As a matter of public relations, the government can NOT be seen to lose in a standoff situation. If you fort up, and try to hold them at bay, they may sit it out for a while, but they'll eventually start escalating, to the point where a blockbuster bomb will land on your roof if that's what it takes. Look at how they treated the MOVE people!
So I'd say that if you're really planning on having a Swat team show up at your front door, you either surrender, or scoot FAST. Surrender doesn't take a lot of preparation, does it? Just practice your groveling, and hope that they don't stage an "accident"; It's your word against their's, after all, and you don't want to have to dispute their version of events via a medium.
In order to have any options at all, your front door is going to have to be durable enough that they bounce when they hit it; Ditto for your windows. You can buy doors that durable, with bolts which engage on all four sides. For the windows, they sell a plastic film in huricane areas which is suppose to stop wind blown debris, and which has stopped small arms fire on occasion.
Next, you need to know what's going down, without sticking your head out the window, and getting it shot off. Miniture cameras are real cheap these days; Conceal them around your property for complete coverage.
Now you need a way to communicate with the outside world; Can't call 911 if they cut the wires, can you? Or give your side of the story when the news reports that you're a drug gang. Get a cell phone under an assumed name.
Now you've given yourself time to think, and intelligence and communications. You need a way out. A tunnel would be ideal, if you can build it without outsiders knowing; Watch some old German POW movies... Incidentally, the tunnel doesn't have to be a dead loss if you're not attacked; It would make a nifty basement range, wouldn't it?
Next: You want them to think that you're still in the house, while you're getting out of Dodge! That way the manhunt is delayed a bit. Another use for that cell phone, on hands free. You can negotiate with the HRT while negotiating traffic. And some remote controlled pyrotechnics, to convince them that you're there and ARMED.
Finally comes the kicker: Do you want to draw blood, or make them think? I'd go with a simulated bomb, and a note to let them know that they'd be dead if you'd wanted it that way. And while you're at it, conceal a few webcams around the place, to catch them on video when they plant the incriminating evidence.
Have fun, and remember: You better get all the details right the first time; You're NOT going to have a chance to do it over again!
P.S. I suppose it goes without saying that you'd better have a fake identity already established, along with caches of clothing and the like.
P.P.S. Of course, to make it really sweet, arrange for your fake identity to be raided!
[This message has been edited by Brett Bellmore (edited August 20, 1999).]
