Why I Became a Prepper

Most of the population is not prepared for a disaster situation and I will admit I used to be one of them. I wasn't always attentive to my surroundings and the aware of the possibilities of our great country coming under attack.

When you think about it, it's easy to become reliant on the systems our government has put together for us. Electric, heat, food supply, clean water are all now necessary systems for the survival of the majority of US citizens.

US Congress once did a study and found that if the country were to lose the electrical grid, 98% of Americans would be dead within the first year because we wouldn't have access to food, water, medicine etc. You get the idea. 

I never thought about what would happen if those systems suddenly became interrupted. I never wondered what I would do if I couldn't drive down the road to the grocery store and replenish my food supply. Or what would happen if I turned on my faucet and no water came out. 

Disasters typically don't give us a heads-up that they're coming so that we can run to store and stock up on supplies. 

One day, I found the book Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse and began reading.

It's not my typical book, as I prefer to read non-fiction. Even though this book is fictional, there are many facts about survival tools and firearms that it's hard to classify it completely as fiction.

This book opened my eyes to not only the immediate dangers of a post-collapse America but also the threats that occur months down the road as vagrants and gangs try to survive by killing and stealing.

When the shit hits the fan, this book will be the number one reason that I will be ready.

How To Always Protect Yourself

News of mass shootings and terrorist attacks continue to increase and until people start standing up for themselves and stopping these individuals, we will proceed on this downward spiral.

 Keeping you and your family safe should be your number one priority everyday!

BE ALERT
Always be aware of your surroundings. Always! As humans, we are built for survival. Our senses are there to protect us and warn us of problems. Use them and always scan your immediate area for potential threats.

KNOW YOUR EXITS
Escaping a threat and seeking help is always the best option before attempting to stop the threat yourself. You can either end up hurting yourself or going to jail because you used unnecessary force. The Police are trained to stop threats and protect others.
If it's an option, always escape and seek help! Living to see another day is not a cowardice act.

DEFEND YOURSELF
When escape is not an option and you must defend yourself, your goal is now to incapacitate the threat so that you can escape and seek help. Let's talk about the multiple levels of self-protection.

Most states allow law-abiding citizens to obtain permits to legally carry a handgun for protection. I understand not everyone is comfortable carrying a gun around and that's ok. But before ruling this out, I would recommend going to your local firing range and getting comfortable through personal training with a gun instructor.

Keep in mind that pulling out a gun is the last form of self defense you ever want to employ. Many people have gone to jail because they used a firearm unnecessarily in a situation that didn't warrant the use of a gun for protection.

Another form of protection is carrying a folding tactical knife. Many businesses do not allow guns on their premises, so carrying a knife at least prevents you from being helpless if a situation arises. I highly recommend a TAC Force Assisted Opening Tactical Knife as the spring mechanism allows you to open the blade much faster.

Another great item to keep on hand is Pepper Spray. Pepper spray is a non-lethal form of self defense and it will incapacitate your attacker, whether human or animal. I always keep pepper spray on me when I'm walking my dogs to protect us from other dogs. I'd rather not use lethal force against an attacker if I have the option.

The last form of protection you have in your arsenal is hand-to-hand combat. I don't suggest this even if you're a highly trained in mixed martial arts. Again, your job is to get away from the threat as fast as possible and a street fight is rarely quick.

Do yourself a favor and always make sure you have some form of protection on your person at all times.

Keep on Prepping!