Stocking up on guns and canned food ... seriously?

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

John, it's worse than silly, it screws with the natural costs of goods. Ammo prices are up and supply down because of panic-driven hoarding. Gun prices are up. What will be next?

To all you bunker-builders, I say..."lighten up Francis."

I posted an article on this already, the primary cause for ammo shortages are the war in Iraq and the militarization of US police forces, which when combined with excessive "OMG we elected a raving socialist" tensions has resulted in severe shortages.

[Jim Richards]

snipe, how can this be, given that the war is nearly six years old and the ammo shortage is a few months old? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just not making the connection yet.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by DasBoot

----- Original Message ----- From: "DasBoot"
To:
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 11:25 AM
Subject: Shipping restrictions?

> Do you ship to Washington DC? Zip 20003.
>
> Thanks,
>
> DasBoot


>I am sorry we do not ship there
>Thank you and Happy St Patricks Day
>Jean Luera
>www.ammunitiontogo.com

I just talked to them on Friday, and they confirmed that they will ship to DC. Not all their people know that we can own handguns in DC. I had to call them after placing my order, and the woman I talked to had to go talk to her boss to get straightened out. She didn't even know about the Heller decision. Totally clueless.

Please give this a rest. You don't live here, I do, and I'm not a liar.

[nostatic]

Panic rooms are ridiculous IMHO but whoever wants one have at it.

In the event of earthquake here I expect to be on my own for a week. As such I have water and food stored for my family. I also have a variety of weapons to help if necessary. As Denis said, the reality is that one rack of the 870 would send most running. I buy in bulk because I shoot regularly. I don't anticipate a month-long siege/firefight at my apt. I'll be well equipped for one though

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I posted an article on this already, the primary cause for ammo shortages are the war in Iraq and the militarization of US police forces, which when combined with excessive "OMG we elected a raving socialist" tensions has resulted in severe shortages.

I read that thread and I am no conspiracy guy...but responding to demand in an industry the measures output in the hundreds of millions of unit per caliber is not hard unless the lines are operating at capacity.

We'll see.

[campbellcj]

Originally Posted by DasBoot

Paranoid? Why do you take a first-aid kit when camping? Why do you have insurance on your car/home?

LOL, well I don't consider myself to be paranoid, but some folks here seem to be questioning the sanity of being well-prepared.

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

You don't live here, I do...

My condolences, comrade...

[Jim Richards]

No need. I lived in FL for about a dozen years. This is much better, IMO.

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I've lived in FL for about a dozen years. This is much better, IMO.

Yep. DC is a paradise from what I read in the travel magazines...

[Jim Richards]

Indeed. Too bad your pic is from nowhere near where I live. Should I post pics of FL real estate to keep up with you? I'm familiar with the blight in your state.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes I am seriously stocking up on both. As well as other things that might prove useful - gas, water, etc. Enough where I know I can ride out any shutoffs/rationing for a time. I see a plausible scenario as one where the economy gets so bad that there's rationing and people are cut off from the things they're used to having. Given the nature of where I live and the "quality" (and I use that term loosely) of the people that live in reasonably close proximity - within about 5-10 miles - I think it's quite possible that as the depression worsens, that might turn into "ground zero" for looting, rioting, civil unrest, etc. Yes, I really do. Compton is only a few miles up the road. North Long Beach is about 3 miles away. Hawaiian Gardens not that far either (sounds like a lovely community but it's really a gang-infested dump). South Central. Watts. Parts of Gardena. Lots of trashy neighborhoods with a lot of not-so-civilized/thuggish/goon-ish type people living not that far away. Wilmington, Carson, Downey - all these communities are "okay" but have large populations of poor/uneducated types living there.

As this depression gets worse, I fully expect that there WILL be angry "flare-ups" in some of these places. They could spread very quickly (i.e. "zombies"). You saw what happened here only a few years ago with Rodney King and the O.J. Simpson trial (the first one). You saw what happened after Hurricane Katrina. I don't doubt for one second it couldn't happen again due to rampant poverty starting to really take hold. Also don't discount the racial aspect - we've got a black (or partially black) president who is increasingly starting to catch a lot of heat for inaction and wrong action. If things get really bad (they well might) do you honestly think a lot of the uneducated types won't start making broad generalizations about how "it's the blacks' fault"? Lots of racial tension between blacks and browns here. LOTS. Could lead to some really nasty arguments (and worse) quite easily. A lot of these people (all races, all groups) living around here aren't educated and gravitate towards gangs - violence and intimidation are the only tools they've ever known to "get respect" or to effect change in their lives. So the frequency of occurrences of violent behavior will increase.

As a result of these actions - if they get bad enough - I can also envision a scenario where large areas of southern CA are quarantined by law enforcement, the National Guard or other forces - possibly even placed under martial law to "crack down" on the unrest. I can certainly see a scenario where food, water and fuel are rationed. The purpose of my "stocking up" is to protect myself against those who would see me and my past success as a "resource" free for their taking. It is to protect myself against those who might blame me as a "successful" person as part of the problem and (mistakenly) lump me in with those "rich folks" that are the genesis for all these problems because I happen to be white, educated, have some nice things and don't belong to a gang. If the zombies can't get at Wall Street directly, maybe simply lynching a few of those "rich white boys" will appeal to them. Don't think it can happen here? Think again. Yes, it can. Not saying it will (in fact I think the probability is low) but there is enough of a probability to concern me. There's enough of a thug/gang/scumbag problem in and around this city where sitting idly and helplessly by and expecting the same government that's promulgating this mess to save us is quite completely stupid. I don't trust people. I ESPECIALLY don't trust people in dense, urban settings such as the ones that are so prevalent in the endless urban sprawl of southern CA. Lots of people here are inconsiderate/rude/stupid/aggressive enough during GOOD times - how do you really think they might behave when they have to stand in line for six hours for a roll of toilet paper?

So I see it as (1) protection from "zombies", (2) buying time in a "safe haven" to assess any large-scale government crackdown/mobilization - enough to make my move and get the hell out of here if it comes to that. Of course by the time things get this bad it's likely I'll be long gone from soCal anyway, but there's a chance I might not be too...

To put it simply - in the words I had burned into my mind as a scout - "Be Prepared". Not necessarily "Be Paranoid", but definitely be prepared.

[tabs]

Geeezus how scared can you all get?

Civil breakdown not too likely..Marshall Law a good possibility if things get really rough. Bread Lines a good possibility?

The mess in Mexico is gong to spill over into the USA as the economy spirals down. There will be massive increases of crime and mayhem. Especially in the larger urban areas.

Best scenario is to lie low, be nondescript, stay close to home. Not a bad idea to stock up on some extra grub and ammo just in case. Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Be aware of your surroundings.

[creaturecat]

You guys live like this? Unreal.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

You guys live like this? Unreal.

Guess it depends on which "guys" you are talking about. Living anywhere that has a risk of natural disasters (eg all of CA) without having an emergency response plan and kit is irresponsible. What is "unreal" is people who have not prepared or even considered the possibility that they will be required to take care of themselves and their family. Go talk to a cop or fireman. Ask them what happens then a 7.0 hits and you call 911. The answer is "nada".

[Rick Lee]

I stockpile ammo because there simply is no downside to it. I like to shoot a lot, so if the S never HTF, I'd still be well stocked for the range or desert for years.

Sure, gun laws will go out the window if riots start. But that's exactly when guns and ammo will become unaffordable or unobtanium. If riots break out, you'd better already be standing online at your local Cabella's before ammo suppliers are out of stock. And who's to say it's just gonna be low life's and looters coming after you? It's also very likely to be jackbooted thugs enforcing martial law. And those guys will be well-armed. Are you gonna hand over your guns if they knock on your door?

[tabs]

Who is going to have the money to buy AMMO?

[Rick Lee]

If you're just now thinking about buying ammo, you're SOL.

[MT930]

The fact that loading components are very hard to find powders and primers in particular, says allot. We have a big gun show next week I am buying powder and primers plenty! gopher season is right around the corner.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Just sourced and bought more 8x56R... Good anti-zombie caliber.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by DasBoot

Yeah, like these guys...

What's the point of your little video, Boot? I've lived in L.A. for 26 years, (and in a pretty urban setting these days), and the gang members represented have had exactly zero effect on my life. Zero. Of course I would not expect you to understand anything about the way they operate or their criminal culture from your trailer park in Florida w/ high-speed internet connection.

I've been to Florida, (back when it was a lot nicer place), and it's a fking swamp compared to California. I tried to explain that I witnessed to biggest urban riots in the U.S. in the last 100 years and 99.9% of the looters were unarmed. The final score on that riot was 52 people dead with about 45 of those were looters shot by property owners or police. Having a gun was not necessary for most people even then unless you were guarding a store from looters. They did not attack any private residences that I ever heard or read about, and once again that was the worst U.S. riot in recent history.

Gun sales spiked like crazy just like they did after the Manson murders in '69 and of course mostly to scared people like those here. No one actually needed their guns.

Before all gun people attack me here, I am a gun owner who believes strongly in the right of self-protection using whatever means you deem necessary. (Within sane reason). I just have a slightly less paranoid idea of just how needed my guns and bullets will be.