Posted: 11/5/2008 6:19:26 AM EDT
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There are people running around screaming “The sky is falling”, “from my cold, dead, hands”, etc. I strive to always remain calm and avoid any semblance of chest-beating. I am trying to improve preparedness though, and am thinking about a game plan for the future. Do you have a game plan?
The following is part of mine. Need to improve job stability and income generation. Need to remain aware of what my elected officials are doing and contact them. -I occasionally contact my elected reps, but I am thinking about developing a very concise, strong message for delivery to them. -As far as the 2A is concerned, I am considering a pre-emptive strike w/ a “line in the sand” theme. Need to ramp up my efforts to expose acquaintances to “responsible firearm” ownership. -Taking newbies or inexperienced shooters to the range. -Encouraging people to obtain their CPL. -Dispelling myths concerning EBR's and promoting acceptance of such. Continue w/ general emergency preparations (food, shelter, water). -Will be getting a generator in Dec, but it needs minor repair. Need replacement/maintenance/installation parts and more gas. -Need to investigate purchase of upright kerosene heater and kerosene storage in case of natural gas delivery disruption. -Need more drinkable water on hand and some form of water purification system. -Need more food suitable for long term storage. -Need more basic medical supplies and need to refresh and/or improve my first aid training. -Need to have a serious discussion w/ family about developing plan(s) for Katrina-type emergencies. Need to improve fighting capability -Re-evaluate my ability to support weapons on hand: mags, replacement parts, mags, batteries, mags, etc. -I do not have a BOB, E&E bag, chest rig, rifle fighting bag, good hiking pack, etc. Need to figure out what I realistically need and set it up. -Continue w/ firearms training, and incorporate some basic H2H. |
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That's a great checklist bsf.
Also depending on where you are, you may need maps of your area as well as many alternate routes to get to your house, family's house, or bugout land (if you're not bugging in like me.) Also: NETWORK with people you trust local to you! |
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Good list there. I have done most of the first parts. or more to the point i was forced to, Long story, nother time. The one i need to work on is weapon use and combat skills. Looks like im gona be making some trips to calhoon (spelling botched i know) and see how to do this. Got the EBR and stuff but no knolage = shit.
Zar |
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Nice list I have done the same for me and my extended family. we live in a populated area so we have enough to get to where we are going for the long hall. We have a 7 family coalition 60 acres and tons of EBR tactical training. Dont forget your HAM radio
Good luck and take care of each other Michigan |
Enough economists are forecasting an end to the US federal reserve note to warrant a serious discussion on this topic. Thanks for bringing it up in the HT forum. There are some great threads in the "outdoors" forum. I based my BOB mostly on the advice I obtained over there. In general, alternative currency (silver rounds, ammo, etc.) seems logical if the economy collapses. Merchants will no doubt rise from the ashes. If we're fortunate, a technologically advanced frontier economy will take the place of our current debt system (I'll be the blacksmith with solar power). If not, don't worry, the FEMA camps will feed you your ration of synthetic bean soup.
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You may want to lay in a supply of pre '64 US silver coins and a case or two of cheap booze.
Maybe a few cartons of cigarettes as well. This would be in addition to a good supply of ammo or reloading components. Great barter items. Buy canned food that you will use anyhow. Avoid the freeze dried stuff. Food prices are set to rise rapidly. Beyond the increases we have already seen. The sky isn't falling, but we ARE in for some interesting times. Would be the same with McCain, so get over it. |
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Quoted:
You may want to lay in a supply of pre '64 US silver coins and a case or two of cheap booze. Maybe a few cartons of cigarettes as well. This would be in addition to a good supply of ammo or reloading components. Great barter items. Buy canned food that you will use anyhow. Avoid the freeze dried stuff. Food prices are set to rise rapidly. Beyond the increases we have already seen. The sky isn't falling, but we ARE in for some interesting times. Would be the same with McCain, so get over it. Great idea on the barter materials. I think cheap guns & ammo would make great barter materials. I was getting prepared to sell 2 M44's and a can of silvertip w/ each, but maybe I should hold on to them for barter. I agree w/ buying extra qty of food items you normally eat. I cannot afford the expensive freeze-dried stuff. I think I will make extra liquor purchases for barter materials. It has a good shelf life. I need to check into 2-way radios and ranges as a means of contacting family should mobile phone service go down. My list is in no way exhaustive, and I have read through related threads in the other sub-forums. This is how I see it. I always say I believe in freedom and personal responsibility. I will not look toward the future w/ a sense of dread and be resigned to failure and submission. It is my responsibility to make preparations for overcoming an uncertain future. I will not be reliant on nor will I submit to others should some of the much talked about scenarios actually play out. Hopefully, some activism now will convince our elected representatives that the penalties for additional encroachments on freedom and efforts in opposition to personal responsibility will be severe. I am a realist. I think only a small percentage of US population would be willing to do what I am about to propose. It has been mentioned before, but no one has the balls to actually attempt its organization and implementation. I would love to see a nationwide show of solidarity; a warning to our elected representatives; the firearm owners’ rough equivalent of the Million Man March. Even though firearm owners comprise a huge percentage of the population, I believe most of them do not have the conviction necessary. Still, if just 1000 people at every state capitol would all in unison say, while carrying the implements of free men and women: “We will no longer suffer abrogation of our right to keep and bare arms. We will stand in defiance of any unconstitutional law that infringes on our right as free men and women to own and use firearms for any and all moral purposes. We are patriots and will no longer submit to those pursuing the destruction of freedom. We draw the line here and now. We may only number in the thousands, but we carry the resolve of millions. Reform our local, state, and national firearm laws to bring them back into compliance with the highest law of the land, the Second Amendment of the Constitution. We stand in solidarity. We will no longer submit.” Quite a pipe dream would not you say. It seems apparent the majority of our citizens does not understand the importance of the 2A, or actually wants to destroy it. This is reflected in our elected representatives. I wonder if we are reaching a point where a powerful stop-gap measure will be necessary to buy time to hopefully change minds and hearts. I am not convinced of the protection some say Heller will provide. I make no assumptions about how radical the Democrat’s agenda will be. The make up of the Supreme Court could change drastically within the next 4 years, and not for the better. I try not to be pessimistic, but realistic. I would feel much better if we took the offensive instead of trying to mitigate the damage caused by our enemies’ attacks. Sorry about the rant.  I did not develop proper understanding of the importance of responsible firearm ownership until laws started changing for the better here in MI and nationally around 2001. Since that point, conditions have slowly, but steadily improved. The thought of complying with new laws that actually increase the infringement of my RKBA is extremely unpalatable to me.
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1. Get this book and read it. It's a survival manual wrapped into a compelling story. Good food for thought.
2. Be careful how much you post on a public forum. |
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1. Get this book and read it. It's a survival manual wrapped into a compelling story. Good food for thought. 2. Be careful how much you post on a public forum. Looked at the book. May pick it up. 
Yeh, that may have been a bit dramatic. As far as saying too much, it is in the general vicinity of danger. I am trying to take a longer view; considering the current state of affairs in light of US history. As I said, I really only started devoting any part of my attention span to larger issues of freedom and personal responsibility maybe 7 years ago. Since then in MI some CPL reform has occurred (not enough); Cox wrote the full auto opinion; MCRGO and SAFR have achieved other, smaller legislative victories; nationally the AWB expired; and Heller was decided in favor of freedom (generally). This list is not all inclusive by any means. I have gotten used to many things. If the mood strikes me to buy 10 – 30rd AR mags, I do not want to have to pay $300 because purchase of new production units is banned or hit with a special tax. I do not want to see concealed carry advances rolled back. If I scratch the money together for a 50cal rifle, I want to be able to buy a new production unit. I want to be able to legally sell currently owned firearms and accessories to other good people, and not be prohibited from doing so because of a non-transfer law. I think you get the picture. I cannot predict how things are going to turn out in this new political landscape. I do wonder if it may be worth the risk to send a strong message now in the hope of preventing absolutely terrible things from coming to pass. |
| It would be advantageous for like minded individuals to get a head start on local barter economies. I know several of you guys own retail shops. Any thoughts or pursuits of this nature? Skills for trade? Silver spot standard setting (discounts for rounds)? These trading posts may prove important for communication hubs as well. |
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Your proposed rally sounds like a great idea! I'm up for it. Count me IN. I am tired of that worthless cunt Granholm ruining our state. She is also my Commander in Chief of the MI national Guard. I cannot wait to get out. I am currently in Iraq, but if a rally happens, and I can be there, expect to see me armed to the teeth, along with as many of my friends and family as I can. |
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As far as the rallies going, I'm going to disagree. They sound good, but in the end, few people show up, and they don't really *produce* anything.
Believe it or not, I attended the Million Mom March in DC in May 2000. Was one of the first gun rights type things I ever did..and was quite an experience. And there were 5,000 other people there..we fit on one small corner of the mall, while the pink hat people were everywhere..when people tell you there were only 10,000 of them, they're wrong..my estimate would be 200k based on the size of our group vs. the size of theirs. The next year, SAS and MCRGO had a rally on the Capital steps. It was a respectable crowd but nothing impressive. The one the next year was very small. The time, money, and energy that goes into putting these things together isn't worth the outcome..use those things to effect real change. What we really need to do is become much more involved in our local and state political party. It's not that hard to do..but does take dedication of time. My suggestion has always been for people to spend one hour a month on gun rights activities. Often, people are unwilling to do even that, but every gun owner in Michigan committing just that could make a huge difference. |
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Barbara there you go being smart and all.
People in general are simple and if it isn't "right here, right now" they don't care to much. One hour per month would accomplish huge gains. Just writing a letter would accomplish something. That is if we can drag them away from American Idol and Survivor long enough. Joe |
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As far as the rallies going, I'm going to disagree. They sound good, but in the end, few people show up, and they don't really *produce* anything. Believe it or not, I attended the Million Mom March in DC in May 2000. Was one of the first gun rights type things I ever did..and was quite an experience. And there were 5,000 other people there..we fit on one small corner of the mall, while the pink hat people were everywhere..when people tell you there were only 10,000 of them, they're wrong..my estimate would be 200k based on the size of our group vs. the size of theirs. The next year, SAS and MCRGO had a rally on the Capital steps. It was a respectable crowd but nothing impressive. The one the next year was very small. The time, money, and energy that goes into putting these things together isn't worth the outcome..use those things to effect real change. What we really need to do is become much more involved in our local and state political party. It's not that hard to do..but does take dedication of time. My suggestion has always been for people to spend one hour a month on gun rights activities. Often, people are unwilling to do even that, but every gun owner in Michigan committing just that could make a huge difference. I do not necessarily disagree w/ anything you have said. I want to be clear that my mindset is perseverance despite how bad things get. I agree that more involvement in state and local politics is necessary. How can we stave off the potential threats posed by the new political landscape in Washington? I realize all D’s are not died in the wool gun-grabbers, and all R’s are not fervent supporters of the 2A. As you know, we are setting at 57/40 and 225/174 currently in the Senate & House respectively. That is getting pretty damn close to “Bend over and get ready”. |
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My suggestion has always been for people to spend one hour a month on gun rights activities. Often, people are unwilling to do even that, but every gun owner in Michigan committing just that could make a huge difference.
what activities would you suggest Barbara? Nursing school takes up nearly all of my time (for the next 18 months anyway) but i want to do something . P.Smith |
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Wow, a ton of stuff.
The first thing to remember is that more than taking away your rights, any politician, Obama or anyone else, wants to be elected/reelected. Without a position or power, they can't do anything, so they're generally willing to sacrafice things they campaign on in the interest of getting re-elected. Obama is going to have a hard time and to a small extent, I feel bad for him..he's in over his head. He's inherited the worst economy in decades and its still going south. All his promises of wealth distrution don't work if there's no wealth. The moonbats don't realize those 401k's they're so worried about are actually shares in Big Evil Wallstreet Companies, and if he doesn't deliver on his promises to fix the economy, provide health care and gingersnaps for all, and homeless camps take root as more and more people lose their homes, they're going to turn on him. He's made promises regarding Iraq that he cannot possibly keep..If he does a sudden exit from Iraq, he'll cause instability in the area and draw fire from our allies in the Middle East who are depending on our presence to keep the bad folks squelched. If he doesn't do a sudden exit, his moonbat constituency is going to call him a cell out. So, let him have it..personally, I think he's going to be too busy to chase after an AWB as a start, but eventually, they'll get to it. Be prepared. What can we do? We should have done it last year, or five years ago, but no point in not starting now. Get involved. Become a precinct delegate for your party. Carefully investigate school board and city council members before you vote..don't make the mistake of thinking they can't change the country. That's where candidates for higher office go to build a network. Talk to them, go to Council meetings. Boring as corn growing, but critical. Run for office yourself. Get involved in your local gun club. If there is more than one in your area, don't base your decision purely on the facilities..base it at least partially on how much the other members care about your rights. Ask if you can have local candidates come in and speak to your group. If your club says they can't do that, check again..as long as they provide equal access to all parties and don't make endorsements, they're probably going to be ok. Get involved in local gun organizations. I can recommend one, if you need (www.firearmsalliance.org/www.safrpac.org.)  I can tell you from experience, what groups like this (and others) need more than your money is your time. Spend an hour a month at gun shows handing out information on gun rights for them.
Get involved with the NRA. There are a ton of opportunities. Call them. If you need a Michigan contact, I'll get you one. Take people shooting. The more new shooters you can create, the less likely we are to face the problems we're concerned. Take Democrats shooting. Don't expect their brains will grow overnight, but create the opportunity for them to learn. Ignorance breeds fear. Don't try to talk them out of being Dems, as they often outgrow this anyway, but make sure their experiences and memories of firearms are positive. Go shooting yourself. As much as politicians want to get elected, businesses want to stay in business. When shooting is a profitable business, companies donate and lobby on our behalf (to save their own hides, sure, but I'll take what I can get.) Choose one very pro-gun candidate and dedicate one hour a month to make sure he or she gets reelected. I can think of more if you want, but that's a good start.
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