Security / Personal Protection

This section, as with all of these sections contains good information for every day life. This info will keep you out of 90% of problems.

My single most important suggestion for this section is OPSEC. You milspec .gov guys will know what this is, but I will go ahead and spell it out for the others.

Operational Security.
Loose lips Sink Ships.

There is seldom a need to provide anyone with the information that you are ammasing a stockpile of supplies to see yourself / family through difficult times. This needs to be explained to your Significant other, Children, or anyone else that you include in these plans.

MOST of you guys prob think I'm crazy, and wasting my time, but really?? what does this hurt? It give me peace of mind, and keeps me busy as a hobby. The public is afraid of people who are prepared. Why this is, I do not know, but I do now that it is best to keep a low profile, and be non exhistant to the public.

Situational Awareness.

For the love of all that is good people!!!WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!!!! I see people wandering around totally oblivious as to anything going on around them. It's like they become a Zombie, and just shuffle around. Head up, sweeps side to side, high level of awareness. DO NOT act confrontational, but be aware, and alert. Look people in the eyes, but don't stare them down, or give them the stink eye. It's a bad idea to get gas at 2am, and the Skeezy gas station in an un familiar part of town, so plan your fill-up during the day.

Don't stand out. Blend is as much as possible. As cool as it looks, camo clothes stand out on the street, and in public. They scream I am different. No battle vests either, or huge packs either. Small school style backpack, with a simple camelback will do. Jeans, and a T-shirt, or hoodie works great. You wan't to convey the message that "I am no one, attacking me is a waste of time, I have nothing to offer you"

Fences.
Good Fences make Good neighbors. There is nothing to announce private property any better than a barbed wire fence. This will keep out the accidental trespasser, and give your animals the ability to roam freely around.

Dogs.
Any dog is good. huge dogs are great
Dogs are awesome for several reasons. They beat the crap out of any alarm system you can install, and while most are just intimidating, and would not attack anyone, some dogs will get down, and hurt someone if provoked. Even little otherwise worthless yipyap dogs are good to have. They'll let you know when someone is rustling a goat, or picking your tomatoes. Dogs are great companions, and I am sure you all know that.

Weapons.
Everyone has their own personal opinions on guns. Mine happens to be they are a fight equalizer.

I suggest getting a handgun, and good concealed holster, and practicing with it. Once proficient, carry it everywhere possible. Even in the home, on the farm, everywhere.

The general public has no clue the amount of legal ccw's around. I usually "make" one or 2 people a month at my place of business. This is not because they are carrying open, or irresponsibly, but just because I know what to look for. There are tell tale signs.

Glock makes some nice low mntc pistols that I would recomend in several popular calibers. 9mm, 40, and 45 being the most popular.

Shotguns are also popular for the home defense aspect. Can't go wrong with a 12 gauge Remington 870, and single, or 00 buck.

A lot of the "survival people" are in love with the AR15, and while it's a great weapon, and if "things get real deep" I'd rather have one than a pistol, I'm afraid that it plays a very small role in the overall scheme of things.

Alot of folks have bought spare rifles to loan or have on hand for whatever. SKS's are popular.

Farily obvious that if you own a firearm, you should prob. own a cleaning kit, and ammunition for said firearm. How much ammo?? Well.... I've got a years worth of food saved, so.... you get the idea.

Guns are serious business, and not something to be taken lightly at all. They will kill you, your children, your dog, your TV, and anything you point them at, and pull the trigger. It takes a large commitment to be a safe, and responsible gun owner, and an even larger one to be a safe, and responsible CCW holder.

If you're not going to get the proper training, and practice until proficient, then you are better off not having a gun at all, and practicing good situational awareness. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />