that there is never any circumstance where violence is necessary, it is archaic, barbaric, and toxic. We pay outrageous amounts of money to be protected by the government and police who are supposed to be a phone call away. They are now responsible for our safety and security; where are the police and how long will it take for them to get to you, if they answer the 911 call? The majority of women are either by themselves or with their children most of the time. The average woman and their families have no idea where to begin and nowhere to comfortably ask questions and get reliable answers. How can they keep themselves and their families safe in today’s world? Men and women are different, we see and process information differently. Adding our children into the mix increases the level of complexity exponentially. Knowing how and being able to talk to them and help them understand what is going on, what to look for, and how to act will help reduce their levels of anxiety and boost their confidence. Our family wants to help you and your family bridge that gap so that both sides can understand each other, communicate, and join forces in their planning and preparations, to avoid/overcome any dangerous situations.