I just wrote about this. Yesterday I posted an article “Distance Is Your Friend: The 21 Foot “Rule””. I spoke about training and about being shot.
Before I go on let me be clear that I hope Pastor Tim Remington completely recovers from his horrible shooting and I am grateful his attacker was caught. I don’t know the reason for this attack, but hope it was just the work of a troubled vet that I hope gets the help he needs.
Having said that, there are some thing we can learn from this tragedy.
This incident did not happen in a dark alley somewhere at 3 AM. It happened in broad daylight (about 2PM) in the parking lot of Pastor Tim’s church.
We learn that it doesn’t matter where, or what time, this can happen anywhere, anytime. As far as security at Church, statistically these happen before, after meetings and usually in hallways, offices, and parking lots. Without referring to the above incident I would say that situational awareness often comes into play. All of us should be more aware of what is going on around us. Having heads up doesn’t stop any attack, but usually the victim may see it coming or see it developing and avoid it altogether.
We also learn that handgun rounds, and even rifle rounds under the right conditions, can be ineffective. We talk about “stopping power” of rounds all the time. This is a fallacy and shot placement is most important. Thankfully, Pastor Tim was shot 6 times but was not hit anywhere vital. He was even shot in the head and as of this writing is in the hospital in fair condition. This is miraculous considering he was shot at point blank range. This is more common than has been reported.
Because of this, our training should be better balanced in accuracy and tactical.
Those who train for self-defense can over estimate their gear (gun, ammo, sights) and their ability. The attacker above was a former Marine so he had weapons training. He was also educated with a degree in biochemistry. This is proof that we must train better and become better at recognizing problems so that we can avoid them, but be good enough if we can’t. Pastor Tim’s assailant was over confident and thought he couldn’t miss. Also, I think divine intervention came into play and he was blessed. Others are not as fortunate. (See blog 5/28/2015, How To Achieve Security At Church)
Shot placement matters. Pistol rounds all suck. Some suck less than others. And no matter what you're shooting, the effectiveness is going to be 95% placement and 5% caliber.
Skulls are harder than you think and vary greatly. One of the rounds struck Pastor Tim in the head. His skull stopped it. Thank goodness. There are many stories of those who have been shot in the helmet in combat. Sometimes the bullet penetrates the helmet and skin, hits the skull, follows the contour of their skull under the skin to the back of their head, and exits through the skin on the back of the skull and through the helmet. It’s happened before.
It has been said that “Owning a guitar doesn’t make you a musician” and that is true of a firearm. Do not be fooled into your vision of your untested abilities. There are times I go to the range and feel like I’m ready to tear up targets and that’s the day I can hardly hit the darn thing! Being honest about your abilities, going to the range and proving to yourself that you can hit the broad side of a B27 target, is most important. If you evaluate yourself honestly you may find that a change is in order. If you are not going to an actual range at least twice a month (and I KNOW this is way too little for me!) then you’re skills are severely diminished. I’m sorry. Unless you are a sponsored competitor, you will need to practice often. I know that competitors practice often. I also know that I can see a difference if I miss a week of shooting at the range. Don’t under estimate the importance of dry firing daily. I do and I think everyone should dry fire.
I hope that Pastor Tim is recovering well and his family is comforted at this difficult time. They are in our prayers. I also hope we can all learn from this horrible event.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Distance Is Your Friend: The 21 Foot "Rule"
Have you ever ran the Tueller Drill? Do you know what it is? If you are practicing self-defense with a gun or other means, you should know this drill.
The Tueller Drill can be set up and run in a number of different ways.
• Have a runner and a shooter stand back to back. On the go command, the runner sprints away from the shooter as fast as he can. The shooter draws and fires one shot at a target 21 feet away. The shooter is successful if the runner did not cover 21 feet.
• Another way is to position the runner 21 feet behind the shooter. On the go command, the runner sprints towards the shooter with the intent to tap the shooter on the back. The shooter must draw and fire one shot at a target 21 feet away. The shooter is successful if he is able to get the shot off before being tapped from behind. This can add more stress to the shooter since they don’t know when the tap is coming.
• If you have a training gun, a full contact drill could be run. Have an attacker start 21 feet away from the shooter. On the go command, the attacker runs at the shooter and the shooter must draw and “shoot” the running attacker before they get to them and touch them. Another variation of this is to have a target that can move at the shooter and do the same thing, only live fire since it’s a target.
• If you are lucky enough to have a local gun range with a programmable target carrier system and allows draw from the holster, you can run the drill yourself. Program a delayed random start time, a return to zero from 21 feet and a turn to face at the beginning. When the target turns and advances, draw and fire.
• If you can draw from the holster at your range, use a shot timer. Your goal is to draw and fire at a target 21 feet away in under 1.5 seconds.
In 1983, Salt Lake City Police Department Sergeant Dennis Tueller wondered how quickly an attacker with intent to do harm and armed with a knife could cover 21 feet. By timing volunteers, he was able to determine that it only takes 1.5 seconds for the attacker to cover the distance.
If you’re interested in the original article google “How Close Is Too Close” 1983, SWAT Magazine.
I saw an interview with Dennis Tueller in 2008 and he said:
“Tueller: When I was a new police officer in the 1970s if, during range training, someone had even proposed the idea of moving with a loaded gun in your hand, the Range Officer would have had you flogged! You planted your feet, toed the line and stayed right there. You loaded only on command and unloaded when you were done firing. It seems they were overly concerned with running a safe range, and thus were not doing a very good job of teaching officers how to win an armed confrontation. Me being a product of that type of training, I wanted to sell the idea of taking a single big step back as you draw - to gain a bit more distance from your attacker - as an acceptable technique. Of course I’ve come to realize that if one step back is good, six or eight are better if you can maintain control and move smoothly.”
I like this thinking. Distance is your friend. The 21 foot drill makes it clear that we must be aware of our surroundings and practicing good situational awareness. If you see a problem coming and it looks like they will continue to advance, use those verbal commands way back at the 35 foot line.
The issue is still debated by some, mostly those with no first-hand experience with knives, guns, or psychopaths, and they see the use of a firearm against a knife-wielding attacker as murder. They are the same people that say “shoot them in the leg” or “use a taser.” However, if you take a few minutes to practice the Tueller Drill with a buddy you will be surprised to learn how quickly a person can cover 21 feet… on average 1.5 seconds.
I’ve read articles that cite professors and even a “policing consultant” saying police officers should choose other options other than shooting a knife wielding assailant. The officers need more training. This coming from people whom I guess have never been confronted by someone with a knife. I think these “experts” need to be a little more realistic in their reference of this information. Frankly if a guy is running at me with a knife, I think 30 feet is too close. Notice how I said running toward me, not just standing. I’m not sure in most situations you have 30 or 21 feet to make a decision. More like 5 feet. Instead of referring to this as the “21 foot rule” I think it should be referred to as the “Tueller Study” instead. This study is used often in martial arts training also.
I think that this study should be used as the basis of general training. But I’m not a police officer. I think the same applies but even more so. As civilians who are armed we don’t normally have training that would make us “paranoid” as they have called some law enforcement.
We need to learn the same concepts but also other aspects of judging a potential attacker. As a police officer you could not just walk to the other side of the street if you see someone you may consider a threat coming toward you. A civilian must have the same powers of situational awareness that law enforcement does but we can avoid a confrontation unlike a cop. So for the intent of this article (I don’t train law enforcement), I would say that if you see a potential problem coming your way, move! Get out of the way! Run the opposite way! We do not have to confront bad guys like law enforcement. (This is why we should regard them higher, and pay them more!)
The 21 foot “rule” is really not a rule at all. It is a general training tool. So take it as it is. The Tueller study can help anyone to assess a situation and then act in a safe and defensive way. I don’t care what any college professor or consultant says, if someone is running toward me with a knife they will probably get shot.
What the above “experts” do not understand in some of these cases is why the shooter shot the attacker so many times. Getting shot is not the end. Usually one shot does not kill a person. It can, of course, but unless the heart, brain, or other organ is hit people can actually keep moving. It has been said by former military surgeons Dr. DiMaio and Dr. Fackler “If a gunshot victim’s heart is still beating upon arrival at the hospital, there is a 95 percent chance of survival.”
Dr. Fackler said “Shots to roughly 80 percent of targets on the body would not be fatal blows. Still, it is like roulette.”
This is how someone who has been shot can keep coming. I don’t want to make light of shooting a person, but shooting a deer is similar. If the shot is off that deer can go a long way before losing enough blood to stop. What that says to those of us who carry a gun is practice, practice, practice. Law enforcement or civilian we should be able to stop the threat coming at us. If we are any good, we may be able to stop the threat before we empty that 17 round magazine.
So to summarize, use the Tueller study and drill for training, but as a civilian, situational awareness and practice will save you and yours.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
The Tueller Drill can be set up and run in a number of different ways.
• Have a runner and a shooter stand back to back. On the go command, the runner sprints away from the shooter as fast as he can. The shooter draws and fires one shot at a target 21 feet away. The shooter is successful if the runner did not cover 21 feet.
• Another way is to position the runner 21 feet behind the shooter. On the go command, the runner sprints towards the shooter with the intent to tap the shooter on the back. The shooter must draw and fire one shot at a target 21 feet away. The shooter is successful if he is able to get the shot off before being tapped from behind. This can add more stress to the shooter since they don’t know when the tap is coming.
• If you have a training gun, a full contact drill could be run. Have an attacker start 21 feet away from the shooter. On the go command, the attacker runs at the shooter and the shooter must draw and “shoot” the running attacker before they get to them and touch them. Another variation of this is to have a target that can move at the shooter and do the same thing, only live fire since it’s a target.
• If you are lucky enough to have a local gun range with a programmable target carrier system and allows draw from the holster, you can run the drill yourself. Program a delayed random start time, a return to zero from 21 feet and a turn to face at the beginning. When the target turns and advances, draw and fire.
• If you can draw from the holster at your range, use a shot timer. Your goal is to draw and fire at a target 21 feet away in under 1.5 seconds.
In 1983, Salt Lake City Police Department Sergeant Dennis Tueller wondered how quickly an attacker with intent to do harm and armed with a knife could cover 21 feet. By timing volunteers, he was able to determine that it only takes 1.5 seconds for the attacker to cover the distance.
If you’re interested in the original article google “How Close Is Too Close” 1983, SWAT Magazine.
I saw an interview with Dennis Tueller in 2008 and he said:
“Tueller: When I was a new police officer in the 1970s if, during range training, someone had even proposed the idea of moving with a loaded gun in your hand, the Range Officer would have had you flogged! You planted your feet, toed the line and stayed right there. You loaded only on command and unloaded when you were done firing. It seems they were overly concerned with running a safe range, and thus were not doing a very good job of teaching officers how to win an armed confrontation. Me being a product of that type of training, I wanted to sell the idea of taking a single big step back as you draw - to gain a bit more distance from your attacker - as an acceptable technique. Of course I’ve come to realize that if one step back is good, six or eight are better if you can maintain control and move smoothly.”
I like this thinking. Distance is your friend. The 21 foot drill makes it clear that we must be aware of our surroundings and practicing good situational awareness. If you see a problem coming and it looks like they will continue to advance, use those verbal commands way back at the 35 foot line.
The issue is still debated by some, mostly those with no first-hand experience with knives, guns, or psychopaths, and they see the use of a firearm against a knife-wielding attacker as murder. They are the same people that say “shoot them in the leg” or “use a taser.” However, if you take a few minutes to practice the Tueller Drill with a buddy you will be surprised to learn how quickly a person can cover 21 feet… on average 1.5 seconds.
I’ve read articles that cite professors and even a “policing consultant” saying police officers should choose other options other than shooting a knife wielding assailant. The officers need more training. This coming from people whom I guess have never been confronted by someone with a knife. I think these “experts” need to be a little more realistic in their reference of this information. Frankly if a guy is running at me with a knife, I think 30 feet is too close. Notice how I said running toward me, not just standing. I’m not sure in most situations you have 30 or 21 feet to make a decision. More like 5 feet. Instead of referring to this as the “21 foot rule” I think it should be referred to as the “Tueller Study” instead. This study is used often in martial arts training also.
I think that this study should be used as the basis of general training. But I’m not a police officer. I think the same applies but even more so. As civilians who are armed we don’t normally have training that would make us “paranoid” as they have called some law enforcement.
We need to learn the same concepts but also other aspects of judging a potential attacker. As a police officer you could not just walk to the other side of the street if you see someone you may consider a threat coming toward you. A civilian must have the same powers of situational awareness that law enforcement does but we can avoid a confrontation unlike a cop. So for the intent of this article (I don’t train law enforcement), I would say that if you see a potential problem coming your way, move! Get out of the way! Run the opposite way! We do not have to confront bad guys like law enforcement. (This is why we should regard them higher, and pay them more!)
The 21 foot “rule” is really not a rule at all. It is a general training tool. So take it as it is. The Tueller study can help anyone to assess a situation and then act in a safe and defensive way. I don’t care what any college professor or consultant says, if someone is running toward me with a knife they will probably get shot.
What the above “experts” do not understand in some of these cases is why the shooter shot the attacker so many times. Getting shot is not the end. Usually one shot does not kill a person. It can, of course, but unless the heart, brain, or other organ is hit people can actually keep moving. It has been said by former military surgeons Dr. DiMaio and Dr. Fackler “If a gunshot victim’s heart is still beating upon arrival at the hospital, there is a 95 percent chance of survival.”
Dr. Fackler said “Shots to roughly 80 percent of targets on the body would not be fatal blows. Still, it is like roulette.”
This is how someone who has been shot can keep coming. I don’t want to make light of shooting a person, but shooting a deer is similar. If the shot is off that deer can go a long way before losing enough blood to stop. What that says to those of us who carry a gun is practice, practice, practice. Law enforcement or civilian we should be able to stop the threat coming at us. If we are any good, we may be able to stop the threat before we empty that 17 round magazine.
So to summarize, use the Tueller study and drill for training, but as a civilian, situational awareness and practice will save you and yours.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, March 4, 2016
Load Out: How Much Ammo Should You Carry?
I had a conversation with a friend of mine a while back. This guy is a great guy. But he is a liberal and has ideas that I have a hard time understanding. He also happens to be a member of the LDS Church and one of my leaders. He was raised in Chicago, Illinois and that is part of his problem. I’m not sure how a member of the Church can be a liberal but that’s another post. (LDS and Liberal? I Say Unto You, Nay, 11/7/15).
We were talking about guns and he asked the typical questions, “Why do you need an AR15?”, “Why do you need to carry a gun?”, and “Why do you need more than 10 rounds?” Most of us have been there. Someone ignorant of self-defense, ignorant of guns themselves, and someone who has never had to defend themselves. Some of you reading this may have some of the same questions.
The question I’d like to address here is “Why do you need more than 10 rounds?” Well, to be honest, sometimes you don’t. The problem with this question is it comes from ignorance. I can’t really blame them but I do wish they would believe those of us that know when we tell them “I may not always need 10 rounds, but what happens if I do?” Sometimes I get the impression that those that aren’t into guns think that we that like them sit around trying to figure out how we can spend more money on guns and ammo! Please believe us, we, and you too if you carried a gun, need more than 10 rounds. Do not get your gun training from TV and movies. One or two shots is all the good guys need. This is not true and think about where you are receiving information. A fictional show is usually for entertainment, not education.
Masaad Ayoob has been a weapons instructor since the 1970’s. He has written several books and articles and is considered a gun expert. Check out this article:
http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2014/10/5-gunfighting-myths-debunked-massad-ayoob/#armed-and-ready
I think it’s interesting that some politicians and others believe I shouldn’t have more than 10 rounds but the police, who they think are highly trained and skilled in arms, should have double that number. Some Law Enforcement (LE) are very skilled at arms and some just do what they have to do to qualify and have a job! Not only that, if the need for more rounds is just simply not needed then why don’t LE still have .357’s? LE should have everything and anything that will be a force multiplier to ensure that they go home every night. That is why they carry auto-loaders.
There is an officer in Skokie, Illinois north of Chicago, population 65,000, who had an experience that changed his “load out” from 47 rounds to 145 everyday.
The story he tells to Police One.com goes:
“I didn’t have time to think of backing up or even ramming him,” Gramins said. “I see the gun and I engage.”
Gramins fired back through his windshield, sending a total of 13 rounds tearing through just three holes.
A master firearms instructor and a sniper on his department’s Tactical Intervention Unit, “I was confident at least some of them were hitting him, but he wasn’t even close to slowing down,” Gramins said.
The gunman shot his pistol dry trying to hit Gramins with rounds through his driver-side window, but except for spraying the officer’s face with glass, he narrowly missed and headed back to his car.
Gramins, also empty, escaped his squad car — “a coffin,” he calls it — and reloaded on his run to cover behind the passenger-side rear of the Bonneville.
Now the robber, a lanky six-footer, was back in the fight with a .380 Bersa pistol he’d grabbed off his front seat. Rounds flew between the two as the gunman dashed toward the squad car.
Again, Gramins shot dry and reloaded.
“I thought I was hitting him, but with shots going through his clothing it was hard to tell for sure. This much was certain: he kept moving and kept shooting, trying his damnedest to kill me.”
In this free-for-all, the assailant had, in fact, been struck 14 times. Any one of six of these wounds — in the heart, right lung, left lung, liver, diaphragm, and right kidney — could have produced fatal consequences…“in time,” Gramins emphasizes.
But time for Gramins, like the stack of bullets in his third magazine, was fast running out.
When the suspect bent down to peer under the car, Gramins carefully established a sight picture, and squeezed off three controlled bursts in rapid succession.
The whole shootout had lasted 56 seconds, Gramins said. The assailant had fired 21 rounds from his two handguns. Inexplicably — but fortunately — he had not attempted to employ an SKS semi-automatic rifle that was lying on his front seat ready to go.
Gramins had discharged 33 rounds. Four remained in his magazine.”
This is only one example. Would this happen to you or me? Maybe. But what if 3 guys with guns burst through your front door looking to kill everyone in the house and take what they want? How would you feel about those 10 rounds then?
I carry a subcompact 9mm that holds 7 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. I always carry a spare magazine. That’s only 15 rounds. In my vehicle I also carry another 7 round magazine and then a box of 50 rounds. So if I can get to my vehicle (pretty unlikely) I have the possibility of 72 rounds if I can reload magazines, another big “If”. Like any other preparation it’s always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Other things that happen in a gunfight are a tunnel vision and tunnel hearing. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University ran a series of audible and visual tests on human subjects, measuring the loss of acuity while engaging them in activities designed to narrow attention. The results were a shocker.
The experiment was designed to tunnel vision – and it did. But a completely unexpected event occurred. While the vision was being tunneled, the performance of the audible control center decreased. That was not a typo. Tunneled vision led to diminished hearing. Turns out, focusing on something intently led the audio cortex to turn down the volume.
When the researchers performed an experiment to tunnel the hearing, the performance of the visual control center decreased. Again, no typo. Tunneled hearing led to diminished vision.
This led the researchers to conclude that a person intently listening to audible cues, like a radio or cell phone, could have diminished visual performance. It also led the researchers to conclude a person intently focused on something visual could have diminished hearing.
Most people involved in a shooting experience report several things. One, it all happened so fast, yet in slow motion. Does that make sense? It seems slow, but actually is a few seconds. And two, they can only remember vague things about the experience until they think about it or some time passes. Traumatic experiences teach us that you think you shot 4 shots when you actually shot 12.
I write this article not to convince you of the need to fight the silly legislation of only 10 round magazines, but so that you may reconsider your own load out. I love my subcompact. It is so small and yet still accurate. It is so easy to conceal that it has spoiled me. I’ve been considered lately a compact double stack giving me a 35 round capacity with just 2 magazines.
If you carry concealed my counsel to you would be three fold. Always have 1 in the chamber, carry at least 2 magazines, shoot in 3 round bursts. (2 to the chest, 1 to the head)
I’d like to think that I really only need about 3 rounds, but I want the option of more if I find myself in a world of hurt (trouble).
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
We were talking about guns and he asked the typical questions, “Why do you need an AR15?”, “Why do you need to carry a gun?”, and “Why do you need more than 10 rounds?” Most of us have been there. Someone ignorant of self-defense, ignorant of guns themselves, and someone who has never had to defend themselves. Some of you reading this may have some of the same questions.
The question I’d like to address here is “Why do you need more than 10 rounds?” Well, to be honest, sometimes you don’t. The problem with this question is it comes from ignorance. I can’t really blame them but I do wish they would believe those of us that know when we tell them “I may not always need 10 rounds, but what happens if I do?” Sometimes I get the impression that those that aren’t into guns think that we that like them sit around trying to figure out how we can spend more money on guns and ammo! Please believe us, we, and you too if you carried a gun, need more than 10 rounds. Do not get your gun training from TV and movies. One or two shots is all the good guys need. This is not true and think about where you are receiving information. A fictional show is usually for entertainment, not education.
Masaad Ayoob has been a weapons instructor since the 1970’s. He has written several books and articles and is considered a gun expert. Check out this article:
http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2014/10/5-gunfighting-myths-debunked-massad-ayoob/#armed-and-ready
I think it’s interesting that some politicians and others believe I shouldn’t have more than 10 rounds but the police, who they think are highly trained and skilled in arms, should have double that number. Some Law Enforcement (LE) are very skilled at arms and some just do what they have to do to qualify and have a job! Not only that, if the need for more rounds is just simply not needed then why don’t LE still have .357’s? LE should have everything and anything that will be a force multiplier to ensure that they go home every night. That is why they carry auto-loaders.
There is an officer in Skokie, Illinois north of Chicago, population 65,000, who had an experience that changed his “load out” from 47 rounds to 145 everyday.
The story he tells to Police One.com goes:
“I didn’t have time to think of backing up or even ramming him,” Gramins said. “I see the gun and I engage.”
Gramins fired back through his windshield, sending a total of 13 rounds tearing through just three holes.
A master firearms instructor and a sniper on his department’s Tactical Intervention Unit, “I was confident at least some of them were hitting him, but he wasn’t even close to slowing down,” Gramins said.
The gunman shot his pistol dry trying to hit Gramins with rounds through his driver-side window, but except for spraying the officer’s face with glass, he narrowly missed and headed back to his car.
Gramins, also empty, escaped his squad car — “a coffin,” he calls it — and reloaded on his run to cover behind the passenger-side rear of the Bonneville.
Now the robber, a lanky six-footer, was back in the fight with a .380 Bersa pistol he’d grabbed off his front seat. Rounds flew between the two as the gunman dashed toward the squad car.
Again, Gramins shot dry and reloaded.
“I thought I was hitting him, but with shots going through his clothing it was hard to tell for sure. This much was certain: he kept moving and kept shooting, trying his damnedest to kill me.”
In this free-for-all, the assailant had, in fact, been struck 14 times. Any one of six of these wounds — in the heart, right lung, left lung, liver, diaphragm, and right kidney — could have produced fatal consequences…“in time,” Gramins emphasizes.
But time for Gramins, like the stack of bullets in his third magazine, was fast running out.
When the suspect bent down to peer under the car, Gramins carefully established a sight picture, and squeezed off three controlled bursts in rapid succession.
The whole shootout had lasted 56 seconds, Gramins said. The assailant had fired 21 rounds from his two handguns. Inexplicably — but fortunately — he had not attempted to employ an SKS semi-automatic rifle that was lying on his front seat ready to go.
Gramins had discharged 33 rounds. Four remained in his magazine.”
This is only one example. Would this happen to you or me? Maybe. But what if 3 guys with guns burst through your front door looking to kill everyone in the house and take what they want? How would you feel about those 10 rounds then?
I carry a subcompact 9mm that holds 7 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. I always carry a spare magazine. That’s only 15 rounds. In my vehicle I also carry another 7 round magazine and then a box of 50 rounds. So if I can get to my vehicle (pretty unlikely) I have the possibility of 72 rounds if I can reload magazines, another big “If”. Like any other preparation it’s always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Other things that happen in a gunfight are a tunnel vision and tunnel hearing. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University ran a series of audible and visual tests on human subjects, measuring the loss of acuity while engaging them in activities designed to narrow attention. The results were a shocker.
The experiment was designed to tunnel vision – and it did. But a completely unexpected event occurred. While the vision was being tunneled, the performance of the audible control center decreased. That was not a typo. Tunneled vision led to diminished hearing. Turns out, focusing on something intently led the audio cortex to turn down the volume.
When the researchers performed an experiment to tunnel the hearing, the performance of the visual control center decreased. Again, no typo. Tunneled hearing led to diminished vision.
This led the researchers to conclude that a person intently listening to audible cues, like a radio or cell phone, could have diminished visual performance. It also led the researchers to conclude a person intently focused on something visual could have diminished hearing.
Most people involved in a shooting experience report several things. One, it all happened so fast, yet in slow motion. Does that make sense? It seems slow, but actually is a few seconds. And two, they can only remember vague things about the experience until they think about it or some time passes. Traumatic experiences teach us that you think you shot 4 shots when you actually shot 12.
I write this article not to convince you of the need to fight the silly legislation of only 10 round magazines, but so that you may reconsider your own load out. I love my subcompact. It is so small and yet still accurate. It is so easy to conceal that it has spoiled me. I’ve been considered lately a compact double stack giving me a 35 round capacity with just 2 magazines.
If you carry concealed my counsel to you would be three fold. Always have 1 in the chamber, carry at least 2 magazines, shoot in 3 round bursts. (2 to the chest, 1 to the head)
I’d like to think that I really only need about 3 rounds, but I want the option of more if I find myself in a world of hurt (trouble).
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Review: Alcohol Stoves
I love to camp and backpack. The older I get the more difficult some parts get. Bad knees and hard ground are not conducive to outdoor life. But when I can I do. When I was younger I camped a lot. I have been a Boy Scout leader for many years and had the opportunity to camp and hike all over this country. As you may have gathered if you’ve read past posts I am a stickler for weight. SWB I use for size, weight, bulk. Ounces are everything whether you are backpacking, camping, or building a bug out bag or first aid kits. I like light weight and multiple use gear. So when I found a stove that weighs less than 3 ounces, burns in blissful silence, features no complicated moving parts, and uses a low-cost and widely available fuel I was hooked. Plus it is inexpensive, durable, and ultra-simple to use. Meet the alcohol stove, a featherweight cooker that can instantly shave a pound or more off your packweight. Its unique design smokes the competition in many ways—just be prepared to make a few sacrifices if you want a cook system that weighs less than a gulp of water.
The Heavyweights
First let's review the chunky contenders: white gas and canister stoves. White gas stoves feature a burner and separate pump (8 to 16 ounces combined), plus a requisite fuel bottle (3 to 7 ounces empty, depending on size). They are bulky, noisy, pricey, and require pumping, priming, and some regular care and maintenance.
Canister stoves burn a pressurized propane/butane mix from a metal cartridge. The burner itself may be very lightweight (as little as 3 ounces) and inexpensive, but the canisters are relatively heavy (4 to 6 ounces empty), costly, and difficult to recycle. Both stove types do have their distinct advantages, of course, notably rapid boil times.
The Featherweight
Compared to the competition, alcohol stoves represent the ultimate in simplicity and lightness. Pour an appropriate alcohol fuel into the burner, light it, and within seconds you'll be cooking over a silent flame. When it comes to heft and cost, these stoves dominate the field. A wide range of styles are available that weigh less than 3 ounces. Some fall below 2 ounces, and the very lightest hover around only a single ounce. You can build one yourself for minimal expense or purchase a manufactured model for less than $20.
Cook Light, Boil Slow
Patience is a virtue when it comes to cooking with an alcohol stove. Alcohol fuel contains approximately half the energy by weight of white gas or butane/propane. As a result, the heat output is proportionately less—and cook times are a lot longer. Most white gas and canister stoves can boil a pint of water in under three minutes. Alcohol stoves generally take at least twice as long, about six to eight minutes in good conditions. They are also much more sensitive to wind; a windscreen is essential for even the lightest breeze. Some models have an integrated windscreen around the burner, a nice feature that helps fully capture available heat.
Fuel for the Fire
A variety of widely available fuels work in alcohol stoves; clean-burning denatured alcohol and methanol are the most common. Most alcohol stoves won't hold fuel during transit, however. If fuel remains after cooking, you must either burn it off or pour it back into its container—a potentially tricky operation. If the stove goes dry, you must wait for it to cool before adding more fuel. Gauging the right amount for your needs requires experience and practice. Most alcohol stoves also have only one flame setting. This is fine for bringing water to a boil, but suboptimal for gourmets looking to simmer their meal. Compared to highly flammable white gas, alcohol fuel is significantly less hazardous to carry. (Many hikers store it in small plastic bottles to minimize weight.) Its primary risk is a nearly invisible flame, which creates an increased potential for burns. Note that alcohol stoves perform poorly in subfreezing temperatures and are not recommended for winter trips.
Species and Locations
Many commercially-produced alcohol stoves exist, but don't expect to see them in your local outdoor gear shop—most are manufactured by tiny companies or by individuals and can be found only online. Alternatively, you can make your own. Plans are widely available online for converting aluminum soda cans, Altoids tins, and other common products into your next ultralight cooking companion.
A Google of You tube search will bring many different designs and styles that you can buy or make. I’ve bought some and have made some. I am partial to the commercial made, heavier duty stoves. Don’t let the word heavy deceive you. These are still featherweight.
Fuel
Here's a quick list of the most common stove fuels and where you'll most likely find them:
• denatured alcohol (hardware store, paint department)
• pure methanol from hardware store (paint department)
• pure ethanol (Everclear, liquor store)
• fuel line antifreeze (gas station or convenience store).
• rubbing alcohol (drug store).
Denatured alcohol gets my recommendation for the best all-around fuel for any stove that burns alcohol. It is quite cheap and usually available in hardware stores. Denatured alcohol is mostly ethanol with some methyl alcohol added to render it unfit for human consumption. Often a coloring or smell agent is also added for visual or olfactory cues that the substance is not drinkable. One drawback, though, of this fuel is that you must buy a minimum of 32 fluid ounces. This is probably much more than you want to take on the trail. Go in on a can with some friends, or buy a small container to take what you need with you. It should be noted, though, that denatured alcohol does contain methanol (toxic, about 16%), methyl ethyl ketone(<1%), and methyl acetate(<1%) which makes it less environmentally friendly than pure ethanol.
Pure ethanol also makes a good stove fuel, but is much more expensive than denatured because it is potable. You can find it in liquor stores as "grain alcohol"; Graves Grain Alcohol and Everclear are some brand names. Pure ethanol may be harder to find and more expensive than other fuels, but it is the fuel of choice if toxicity or environmental friendliness are at the top of your concerns.
Pure methanol (wood alcohol) burns very well in a stove. It can be found in the same sorts of places as denatured alcohol (hardware stores). It has a relatively high vapor pressure as compared to ethanol and isopropanol; this means that it will vaporize at lower temperatures. Because of this property your stove will achieve full power more quickly. Many people use this fuel because of this fact; however, methanol is toxic. It is readily absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes. Once in the body it is converted by the liver to formaldehyde, a very poisonous chemical. Short term exposure to methanol is probably not a big deal, but be aware of this drawback.
Fuel line antifreezes are usually pure isopropanol or pure methanol. Look at the ingredients of the bottle to find out which is which. You can usually find these in gas stations or convenience stores, especially up north. A popular brand is HEET; the red bottle is isopropyl and the yellow bottle is methanol. Isopropyl alcohol burns with yellow, sooty flames, indicating that it is not combusting completely. It is less toxic than methanol, though.
Rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropanol and 30% water. Sometimes you can find it at a 91% isopropanol and that is better for fuel. You can find it in drug stores. It has all the problems associated with burning pure isopropanol with the added inconvenience of having 30% of its volume being noncombustible water. It'll do in a pinch, but given the choice I'd go with something else.
I love alcohol stoves and you should too. Make one, borrow one, or buy a cheap one to see if this is good for you. I’ve found many a camper not happy with alcohol stoves. Camping usually is not weight sensitive unless you are backpacking everything in or out, then this kind of stove would really shine. I like them myself.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
The Heavyweights
First let's review the chunky contenders: white gas and canister stoves. White gas stoves feature a burner and separate pump (8 to 16 ounces combined), plus a requisite fuel bottle (3 to 7 ounces empty, depending on size). They are bulky, noisy, pricey, and require pumping, priming, and some regular care and maintenance.
Canister stoves burn a pressurized propane/butane mix from a metal cartridge. The burner itself may be very lightweight (as little as 3 ounces) and inexpensive, but the canisters are relatively heavy (4 to 6 ounces empty), costly, and difficult to recycle. Both stove types do have their distinct advantages, of course, notably rapid boil times.
The Featherweight
Compared to the competition, alcohol stoves represent the ultimate in simplicity and lightness. Pour an appropriate alcohol fuel into the burner, light it, and within seconds you'll be cooking over a silent flame. When it comes to heft and cost, these stoves dominate the field. A wide range of styles are available that weigh less than 3 ounces. Some fall below 2 ounces, and the very lightest hover around only a single ounce. You can build one yourself for minimal expense or purchase a manufactured model for less than $20.
Cook Light, Boil Slow
Patience is a virtue when it comes to cooking with an alcohol stove. Alcohol fuel contains approximately half the energy by weight of white gas or butane/propane. As a result, the heat output is proportionately less—and cook times are a lot longer. Most white gas and canister stoves can boil a pint of water in under three minutes. Alcohol stoves generally take at least twice as long, about six to eight minutes in good conditions. They are also much more sensitive to wind; a windscreen is essential for even the lightest breeze. Some models have an integrated windscreen around the burner, a nice feature that helps fully capture available heat.
Fuel for the Fire
A variety of widely available fuels work in alcohol stoves; clean-burning denatured alcohol and methanol are the most common. Most alcohol stoves won't hold fuel during transit, however. If fuel remains after cooking, you must either burn it off or pour it back into its container—a potentially tricky operation. If the stove goes dry, you must wait for it to cool before adding more fuel. Gauging the right amount for your needs requires experience and practice. Most alcohol stoves also have only one flame setting. This is fine for bringing water to a boil, but suboptimal for gourmets looking to simmer their meal. Compared to highly flammable white gas, alcohol fuel is significantly less hazardous to carry. (Many hikers store it in small plastic bottles to minimize weight.) Its primary risk is a nearly invisible flame, which creates an increased potential for burns. Note that alcohol stoves perform poorly in subfreezing temperatures and are not recommended for winter trips.
Species and Locations
Many commercially-produced alcohol stoves exist, but don't expect to see them in your local outdoor gear shop—most are manufactured by tiny companies or by individuals and can be found only online. Alternatively, you can make your own. Plans are widely available online for converting aluminum soda cans, Altoids tins, and other common products into your next ultralight cooking companion.
A Google of You tube search will bring many different designs and styles that you can buy or make. I’ve bought some and have made some. I am partial to the commercial made, heavier duty stoves. Don’t let the word heavy deceive you. These are still featherweight.
Fuel
Here's a quick list of the most common stove fuels and where you'll most likely find them:
• denatured alcohol (hardware store, paint department)
• pure methanol from hardware store (paint department)
• pure ethanol (Everclear, liquor store)
• fuel line antifreeze (gas station or convenience store).
• rubbing alcohol (drug store).
Denatured alcohol gets my recommendation for the best all-around fuel for any stove that burns alcohol. It is quite cheap and usually available in hardware stores. Denatured alcohol is mostly ethanol with some methyl alcohol added to render it unfit for human consumption. Often a coloring or smell agent is also added for visual or olfactory cues that the substance is not drinkable. One drawback, though, of this fuel is that you must buy a minimum of 32 fluid ounces. This is probably much more than you want to take on the trail. Go in on a can with some friends, or buy a small container to take what you need with you. It should be noted, though, that denatured alcohol does contain methanol (toxic, about 16%), methyl ethyl ketone(<1%), and methyl acetate(<1%) which makes it less environmentally friendly than pure ethanol.
Pure ethanol also makes a good stove fuel, but is much more expensive than denatured because it is potable. You can find it in liquor stores as "grain alcohol"; Graves Grain Alcohol and Everclear are some brand names. Pure ethanol may be harder to find and more expensive than other fuels, but it is the fuel of choice if toxicity or environmental friendliness are at the top of your concerns.
Pure methanol (wood alcohol) burns very well in a stove. It can be found in the same sorts of places as denatured alcohol (hardware stores). It has a relatively high vapor pressure as compared to ethanol and isopropanol; this means that it will vaporize at lower temperatures. Because of this property your stove will achieve full power more quickly. Many people use this fuel because of this fact; however, methanol is toxic. It is readily absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes. Once in the body it is converted by the liver to formaldehyde, a very poisonous chemical. Short term exposure to methanol is probably not a big deal, but be aware of this drawback.
Fuel line antifreezes are usually pure isopropanol or pure methanol. Look at the ingredients of the bottle to find out which is which. You can usually find these in gas stations or convenience stores, especially up north. A popular brand is HEET; the red bottle is isopropyl and the yellow bottle is methanol. Isopropyl alcohol burns with yellow, sooty flames, indicating that it is not combusting completely. It is less toxic than methanol, though.
Rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropanol and 30% water. Sometimes you can find it at a 91% isopropanol and that is better for fuel. You can find it in drug stores. It has all the problems associated with burning pure isopropanol with the added inconvenience of having 30% of its volume being noncombustible water. It'll do in a pinch, but given the choice I'd go with something else.
I love alcohol stoves and you should too. Make one, borrow one, or buy a cheap one to see if this is good for you. I’ve found many a camper not happy with alcohol stoves. Camping usually is not weight sensitive unless you are backpacking everything in or out, then this kind of stove would really shine. I like them myself.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Conspiracy and Secret Combinations
I love the show/movie The X Files. When I was young I watched a show that was first aired in 1974 through 1975 called “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”. How I loved this show! This was about a newspaper reporter investigates strange supernatural occurrences in Chicago. It was the forerunner to the X Files. I liked these shows because I am somewhat of a nerd as my daughter likes to say. But mostly I liked the X Files because of the conspiracy behind the stories of space aliens. I have never been a fan of our government. Don’t get me wrong, The Republic is a wonderful form of government. But that kind of money and power is not to be trusted. That is why the founders gave us the 2nd Amendment. To keep our leaders in check a little bit. So I am a conspiracy nut. I question some things that have happened. My wife is similar but we don’t always agree on which events are conspiracies. When something significant happens in the world or this country, I usually default to whether a conspiracy was involved. Now to be truthful, I may joke about it or even have a passing wonder, but really for the most part, I don’t feel most things are a conspiracy. The problem is, some of them are. I can’t prove anything but it’s hard to believe that no events have a conspiracy behind them. Why do I think this way? Before you blame it on too much TV and movies, let’s look at things that I believe are true.
Apostle Ezra Taft Benson said this in Conference April 1972
“Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon —it is a conspiracy fact.”
In Ether 8:18 it says:
“18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;”
This why I believe as I do. These conspiracies, or secret combinations, will get above us.
Also in Ether 8
“23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.”
Have we as the LDS Church become “awake to a sense of your awful situation”? If now is not that time prophesied in those scriptures then I’m not sure when they will happen. I believe this is happening now. These are some more reasons for my thinking.
Secret combinations have secret signs and words (Helaman 6:22), protect one another (Helaman 6:21, 23), and mingle into society in a manner whereby they cannot be found (Helaman 1:12).
The teachings and practices of the robbers are tempting and corrupt the hearts of the people as they spread, eventually even seducing most of the righteous into believing in their works, partaking of their spoils, and even becoming involved in their secret murders and combinations (Helaman 6:38; Ether 9:6).
One of the purposes of secret combinations is to gain power (Helaman 2:8; Ether 8:23, 11:15) by usurping power and authority over the people (Helaman 7:4). They seek to gain sole power over the government and, in the Book of Mormon, were successful in doing so (Helaman 6:39).
Secret combinations seek to overthrow government (3 Nephi 7:6), establish kings – or oligarchies (see Mosiah 29:21–22) – and destroy the liberty of a republic (3 Nephi 6:30, 7:10); the king-men believe they have the blood of nobility (Alma 51:21).
“And do not think that these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertence or mistake; The whole course is deliberately planned and carried out; its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our constitutional government; then to bring chaos, out of which the new Statism with its slavery is to arise, with a cruel, relentless, selfish, ambitious crew in the saddle, riding hard with whip and spur, a red-shrouded band of night riders for despotism.” (J. Reuben Clark, jr.,Church News, September 25, 1949)
“Gadianton robbers fill the judgement seats in many nations. An evil power seeks to overthrow the freedom of all nations and countries.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, speaking in the April 1980 General Conference)
“It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down. We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, October, 2001)
Because of these scriptures and quotes, and more, I believe this conspiracy is alive and well and doing the work of the adversary.
There are others who feel the same as I in, and out, of the Church.
http://www.nachumlist.com/deadpool.htm
I only bring this “crazy talk” up because it does affect you and your family’s security and defense. If you can get your own houses in order and prepare for the worse but hope for the best then you and your loved ones will weather the storm better and survive.
Here are books I would recommend to “corrupt your brain” (said with tongue in cheek) with information. Some members will try to wave you off of this kind of thinking. Do not let them. The scriptures and prophets are clear, we must become educated and awake to our awful situation.
None Dare Call It Conspiracy (Gary Allen) – recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
(I can remember my Dad having a case of these in his study. I guess he was spreading the word)
The Naked Communist (W. Cleon Skousen) – recommended in Conference by David O. McKay
The Naked Capitalist (W. Cleon Skousen) – important sequel to The Naked Communist
The 5000-Year Leap (W. Cleon Skousen) – perhaps the most well-read LDS work on liberty
The Elders of Israel and the Constitution (Jerome Horowitz) – Recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
The Book of Mormon and the Constitution (H. Verlan Andersen) – LDS General Authority and very close friend to Ezra Taft Benson
The Moral Basis of a Free Society (H. Verlan Andersen)
An Enemy Hath Done This (Ezra Taft Benson, compilation of political speeches)
The Law (Frederic Bastiat) – not an LDS author but quoted heavily by Ezra Taft Benson
Prophets, Principles, And National Survival (Compiled by Jerrald L. Newquist) Quotes of the brethren published in 1964
These are just a beginning. There are many talks and books on this subject out there. I would caution you to not go crazy with this. It can be scary or at least become obsessive. Also, many LDS members, including local leaders, have a problem with this thinking and with this information. If you feel compelled to share, do so prayerfully and with restraint. I have argued with members who can’t seem to give me an answer why these scriptures exist. Why was President Benson so adamant about all of this? Was he the “nutty” Apostle and Prophet? One thing I noticed about President Benson that I like to share is he worked in government. He was hand-picked by U.S. President Eisenhower to be the Secretary of Agriculture from 1952 to 1960. He had been ordained an Apostle in 1943. He saw government up close and personal. He knew how it worked intimately. As an Apostle he wrote and spoke extensively about conspiracy. In 1985 he became the Lords Prophet. His counselors were President Hinckley and President Monson. As Prophet I think he looked for a way to continue his warning and he found that way.
He said in April Conference 1986:
"The Book of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:5-6).
This is how we can learn of secret combinations (conspiracies) and how to recognize them. I believe it is too late to stop them, but we can be prepared to fight them and help our families to survive their influence.
I will also add, vote. I know it seems useless sometimes, but vote anyway.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Apostle Ezra Taft Benson said this in Conference April 1972
“Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon —it is a conspiracy fact.”
In Ether 8:18 it says:
“18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;”
This why I believe as I do. These conspiracies, or secret combinations, will get above us.
Also in Ether 8
“23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.”
Have we as the LDS Church become “awake to a sense of your awful situation”? If now is not that time prophesied in those scriptures then I’m not sure when they will happen. I believe this is happening now. These are some more reasons for my thinking.
Secret combinations have secret signs and words (Helaman 6:22), protect one another (Helaman 6:21, 23), and mingle into society in a manner whereby they cannot be found (Helaman 1:12).
The teachings and practices of the robbers are tempting and corrupt the hearts of the people as they spread, eventually even seducing most of the righteous into believing in their works, partaking of their spoils, and even becoming involved in their secret murders and combinations (Helaman 6:38; Ether 9:6).
One of the purposes of secret combinations is to gain power (Helaman 2:8; Ether 8:23, 11:15) by usurping power and authority over the people (Helaman 7:4). They seek to gain sole power over the government and, in the Book of Mormon, were successful in doing so (Helaman 6:39).
Secret combinations seek to overthrow government (3 Nephi 7:6), establish kings – or oligarchies (see Mosiah 29:21–22) – and destroy the liberty of a republic (3 Nephi 6:30, 7:10); the king-men believe they have the blood of nobility (Alma 51:21).
“And do not think that these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertence or mistake; The whole course is deliberately planned and carried out; its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our constitutional government; then to bring chaos, out of which the new Statism with its slavery is to arise, with a cruel, relentless, selfish, ambitious crew in the saddle, riding hard with whip and spur, a red-shrouded band of night riders for despotism.” (J. Reuben Clark, jr.,Church News, September 25, 1949)
“Gadianton robbers fill the judgement seats in many nations. An evil power seeks to overthrow the freedom of all nations and countries.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, speaking in the April 1980 General Conference)
“It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down. We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, October, 2001)
Because of these scriptures and quotes, and more, I believe this conspiracy is alive and well and doing the work of the adversary.
There are others who feel the same as I in, and out, of the Church.
http://www.nachumlist.com/deadpool.htm
I only bring this “crazy talk” up because it does affect you and your family’s security and defense. If you can get your own houses in order and prepare for the worse but hope for the best then you and your loved ones will weather the storm better and survive.
Here are books I would recommend to “corrupt your brain” (said with tongue in cheek) with information. Some members will try to wave you off of this kind of thinking. Do not let them. The scriptures and prophets are clear, we must become educated and awake to our awful situation.
None Dare Call It Conspiracy (Gary Allen) – recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
(I can remember my Dad having a case of these in his study. I guess he was spreading the word)
The Naked Communist (W. Cleon Skousen) – recommended in Conference by David O. McKay
The Naked Capitalist (W. Cleon Skousen) – important sequel to The Naked Communist
The 5000-Year Leap (W. Cleon Skousen) – perhaps the most well-read LDS work on liberty
The Elders of Israel and the Constitution (Jerome Horowitz) – Recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
The Book of Mormon and the Constitution (H. Verlan Andersen) – LDS General Authority and very close friend to Ezra Taft Benson
The Moral Basis of a Free Society (H. Verlan Andersen)
An Enemy Hath Done This (Ezra Taft Benson, compilation of political speeches)
The Law (Frederic Bastiat) – not an LDS author but quoted heavily by Ezra Taft Benson
Prophets, Principles, And National Survival (Compiled by Jerrald L. Newquist) Quotes of the brethren published in 1964
These are just a beginning. There are many talks and books on this subject out there. I would caution you to not go crazy with this. It can be scary or at least become obsessive. Also, many LDS members, including local leaders, have a problem with this thinking and with this information. If you feel compelled to share, do so prayerfully and with restraint. I have argued with members who can’t seem to give me an answer why these scriptures exist. Why was President Benson so adamant about all of this? Was he the “nutty” Apostle and Prophet? One thing I noticed about President Benson that I like to share is he worked in government. He was hand-picked by U.S. President Eisenhower to be the Secretary of Agriculture from 1952 to 1960. He had been ordained an Apostle in 1943. He saw government up close and personal. He knew how it worked intimately. As an Apostle he wrote and spoke extensively about conspiracy. In 1985 he became the Lords Prophet. His counselors were President Hinckley and President Monson. As Prophet I think he looked for a way to continue his warning and he found that way.
He said in April Conference 1986:
"The Book of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:5-6).
This is how we can learn of secret combinations (conspiracies) and how to recognize them. I believe it is too late to stop them, but we can be prepared to fight them and help our families to survive their influence.
I will also add, vote. I know it seems useless sometimes, but vote anyway.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Monday, February 29, 2016
Siphoning Gas/Water
Have you ever needed some gas for your lawnmower, motorcycle, and generator or perhaps tried to help a stranded friend who needed some gas, assuming you could easily get it out of your own vehicle? If you have, you know it’s not possible to siphon gas with conventional tools or standard siphons available on the market today.
Many people have tried to siphon gas out of one of their newer vehicles only to find out they hit one if not two major difficulties. It is not easy. Most new model cars and SUV’s have emergency valves that stop gas from draining out in the event of a roll-over. This valve also acts as a siphon prevention system which is the reason why nearly all the siphon devices and pumps sold these days are useless. That being said, there is a way to siphon gas from a modern car, you just need to know how to do it and have the right tools for the job.
The anatomy of the blockage in newer vehicles is a ball valve or butterfly valve. There is enough room for gas to get through the fueling tube into the tank, but if the car flips over and gas begins to flow the other direction, the ball moves to the inlet and blocks the gas from escaping or the butterfly flap closes.
The fundamental issue is that you need a line skinny, stiff and flexible enough to get through the valve and around the ball or flap. That is much easier said than done.
The first thing you need to get around a ball valve is 6-8 feet of 1/4 inch stiff plastic line with a smooth tapered tip narrowed towards the end with a semi rigid outer guide line to keep the 1/4 inch line from kinking when it hits the initial ball valve. With a firm twisting, bump and pushing motion, it is reasonably easy to get around most ball valves.
The next thing you’ll need is a thicker diameter fuel line that can receive the 1/4 inch line without leaking. This line will be used to connect to a fuel filter and then to a pump.
Gravity siphoning through the narrow line is doable but extremely slow. With a hand squeeze bulb pump you can move more gas but for best results use a very powerful fuel pump with 7-10PSI and serious self-priming dry-lift capability.
Pure siphoning through 1/4 inch line with sufficient gravity, you can move approximately 1 gallon every 8 minutes. Without the 1/4 inch line it's about a half-gallon a minute.
Moving gas through a 1/4 inch line using a hand squeeze bulb, it is possible to move approximately 1 gallon every 4 minutes (until your hand gives out).
Gas will quickly become one of the most important commodities in a crisis. Unfortunately, it will also be one of the scarcest. The gas stations that do have fuel will have unimaginably long lines, until their tanks go dry.
The best way to avoid a calamity is to keep your tank over halfway full at all times. Even in this scenario, however, you may not have enough fuel to evacuate.
In the movies, siphoning gas out of a car’s fuel tank looks like good old-fashioned fun. In the real world, it’s nasty, dirty, dangerous business.
To help you avoid injury or death, we have put together an easy to use guide to siphoning gas.
1. Gather Your Supplies
You will only need three supplies to create a siphon that will not require you to suck on the hose:
1. A Power Cable (You can also use a flexible PVC pipe or clear piping)
2. A Plastic Bottle
3. A Pair of Scissors
Take the power cable and cut through the insulation on one end. This will leave you with exposed wires in the middle of the cable. Do not cut them
After the internal wires are exposed and free of their outer insulation, you can stand on the other end of the power plug. Make sure you are wearing shoes so that you do not hurt your foot!
Next, begin pulling the wires out of the power cord. This will take some leverage, but you should be able to remove the wires without exerting a lot of effort. As soon as the wires are free of the insulation, you will be left with your siphoning pipe.
Take the cap off of the plastic water bottle. Use your scissors to cut a small hole into the cap.
This hole should be a little bit narrower than the siphoning pipe that you created from the power cord, so the tube will fit through the hole very snugly.
Even though the hole you cut was a bit narrower than the pipe, you should be able to push your pipe through it relatively easily.
The hole will naturally expand as the pipe is introduced. This is the reason that you did not make the hole any bigger. After all, you want the pipe to have a snug fit.
After the pipe has been pushed about an inch into the cap, you will screw the cap onto the plastic bottle. As you can see, this will result in the end of your siphoning pipe being placed inside the bottle.
After you have completed the basic assembly, you can test the siphon with water or any other liquid.
Simply place a container with water above the bottle, and then put one end of the siphon tube into that water.
Next, squeeze the water bottle slightly as shown in the picture. When you do this, you should notice some air bubbles in the water container.
As you release your grip on the water bottle so that the sides are no longer squeezed in, enough suction should be created to start the initial flow of water.
At this point, it is important to unscrew the bottle cap to prevent a very slow trickle of water.
If you do not want to collect the fluid in the bottle, you can unscrew the lid altogether and transfer the siphon hose to another container.
As long as you keep the hose lower than the source of the liquid that is being transferred, everything should continue flowing freely.
Please note: You do not have to use a power cable if you have other similar options on hand. For example, PVC pipe or clear cheap tubing can be just as successful.
Now that you know how to safely move gas or other liquids from one place to another, you can avoid using the old-fashioned sucking technique. It is never a good idea to use the older method because this can kill you. We understand that an emergency situation may call for desperate measures, but keep in mind that killing yourself in your pursuit of gas is the antithesis of the prepper mentality. Survival is the name of the game, and you can greatly improve your odds of surviving if you prepare a proper siphoning device before you actually need it.
Working with fuel is dangerous. Swallowing fuel is toxic. Fuel vapors are not good to breath. Gasoline contact with the skin can dry it out severely. Do not splash in your eyes. Fuel is flammable and combustible. If gasoline is stored untreated it can begin to break down within a week.
If things are really bad out there and you do not want a vehicle for parts or to get in a drivable condition all you need are a container, a hammer, and a screwdriver. You pound a hole in the gas tank and let the gas drain into your container.
Fuels can be stored but must be treated or they break down. Heat and temperature changes are not good on stored gas. Don’t store flammable things in your home or garage (you can store 2 to 10 gallons). Store fuels in a well ventilated room or outside away from buildings.
Do not store near heat or open flames.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Many people have tried to siphon gas out of one of their newer vehicles only to find out they hit one if not two major difficulties. It is not easy. Most new model cars and SUV’s have emergency valves that stop gas from draining out in the event of a roll-over. This valve also acts as a siphon prevention system which is the reason why nearly all the siphon devices and pumps sold these days are useless. That being said, there is a way to siphon gas from a modern car, you just need to know how to do it and have the right tools for the job.
The anatomy of the blockage in newer vehicles is a ball valve or butterfly valve. There is enough room for gas to get through the fueling tube into the tank, but if the car flips over and gas begins to flow the other direction, the ball moves to the inlet and blocks the gas from escaping or the butterfly flap closes.
The fundamental issue is that you need a line skinny, stiff and flexible enough to get through the valve and around the ball or flap. That is much easier said than done.
The first thing you need to get around a ball valve is 6-8 feet of 1/4 inch stiff plastic line with a smooth tapered tip narrowed towards the end with a semi rigid outer guide line to keep the 1/4 inch line from kinking when it hits the initial ball valve. With a firm twisting, bump and pushing motion, it is reasonably easy to get around most ball valves.
The next thing you’ll need is a thicker diameter fuel line that can receive the 1/4 inch line without leaking. This line will be used to connect to a fuel filter and then to a pump.
Gravity siphoning through the narrow line is doable but extremely slow. With a hand squeeze bulb pump you can move more gas but for best results use a very powerful fuel pump with 7-10PSI and serious self-priming dry-lift capability.
Pure siphoning through 1/4 inch line with sufficient gravity, you can move approximately 1 gallon every 8 minutes. Without the 1/4 inch line it's about a half-gallon a minute.
Moving gas through a 1/4 inch line using a hand squeeze bulb, it is possible to move approximately 1 gallon every 4 minutes (until your hand gives out).
Gas will quickly become one of the most important commodities in a crisis. Unfortunately, it will also be one of the scarcest. The gas stations that do have fuel will have unimaginably long lines, until their tanks go dry.
The best way to avoid a calamity is to keep your tank over halfway full at all times. Even in this scenario, however, you may not have enough fuel to evacuate.
In the movies, siphoning gas out of a car’s fuel tank looks like good old-fashioned fun. In the real world, it’s nasty, dirty, dangerous business.
To help you avoid injury or death, we have put together an easy to use guide to siphoning gas.
1. Gather Your Supplies
You will only need three supplies to create a siphon that will not require you to suck on the hose:
1. A Power Cable (You can also use a flexible PVC pipe or clear piping)
2. A Plastic Bottle
3. A Pair of Scissors
Take the power cable and cut through the insulation on one end. This will leave you with exposed wires in the middle of the cable. Do not cut them
After the internal wires are exposed and free of their outer insulation, you can stand on the other end of the power plug. Make sure you are wearing shoes so that you do not hurt your foot!
Next, begin pulling the wires out of the power cord. This will take some leverage, but you should be able to remove the wires without exerting a lot of effort. As soon as the wires are free of the insulation, you will be left with your siphoning pipe.
Take the cap off of the plastic water bottle. Use your scissors to cut a small hole into the cap.
This hole should be a little bit narrower than the siphoning pipe that you created from the power cord, so the tube will fit through the hole very snugly.
Even though the hole you cut was a bit narrower than the pipe, you should be able to push your pipe through it relatively easily.
The hole will naturally expand as the pipe is introduced. This is the reason that you did not make the hole any bigger. After all, you want the pipe to have a snug fit.
After the pipe has been pushed about an inch into the cap, you will screw the cap onto the plastic bottle. As you can see, this will result in the end of your siphoning pipe being placed inside the bottle.
After you have completed the basic assembly, you can test the siphon with water or any other liquid.
Simply place a container with water above the bottle, and then put one end of the siphon tube into that water.
Next, squeeze the water bottle slightly as shown in the picture. When you do this, you should notice some air bubbles in the water container.
As you release your grip on the water bottle so that the sides are no longer squeezed in, enough suction should be created to start the initial flow of water.
At this point, it is important to unscrew the bottle cap to prevent a very slow trickle of water.
If you do not want to collect the fluid in the bottle, you can unscrew the lid altogether and transfer the siphon hose to another container.
As long as you keep the hose lower than the source of the liquid that is being transferred, everything should continue flowing freely.
Please note: You do not have to use a power cable if you have other similar options on hand. For example, PVC pipe or clear cheap tubing can be just as successful.
Now that you know how to safely move gas or other liquids from one place to another, you can avoid using the old-fashioned sucking technique. It is never a good idea to use the older method because this can kill you. We understand that an emergency situation may call for desperate measures, but keep in mind that killing yourself in your pursuit of gas is the antithesis of the prepper mentality. Survival is the name of the game, and you can greatly improve your odds of surviving if you prepare a proper siphoning device before you actually need it.
Working with fuel is dangerous. Swallowing fuel is toxic. Fuel vapors are not good to breath. Gasoline contact with the skin can dry it out severely. Do not splash in your eyes. Fuel is flammable and combustible. If gasoline is stored untreated it can begin to break down within a week.
If things are really bad out there and you do not want a vehicle for parts or to get in a drivable condition all you need are a container, a hammer, and a screwdriver. You pound a hole in the gas tank and let the gas drain into your container.
Fuels can be stored but must be treated or they break down. Heat and temperature changes are not good on stored gas. Don’t store flammable things in your home or garage (you can store 2 to 10 gallons). Store fuels in a well ventilated room or outside away from buildings.
Do not store near heat or open flames.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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