Author of The Blackout Book and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
One of the many adages of the prepper world is, “If you can’t defend it, you don’t own it.”
If you’re new to the preparedness lifestyle, this saying basically means that all of your supplies, your stockpiles, your carefully selected buckets of food, and the time and money you spent on preparation will be for naught if you can’t protect it against those who may seek to take it from you. This is generally accepted as a truth in the prepper community. Most of us believe that we must be prepared to defend ourselves and our property without relying on any type of “authorities” to protect us.
To me, preppers and guns go together like peas and carrots.I strongly believe that firearms are a necessary part of a home defense plan. So imagine my surprise when I got a negative response to a meme I posted shortly after the massacre in Paris a few years back.
Photo Credit
As it turns out, there are quite a few people in the lifestyle that actually do not believe in having firearms. Here are some of the comments that followed the meme, as well as comments from another discussion opened on the topic.
- I respectfully disagree. That is what has fueled this situation already.
- Only a coward thinks that everyone should be armed.
- Oh. What a shame that you posted this – and I enjoyed your page. Bail!
- I do not trust my fellow citizens to know how to safely take out a bomber without also potentially killing my loved ones! Do you want that bloodshed on your hands?
What?????????
Despite the noisy refrain of people begging for gun control, despite that ridiculous and misleading “mass shootings map” (more on that HERE), I haven’t changed my stance one bit. In fact, it just solidifies my belief that we need to be prepared at all times to protect our families. People murdered in San Bernadino by a mass shooter were at an office Christmas party when things went down, not a place one would normally expect to need to be armed. This said to me that there are no places that are immune to danger. In fact, “gun free zones” are seen as “target-rich environments” for mass shooters: statistics show that 94% of mass shootings since the 1950s have taken place in gun-free zones.
You have the inherent human right to protect your own life and the lives of others.
Social unrest just underlines this more.
Since I originally wrote this article back in 2015, the United States has had multiple episodes of civil unrest, and none so bad and widespread as the one we’re enduring in 2020, after the death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. There are protests ongoing in every major city in America and these have spread even to the small, outlying towns. (Never let it be said it can’t happen where you are.)
Minneapolis itself looks like a war zone. It literally looks like the ruined base that Selco and Toby took us to for training in the Croatia survival course. Watch this video to see the massive scale of the damage done to this city and the fires burning unchecked. (You don’t need to be logged in to see it.) Now, this very same city wants to disband the police department. Imagine living there, with people who’ve expressed this kind of rage. Imagine being there unarmed. Nobody is coming when you dial 911 during situations like this. (For more information about surviving situations like these, go here.)
As the situation in the United States continues to escalate, more people join protests and riots, and more cities call for the complete defunding of police departments, this scene is not going to be unique.
But not everyone believes preppers need guns
I understand not having a firearm if you live in a place where they are not available. (I spent 18 years in Canada and was unable to arm myself there.) But when you’re blessed to be in a place with access to the tools you need to keep your family safe, it seems like just another prep to me.
But obviously not everyone feels this way. Check out this lady who was on an episode of Doomsday Preppers.
Hat tip to Erica from Living Life in Rural Iowa for the link to this video
The thing that I believe it’s important to remember here is that if you have stacked your supplies to the rafters but refused to plan for defending your home and family, you’ve basically just made them bait should a desperate situation arise.
Here are some reasons why preppers need to be armed.
Reason #1: Those who are desperate, unprepared, and feel entitled to be cared for
Remember Black Friday? People climbed all over each other for cheap electronics. Fistfights erupted over vegetable steamers. People were ready to throw down and do battle for sale items.
I’d hazard a guess that folks who spend time and money fighting over electronics are not the kind of people who prep. That means that these are the people who will be hungry in a long-term disaster. Look at those people, stampeding to get to a sale on things that they don’t actually need to survive. Their inhibitions are loosened because those around them are behaving in the same way.
You have to look at the psychology of this. People can justify pretty much anything when they or their children are starving. And I can understand that to a large degree – who could stand to watch their babies suffering? But if someone can devolve to the above degree just to because everyone else is doing it, the chaos we saw above is only a tiny sample of what could come if people were truly hungry. (Check out Selco’s article about mob mentality for more information on this mindset.)
Do you really feel like you could prepare them one meal and they’d go away politely? Do you really think that reason and a polite but firm conversation will be sufficient to make them go away? It only takes one person to start the charge against you in a tense scenario, and when that happens, unless you take swift and shocking action, the others will follow, and your retreat will be overcome. Sort of like when the walkers overtook the prison after the fence got knocked down on The Walking Dead.
While the best plan of all is not to be there when the masses come knocking at your door, you don’t always have a warning. You’re going to want to be prepared with force equalizers – guns.
Reason #2: Those who are planning to take the supplies of others
But wait, there’s something even worse out there than the hungry unprepared.
There are the folks who have built an entire preparedness plan around taking the things that other preppers have stored. Remember this guy from another episode of Doomsday Preppers?
If you aren’t ready for people like this, your survival retreat is a soft, easy target. These people are not nice and not desperate. Their entire survival plan hinges on taking what someone else has amassed using superior force. This yahoo (who was subsequently arrested after his appearance on Doomsday Preppers) blatantly explains his plan, and I can guarantee that he is not alone. He’s just the one dumb enough to announce it on national television.
These are the types of people who are only careful about breaking the law because they don’t want to be caught. If a situation arises in which being caught and thrown in prison is unlikely, it will be a free-for-all. (Selco talks more about people like this in his book, Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival.) Morals and ethics won’t stop them, because they don’t have any. The only thing capable of stopping people like that is people who are able and ready to defend their homes
Reason #3: Those who loot and pillage because, doggone it, they like it
Finally, there are those who simply enjoy the mayhem.
Some people are just waiting for the opportunity to behave in this fashion. They enjoy destroying things and venting their anger on any person who has “more” than they do. They’d love to act like that every single day, but they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives in jail. But when a verdict gets rolled out, when a storm takes out the power, when a disaster strikes, when peaceful protests are going on over a perceived injustice, they delight in the chance to rob, pillage, loot, and burn. Who can forget the day before Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast when thugs were coordinating looting rampages via Twitter?
Here’s the scene in Ferguson, Missouri. These are definitely not folks out fulfilling needs.
I remember learning about “sublimation” in a high school psychology class.
Sublimation is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form. For example, a person experiencing extreme anger might take up kickboxing as a means of venting frustration. Freud believed that sublimation was a sign of maturity that allows people to function normally in socially acceptable ways. (source)
If you believe Freud’s theory, then it’s easy to see that many people look for an excuse to revert to their true natures. In a situation where “everyone” is doing something, they are able to cast off their normal control of their impulses without much fear of reprisal. The number of looters and thugs far outstrips the number of arrests going on in Baltimore, so there’s a very good chance that someone swept up in that mentality can go burn somebody else’s home or business and completely get away with it.
These are the people who burned down their own neighborhoods after the verdict in Ferguson. And what businesses were left untouched? The ones for which the owners stood out front, armed, to defend their property. This has happened again and again, most recently in Minneapolis.
When all hell is breaking loose, you cannot rely on 911.
You owe it to your family to be ready to protect them.
What if the world as we know it ended? What if there wasn’t food in the grocery stores? What if there was no longer any such thing as EBT, for those who relied on government assistance to acquire food? What if the police and military finally threw their hands up in the air, gave up, and went home to protect their own families? What if cities just get rid of the cops altogether? Who’s going to keep your family safe then?
You are.
You have to realize that at any point in time, you could find yourself on your own, without backup from 911.
Whether civil unrest is right outside your door.
Whether a group of thugs decides to invade your home to rob and/or terrorize you.
Whether the world we know goes down, via an EMP that takes out the grid, civil war, economic collapse, or a breakdown in the national transportation network.
The only person you can rely on to protect your family is yourself.
You can stockpile until you have a decade of supplies put back, but if you can’t defend it, you don’t actually own it. You only have it because no one has bothered taking it away from you yet. You have what you have based on the goodwill of others, who are stronger, greater in number, and better armed.
Take a long hard look at the threats you face during civil unrest, and get prepared. While we always recommend, purely from a survival standpoint, not being present during times of unrest, we also know there are situations in which there are no options. Wherever you live, whatever your situation, you need to plan as though 911 does not exist. Whether riots are occurring in the streets or not, in the seconds during which the lives of your family hang in the balance, you are completely on your own.
In some situations, it won’t stop with the destruction of your property. You may have to defend your home. And for this, you MUST BE ARMED.
People will tell you that they’ve survived riots or unrest and never had to have a gun or shoot anyone.
And do you know what?
Chances are, you won’t have to unholster your weapon. I know that when I defended my homestead and my daughter against wannabe criminals, I never even had to point my gun at them – the fact I had it and was determined to use it was enough of a deterrent.
But this is a plan based on pure luck and the goodwill of others. Survival favors the prepared. I do not base my preparations for my family on the hope for good luck and nice people.
Firearms are an equalizer. A small woman can defend herself from multiple large intruders with a firearm if she’s had some training and knows how to use it properly. But put a kitchen knife in her hand against those same intruders, and her odds decrease exponentially.
You are your own first responder.
If the situation does escalate and the lives of you and your loved ones are in danger, there is no substitute for meeting force with force. You may not wish to engage, but sometimes there’s no time to escape. Sometimes there’s no place to escape to. In these situations, you won’t be able to talk your way out of it, hide from it, or throw dishes at the intruders to fight them off.
When you need help in seconds, the police are only minutes away. By the time they arrive during a collapse scenario, your family will be dead, raped, or kidnapped, and your supplies will be long gone. And that’s if they arrive at all. And that’s also dependent on whether or not the few people remaining in uniform are actually committed to maintaining order.
If you plan to survive a scenario of civil unrest or a Mad Max society meltdown, you are going to have to accept that preppers need guns. This doesn’t mean that you want to hurt someone. It means that you intend to keep your loved ones safe by any means necessary.
Here are a few tips to prepare a home defense plan.
First things first: if you’re new to firearms, I strongly recommend professional instruction and lots of practice. There is no substitute for learning to use your weapon safely and accurately.
Your plan has to be unique to your situation. Be sure when making your plan to take into consideration things like: the layout of your property, your family, and their skill sets, your comfort with firearms, your neighbors – the list of variables goes on and on
Here are some specifics to help you begin planning.
Know how to use your firearm. Whatever your choice of weapon, practice, practice, practice. A weapon you don’t know how to use is more dangerous than having no weapon at all. You have to spend time at the range. It’s a must. During a stressful, frightening situation, you will be relying on muscle memory, so make sure the muscles are well trained. I’m not a firearms instructor, so I can’t recommend “the best gun” for preppers. The guns I chose for my rural property aren’t necessarily the same ones I chose when I lived in Suburbia. Every situation is different, and your firearm choice should reflect that. (Here’s some advice from someone who knows a lot more about weapons than I do to help you with that decision.)
Make sure your children are familiar with the rules of gun safety. Of course, it should go without saying that you will have pre-emptively taught your children the rules of gun safety so that no horrifying accidents occur. In fact, it’s my fervent hope that any child old enough to do so has been taught to safely and effectively use a firearm themselves. Knowledge is safety.
Spend time making a plan unique to your situation. You need to prepare your battlespace and make plans for defending it. Those plans will be different based on your experience and that of people in your family or group. For example, a family of preppers in the suburbs would most likely have a very different plan than a group of former military guys protecting a compound.
Don’t rely on 911. If the disorder is widespread, don’t depend on a call to 911 to save you-you must be prepared to save yourself. First responders may be tied up, and in some cases, the cops are not always your friends. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some officers joined in the crime sprees, and others stomped all over the 2nd Amendment and confiscated people’s legal firearms at a time when they needed them the most.
Be armed and keep your firearm on your person. When the door of your home is breached, you can be pretty sure the people coming in are not there to make friendly conversation over a nice cup of tea. Make a plan to greet them with a deterring amount of force. Be sure to keep your firearm on your person during this type of situation, because there won’t be time to go get it from your gun safe. Don’t even go to the kitchen to get a snack without it. Home invasions go down in seconds, and you have to be constantly ready.
Have a safe room established for children or other vulnerable family members. If the worst happens and your home is breached, you need to have a room into which family members can escape. This room needs to have a heavy exterior door instead of a regular hollow core interior door. There should be communications devices in the room so that the person can call for help, as well as a reliable weapon to be used in the unlikely event that the safe room is breached. The family members should be instructed not to come out of that room FOR ANY REASON until you give them the all-clear or help has arrived. You can learn more about building a safe room HERE. Focus the tips for creating a safe room in an apartment to put it together more quickly.
Plan an escape route. If the odds are against you, devise a way to get your family to safety. Your property is not worth your life. Be wise enough to know if you’re getting into a fight that you can’t win.
Let me repeat that it’s always best not to be in the thick of things. But if the fight comes to you and there’s no way to de-escalate it, then fight you must.
Civilization is just a veneer.
So many times, when interviewed after a disaster, people talk about being “shocked” at the behavior of others. Their level of cognitive dissonance has lulled them into thinking that we’re safe and that we live in a civilized country. They are unwilling to accept that civilization is only a glossy veneer, even when the evidence of that is right in front of them, aiming a gun at their faces, lighting their homes on fire, or raping their daughters.
They refuse to arm themselves and prepare for an uncivilized future.
Accept it now, and you’ll be a lot better off when the SHTF.
Do you have some specific advice for those making a home protection plan? Any thoughts on the use of firearms in that plan? Any plans not to have firearms? Let’s talk about it. Please share your suggestions in the comments below.
Good reminder of the importance of having guns and knowing how to use them.
My husband says, “If you can’t defend it, you don’t own it.”
As an old ma, im proud of Daisy, and all who are awake. I think my generation, has seen too much change, the one world military, is in place, you all wonder, whats next?
From deep study, of history religion geology, and a bit of physics, direct observation, prooved much to many, the problem seems to be two fold, we are in an earth, solar cycle, man has nothing to do with. Then we see this battle still happening, our nation, is in fear of islam, but islam, dont take that wrong, fear, is a mistake to put into the hearts of Americans.
The stats, in the past 11 years, more firearms and ammo have been sold than any other time in history, now granny has her gun in her purse, good, i dont fear granny, they are totally prepared now, one word repeats over and over again… disaster. if it is war, or a pole flip they prepare for, makes no difference, the right to self preservation, comes into play.
You have heard this time and time again, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” That, is just common sense truth. IF your state is prohibitive of fire arms, MOVE, to a state that’s free, no place now on earth is truly free, but at least, you can defend yourselves legally, you see those videos of mobs, un armed, beating each other to death? like animals, that will be your situation, without arms. The other thing Daisy has taught you all, is to form many friends, people you can REALLY trust with your life, look in their heart, you will know.
From MANY sources, im hearing something is close. watch turkey.
I write too much, so, take the advise f an old man, who has saved his own life once, and saved others, because i had a firearm. You all know the facts, if not, the auusies lost their right, the UK, most all of the EU, look over there, and see what has happened, I don’t know about any of you, but i would imagine, raping young Swiss girls, you would abhor, oooo we have trouble.
simply, go buy a gun, a shotgun, is best. Learn to use it, and use it legally, talk to anyone you know, who is un armed, TEACH these sheep, who do not know, the wolf is at the door, because its simply true.
NOW, they are telling you, you don’t have the right to speak, folks, when it gets to that, your not free.Down the pipeline comes the news, that alternative media, is about to be banned, right now in France, they have done just that, in bornio, years back, as thousands were killed, they just shut the net off, people like Daisy, are GOOD people, most of you all are good people, not right.
IF the day comes, when you MUST defend yourself, have no mercy, on anyone, who is trying to kill you, become cold and mean as hell, and girls, NEVER scream…and EVERYONE, put your fear away, use it for adrenaline, you would be surprised what a man can do, in his youth.
And I have to say, remember, your far from alone, the government knows this, we have over 4 million trained ex military personal, i think more really, just everyday folks, coming back from hell, just wanting to live and be free. good men most all. DO NOT, let propaganda, make you distrust your fellow American.
Daisy KNOWS a few things, things that perhaps some are not ready to know, she has my permission, to share that, with those she trusts.
Personally, I feel, the greatest danger, to every person on this planet, besides lies, is the solar earth event we are in. You see, im watching it, and ooo my, never mind.
NO ONE, should limit your news, hide news, lie boldly on the news, to those at the major networks, that sold out your soul, read what you are told, knowing its a lie, you are betraying YOURSELF, as well as the American people. And its getting worse, more and more information, is disappearing, so sad. The way, the net has been set up, there can be a war, in the state next to you, and you would not know it, its gone as far as they are able to digitally create a human, on your screen, and you cannot tell the difference.
our military, is under the command of NATO, gee, wonder where that’s going to lead, never was a conspiracy theorist, but its been proved to me, its true. We are entering, and in, the start of a one world government, hard to swallow, for an old man. USE your rights, arm yourself, and to make it real clear to law enforcement,[who may read my words] follow the law, be responsible, im not advocating violence, im saying sometimes, the only way to stop violence, is with violence, you have a right, to defend your person and property.
The day you lose that right, you are no longer a free person. Sadly, police are second responders, to most killings, thhat, is a fact, bottom line at 2 am, you hear a window break, your on your own, at that point, California state law, and most states, state you have the right to use deadly force.
Great article! People MUST begin to think.
I better shut up, or max wells silver hammer, may come down.
peace to all Americans.
What the mainstream media doesn’t like to discuss or admit …
Gun Violence is Declining — EXCEPT in Gun-Free Zones
http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/12/04/washington-post-gun-violence-declining-except-gun-free-zones/
All absolutely true. But what if one of your children has a diagnosis that makes owning a firearm a real problem? For now, we keep my husband’s guns at his brother’s house a couple hours away. My husband, my oldest, and I train as much as we can. We have set up our property to discourage those who would like to take our stuff. We have 2 dogs, a security system that will work grid down, bear spray by each door, locks on all the windows, battery operated cameras and lights positioned well. I just cannot in good conscience have a firearm where my very intelligent kid could get access.
Hi Amy, I am a Police Chief and appreciate your concern and responsibility. However, a couple hours away might as well be a million when you really may need them. Is there a storage facility nearby to rent a small unit? Is there a trusted friend in town that you could lock them at? New gun safes are very secure if you purchase a good one,,,,,,,,not big box bargain safes. Hopefully you can find a way to keep your weapons closer to home.
I know this was long ago, but that is what gun safes are for. Utilize the two person rule for access if you have to, but I would strongly recommend against depriving yourself and family of the self defensive capability of firearms. All of your security measures are only deterrents and would not stop someone hell bent on getting in, at least not for long. Good luck.
I keep meaning to get a gun and take some classes. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone shooting with my dad. Thanks for the gentle kick in the pants.
Outstanding article Miss Daisy.
Whatever you do, don’t allow those idiots slamming you…to get under your skin. Look at it this way, when the SHTF..they’re ‘toast’, which in the long run should be considered a plus(+) for humanity, as their obviously defective genetic-code, will be removed from the gene pool (thru their own stupidity & lack of courage)!
Sadly, the fate of their children, stirs my compassion…as they will be the real victims of their parent’s PC “cognitive dissonance”…which in this instance is actually nothing more than, reeking cowardice!!!
..and per KY mom’s quote:
“.. the importance of having guns and knowing how to use them.” …must be coupled w/ an iron-willed intent to utilize them, when necessary..as in a life or death scenario, there are no awards…for 2nd place.
Let’s be honest. If you do not own a gun, know how to shoot effectively with that gun, clean the gun and keep it operating properly, and have the mentality coupled to your trigger finger that you will kill instantly when challenged, without apology or remorse, then why are you prepping in the first place? There is no excuse for not defending yourself. NO, NONE! Not to defend yourself is nothing short of suicide. thanks for your time.
Willard is on target. I’m always amazed that it’s even a discussion. When it is a discussion it’s rarely worth my time.
I agree whole heartedly with Daisy about the need to be armed. Any one who does not believe civilization can break down is being an ostrich with their head in the sand. There are examples in the news almost every day from black Friday madness to race riots to all these incidents of active shooters. Wake up and smell the coffee!
Many of us have secondary reasons to be armed. While I was still working in town I came home one day to find a grizzly bear had torn the door off my store house and eaten about a thousand dollars worth of groceries. I live here permanently now and there is a heavy rifle by the door and a .357 in my pocket when I go out.
If times get really tough Daisy may need her gun to take out a mountain lion to protect her livestock. Our livestock are important to us now; if times get really tough they may make the difference between life or death.
Finally many of the looter types are the ones who are cowards. The sight of heavily armed defenders may well be enough to get them to move on and look for a softer target. I think it was Mark Twain who said “An armed society is a polite society”.
Actually you can get firearms in Canada. You take a course, get your permit and then purchase a gun. The long gun registry was abolished. Need to be 18 or if you fall into a different category, no age limit or permit required.
My father had firearms. My son-in-law has the equivalent of a carry permit. I know several others with carry permits. All of my neighbours have firearms.
Do we have firearms??? We practice OPSEC.
There are VERY FEW actual ‘carry’ permits here in Canada. Almost impossible to get and must be re-applied for each year. Your son-in-law would be a special case indeed. However, we do have LOTS of cool toys available up here with the proper licence depending on which type of firearm you wish to purchase.
For more information on how things work up north of the 49th I suggest http://www.firearmrights.ca a great site with the proper information.
Daisy, I’m surprised you were not able to own while you stayed with us…
We also enjoy many of the same activities as our American cousins such as 3 gun events, PPC and IPSC competitions and much, much more. We do not, unfortunately, have the same ‘rights’. We do not have the ‘right’ to own a firearm, we are only aloud the ‘privilage’ until a government body takes that privilage away. DON’T let your government steal away your RIGHTS!
If you prep and don’t own and/or know how to use firearms then are simply stocking up for those who didn’t stock up but DO have guns.
Great article. We will always have those who can’t bear to have a gun – for whatever reason and they will die when the SHTF. Pure and simple. I was not raised around guns so I have had to overcome my fear and learn because I prep for my family’s survival and I’ll be damned if some no good person or group is going to take what we have prepped. If all problems could be solved by simply talking to someone, this world wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in so force is often necessary when dealing with those who have no morals or conscience.
It will be a shock to people’s system when things go south. I am only 47 and I am shocked by the behavior that I see from people who should know better. That Black Friday crap was just that, crap. There wasn’t anything there worth fighting for or possibly getting hurt over. We’ve got folks running around just waiting for an opportunity to run wild. No doubt.
There’s no convincing some of these people so if they leave your site so be it but you hope they stick around and learn. I wish them well, cause it’s gonna be hard.
Keep up the good work,
Your fan in SC,
Melissa
Daisy,
First time visiting your blog. I must say you put allot of effort into it.
I have no problem with people who feel guns are unnecessary or not needed. I just rather not be around them! They are not “like me”. I know it, they know it. These people are what’s known as sheeple, going about their life thinking nothing bad can ever befall them. I find them nauseating and simple minded.
I’m also reminded of Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman’s book on wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. Grossman believes:
“If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath—a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path.”
His thought were more geared towards soldiers and law enforcement, but I believe it certainly applies to citizen/preppers.
Your beliefs place Property over Life.
Incorrect.
It depends on the property. Is the property something that will sustain my family’s life? Then that property can equate to life and therefore I will protect it.
On the other hand, if someone tried to steal my wallet and run away, I’d be mad, but I wouldn’t shoot them, because it’s a totally different matter. If someone comes into your home uninvited, it’s an entirely different ballgame, and they will be treated as a threat to my family.
I will place MY family’s life over the life of an intruder, any day of the week.
Audrey, I do not believe that and if you think about it you will not either. What the author is saying is that you have to defend your preps or you may die of starvation, your daughters may be raped, your family could be harmed or killed. In a situation like total chaos people will look to rob, rape and kill others and you can twist things all you want but she did not put possesions over life. Without those posessions such as food and water you will die. Are you saying that we should work for our food and other things that we need to survive and give them up to those that are to lazy to do the same and will kill you in a heart beat?
If you’re planning to survive but not to defend and someone steals your food, shelter and possessions, what chance do you have to survive then? You obviously are not capable of the most basic higher-order thought.
The problem is that it may not just be property they want. It may be your LIFE. Or your DAUGHTER’s life. I once had a girlfriend who used to drive home from work at 3:00 am. One night some guy ran her off the road and then tried to break into her vehicle. She was pretty sure he wanted to do more than just get her phone number! She had an unloaded gun under the seat and pulled it out. Just the sight of that gun made him run off. I took a self-defense course after that, and one thing was unanimous–everyone who had been in a bad situation said they never wanted to be that unprepared again. This went double for the women. I know this post is old, but it is still relevant. There are more groups that teach women how to shoot safely than ever, so people can learn how to handle a firearm responsilbly.
Hello Daisy first time reading your blog, I live in NZ not the USA and I can absolutely assure you that here in NZ people will shoot and are prepared as well, my family has stocked up on water, larder and firearms !, I WILL protect my family if fools and raiders want to take what I have worked for and been diligent to save aside for the earthquake ( they happen here you know ! ) or EMP or a GFC on steroids, if you have food, water, heat and have items that vandals just want to destroy and have no firearms then you are just a taregt, by the way in NZ suppressors are LEGAL as are AR15s, SAIGAS, Mossberg 590A1s and a whole host of great gear, here in NZ you can legally defend yourself using reasonable force, but of course in a cataclysmic world shaking event, none of that matters, prudent people prepare ahead of time, no matter where you are in the world
Chris
You fools gave up that right without a whimper.
Of course the weathy outsiders will keep their guns and flood your country when things melt down.
Also the criminals will have their weapons. I guess none thought about what can be done by a strong man, much less with a knife.
I’m glad to see the crime rate had not skyrocketed though.
I totally agree Daisy. It’s time to get armed ( and a concealed carry permit) and learn how to proficiently use that firearm. It takes time, but it does really bring peace of mind to some extent. I don’t know why people think it’s more moral to get raped and murdered and robbed, than to protect yourself if you have to shoot an intruder . Yes, violence is horrible, but I don’t think God wants us to be dead. We need to use our heads on that one. It doesn’t make me a more violent person to carry a firearm now. If anything, it makes me more aware of the power that I carry, and I make it a point to be even more polite to people.
when I talked about preparing years ago when of my co-workers openly stated that he didn’t need to prepare he just needed to know where I lived and he would take what I had by force. needless to say I don’t tell people about my preps and have since moved. he knows that if I even see him near my home he won’t have the ability to get near my family.
Also, not every emergency will be against humans. Living on a farm for most of my life, we have used guns on packs of dogs or coyotes getting into the hen house, running after our cows and generally causing problems on the farm. I have killed many a copperhead or rattlesnake with my gun. You never know when you will need to have that power and not have to get close to the problem. I don’t carry a shovel or hoe around with me all the time to fend off snakes or critters, but having that gun strapped to my side is a little bit of peace. I have children and grandchildren and they all know that guns are tools used to help, not something you use to play with or intimidate with. Unless you need to intimidate someone with it, but that is rare indeed.
good article. telling points you made. former Marine here so am in aggreement with you. worked this issue, sa best i could awhile back.
but update ‘the plan’ as new issues arise. also maintaining a fire arm is an adult task. constant practice to develop ‘muscle memory’, as you stated is critical. it can’t be emphasized enough.
love reading your articles. so good. stay well and godspeed in all you do.
jz
While I agree that firearms must be part of your prepping efforts, I disagree that you need them to see off intruders. The simple reason for that is that I don’t live in the US of A. I live in Australia, where purchasing a firearm is actually something you need to train to do. Want a rifle or shotgun? You better have passed a safety test, have a gun safe, and be using it for either target shooting, hunting, or getting rid of pests (rabbits foxes etc.). Want a pistol? Sure, just train for 6 months in a club as a member, and then you must continue training in that club. Want a semi-automatic rifle or a semi-automatic/pump-action shotgun? 15 rounds or less for the rifle and only 4 + 1 for the shotgun, and you have to be using them for hunting or target shooting! For Australia, get a double barrel shotgun, get a .22 AND a .308 rifle (the two most popular in Australia), and then buy some knives, machetes and a bow and arrow (silent and no license needed). You will as well armed as anyone else, and the government is too busy trying to stop refugees from entering the country to bother a law abiding you and your preps. If the US had similar requirements, you would have to be proficient with your weapon before you would be allowed to own it. Which would be a good thing, especially for new Preppers 🙂
Baffling how some fools think they can reason with a violent mob or that they’ll even be left alive to “poison them or cut their throats while they sleep.” These are also the same folks who are wishing gunowners death, yet declare how “peaceful and non-violent” they are in another round of hollow virtue-signaling.
No argument against Firearm ownership and use from me. NRA Endowment Patriot Life Member. One thing that various problems/incidents have affirmed and that the Courts have agreed with, is that the Law Enforcement doesn’t have a duty to protect you. You are your First Line of Protection (and you just might be the only line of protection). It’s a foolish fantasy to think that everything is sunshine, roses and Unicorns. Since the ascendency of man, there has been strive. The causes and reactions are instinctual, bred into our race through eons of conflict, covetousness and disagreement. Those causative factors will never go away. The only way to prevent predation is judicious application of lethal force.
If someone wants to deny this aspect of Human existence, and go commune with the bees and butterflies, have at it. A stout door and a loaded gun insures your ability to romp in the meadow.
1. ANTIFA
2. BLM
3. Demorats
Personally I believe that as a minimum you should have a pistol and a shotgun, preferably 12 ga.
Then you need lots of ammo. There are many types of ammo for 12 ga shotgun, so take advantage of that. I would follow that with a good knife. Like the USMC fighting knife, not a folder or a small “camping” knife.
Then train with them. Just having them is not enough.
Part of having these weapons is to put fear into your opponent. Which in some cases might make it so that you do not actually have to use them. They might back off and leave you alone.
A rifle is good to have also, but you could get by without one in a pinch.
If you don’t want or can’t have firearms, then I suggest a good quality cross bow and a Tomahawk or sword, as well as a good knife.
Again you need to train with these weapons, even more than you would with firearms.
Some will say you need a rifle for hunting, but you can hunt smaller game with the other weapons. Which will probably end up easier to find than big game. Some would say you need a rifle to hit targets at a distance, but if you adjust your tactics properly, that problem could be minimized.
As we watch this rioting and looting that has been occurring, especially those looking to bug in, should consider this carefully.
Here with the Rule of law somewhat in place, we see what people can and will do do. So what do you think will happen, if there was no rule of Law being enforced ?
Plan and prepare for the worst possible case scenario. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared.
I guess I’m not really a good prepper. I am a serious firearm hobbyist/hunter. Own over 20 firearms. Only 3 are handguns. None are AR platform or AK “assault weapons” I’m just a benchrest shooter, hunter , and ballistic experimenter.
Am I a screw up as a “prepper”?
@Kelly Hemperley,
Why do you say that??
I have the wrong kinds of firearms. I just never warmed up to “Rambo” type weapons. At the rifle range the Arian Brotherhood/Chick Notes wannabes look at bolt rifle users in a very contemptuous way.
Ah! Now I understand.
I do not.
For that matter, I tend towards the late, great, Lt. COL Jeff Cooper and his “Rifleman” concept: A real Rifleman can pick up any firearm, familiarize themselves with the action and especially the trigger, and be able to hit with a very high percent rate anything the Rifleman can see, within the limitations of that particular caliber, on the first shot.
Who is more dangerous? The guy with a bolt rifle that can hit anything out to, say 600m on the first shot?
Or the guy with the Ramboz rifle that has to take 5 or 6 shots to make the same hit?
You be the judge.
I can tell you who is going to burn through their ammo supply faster. And we do not have the luxury of having the DoD logistical train to resupply.
The most dangerous man on the field of battle is armed with a very accurate scoped rifle. Use what you have and don’t worry. For me I own a lot of AR and other modern types of weapons. I collect antique Winchester and colt. The weapon of choice for the coming trouble will be a caliber.30 M-1 Garand. This rifle was manufactured in the 3rd week of December 1941
No.
The most dangerous man in the field is the one who can use both iron sights and a scope and use them with equal effectiveness.
A scope only allows you to see better, further.
It does not improve ones mastery of the fundamentals.
Placing one dependence on technology is bad policy. The idea is to be able to do the most with the least. You will not always be afforded the best case scenario. That is why Lt. COL Cooper always said big game hunters assume the worst.
The reason why there are 2 million more gun owners…..Gotta protect yourself and be ready to defend your family.
If the police can’t or won’t protect you, you have no other Korbut to protect you and yours. Considering today’s events, you will be prosecuted if you protect yourself, but the other side of the coin is that the herd will either hurt you or kill you. I choose to live….. whatever it takes I and mine will live. Hang on folks the future indicates it’s going to be a bumpy ride. The question is, do you plan on being there or just another victim of the herd?
I pray it doesn’t happen while I am alive, but I feel that social unrest is coming in a big way. I consider myself well armed. The neighbors that are veterans, I already reached out to in case things really go south. Several years ago there was a ridiculous survival show where people were in compound adapting to the new, apocalyptical world. They were unarmed of course. The episode where the armed tribe showed up was the day I quit watching the program. If memory serves me they bartered, in reality, the armed group would have easily overtaken them and made off with everything. The folks that don’t have weapons and training will regret it if our country goes bad.
I was in a gun shop today and the place was packed. I have a neighbor family who escaped Communist Zimbabwe and they feel what happened to their former country is happening here now. Yes they own many-many guns and are Preppers.
The four stages of a Communist take over are
#1. Demoralization (done)
#2. Destabilization ( pretty much done)
#3. Crisis, What is starting now/ destroy old form of Government
#4. Normalization ( Communist Government in place)
To reiterate what Daisy said, IF you are new to firearms, get formal training.
I have seen too many Rambozwannabes think just because they own some tricked out tacti-cool firearm, that firearm imbues mad SEAL Team Six like skills in them.
Practice, practice, and practice often. Get familiar with the feel of the firearm. How it points, the trigger, the grip, the sweet spot if you are using optics. But remember, it is still a tool. Use it properly and accordingly.
Shoot from different stances, or positions. A public range I used to go to, everyone but me shot, sitting at a bench. Shoot from the standing, the sitting or kneeling, the unsupported prone.
Master the fundamentals of shooting.
Finally, remember the safety rules of shooting:
1) All guns are always loaded
2) Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy
3) Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target
4) Identify your target, and what is behind it
Note: These are the 4 rules as established by COL. Jeff Cooper. It applies to more of defensive shooting or hunting.
The NSSF has 10 rules, but are generally more applied for use in controlled range setting.
Those rules can be found here: https://www.nssf.org/safety/rules-firearms-safety/
Totally agree, Daisy. I had a bad experience with firearms as a kid, but have overcome that issue with research, training, being mentored, practice at the range, and a having secure way to keep firearms safe.
No disrespect intended, but if folks haven’t figured this out by now, I don’t think they will.
I fully agree with this article and have had that attitude for many, many years before this article was written.
Daisy, you have confused me. A few weeks ago you were saying that your “stuff” isn’t worth dying for. In a true survival event, “stuff” = “life”, eating tomorrow, next week, next month. Is some “stuff” worth dying for and some not? The bad guys will take ALL YOUR STUFF, assault the women, and kill whoever they want and make slaves of the rest. Do you really want to add your guns to their arsenal and your thousands of rounds to their killing power?
I certainly didn’t mean to confuse you, Billybob.
If a horde of people rolled up intent on taking my stuff, go for it, you can have it. You won’t even see me I’ll be out of there so fast. Those are unwinnable odds and I’m not going to die just to take a few of them out. I’m going to stay alive to fight another day with better odds.
If you click on the link, you can read about what happened to my daughter and myself when we lived way out in a remote area. In that case, defense was the only option.
Let me make it as simple as possible:
The goal is survival.
It’s better to leave the situation than to fight if I can escape. If I can escape with my daughters, our chances of survival are far better than trying to fight off an army by ourselves. That’s the goal – giving us the best chance to survive.
If I can’t escape, of course, I’m going to fight. I’m not just going to lay down and die.
I’m planning to survive – the manner in which I do so will vary based on the situation.
I really can’t make it any more clear than that.
Well said Daisy. Knowing how to deescalate is very important. Walking away from violence is a good thing. Knowing when fleeing is the best option is also important. Disinformation to those who *might* get real interested in your stuff is also important. OPSEC is more than not talking about your stuff, it’s poor mouthing that you are barely scraping by. Avoiding potential looters as a lousy target is a good idea. The non-insane non-meth head folks think risk-effort vs. reward. It’s like the difference between flashing a wad of cash in a bad neighborhood OR Having I OWN Firearms stickers on your auto vs. looking as normal as the neighbors.
Having a planned for escape route(s) with a rally point in case you and yours gets separated AND communication are critical in any emergency from a Home Invasion to a forest fire coming your way. A house fire IS a SHTF situation, I’ve survived one. Had only time to grab my beagle and wallet. Happily I had established a good relationship with my neighbors and they called the fire department and put me up for a couple of nights.
Some folks have played too many first person shoot ’em ups and think a gun makes them invincible. Bullets go both ways, you must know the difference between COVER that stops bullets and Concealment that makes the bad guys guess exactly where you are to shoot through that Concealment to kill you.
Also if you happen to shoot someone in self defense with any sort of Rule of Law situation you can expect some issues of police interviewing you and everybody around. One you WILL Lose that Weapon to the Evidence Room unless the local police see it as a clear cut self defense situation. You may spend some time under arrest while they sort it all out. Anything you say WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU. Keep it short and sweet AND SHUT UP. In some Blue States ALL your firearms and ammo will be taken away until you go to court about that shooting. Heaven help you if the DA goes Judge shopping for a “Hate Crime” conviction for your shooting.
Having a plan B cache of clothing, food “tools” and such at a trusted friend is always a good idea. What would you do if the looters idea of a good idea is to set your home on fire like those businesses in the rioting cities?
Daisy and most everyone in the conversation: Very well said about 3 reasons for owning a gun, but you are missing the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Everyone that wants a gun should have one, that’s a given. Likewise, there are responsibilities to owning a weapon and knowing how/when to use it. So, let’s set that conversation aside for a moment and get back to that 800 pound gorilla.
Which is? Nearly 100% of the USA population is going to be in a situation to fire their weapon in self defense within the next year and maybe before the end of 2020. You don’t see it coming? LoL – your greatest threat isn’t going to be looters! It has everything to do with the solar weather cycle that Kimo mentions. And the government response preparing for it.
In all likelihood, the government is NOT going to confiscate your gun(s) here in the USA. Why? Because they don’t have to! They are toying with you and using the threat of gun confiscation as a fear (control) tactic while they distract you for a much greater plan, based on getting their One World Government lined up and installed before the weather cycle manifests with extreme volatility.
Getting that new government structure installed is the top priority of the US Government, and is the reason behind the economic destruction cleverly disguised as a response to the Corona Virus. Likewise, it is the urgency behind arranged lootings & riots in (primarily) Democrat controlled cities and states – to create a civil war. And for that matter it is the orchestrated campaign to impeach President Trump. Again, why? Because a Civil War will keep everyone too distracted to “see” who is orchestrating the Economic Collapse. Economic collapse is how you prevent a Revolution, and this Plan was formally set in motion in Feb 2009 at the President’s Cabinet Meeting. Divide and conquer tactics, also known as Problem-Reaction-Solution. Notice how George Floyd (police brutality) has been completely transformed into a racial conflict?
The 800 pound gorilla says you WILL have to discharge your weapon – and very soon! It won’t be a looter, but rather an employee/officer of the Federal Government coming to Vaccinate you and everyone in your house. Contact Tracing is just a warm-up to get you conditioned. The Mandatory Vaccines are coming after perhaps one more round of Chaos & Fear, and then it will become Law.
The Mandatory Vaccine contains an RFID Chip, GPS, Quantum Dots, and of course all your medical history. Not to mention the toxic sludge called a Vaccine! The unadvertised special is that it will contain ALL of your personal records, such as financial, health, credit history, drivers license, property ownership, and everything else under the sun. It will be portrayed as a “Health Passport” to certify you as healthy and “allow” you to get back to work. Or go into a bank, grocery store, sports stadium, school, public arena, government building, and so on. Without that “Health Passport” you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, get health care, travel (etc), or anything else related to normal living.
Many of the well read people will consider the Mandatory Vaccine as the Mark of the Beast mentioned in the Scriptures. Perhaps it is, and impossible to prove it isn’t. Likewise, the ones doing even deeper research will find that the RFID Chip contains Mind and Mood Control frequencies. This is not a theory of any type, so you will be well advised to consider the implications. If the government doesn’t like your attitude, they will simply turn off your chip and you will have no money or ability to work or buy food. Speaking of which, the next “event” to come along will justify getting rid of cash and converting to an electronic payment system that is embedded in the Vaccine Chip.
If you take the Mandatory Vaccine, then it is Game Over for you as far as being a free and independent sovereign human. You’ll be a transhuman because of the mind & mood control in the chip. Ignore the sales pitch about it boosting your health or IQ! LoL – you will still be a prisoner in your own body. And if the government wants you to turn in your weapons? They’ll “tell” you via the chip and you will happily comply!
My apologies for the long rant, but it needs to be said and carefully considered, as this is based on over 3 decades of research. Your most immediate threat to your life is the upcoming Mandatory Vaccine. When they come knocking on your door (or stop you at a checkpoint, etc) to give you the vaccine? If you allow it then you won’t need to read these forums anymore.
The implications are eternal, if you can understand the Scriptural context. There are NO Exceptions to a Mandatory Vaccine! It has already been vetted through the Supreme Court, and that includes a vaccine that harms/kills you but the government believes it to help society as a whole. (1905 Supreme Court decision). Religious and Health Exemptions are voided.
EVERYONE in the USA will face this decision within a few months. There are NO Exceptions according to the law, so your only choice is to accept the vaccine or discharge your weapon into the government agent that is attempting to kill/enslave/control you. Don’t just disagree with me, PROVE me wrong.
Consider your options carefully. This scenario is coming at you with 100% certainty. And soon!
I’d almost be willing to bet that most who need them have them whether they are allowed to or not.
.
Ya’ know – that Constitution thing.
Good article Daisy. I’m on board with you all the way. All good, relevant points. Minor detail, when was the article written? All the comments appear to be 2015 (5 years old). It is June 8 2020 right now.
Under the heading: Social unrest just underlines this more.
Daisy notes she wrote this 5 years ago, but this is an update due to the riots and looting that is currently going on.
It was originally written in 2015. I updated it in relation to the things going on today, as the basic premises are all the same. 🙂
Check this out.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/police-hunt-200-looters-broke-083702901.html
I have been in this store and my mom lives approximately two miles from it. I was driving in her neighbor hood one night and there were 20-30 teens walking down the side of the street. very unnerving as I was unarmed and even if I was armed one person taking on 30 from inside a car? Odds are not good. Get Ready. You may be the walmart one day!
Cooper color code for Combat, white ,yellow ,Orange , RED
Learn why you can survive an thrive in the end of the world as we know it .
Daisy – One thing I would add, is an advanced medical kit, with blood clotting agents and a tourniquet as essential items for those of us that protect ourselves with firearms. Of course just like training on safely using firearms, we must train how to safety and effectively use the tourniquet, and understand gunshot wounds and how to medically deal with them.
P.S. If I could snap my Thanos finger I’d melt em’ all. Alas, this aint a movie, and I live in one of the most well armed populaces on Earth. I’ve been a well armed lefty going on 20 years now. I mention my political leanings not to stir the pot but to add to the mix that its not just a “right” issue. Ultimately I see it as a classic wedge issue of the many, that the old white guy power structure in D.C. shove down our throats to divide us. I have plenty of close friends who do not line up with my political beliefs, but guess what, when the SHTF it doesn’t matter anymore. I have my cadre, and whether they are Trumpers or Bernistas is immaterial when we execute our defense plan.
Peace!
I read a lot of similar type articles…. BUT, this one seems to have affected me more than others, and it has caused me to really think about situations, and preparedness… it’s factual and to the point, and so true! well done on this article….. thank you!
1) Don’t let other people tell you/determine what you need. You may value your family more highly than they value theirs.
2) Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
3) Some people should not own guns for various reasons. So what???
4) You need beans, bullets and bandaids, not just the first two.
5) Acquire skills; i.e. gardening, seed saving, firearms, herb craft, etc.
6) The battle is spiritual, not flesh ‘n blood. Get right with God and do it today.
couple questions: 1. in 70s, have hardly had practice time since moving around, now settled – local ranges closed due to covid, how do I get in practice time? cant shoot within limits, also cant take class for ccp for new state license (have one from FL) need NC – perm resident
2. is it a good idea these days to have membership in something like US Shield insurance, just in case? if anything happened most of us dont have extra money for lawyers fees, this membership is low compared.
and they seem to cover you well…..
thanks