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Saturday, March 27, 2010

Arm Thy Neighbor

Arm Thy Neighbor

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2481166/posts

If you don’t presently own any firearms, you may have been considering taking that step in order to protect yourself and your family. Or perhaps you already have what you consider to be an adequate home armory, but is it really enough? In the event that our economy tanks, one certain outcome will be much higher levels of criminal violence. Read Fernando Aguirre’s excellent “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse,” based on his experiences in Argentina after 2001, to see what happens to civil society when a national currency collapses and the banks are closed. Today’s career criminals will be that much more desperate and willing to use violence against their victims. The feral youths who need little encouragement to bust heads for sport in times of relative plenty may be starving, and no moral consideration will keep them from sticking a gun in your face or a knife in your back.

At the same time, the federal government may define this surge of criminal violence as civil disorder and enact emergency decrees, especially if armed citizens begin to fight back on a wide scale. One need look no further than the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to see how officials react toward ordinary people with firearms during a period of civil disorder. A freeze on gun sales and/or ammunition is a predictable outcome during government-defined “emergencies.”

Most of the readers of this column probably don’t need to be convinced of the wisdom of owning and practicing with firearms. You may even believe that you already possess all of the guns you need, whether a .38 caliber revolver in your bedside table or a small battery of handguns, shotguns and rifles in your closet or gun safe. You may even own one or more of those liberally despised so-called assault rifles. In any of these cases you may think you don’t need to consider any more gun purchases.
There is, however, one reason to purchase at least a few more weapons: to arm thy neighbors. I can hear you saying, “What is Bracken talking about? If that foolish grasshopper of a neighbor didn’t bother about his security when guns were readily available, why should I worry about him now? Besides, he may even be an anti-gun liberal, so the hell with him!”

This reasoning is short-sighted on several levels. First, we have all heard the old saying that “a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged.” When violence explodes during an economic collapse, millions of new conservatives will be created from former left-wingers. And besides philosophically anti-gun liberals, many folks simply grow up in families where guns are not present and reach adulthood having never touched a firearm. But no matter why they don’t own firearms, when the ultra-violence breaks out your neighbors down the street will deserve a way to defend themselves from criminal predation. Simple charity, Christian or otherwise, suggests that we should not leave the elderly couple, the widow or the single mom with young children defenseless against evildoers bent on rape, robbery or murder.

When the incidence of home invasions, carjackings and “express kidnappings” skyrockets, some of your neighbors will discover a sudden interest in acquiring firearms, just when firearms may not be available through normal channels. These unarmed neighbors may then ask if you have any extra firearms to lend to them. Which one of your carefully considered collection of guns will you hand over to arm your defenseless neighbor? Your high-end “concealed carry” pistol, which fits your hand like a glove? Your wife’s? Your pump-action shotgun? Your AR-15 Sport Utility Rifle? The fact is, you will be loath to give away any of them, not even to a neighbor in need. You have acquired each of them for a carefully thought-out reason! But your neighbor is still defenseless.

That is why I encourage you to buy a few extra firearms in anticipation of this future need. I would suggest that a revolver is the simplest entry-level firearm to provide to a non-shooting neighbor. There are no magazines, safety catches or slides to learn to manipulate. You simply open the cylinder, insert the bullets, close the cylinder and the revolver is ready to go. A revolver has the shortest “learning curve” of any firearm. Anyone can learn basic gun safety and effective close-range self-defense with a revolver in one afternoon. In dire extremes you could hand a revolver to a non-shooter after a five-minute period of instruction and dry-firing. Revolvers are intuitive; you can even see if they are loaded or unloaded simply by looking at the cylinder.

Of course, a much greater level of firearms training is highly desirable if there is time for it. If possible, take your non-shooting neighbor to a gun range now, in advance of a period of “civil unrest.” Training a non-shooter in the safe operation of firearms also shows your own overall knowledge of security issues. This demonstrated firearms proficiency will stand you in good stead when your leadership skills and tactical knowledge may benefit your overall neighborhood security posture.

Beyond the simple morality of providing a means of self-defense against criminal violence, there is another reason to be prepared to arm thy neighbors: the force multiplying synergy of multiple fields of fire. Recall the old cowboy movies when the gang of black hats rode into a town where the citizens were forewarned and prepared. As an historical example, consider what happened to the vaunted James Gang on the Northfield Minnesota Raid when they lost the element of surprise. Only Frank and Jesse escaped unhurt. The rest of the armed gang were killed by the townsfolk or captured shortly after, badly wounded.

An armed and alert neighborhood is a very dangerous environment for criminals. In a time of rampant violence, with the ever-present threat of home invasions, more armed neighbors mean more angles of fire for the criminals to confront. Instead of focusing their evil intent on a single home, selecting one sheep in a helpless flock, they will be threatened by fire from many directions and their retreat may be cut off. This compounds their risk compared to attacking a neighborhood where most folks are unarmed and cringing in corners, praying to remain unmolested.

Of course, it is best if your neighbors have all received a high level of firearms training. Otherwise, the risk of a “friendly fire” accident while repelling an armed gang with shots from multiple directions is increased. And of course, you should not provide a firearm to a drunk, a druggie, or a mentally unstable neighbor for obvious reasons. But the danger of living in an unarmed neighborhood is even greater, because such an area is a magnet for repeated violent criminal attacks.

The best outcome would be to leverage your training of individuals in safe firearms usage into general neighborhood self-defense drills. Then if the “James Gang” rides in…they won’t necessarily ride out! Word will get around, and your neighborhood will achieve an aura of armed strength that deters future criminal incursions. Consider why tiny Switzerland has never been invaded by its much more powerful and often bellicose neighbors. It’s not because of the Alps. It’s because the Swiss have a strong tradition of armed self-defense at every level. Both invading armies and criminal gangs go around “hard targets” that are known to shoot back!

If nothing else, from a strictly selfish standpoint, the humble .38 revolver you lent to that widow might provide you with a critical early warning of imminent danger when she fires it in self-defense. Forewarned is forearmed, even if the warning is a rapid series of pistol shots heard from up the street at oh-dark-thirty. But in any case, I would rather hear the widow’s defiant shots than her helpless screams.

So, consider buying a few extra firearms and ammunition while you can easily and inexpensively do so. A used revolver in good working condition can be purchased for as little as $250, a used pump-action shotgun for not much more. And if you don’t know what an SKS rifle is or what they cost, find out. Then you will have the option of arming your neighbors in a time of extreme peril, without diminishing your own family armory.



This essay was written by Matt Bracken. I often mention his novels because they hit sore spots in many ways regarding watching your country slowly fall into socialism, then a Chavez type communism where the words “redistribution of wealth” are applauded in public speeches. Before you even know it,  your… “president” … is walking around saying “take over!” while pointing with his finger to several buildings.

While today you have to consider the legal consequences of arming another person, specially in Argentina where only people with gun permits can handle guns and you are legally responsible for what gets done with your weapon, the ability to arm others shouldn’t be underestimated.
I once mentioned that I gave my brother a 38 Special snub nose revolver just a couple hours after he landed in Argentina. 

My brother doesn’t know how to perform a tactical reload, he doesn’t know what SUL means or the best way to resolve corners, but I trust him enough not to shoot anything that doesn’t need to be shot. That’s enough in most cases where you end up arming others.

If the situation is bad enough, there no help coming. You have to ask yourself, how long can I stay alert before falling asleep, how long can I stand guard? With some basic instruction you can have a few people doing shifts after some basic instructions, mostly about gun safety handling and when NOT to shoot. 
Later on if the situation goes on you can teach them more but none of this would even be possible if you don’t have the minimum tools. That is, a few extra guns, ammo and holsters.
I have a couple extra 38 special revolvers for this reason. Also a couple more Hi Power 9mms and 45 ACP pistols. 
I have 5 or 6 extra police surplus leather flap holsters. These come with the cross chest sling needed to carry it. You can simply tote it like that.  A belt would add extra stability but you can do without it, and the holster itself has an extra magazine pouch. Space for two mags for the 45 ACP. Not the latest tactical piece of gear, not even the best or the most practical, but its perfect for a grunt newbie and it cost less than 3 dollars each. 

As of right now, there are some towns and districts in Argentina were the neighbors themselves run patrols and stand guard at night, armed. Legal? No it isn’t but it’s the unwritten agreement they made with authorities that simply can’t protect the people. Saw it on the news a couple days ago.
Chile is another good example. People organized and look after each other. There was a man that explained the problem he had, not having anyone nearby to stand guard when he fell asleep.
The chances of this happening may not seem that big, but it does happen and there’s many scenarios where you may need armed neighbors. Recent, real world scenarios.
These are things that can be taken into account when adding more weapons to your collection.

FerFAL

15 comments:

Adventures in Self Reliance said...

I'd probably say most folks in my state are armed at least with Rifles and Shotguns. Big on hunting in this area. But I did get my Dad a handgun and he went and got his CCP. I think you are right build your networks now and get to know your nieghbors. It could be critical in the future

EJ said...

I've often pondered this very scenario; I'm known at work (very discrete, very low-key, against the rules, you know) as a guy that (legally) buys guns from guys at work that are needing cash. I maintain a very low profile, never breaking any laws, of course, store them in gun safes and gun lockers. I recall the actions and words of our founding fathers, and I too pledge my life, fortune and sacred honor...As I've already let it be known, in an emergency I would hand them out with instructions and ammo, to my whole village if need be, retaining only three for myself. I presume that I would never get any of the rest back, ever, and have no delusions of surviving if we were not victorious against any invading hordes. America is too important to endeavor to save my own hide ("survive") at her expense. I guess in some ways that makes me not a survivalist, as such, or I would disappear into a remote part of my state and plunk down in a tiny piece of land and just live there in my bunker with my junk silver and my powdered eggs...

dc.sunsets said...

"A conservative is a liberal who was mugged. A libertarian is a conservative who was mugged by his government."

[And a libertarian-anarchist is a libertarian who finally figured out that an organization with a monopoly on "making the rules" pretty quickly figures out how to stack those rules in favor of rulers and against those who are so ruled. Trust no one with (political) power, it is more addictive and more destructive than any chemical known to man.]
For more on this, consider checking out http://www.voluntaryist.com

dc.sunsets said...

Would a', could a', should a'!

A few years back my friend who had a Federal Firearms License got wholesaler catalogs listing SKS rifles for $69 each and Norinco 1911 .45's at just over $200 plus shipping.

Talk about missed opportunities!

Adventures in Self Reliance said...

I find the survalist name dosen't fit me. I'm preparing. Self reliant, or self sufficeint maybe. I'm not going all Green Beret or Bear Grylls on folks. I don't want to struggle or just survive. I want to make the best life I can for myself no matter what happens.

The Urban Survivalist said...

I have thought about this a lot. Right about the time I was getting into guns and preparedness SKSs were $100 a pop and mosins were $60ish. You could buy an AK kit for $100 and get the parts to refurb it for another $20 or $30. Ammo was $80 a case. Magazines were easy to find for less than $5. Like everyone else I wish that I would've bought more of everything than I did. I definitely had the idea of arming my neighbors in mind when I was buying things, though.

Patrick said...

Great post, I believe in the coming paradigm the wealth creation effects of human networks will replace the wealth creation effects of exponential debt schemes, and the world will be better for it. Having security and a sense of rule of law is a basic requisite to "wealth" meaning anything, and this post is right on. I think this reaching out to your neighbor theme has been an underlying one on this blog and this post nails it.

That said, I'd like to reinforce the point I made on the last post with this story here.

When these kind of networks are the exception, such as in the case of the Michigan Militia, they become a target for the not-so-petty criminals. As always, being clandestine is a greater defense than being extremely well armed, finding the balance is the key. As more people do this that balance will shift for the better.

I'd also like to point out a point I've been trying to bring to the discussion here, which FerFal having lived through the hardest aspects of Argentina seems to downplay: you're a lot better off in a country where government does not have a terrifying military and technological capability. The piqueteros that K is arming are bad, but they're not as organized or effective as the FBI and both are equally "above the law" should autocracy wish it. At least an armed and organized community has a chance against piquetero militias, adding angles of fire won't do much good when you're in a Combat Zone That Sees.

Seeds and bullets are good things to aquire, but at least the seeds are tracked (yet).

dc.sunsets said...

@ Jaime,
With you 100%. Most of the survivalist themes look like planning to survive in a Max Max Beyond Thunderdome world. People who do this fail, in my opinion, to factor in how creative are people in seeing to the provision of the basics, starting with "ORDER."

Even during the Ukrainian Famine and Mao's Great Leap Forward mass starvation there was order. It was a murderous one, to be sure, and we should plan to be ELSEWHERE if such mass idiocy arrives on our shores, but to expect this post-apocalyptic world is unreasonable. That's Fernando's point throughout this blog.

Life goes on. This is what our planning should revolve around, and is not "survivalism" in any real sense at all. It is "life management" under more difficult conditions, that's all.

I again recommend this blog for a similar view on "survivalism:"
http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/ht/ht00001.html

jjet said...

Don't know if I agree with this post.

In light of all the turmoil on the American scene, if my neighbor is so clueless that he doesn't see the need to arm himself now, that means: 1. he has no concept of when deadly force is justified; 2. if/when that time comes he will either dither or react prematurely. Neither is a good tactic and each leads to a bad outcome. If he dithers and is disarmed, the BG now has one of my spare firearms. If he shoots unjustifiably, when "order" is "restored" I may be held liable for giving a clueless simpleton a firearm; 3. He has no manual of arms skills, probably little or no concept of muzzle discipline and is ignorant of Coopers 4 Rules; 4. He probably cannot hit the side of a barn. Who is responsible, then, for all the rounds he sends down range?

I could go on, but hopefully you get my drift.

In any case, perhaps it is time for a little benign neglect and the resultant Darwinism to thin the herd of the silly, the ignorant and the inept.

I think I'll pass.

Don't know if I agree with this post. In light of all the turmoil on the American scene, if my neighbor is so clueless that he doesn't see the need to arm himself now, that means: 1. he has no concept of when deadly force is justified; 2. if/when that time comes he will either dither or react prematurely. Neither is a good tactic and each leads to a bad outcome. If he dithers and is disarmed, the BG now has one of my spare firearms. If he shoots unjustifiably, when "order" is "restored" I may be held liable for giving a clueless simpleton a firearm; 3. He has no manual of arms skills, probably little or no concept of muzzle discipline and is ignorant of Coopers 4 Rules; 4. He probably cannot hit the side of a barn. Who is responsible, then, for all the rounds he sends down range? I could go on, but hopefully you get my drift. In any case, perhaps it is time for a little benign neglect and the resultant Darwinism to thin the herd of the silly, the ignorant and the inept. I think I'll pass. said...

Don't know if I agree with this post.

In light of all the turmoil on the American scene, if my neighbor is so clueless that he doesn't see the need to arm himself now, that means: 1. he has no concept of when deadly force is justified; 2. if/when that time comes he will either dither or react prematurely. Neither is a good tactic and each leads to a bad outcome. If he dithers and is disarmed, the BG now has one of my spare firearms. If he shoots unjustifiably, when "order" is "restored" I may be held liable for giving a clueless simpleton a firearm; 3. He has no manual of arms skills, probably little or no concept of muzzle discipline and is ignorant of Coopers 4 Rules; 4. He probably cannot hit the side of a barn. Who is responsible, then, for all the rounds he sends down range?

I could go on, but hopefully you get my drift.

In any case, perhaps it is time for a little benign neglect and the resultant Darwinism to thin the herd of the silly, the ignorant and the inept.

I think I'll pass.

h&c said...

"community watch" is the name used
to designate a neighborhood in NC,
USA, which decides to organize for
crime prevention. yes, it's just
the First BABY Step toward a realistic measure, but it has
to start somehow/someway/someday.
bottom line: find out who in your
area is serious and who is all talk and no walk. saves a lot
of time when time is needed.

Bill Browne said...

It all depends on where you live. This type of advice would work if you live in a rural town about to be invaded by marauding zombies.

Just hand out your arms to untrained civilians, set up a perimeter, and say your hail mary's. Do you really want that person watching your back?

This would not work in an urban environment.

I'm with the posters who've expressed doubt that this situation is likely to play out. As has been mentioned, much more likely is that order will be restored and singular acts of violence will be attempted---usually by someone the victim knows and/or trusts previously.

Think about what happens to YOU if you give out a handgun and the use of lethal force was not justified. Who are they going to bring down with the shooter? You. IMO, only hand out your weapons to your close friends/family members in imminent danger where it is vital they are armed. Otherwise you are just asking for trouble.

If all order has broken down to the point where government doesn't exist to declare martial law, we'd best think about getting the "f" outta dodge quickly.

Resident Author said...

At first I was like "eh, maybe."

Then I read jjet's post, which articulates my concerns. But I would add one thing.

We Yanks have been inundated by a group from within that wants to take away gun rights. Some of these people ARE my neighbors. Why would I want to interfere with the natural consequences of their actions? They want a world in which only military and criminals have firearms and I would love to see them living in such a world. You do not vote for gun control nazis and then expect access to weapons for your personal defense!

We cannot make "progress" (yikes, I just threw up a little) unless people are held accountable for their personal and political actions.

If you read gun boards, you will notice a trend of liberal folks approaching us and asking for help and advice. We are all (for the post part) on the same page.

EJ said...

Some very good points were made here. I might need to rethink the whole idea of arming newbies and those who are currently "antis". And as was mentioned, if order is restored fairly quickly, I would be held responsible if someone commits illegal acts with an implement I provided for them. Further, if it became a long-term breakdown, then I might be possibly providing them with the means of harming my loved ones or myself, or oppressing others. When I wrote the earlier post, I was literally thinking of zombies attacking my rural village. I live about 25 miles away from one of the world's largest prisons, and was considering that if TSHTF and there were to be a large escape or release of some sort. If TSHTF and I had enough lead time and I had to leave lower Michigan I would vamoose for a more remote part of the Lower Peninsula (won't have to cross the Bridge) or Upper Peninsula of Michigan (I have family there), assuming they didn't close the Mackinaw bridge, that is. Even that doesn't seem like a rock-solid plan, but if staying in my little village isn't an option then I'll have to get going somewhere...

Chris said...

I like the idea of having extra weapons on standby to arm neighbors if need be. I've been focusing on slowly getting enough weapons for myself, and I thought I was getting to the point were I can slow down with the gun buying. This gives me another excuse to buy more weapons. :-)