Several years ago I was in a foreign country working for our government. I was being shot at. This was not a combat zone so the attack was purely surprise. With the initial shots fired in anger at me specifically, I responded. My response was from training and I returned with a lethal response. After that first firefight ended and we were in relative safety I had a physical response. I shook for about 5 minutes. I tried to maintain control but could not until it was out of my system. I had a crash from the adrenaline dump that sustained me during the fight.
During a violent event it is said that one of three things happen. You go into fight, flight, or freeze mode. I want to talk about the third mode of freeze. For years the survival modes of fight or flight were focused on. But know that the hopeless mode of freeze exists. Clinically speaking, you have these symptoms:
Feeling stuck in some part of body
Feeling cold/frozen, numb, pale skin
Sense of stiffness, heaviness
Holding breath/restricted breathing
Sense of dread, heart pounding
Decreased heart rate (can sometimes increase)
Orientation to threat
As has been said “pain is unavoidable, suffering is optional”. Suffering comes from trying to avoiding what is happening to you. But simply acknowledging what is happening is not enough. It is also important to know what to do when we acknowledge our situation, how to calm ourselves. How do we deal with this kind of stress?
For the warrior, this type of calmness comes with training. We must train our actions and train our mind. With my own situation, it was the repeating of the stress that helped me to deal with it. Flight was out of the question, and so was freeze. If I froze, I died. By the 3rd firefight I did not have the shakes or the adrenaline crash. I do not advise this method. Constant exposure to danger is not the answer. Creating a solution to not knowing what to do, is a very good start. When I heard that 7.62 x 39 round crack by my head my initial response was to seek cover. That is good. But after cover, then what? My training told me to respond in kind and return fire. My first volley was to keep the enemy from shooting back while I observed the situation. As shots come by and toward you, like my response, putting your head down is the response. My first shots were to get the enemies head down. Next, my observation was to see where the enemy was located. Muzzle flash will give you away quickly especially in a low light situation. Once I established a target, I could focus my shooting (aim) at something tangible.
Your situation will probably not be the same as mine. If you are threatened you will probably have a clear picture of where your foe is. There is a lot to be said for situational awareness and seeing the threat coming. That is not always possible but often it is.
In a stressful situation, such as a fight or confrontation, your stress response will kick in and your ability for creative and logical thinking is dramatically impaired. So if you haven’t “pre-considered” your options, you could be in trouble.
If you are well-trained, you have already created a number of “self-defense solutions” and a response will be immediately available to you. The most appropriate response will be drawn from your “short term memory” (conscious thinking and muscle memory) and you will do it.
You see something happen, recognize it, decide what to do about it and then respond quickly and decisively. (OODA loop)
If something happens that you are confused about, and you don’t have an obvious response, your brain must now access long term memory and scroll through all past knowledge and experience in search for an appropriate response. This will definitely slow down your “Survival Reaction Time.”
You may end up choosing a poor response (under reacting or over reaction) or, if your brain doesn’t find anything, it enters a “looping process” and you freeze up. (Not reacting at all)
The solution to the problem of freezing up is to do exactly what YOU are doing now… Start learning everything you can about self-defense and use “What-If” scenarios to mentally play out possible situations in your mind, decided in advance how you would like to respond to them. (Perhaps I should qualify this a bit and tell you to learn everything you can about legitimate self-defense and the science of performance. There is a lot of baloney out there masquerading as legitimate fighting advice).
Training gives you confidence. You can’t fake confidence. So don’t try to fake your training. It comes with a price. That price is learning, training, and practice. It doesn’t matter what method you choose to defend yourself and your loved ones. This applies to all self-defense.
The way you move, walk, carry yourself and interact with others affects whether you project a victim profile or not. Essentially, people who walk with confidence and ease, move with coordination and balance are seldom selected. People who are attentive to their environment and aware of their surroundings are also unlikely to be targeted. When you put together confidence and situational awareness, you have a combination that can keep you out of a lot of problems. Match this with sense, and staying away from places and people you know can be a problem, you may never have to defend yourself. You will become a hard target. But if you must be prepared and ready.
Remember that honing your skills, repetition, and practice develops competence. Competence brings confidence. Confidence brings a correct response and will keep you from the freeze zone.
In your training program make sure you train as close to real as you can get. My choice of self-defense is a firearm so I make sure I try to realistically train. I’ve shot in a shoot house before with targets that can be moved. This was great training but I haven’t had access to a shoot house for some time. I’m not likely to have force-on-force training as I have in the past. So I must tailor my training program to be as realistic as possible in my circumstances. Standing at an indoor range shooting as a paper target is not ideal. Moving and shooting from around, under, and through, cover is pretty good. Dry fire is an option that can be part of your training program (and should be in my opinion.) Find what works for you and what can be realistic. Paintball and Airsoft are possible training tools. The more you train, the better your fight with the freeze can be.
Visualizing and playing “what if” scenarios in your mind can also prepare you better to fight the freeze.
No one can be sure of their reaction to violence until it happens to them. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventing a violent event is equally important as preparing for it. Chances are you will not ever have to defend your life. But if you are better prepared, you shall not fear.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Hiding From Aircraft and E and E
Disclaimer: I researched this article and posted it without thinking I may be giving the wrong impression. I do not promote crime or criminals. Some being pursued by aerial surveillance may be criminals. I wrote this article in response to a conversation I had with a friend who is a Border Patrol agent. In the BP they do a lot of “people tracking” and we were talking about that. We got on the subject of tracking with a dog and aircraft and my interest was born. If being chased by law enforcement just stop. Those who run get caught. In many ways if you run you're wasting your time. However, if the world has fallen apart, you may want these skills.
Evading Aerial Surveillance
There have been times when I did not want to be observed by satellites, aircraft, or drones such as putting in, or taking out a cache. I’m not so paranoid that I think any satellite is watching me all the time but there are times when I’d like to be sure. Drones are equipped with extremely powerful cameras which can detect people and vehicles at an altitude of several miles. Most drones are equipped with night vision, and/or infrared vision cameras, FLIR sensors. These can see human heat signatures from far away, day or night. However there are ways to hide from these things.
Colors
Studies by the military in the 1980’s concluded what we all probably already know. Natural colors, earth tones, hide better than non-natural reds and blues. Some of the most visible colors in almost any condition is blue. Even in urban settings blue is not a natural color. Blue denim is such a prevalent shade used in clothing all over the world. This should be avoided. Obviously bright shades of any color are not desired. Subdued colors will camouflage.
Shapes
The human brain has to process many things to see another person. Shapes, or lack of human shape, will fool the brain. Large indeterminable shapes are needed to hide at 100 yards or more. This is why the woodland camouflage associated with the military for so many years had large broken up shapes, with smaller random shapes and colors on top of the large ones. These smaller patterns would camouflage at shorter distances. Overdoing these shapes with too much “busyness” will make the shape stand out.
You may not be aware you are being observed due to aerial surveillance being conducted at an altitude beyond your hearing range.
Some measures reportedly used to counter infra-red and thermal imagery include the use of 'survival blankets', a sheet of foil that traps body heat (and reduces thermal signature) and water immersion (which also reduces thermal signature).
Day camouflage
Hide in the shadows of buildings or trees.
Use thick forests as natural camouflage or use camouflage nets.
Night camouflage
Hide inside buildings or under protection of trees or foliage. Do not use flashlights or vehicle spot lights, even at long distances. Drones can easily spot these during night missions.
To evade night time aerial surveillance (i.e., night vision/thermal) in an urban or suburban area, go into large buildings, under concrete bridges, under vehicles, into sewage or tunnel systems, etc.
Heat camouflage
Emergency blankets (space blankets) made of Mylar can block infrared rays. Wearing a space blanket as a poncho at night may hide your heat signature from infrared detection. Also in summer when the temperature is between 96.8°F (36°C) and 104°F (40°C), infrared cameras cannot distinguish between body and its surroundings.
Wait for bad weather. Drones have a difficult time operating in high winds, smoke, rainstorms, or heavy weather conditions.
No wireless communication. Using mobile phones or GPS-based communication will compromise your location.
Spreading reflective pieces of glass or mirrored material on a car on a roof may confuse the drone’s camera.
Decoys.
Use mannequins or human-sized dolls to mislead the drone’s reconnaissance.
General Anti-surveillance and escape and evade techniques
Changing appearance
• One’s physical appearance can be altered in a number of ways:
• Baggy or loose-fitting clothing can alter form.
• Filling out baggy clothes can make a person look larger & bulkier.
• Changing clothing style and colors (change jacket and hat if possible.)
• Changing one’s posture and pace
• Use of wigs and/or theater makeup
When thinking about counter-surveillance consider your past recent schedule and route selection.
• This identifies possible times, locations, or methods by which to evade surveillance.
• After a long time doing surveillance, operators may themselves fall victim to this routine and become vulnerable to anti surveillance actions.
Evading stakeouts
• Evading stakeouts or surveillance can be done from any location and need not begin with one’s residence.
• Public locations with multiple & even hidden exits can be used.
• Public transit can be utilized to break up surveillance teams en route to a suitable public location, etc.
Evading on foot
• In an urban environment, anti-surveillance actions carried out on foot have more likelihood of success than those done by vehicle.
• There are a limited number of areas a vehicle can travel (streets, highways, alleys, garages, etc.).
• In addition, they could have tracking devices attached, so no matter how many turns & U-turns are used, operators still know where the vehicle is.
Using weather and night (as was suggested above)
• In contrast, foot travel is almost limitless. Evading surveillance is best done at night or in bad weather (i.e., a rain-storm,), in order to limit visibility.
• In an urban setting, and in public locations, it is often the most illogical moves which can identify surveillance operators or limit their ability to follow (which may also alert operators that you are carrying out some kind of counter-surveillance actions).
These are only suggestions but some of them I have actually used and tested. Privacy is very important to me and I believe it was important to the framers of the Constitution. I have met some law enforcement officers that have a different interruption of that. I am not anti-police. But I do feel that some law enforcement officers need to understand that their job is to serve. I know that is not an easy job. It’s equally difficult to do with a public that is hostile and sometimes violent toward them. I want them to go home unharmed to their families and friends. But respect U.S. citizens privacy and do not act like we the public are to bow to your authority. I respect law enforcement. I want them to succeed. So do not get offended or take it personal when I say “I do not consent to searches.” I have been exposed to a LOT of law enforcement and I know somewhat how they work. The bad apples think I should make their job as easy as possible. Generally, I will not cooperate. I know that does not sound like I support our people in blue, but I do. I know that I am not a criminal. I may not always know whether I’ve broken the law or not, but in general I do my best to be law abiding. So please treat me as if I AM innocent until proven guilty. I know that dealing with the dregs of society can make you suspicious and cynical about the world. As a military member I can understand that mindset. Leaving a combat zone makes you very jumpy. Law enforcement work in that “combat zone”. But as a soldier, an officer of the law must conform to real life. Most people are not criminals. You must come to grips with this and rely on your instincts. But be real about it. Just because someone doesn’t want a ticket doesn’t mean they will rob a liquor store. It’s hard coming out of a red zone to not look for an enemy behind every wall and bush, but realize that most people are not drug dealers. Even if they smoke a doobie once in a while. I do not agree with using weed, but do I speed on occasion? Probably.
E and E can be an important skill to learn. You can practice in the form of a game.
This is a Boy Scout stalking game called “Shadowing”
A Patrol is told off to shadow a party of the enemy, who are advancing through the country (consisting of another patrol or the rest of the troop). The patrol told off to shadow the rest must follow on as closely as possible, but it is best to send on one or two Scouts ahead, to signal when it is safe to advance. As soon as the enemy see a Scout shadowing them they can give chase, and if they overtake him he is a prisoner, and has to march with the main body. They can also split up into two parties and join again further on, or leave some behind in ambush. It is only necessary to touch the shadowers to make them prisoners. If they cannot throw them off their tracks within a certain distance (two miles or so), or else capture more than half of them, they must own themselves defeated; and then another patrol takes the place of the shadowers. (This can be practiced along a route march-it has the advantage of always covering fresh ground in the advance.)
There are other Boy Scout games similar that can hone your skills. I’ve played many with my Scouts over the years. The games can be altered to meet your needs better.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Evading Aerial Surveillance
There have been times when I did not want to be observed by satellites, aircraft, or drones such as putting in, or taking out a cache. I’m not so paranoid that I think any satellite is watching me all the time but there are times when I’d like to be sure. Drones are equipped with extremely powerful cameras which can detect people and vehicles at an altitude of several miles. Most drones are equipped with night vision, and/or infrared vision cameras, FLIR sensors. These can see human heat signatures from far away, day or night. However there are ways to hide from these things.
Colors
Studies by the military in the 1980’s concluded what we all probably already know. Natural colors, earth tones, hide better than non-natural reds and blues. Some of the most visible colors in almost any condition is blue. Even in urban settings blue is not a natural color. Blue denim is such a prevalent shade used in clothing all over the world. This should be avoided. Obviously bright shades of any color are not desired. Subdued colors will camouflage.
Shapes
The human brain has to process many things to see another person. Shapes, or lack of human shape, will fool the brain. Large indeterminable shapes are needed to hide at 100 yards or more. This is why the woodland camouflage associated with the military for so many years had large broken up shapes, with smaller random shapes and colors on top of the large ones. These smaller patterns would camouflage at shorter distances. Overdoing these shapes with too much “busyness” will make the shape stand out.
You may not be aware you are being observed due to aerial surveillance being conducted at an altitude beyond your hearing range.
Some measures reportedly used to counter infra-red and thermal imagery include the use of 'survival blankets', a sheet of foil that traps body heat (and reduces thermal signature) and water immersion (which also reduces thermal signature).
Day camouflage
Hide in the shadows of buildings or trees.
Use thick forests as natural camouflage or use camouflage nets.
Night camouflage
Hide inside buildings or under protection of trees or foliage. Do not use flashlights or vehicle spot lights, even at long distances. Drones can easily spot these during night missions.
To evade night time aerial surveillance (i.e., night vision/thermal) in an urban or suburban area, go into large buildings, under concrete bridges, under vehicles, into sewage or tunnel systems, etc.
Heat camouflage
Emergency blankets (space blankets) made of Mylar can block infrared rays. Wearing a space blanket as a poncho at night may hide your heat signature from infrared detection. Also in summer when the temperature is between 96.8°F (36°C) and 104°F (40°C), infrared cameras cannot distinguish between body and its surroundings.
Wait for bad weather. Drones have a difficult time operating in high winds, smoke, rainstorms, or heavy weather conditions.
No wireless communication. Using mobile phones or GPS-based communication will compromise your location.
Spreading reflective pieces of glass or mirrored material on a car on a roof may confuse the drone’s camera.
Decoys.
Use mannequins or human-sized dolls to mislead the drone’s reconnaissance.
General Anti-surveillance and escape and evade techniques
Changing appearance
• One’s physical appearance can be altered in a number of ways:
• Baggy or loose-fitting clothing can alter form.
• Filling out baggy clothes can make a person look larger & bulkier.
• Changing clothing style and colors (change jacket and hat if possible.)
• Changing one’s posture and pace
• Use of wigs and/or theater makeup
When thinking about counter-surveillance consider your past recent schedule and route selection.
• This identifies possible times, locations, or methods by which to evade surveillance.
• After a long time doing surveillance, operators may themselves fall victim to this routine and become vulnerable to anti surveillance actions.
Evading stakeouts
• Evading stakeouts or surveillance can be done from any location and need not begin with one’s residence.
• Public locations with multiple & even hidden exits can be used.
• Public transit can be utilized to break up surveillance teams en route to a suitable public location, etc.
Evading on foot
• In an urban environment, anti-surveillance actions carried out on foot have more likelihood of success than those done by vehicle.
• There are a limited number of areas a vehicle can travel (streets, highways, alleys, garages, etc.).
• In addition, they could have tracking devices attached, so no matter how many turns & U-turns are used, operators still know where the vehicle is.
Using weather and night (as was suggested above)
• In contrast, foot travel is almost limitless. Evading surveillance is best done at night or in bad weather (i.e., a rain-storm,), in order to limit visibility.
• In an urban setting, and in public locations, it is often the most illogical moves which can identify surveillance operators or limit their ability to follow (which may also alert operators that you are carrying out some kind of counter-surveillance actions).
These are only suggestions but some of them I have actually used and tested. Privacy is very important to me and I believe it was important to the framers of the Constitution. I have met some law enforcement officers that have a different interruption of that. I am not anti-police. But I do feel that some law enforcement officers need to understand that their job is to serve. I know that is not an easy job. It’s equally difficult to do with a public that is hostile and sometimes violent toward them. I want them to go home unharmed to their families and friends. But respect U.S. citizens privacy and do not act like we the public are to bow to your authority. I respect law enforcement. I want them to succeed. So do not get offended or take it personal when I say “I do not consent to searches.” I have been exposed to a LOT of law enforcement and I know somewhat how they work. The bad apples think I should make their job as easy as possible. Generally, I will not cooperate. I know that does not sound like I support our people in blue, but I do. I know that I am not a criminal. I may not always know whether I’ve broken the law or not, but in general I do my best to be law abiding. So please treat me as if I AM innocent until proven guilty. I know that dealing with the dregs of society can make you suspicious and cynical about the world. As a military member I can understand that mindset. Leaving a combat zone makes you very jumpy. Law enforcement work in that “combat zone”. But as a soldier, an officer of the law must conform to real life. Most people are not criminals. You must come to grips with this and rely on your instincts. But be real about it. Just because someone doesn’t want a ticket doesn’t mean they will rob a liquor store. It’s hard coming out of a red zone to not look for an enemy behind every wall and bush, but realize that most people are not drug dealers. Even if they smoke a doobie once in a while. I do not agree with using weed, but do I speed on occasion? Probably.
E and E can be an important skill to learn. You can practice in the form of a game.
This is a Boy Scout stalking game called “Shadowing”
A Patrol is told off to shadow a party of the enemy, who are advancing through the country (consisting of another patrol or the rest of the troop). The patrol told off to shadow the rest must follow on as closely as possible, but it is best to send on one or two Scouts ahead, to signal when it is safe to advance. As soon as the enemy see a Scout shadowing them they can give chase, and if they overtake him he is a prisoner, and has to march with the main body. They can also split up into two parties and join again further on, or leave some behind in ambush. It is only necessary to touch the shadowers to make them prisoners. If they cannot throw them off their tracks within a certain distance (two miles or so), or else capture more than half of them, they must own themselves defeated; and then another patrol takes the place of the shadowers. (This can be practiced along a route march-it has the advantage of always covering fresh ground in the advance.)
There are other Boy Scout games similar that can hone your skills. I’ve played many with my Scouts over the years. The games can be altered to meet your needs better.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Parachute Cord: It's Not Just For Jump School
In the late 80’s I attended a jump school to become Airborne. I actually was not in the Army but earned the coveted “Airborne” tab. While there I met a Master Sergeant who was in charge of the guys that packed our parachutes. I got to know him pretty well. We both grew up in the same part of Arizona and we talked a lot about that area and the things we did there. He gave me my first paracord bracelet. He was a Viet Nam combat veteran and he told me of the significance of the bracelet. He asked if I knew anyone who fought or was lost in a war? I told him my Father and Grandfather. He told me that this was to remember them or fallen comrades. I wore it for years before these became “survival bracelets.”
Before WWII started a man named Wallace Carothers of DuPont invented a “synthetic silk”, a polyamide they named Nylon. Its invention made a new kind of large-scale, mobile airborne warfare possible, and the paratroopers were born. Previously, parachutes were made from silk, something that was in very short supply due to the natural method of its production, the silkworm. This new, synthetic silk transformed warfare by making it possible to mass produce parachutes and its companion product, parachute cord.
After World War II, the U.S. military adopted paracord for use throughout the Army as a multi-use tool with numerous applications. Today, it is still part of the U.S. military’s standard equipment and is used in many practical applications, like securing gear to backpacks and trucks, shelter building and various other improvised solutions.
Paracord 550, so named because it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds, was used in the suspension lines of military parachutes. Service members would cut strands of the paracord off their parachutes to take with them for a variety of emergency survival and combat uses. What better place to keep these extra strands than neatly tied on the wrist?
After 9/11/01, members deployed to the middle-east would, and still do, wear a military paracord bracelet as a symbol of remembrance for colleagues who were taken prisoner of war or missing in action. In 1997, astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery also used this type of paracord to repair parts of the Hubble Space Telescope.
A standard military paracord bracelet is made by weaving a 10 – 12 foot single strand and using a uniform button for a clasp. The idea is that each service member wears a bracelet that has been made by someone else, and the bracelets are only removed when everyone is safely back to base.
550 cord has 7 inner strands rated a 50 lbs. each so they equal 350 lb. inner core, with the casing rated at 200 lbs. But don’t let this rating deceive you. The only way I would trust my life to paracord is when there was no other alternative, and it was a true emergency. Don’t use it to mountain or rock climb. It’s strong but it does have limits.
There are 4 types of Paracord:
Type 1
Type 1 is rated at 95 pounds and has 1 core strand. It is very cheap, both in terms of cost and quality. It is usually used for dummy cording or decorative uses, lacing, and other light duty tasks.
Type 2 is rated at 400 pounds and has 4 to 7 core strands. I have never seen it sold anywhere. I wouldn’t bother looking either: simply skip it and go straight to type 3/550 cord. Type 3/550 is both cheaper (because it’s more common and available) and stronger.
Type 3 is rated at 550 pounds and has 7 to 9 core strands. Middle of the road in terms of both strength and quality. Usable for the vast majority of survival applications. Highly affordable and available.
Type 4 is rated at 750 pounds and has 11 core strands. This type is very strong, though expensive. Significantly more expensive than type 3 paracord. Over 50-100% price increase over the type 3 alternative. It’s not impossible to find but is not as abundant as type 3 or 1.
This cord is really amazing for its size and weight. Remember that paracord does have limitations and to not get close to exceeding them. Paracord has so many uses I could not even attempt to list them here. I love the stuff but I don’t normally stake my life on it. Be careful not to be overconfident with paracord. On the other hand I love its versatility. I carry some in my knife case that is with me every day. Don’t over estimate paracord but don’t under estimate it either.
Here are 5 reasons to carry paracord:
Emergency preparedness
The most common reason people carry paracord is for its use in emergency situations. Build a shelter by tying branches together when there’s nowhere else to sleep. Cut the cord, pull out the inner threads, attach a hook and you have a makeshift fishing line. Break a bone while out in the bush? Use the cord and a stiff branch to fashion a splint until you can seek further medical help. Simple sprain? It’s easy to make a sling to keep weight off the hurt appendage. If the situation is really serious, use the cord as a tourniquet to stop bleeding. Emergency preparedness has no end to paracord use.
It Gives a Good Grip
If it’s not an emergency situation, paracord can still come in handy. The material is slightly elastic. This allows for easy and snug wrapping around gear. Some small fixed blade knives employ a skeleton frame handle. Wrapping a length of paracord around it not only provides grip, but keeps an unbroken length of the material at hand.
It Personalizes Your Carry in a Practical Way
Paracord is available in a huge range of colors and patterns, allowing you to accessorize and personalize your gear. It can be used to set off a certain color theme or let you carry your own DIY handiwork. At its core, it still provides the functionality of paracord.
It Makes Retrieving Gear from Your Pocket Easier
Most knives have a lanyard hole, and paracord is the perfect match for it. A paracord lanyard is great if you’d prefer to carry a pocket knife without a clip. It’s as easy as slipping some through the hole and tying it off. With some knot-tying skills, you can make lanyards of different shapes and patterns to carry more cordage or fine tune extra material for grip on your tool. Pulling on this extra length can produce gear from your pocket more conveniently than digging around for it, while still keeping a low profile carry.
It Adds Visibility to Your Essentials
Bright colored paracord increases visibility, making your essentials easier to find and harder to lose. This is especially useful in bags, pouches, and organizers with interiors that don’t contrast your gear.
These are really just a few ideas out of thousands. See how you can use paracord best. When I put it on something I can then immediately call it “tactical”.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Before WWII started a man named Wallace Carothers of DuPont invented a “synthetic silk”, a polyamide they named Nylon. Its invention made a new kind of large-scale, mobile airborne warfare possible, and the paratroopers were born. Previously, parachutes were made from silk, something that was in very short supply due to the natural method of its production, the silkworm. This new, synthetic silk transformed warfare by making it possible to mass produce parachutes and its companion product, parachute cord.
After World War II, the U.S. military adopted paracord for use throughout the Army as a multi-use tool with numerous applications. Today, it is still part of the U.S. military’s standard equipment and is used in many practical applications, like securing gear to backpacks and trucks, shelter building and various other improvised solutions.
Paracord 550, so named because it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds, was used in the suspension lines of military parachutes. Service members would cut strands of the paracord off their parachutes to take with them for a variety of emergency survival and combat uses. What better place to keep these extra strands than neatly tied on the wrist?
After 9/11/01, members deployed to the middle-east would, and still do, wear a military paracord bracelet as a symbol of remembrance for colleagues who were taken prisoner of war or missing in action. In 1997, astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery also used this type of paracord to repair parts of the Hubble Space Telescope.
A standard military paracord bracelet is made by weaving a 10 – 12 foot single strand and using a uniform button for a clasp. The idea is that each service member wears a bracelet that has been made by someone else, and the bracelets are only removed when everyone is safely back to base.
550 cord has 7 inner strands rated a 50 lbs. each so they equal 350 lb. inner core, with the casing rated at 200 lbs. But don’t let this rating deceive you. The only way I would trust my life to paracord is when there was no other alternative, and it was a true emergency. Don’t use it to mountain or rock climb. It’s strong but it does have limits.
There are 4 types of Paracord:
Type 1
Type 1 is rated at 95 pounds and has 1 core strand. It is very cheap, both in terms of cost and quality. It is usually used for dummy cording or decorative uses, lacing, and other light duty tasks.
Type 2 is rated at 400 pounds and has 4 to 7 core strands. I have never seen it sold anywhere. I wouldn’t bother looking either: simply skip it and go straight to type 3/550 cord. Type 3/550 is both cheaper (because it’s more common and available) and stronger.
Type 3 is rated at 550 pounds and has 7 to 9 core strands. Middle of the road in terms of both strength and quality. Usable for the vast majority of survival applications. Highly affordable and available.
Type 4 is rated at 750 pounds and has 11 core strands. This type is very strong, though expensive. Significantly more expensive than type 3 paracord. Over 50-100% price increase over the type 3 alternative. It’s not impossible to find but is not as abundant as type 3 or 1.
This cord is really amazing for its size and weight. Remember that paracord does have limitations and to not get close to exceeding them. Paracord has so many uses I could not even attempt to list them here. I love the stuff but I don’t normally stake my life on it. Be careful not to be overconfident with paracord. On the other hand I love its versatility. I carry some in my knife case that is with me every day. Don’t over estimate paracord but don’t under estimate it either.
Here are 5 reasons to carry paracord:
Emergency preparedness
The most common reason people carry paracord is for its use in emergency situations. Build a shelter by tying branches together when there’s nowhere else to sleep. Cut the cord, pull out the inner threads, attach a hook and you have a makeshift fishing line. Break a bone while out in the bush? Use the cord and a stiff branch to fashion a splint until you can seek further medical help. Simple sprain? It’s easy to make a sling to keep weight off the hurt appendage. If the situation is really serious, use the cord as a tourniquet to stop bleeding. Emergency preparedness has no end to paracord use.
It Gives a Good Grip
If it’s not an emergency situation, paracord can still come in handy. The material is slightly elastic. This allows for easy and snug wrapping around gear. Some small fixed blade knives employ a skeleton frame handle. Wrapping a length of paracord around it not only provides grip, but keeps an unbroken length of the material at hand.
It Personalizes Your Carry in a Practical Way
Paracord is available in a huge range of colors and patterns, allowing you to accessorize and personalize your gear. It can be used to set off a certain color theme or let you carry your own DIY handiwork. At its core, it still provides the functionality of paracord.
It Makes Retrieving Gear from Your Pocket Easier
Most knives have a lanyard hole, and paracord is the perfect match for it. A paracord lanyard is great if you’d prefer to carry a pocket knife without a clip. It’s as easy as slipping some through the hole and tying it off. With some knot-tying skills, you can make lanyards of different shapes and patterns to carry more cordage or fine tune extra material for grip on your tool. Pulling on this extra length can produce gear from your pocket more conveniently than digging around for it, while still keeping a low profile carry.
It Adds Visibility to Your Essentials
Bright colored paracord increases visibility, making your essentials easier to find and harder to lose. This is especially useful in bags, pouches, and organizers with interiors that don’t contrast your gear.
These are really just a few ideas out of thousands. See how you can use paracord best. When I put it on something I can then immediately call it “tactical”.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Eluding Dog Tracking Teams
Disclaimer: I wrote this article and posted it without thinking I may be giving the wrong impression. I do not promote crime or criminals. Most who are being pursued by a dog tracking team would be criminals. I wrote this article in response to a conversation I had with a friend who is a Border Patrol agent. In the BP they do a lot of people tracking and we were talking about that. We got on the subject of tracking with a dog and my interest was born. If being chased by law enforcement just stop. Almost all who are running get caught. In many ways if you run you're wasting your time. However, if the world has fallen apart, you may want these skills.
Being chased by a dog may be a little scary mentally. But there are ways to be successful in getting away from a tracking dog.
There are many factors to your success. Most K9 tracking teams are not made for long distance. To be honest, all I know about being tracked is what I’ve read and the SERE training I’ve received. I think my info is accurate, but as with everything you read here (or really anywhere else!) do your own research. These are just some things I’ve learned.
Defeating a tracking dog is not easy, but it is possible. Forget everything you’ve seen in movies, they are almost all completely wrong. Dogs do not bark as they track. If you hear a barking dog, they’ve found you. These dogs walk and sniff.
One of the most important things you can do is to get distance between you and the trackers. I know that seems pretty obvious, but some think they can double back or hide and that is a good way to get caught. Travel through difficult terrain. The idea is to tire the dog and handler out. Most handlers aren’t young guys. They are seasoned officers with maybe a few more years (and pounds) than the average rookie. Dogs are not built for endurance. They are also not very good climbers. Taking rocky, up-hill or mountain routes can aid in getting distance between you and your trackers. Crossing water does not do any good. Unless you have found a way to cross a larger, unpassable water source, water won’t help you much. It’s not your odor the dog is tracking, it’s your dead skin. We are almost constantly shedding skin cells. That is what the dog smells.
One trick could be coating the body in petroleum jelly so as to not leave any skin cells for the dog to trace.
Another trick would be to get a small bucket of water that you have washed your skin with, create a small drip hole in the bottom and attach it to a moving vehicle or a small raft made with sticks to throw the scent off.
Remember that the dog has great senses, but it’s the handler that makes decisions. Make several sharp and large direction changes causing the handler to doubt his dog and call off the search. It’s easier to fool the human rather than the dog.
Move with the wind, as your scent will otherwise be carried downwind to the tracker dog.
And finally as a last resort, if you have some preparation, have a second set of clothes that have been worn by someone else. Re-coat your body in petroleum jelly and then get into these clothes.
if you've pre-planned an escape route, you can have rope and anchors ready to go and in place, that can allow you a way to climb up and over a small cliff or steep rock face -- just be sure you have enough head start time that you can make it up the cliff or rock face before anyone gets close enough to get eyes on you.
Be sure not to leave any rope trailing below you or litter on the ground below, signs that you've climbed up the rock face.
If the wind is blowing in the direction that you are fleeing from, and you are in an area of dry timber, consider setting several small fires next to each other, with the hope that a forest fire will erupt, blowing smoke and flames in the direction of your trackers. You of course better flee into the wind -- the flames will be blowing in the opposite direction behind you toward the trackers.
Being tracked by an experienced and successful team will be very hard to elude. Also, many man hunts involve aircraft and searchers with radios. It’s impossible to outrun a Motorola. Drones are becoming more numerous and a viable searching aid. Knowing how to elude aircraft is a whole other skill.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Being chased by a dog may be a little scary mentally. But there are ways to be successful in getting away from a tracking dog.
There are many factors to your success. Most K9 tracking teams are not made for long distance. To be honest, all I know about being tracked is what I’ve read and the SERE training I’ve received. I think my info is accurate, but as with everything you read here (or really anywhere else!) do your own research. These are just some things I’ve learned.
Defeating a tracking dog is not easy, but it is possible. Forget everything you’ve seen in movies, they are almost all completely wrong. Dogs do not bark as they track. If you hear a barking dog, they’ve found you. These dogs walk and sniff.
One of the most important things you can do is to get distance between you and the trackers. I know that seems pretty obvious, but some think they can double back or hide and that is a good way to get caught. Travel through difficult terrain. The idea is to tire the dog and handler out. Most handlers aren’t young guys. They are seasoned officers with maybe a few more years (and pounds) than the average rookie. Dogs are not built for endurance. They are also not very good climbers. Taking rocky, up-hill or mountain routes can aid in getting distance between you and your trackers. Crossing water does not do any good. Unless you have found a way to cross a larger, unpassable water source, water won’t help you much. It’s not your odor the dog is tracking, it’s your dead skin. We are almost constantly shedding skin cells. That is what the dog smells.
One trick could be coating the body in petroleum jelly so as to not leave any skin cells for the dog to trace.
Another trick would be to get a small bucket of water that you have washed your skin with, create a small drip hole in the bottom and attach it to a moving vehicle or a small raft made with sticks to throw the scent off.
Remember that the dog has great senses, but it’s the handler that makes decisions. Make several sharp and large direction changes causing the handler to doubt his dog and call off the search. It’s easier to fool the human rather than the dog.
Move with the wind, as your scent will otherwise be carried downwind to the tracker dog.
And finally as a last resort, if you have some preparation, have a second set of clothes that have been worn by someone else. Re-coat your body in petroleum jelly and then get into these clothes.
if you've pre-planned an escape route, you can have rope and anchors ready to go and in place, that can allow you a way to climb up and over a small cliff or steep rock face -- just be sure you have enough head start time that you can make it up the cliff or rock face before anyone gets close enough to get eyes on you.
Be sure not to leave any rope trailing below you or litter on the ground below, signs that you've climbed up the rock face.
If the wind is blowing in the direction that you are fleeing from, and you are in an area of dry timber, consider setting several small fires next to each other, with the hope that a forest fire will erupt, blowing smoke and flames in the direction of your trackers. You of course better flee into the wind -- the flames will be blowing in the opposite direction behind you toward the trackers.
Being tracked by an experienced and successful team will be very hard to elude. Also, many man hunts involve aircraft and searchers with radios. It’s impossible to outrun a Motorola. Drones are becoming more numerous and a viable searching aid. Knowing how to elude aircraft is a whole other skill.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, August 13, 2018
Hyrums Gun
During the afternoon of June 23, Reynolds Cahoon and Orrin Porter Rockwell found Joseph, Hyrum, and others across the river in Montrose. Provisions for their journey west were spread across a room. Brothers Cahoon and Rockwell said they came at the request of the Prophet’s wife, Emma. A posse had come for Joseph and Hyrum that morning warning that the governor had promised to garrison troops in Nauvoo until the brothers submitted to arrest. The brethren were told that the people of Nauvoo feared what the troops might do. A discussion ensued. At its end, Hyrum said, “Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see the thing out.”
John S. Fulmer brought his single shot pistol into Carthage Jail for the prisoners to use in self-defense. When the jail was attacked Hyrum Smith had the pistol, but he was fatally wounded before he could use it.
Fulmer had been living on a farm four miles from Nauvoo when, on June 25, 1844, Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith, were arrested. As an officer in the Nauvoo Legion, he had been on duty during the time the city was under martial law. Because of his friendship with the brothers, Fulmer was one of those who accompanied the Smiths to Carthage Jail. He spent the day and night before the martyrdom with them there. On the morning of the day they were assassinated, June 27, he was sent on an errand by Joseph and he left his gun with them.
This gun was of British make by Lewis & Tomes about 1840. Though at that time it is believed Lewis & Tomes subcontracted the manufacturing out to G.E. Lewis. It is .44 caliber.
This is the English percussion lock pistol. The spring bayonet, because of its size, would not have done much except give the owner a little more room if he was in a dangerous situation. The manufacture of flintlocks in England almost disappeared by 1825. This was a single shot, .44 Cal., flintlock pistol with a single round smooth bore barrel. It had wood grips. It was made of an iron alloy, lock mechanism, bayonet, and trigger guard. It had a Copper alloy barrel and frame.
When the Prophet handed the single shot he had concealed to his brother Hyrum, taking the Pepperbox he said, “You may have use for this.”
Hyrum observed, “I hate to use such things or to see them used.”
“So do I,” said Joseph, “but we may have to, to defend ourselves;” upon this Hyrum took the pistol (History of The Church, 6: 607).
The gun that John Fulmer smuggled in is by my estimation, an infamous one. I would also say it is the most infamous gun never used.
On June 27, 1844, about five o’clock in the evening, about 150 to 200 armed men stormed the jail. Mob members ran up the stairs to the second story where the prisoners were and fired their muskets into the room. Lead balls were fired at the door, one of which passed through the door and hit Hyrum Smith in the face, near his nose. He instantly fell to the ground dead, not having yet shot his single shot pistol.
After Hyrum Smith fell to the ground, Joseph Smith went to the door, opened it slightly and fired off the entire cylinder of his six-shot Pepperbox revolver. Three shots misfired, but the three other balls made positive hits on three would-be assassins.
The bayonet-mounted muskets instantly filled the tight space at the top of the stairs with thick smoke as more lead balls soared into another Mormon prisoner named John Taylor, who was seriously wounded.
Joseph knew the mob wanted his blood, so in an attempt to save his other friends in the room, he made an attempt to leap out the window. He was shot both from the doorway and from the window from which he fell to his death. Both Joseph and Hyrum received 4 balls each.
In his letter to Emma Smith, his wife, dated June 27, 1844, the day of his death, he wrote, “There is one principle which is eternal; it is the duty of all men to protect their lives and the lives of the household, whenever necessity requires, and no power has a right to forbid it, should the last extreme arrive, but I anticipate no such extreme, but caution is the parent of safety.”
There are some who say these men did not die as martyrs because they were armed. My definition of a martyr is to die for your religious or other beliefs. This they did. I believe Joseph Smith was an inspired, living prophet, called to restore God’s church.
174 years last June guns played a very small part in this martyrdom. They attempted to defend themselves but Joseph said it best: "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer's morning. I have a consciences void of an offense toward God and toward all men. If they take my life, I shall die an innocent man, and my blood shall cry from the ground for vengeance, and it shall be said of me, 'He was murdered in cold blood!'"
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Trust But Verify
The older I get, the more determined I am to not get political or controversial. I can see that I am failing at this attempt. So I guess I’ll just go with it.
A few months ago I got pulled over by a policeman. When I am pulled over I do my best to make it as easy and painless for both of us. I grab my wallet and insurance info before they get out of their car. I put my hands on the top of the steering wheel and do all my business from there. If I am carrying (most of the time) I give my driver’s license and concealed carry license together. If the officer asks me to do anything that involves my hands I tell them what I’m going to do before I do it. Anyway, as we talked he saw my CC license and asked what I carried. I told him and then I asked what he was carrying. We got into a discussion about guns and he forgot about why he pulled me over. I told him I was an instructor and he asked about that. I told him I’d meet him at the range and show him some things and we exchanged numbers. Now I’m not the kind of person that takes advantage of anyone so I said, “what about my ticket?” He said, “Slow it down.” So, I tell this story to show you I usually get along quite well with the local police and law enforcement. Half of them I’ve trained! Most of them are fine individuals. There’s always that one though.
I was talking to a police officer friend the other day and he expressed a desire that 3D printed guns should not exist. I asked him how he felt about gun control and he was generally pro-2nd amendment. I said “Then why in the world are you against 3D guns?” He said, “Because it makes my job harder.” I then proceeded to berate him for being such a lazy officer. I said, “Then I guess you’re for gun registration.” He said, “Of course I’m not!” I said, “Do you know what happens when law enforcement wants to track a gun?” He did know. Do you know?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives operates an electronic tracing system, often called eTrace, that is used to find the person who first legally purchased a recovered weapon. The ATF, using the make, model and serial number of the weapon, tracks down the original manufacturer. From there, they identify the federally licensed gun shop where the firearm was originally sent for retail sale.
Once the gun shop is located, federal agents request from the shop owners what is called a 44-73 form for the weapon in question. All gun sellers are required to fill out these forms with every purchase, recording the personal information of the buyer - name, address, telephone number - which they must provide to the ATF upon request.
It typically takes two days to perform a trace, though the process can be expedited in special cases.
If a gun shop goes out of business, the owner is required to send all of its 44-73 forms to the ATF. These documents are sent to the agency and stored, in paper form, in boxes in warehouses. The ATF does not digitize any of this information. There is no national database of firearms. There is a law against a national database.
This difficult process is why law enforcement, most of who are pro-second amendment, want a different system. This is also why rational people want irrational laws. Like background checks for private gun sales. Criminals definitely take advantage of our freedom in this country. Hiding money used to be easier in this country and even in other countries. Remember the Swiss bank account? This was an account connected to a number rather than a name. This is much more difficult these days because terrorist organizations hide their money in numbered accounts. I am a proponent of freedom and privacy. We have privacy in this country afforded us by our Constitution. This is why a police officer can’t just search your car or your house without certain criteria. Because we have a God given right to privacy. This is why no one needs to know what I do privately. If I am living within the law then what I do is of no use to my government. I can buy or sell my personal guns without breaking the law, and without anyone standing over my shoulder.
The ATF’s definition of a firearm is:
“Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.”
So by that definition, which was not determined by a politician or anyone elected, if you have a lower receiver of an AR-15, for instance, you have a firearm. But if that lower is only 80% finished, it is not yet a firearm. So there are several companies that sell 80% lowers or unfinished guns. This is legal and has been going on for several years. It got more main stream in the gun world after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 because of the call for more gun control. I bought my 80% lowers during this time because of my fear also. I’ve never built an 80% gun but I’ve built several rifles. I bought the 80% lowers because I want the option if crazy laws or other problems come to pass. But a 3-D printed lower is no different than buying an 80% lower. The hysteria of this is mostly caused by the media. Just as the crazy bump stock hysteria. The general public has little gun experience. Even pro-second amendment proponents sometimes don’t have a lot of experience or knowledge of guns. His includes law enforcement. Often I have found law enforcement knows what they need to about the weapon they use and carry, and some knowledge of weapons they deal with from criminals, but really lack a good knowledge of guns. I saw it in the military also. It’s OK. Not everyone is a gun nut. The problem comes with going insane because you can make your own gun. Or you can buy a stock that will help you to shoot faster. None of these things are new. It’s not like some sinister terrorist in a back room decided he would figure out how to make his gun rather than buy one. That is not how it goes. There have been some criminals who have taken advantage of our freedom. Just as bank robbers use cars for a quick getaway. So do we get rid of cars? Cars are registered yet they are used in crimes all the time.
In 2015 there were 12,979 deaths by gun. That same years there were 36,161 deaths by vehicles and 47,478 deaths by poisoning which drug overdoses are included in. Vehicles and drugs are highly regulated, yet more people die from them than guns. So my statement is this, anti-gun and media types aren’t really having a problem with guns as much as they are having a problem with the people that own them. They have a problem with PEOPLE!
It’s high time pro-gun people and law enforcement educate themselves. It’s even more important for the media, though I don’t think they will. There is so many hacks in journalism these days that it is no longer an honorable profession in my eyes. Gone are the days of Walter Cronkite. Stop giving in to the hysteria created by the media. Guns have been made for many, many years in people’s garages. It’s not illegal and it’s not a crime problem.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, knowledge is power. There needs to be more of us out there with power of knowledge. We need to stop being idiots and sycophants
Don’t take my freedom for your perceived security. The police have a hard job and I’d like to help them but I will not yield liberty to make someone’s job easier. It was Benjamin Franklin who said:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Now I know that this quote was given in response to a tax situation but I think it applies here. Some may say that we should bug a few phones, look into a few medical records, whatever it takes to catch criminals and terrorists. I say no. Liberty is more important. When the FBI tried to force Apple to open a cell phone I was grateful to see Apple say no. Now don’t get me wrong, I want the FBI and law enforcement to prevail, but not at freedoms cost. My father, my Grandfather, and I fought enemies, and put our lives on the line so that our freedom would endure. We should not give that freedom away to make it easier on law enforcement. To be honest, law enforcement should step up and defend these freedoms. The FBI should have found another way into that phone, which they did. But they should have never tried to force someone into doing their work. Sometimes I think some think, including some law enforcement, that we should all bend over backward to make their job easy. I do not think we should. I think they should do their job and not expect civilians or anyone else to do it for them! Again don’t misunderstand. I will do all I can to help justice and not to impede it. I know this is a rant and I didn’t intend it to be. But law enforcement do you Dadgum job!
So to sum up: We the people need to stop believing everything we see on T.V., especially the news. We need to get a grasp of things how they are, not how someone with an agenda tells us they are. We need better honesty and integrity. But until then “Trust but verify.”
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
A few months ago I got pulled over by a policeman. When I am pulled over I do my best to make it as easy and painless for both of us. I grab my wallet and insurance info before they get out of their car. I put my hands on the top of the steering wheel and do all my business from there. If I am carrying (most of the time) I give my driver’s license and concealed carry license together. If the officer asks me to do anything that involves my hands I tell them what I’m going to do before I do it. Anyway, as we talked he saw my CC license and asked what I carried. I told him and then I asked what he was carrying. We got into a discussion about guns and he forgot about why he pulled me over. I told him I was an instructor and he asked about that. I told him I’d meet him at the range and show him some things and we exchanged numbers. Now I’m not the kind of person that takes advantage of anyone so I said, “what about my ticket?” He said, “Slow it down.” So, I tell this story to show you I usually get along quite well with the local police and law enforcement. Half of them I’ve trained! Most of them are fine individuals. There’s always that one though.
I was talking to a police officer friend the other day and he expressed a desire that 3D printed guns should not exist. I asked him how he felt about gun control and he was generally pro-2nd amendment. I said “Then why in the world are you against 3D guns?” He said, “Because it makes my job harder.” I then proceeded to berate him for being such a lazy officer. I said, “Then I guess you’re for gun registration.” He said, “Of course I’m not!” I said, “Do you know what happens when law enforcement wants to track a gun?” He did know. Do you know?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives operates an electronic tracing system, often called eTrace, that is used to find the person who first legally purchased a recovered weapon. The ATF, using the make, model and serial number of the weapon, tracks down the original manufacturer. From there, they identify the federally licensed gun shop where the firearm was originally sent for retail sale.
Once the gun shop is located, federal agents request from the shop owners what is called a 44-73 form for the weapon in question. All gun sellers are required to fill out these forms with every purchase, recording the personal information of the buyer - name, address, telephone number - which they must provide to the ATF upon request.
It typically takes two days to perform a trace, though the process can be expedited in special cases.
If a gun shop goes out of business, the owner is required to send all of its 44-73 forms to the ATF. These documents are sent to the agency and stored, in paper form, in boxes in warehouses. The ATF does not digitize any of this information. There is no national database of firearms. There is a law against a national database.
This difficult process is why law enforcement, most of who are pro-second amendment, want a different system. This is also why rational people want irrational laws. Like background checks for private gun sales. Criminals definitely take advantage of our freedom in this country. Hiding money used to be easier in this country and even in other countries. Remember the Swiss bank account? This was an account connected to a number rather than a name. This is much more difficult these days because terrorist organizations hide their money in numbered accounts. I am a proponent of freedom and privacy. We have privacy in this country afforded us by our Constitution. This is why a police officer can’t just search your car or your house without certain criteria. Because we have a God given right to privacy. This is why no one needs to know what I do privately. If I am living within the law then what I do is of no use to my government. I can buy or sell my personal guns without breaking the law, and without anyone standing over my shoulder.
The ATF’s definition of a firearm is:
“Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.”
So by that definition, which was not determined by a politician or anyone elected, if you have a lower receiver of an AR-15, for instance, you have a firearm. But if that lower is only 80% finished, it is not yet a firearm. So there are several companies that sell 80% lowers or unfinished guns. This is legal and has been going on for several years. It got more main stream in the gun world after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 because of the call for more gun control. I bought my 80% lowers during this time because of my fear also. I’ve never built an 80% gun but I’ve built several rifles. I bought the 80% lowers because I want the option if crazy laws or other problems come to pass. But a 3-D printed lower is no different than buying an 80% lower. The hysteria of this is mostly caused by the media. Just as the crazy bump stock hysteria. The general public has little gun experience. Even pro-second amendment proponents sometimes don’t have a lot of experience or knowledge of guns. His includes law enforcement. Often I have found law enforcement knows what they need to about the weapon they use and carry, and some knowledge of weapons they deal with from criminals, but really lack a good knowledge of guns. I saw it in the military also. It’s OK. Not everyone is a gun nut. The problem comes with going insane because you can make your own gun. Or you can buy a stock that will help you to shoot faster. None of these things are new. It’s not like some sinister terrorist in a back room decided he would figure out how to make his gun rather than buy one. That is not how it goes. There have been some criminals who have taken advantage of our freedom. Just as bank robbers use cars for a quick getaway. So do we get rid of cars? Cars are registered yet they are used in crimes all the time.
In 2015 there were 12,979 deaths by gun. That same years there were 36,161 deaths by vehicles and 47,478 deaths by poisoning which drug overdoses are included in. Vehicles and drugs are highly regulated, yet more people die from them than guns. So my statement is this, anti-gun and media types aren’t really having a problem with guns as much as they are having a problem with the people that own them. They have a problem with PEOPLE!
It’s high time pro-gun people and law enforcement educate themselves. It’s even more important for the media, though I don’t think they will. There is so many hacks in journalism these days that it is no longer an honorable profession in my eyes. Gone are the days of Walter Cronkite. Stop giving in to the hysteria created by the media. Guns have been made for many, many years in people’s garages. It’s not illegal and it’s not a crime problem.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, knowledge is power. There needs to be more of us out there with power of knowledge. We need to stop being idiots and sycophants
Don’t take my freedom for your perceived security. The police have a hard job and I’d like to help them but I will not yield liberty to make someone’s job easier. It was Benjamin Franklin who said:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Now I know that this quote was given in response to a tax situation but I think it applies here. Some may say that we should bug a few phones, look into a few medical records, whatever it takes to catch criminals and terrorists. I say no. Liberty is more important. When the FBI tried to force Apple to open a cell phone I was grateful to see Apple say no. Now don’t get me wrong, I want the FBI and law enforcement to prevail, but not at freedoms cost. My father, my Grandfather, and I fought enemies, and put our lives on the line so that our freedom would endure. We should not give that freedom away to make it easier on law enforcement. To be honest, law enforcement should step up and defend these freedoms. The FBI should have found another way into that phone, which they did. But they should have never tried to force someone into doing their work. Sometimes I think some think, including some law enforcement, that we should all bend over backward to make their job easy. I do not think we should. I think they should do their job and not expect civilians or anyone else to do it for them! Again don’t misunderstand. I will do all I can to help justice and not to impede it. I know this is a rant and I didn’t intend it to be. But law enforcement do you Dadgum job!
So to sum up: We the people need to stop believing everything we see on T.V., especially the news. We need to get a grasp of things how they are, not how someone with an agenda tells us they are. We need better honesty and integrity. But until then “Trust but verify.”
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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