4 Principles of Gun Safety

I know these should be 2nd nature to any and all gun enthusiasts, however when I do my safety review with first time visitors to the range, many act like it’s the first time they’ve heard them. So here you go:

  1. All guns are ALWAYS loaded.
  2. Never point a firearm at anything you’re not willing to shoot or destroy.
  3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
  4. Be aware of your target and what’s beyond it.

Hope some of you find this useful, if it saves one accident or injury then indeed it’s worth it. Now get out there and practice!

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Can You Access Your Gun When You Actually Need It?

A firearm is just a tool, and like any tool, it’s useless unless you can get to it when you need it. I’m sure many of you have felt that frustration of knowing you have a tool but just can’t find it; can you imagine the frustration of being unable to access your firearm in a crisis situation? Are your firearms safe from children or nosy neighbors while also being accessible?

Practicing your preps is undoubtedly the best why to stay sharp and practicing intrusion prevention/self-defense is no different. So try running through a few scenarios and in each one ask yourself: how would I or could I respond? What could I change to improve my level of preparedness?

  • You’re in the middle of dinner when 2 individuals attempt to kick in your door.
  • You’re relaxing in front of the TV when you hear a noise in the back yard.
  • You pull in your driveway and notice that your front door appears broken.
  • You’re lying in bed when you hear a suspicious noise coming from the kitchen.
  • You’re walking your dog when a suspicious person approaches you.
  • You’re fueling up your vehicle when you realize the gas station is being robbed.
  • You’re shopping with your family when a flash mob begins ransacking the store.
  • You’re in the shower (home alone) when you hear someone in the house.
  • You’re broke down on the side of the road when some rough characters stop to ‘help?’
  • You answer a knock at the door and the person tries to force their way in.

The possibilities are endless, but as you run through each scenario, ask yourself am I prepared or could I be better prepared? What could I do to improve my chances of survival? Can I stage my firearms better while still keeping them safe from others? I think most will find that if they actually follow through on this exercise they will make at least some changes and probably order a couple of small gun safes. Police are reactionary and can only do so much, it’s your job to protect yourself, your family and your property from those who would do them harm.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Charlottesville: You’re Missing the Big Picture

Unless you live in a media vacuum I have to assume you’ve seen the stories coming out of Charlottesville VA about the “Unite the Right Rally” that turned violent. The media, as you would expect them to, is placing the blame on the ‘right wing’ protesters and ignoring what actually happened here. First of all, I am not defending the protesters or what they stand for, fact is it doesn’t matter WHO the protesters were; they had a permit, they were attacked, police did nothing to stop it and the media and corrupt State and local politicians blame the protesters – wow. The left and it’s media lapdog clearly are supporting the violent attack by Black Lives Matter, Antifa and other left wing groups because they didn’t like who the protesters were – again, protesters with a permit. The organizer of the rally was later physically attacked at a press conference by a man proclaiming “free speech doesn’t protect hate speech.” Really? Think about that for a minute. Now Continue reading “Charlottesville: You’re Missing the Big Picture” →

Can You Have Too Many Guns?

Well of course not! Guns and Preppers go together like peanut butter and chocolate, or maybe beans and rice would be more appropriate, but I digress. Guns, yes, lots of guns; and I include myself in this fold as I have accumulated quite a few over the last couple of years and each with their own purpose. The problem we run into is which caliber or calibers of ammunition do you stockpile? Note: I recently purchased a little Ruger LCP2 .380 to carry on the trails when hiking, great little gun that fits the need, but certainly not the caliber I would choose to stockpile. No, unless you have an endless supply of money to spend on ammo, you must somehow narrow your focus down to just a couple of calibers. Now, if you want to create a firestorm of opinions, just ask what gun or guns would be best for a SHTF scenario – you will likely get 100 different opinions none of which might be appropriate for you. I have recently been faced with this dilemma and I wanted to take a few moments to share how we came to our decision and why (and yes yours will probably be different). Continue reading “Can You Have Too Many Guns?” →

Be a Better YOU than You Were Yesterday

With the current ‘crisis’ with N Korea, I’ve noticed quite a few people rushing to get their preps back in order (or least they say they are) but the need to rush out to buy supplies NOW means you’re probably not all that prepared. Now I imagine we have all been guilty from time to time (I know I have) of getting a little lax in our prepping routine. I know I have not been getting enough range time for sure, but I recently realized just how physically unprepared I really was. Being physically prepared is one of the most difficult Continue reading “Be a Better YOU than You Were Yesterday” →

What is the Weakest Link in Your Prep?

First of all, preparedness in not a race or a competition, nor is it the simple act of hoarding food, ammo or equipment. I participate in several online forums on the subject and all too often I see members bashing other members for their choices of supplies, lack of knowledge or where they are in their journey. Everyone has their own pace and their own priorities and that’s OK! Balance and steady progress are really the keys to truly being prepared. If you have 3 days worth of supplies in your home you’re better off than 95% of the country! Continue reading “What is the Weakest Link in Your Prep?” →