image credit abc7chicago.com

A veteran had his antique guns confiscated after returning from a visit with his therapist. Arthur Lovi, 72, has been embroiled in an expensive legal battle after Illinois police officers confiscated his guns after the therapist reported what she herself deemed “not a viable threat.”

Arthur Lovi’s counselor claims that during a therapy appointment the senior citizen veteran made a threat against another doctor who treated his now-deceased wife a decade ago. The Arlington Heights therapist informed local police officers about the alleged verbal threat as per established policies, but also noted that Lovi was not a danger to either himself or others.

Years ago Cindy Lovi was reportedly falsely diagnosed with having a simple cold by the allegedly threatened doctor; however, during an appointment with a different doctor the following day, Lovi’s wife was told that she actually had leukemia. The Illinois veteran’s wife died several weeks later. The grieving husband wondered if the lost day of treatment could have impacted her survival rate.

During an interview with a local media outlet, Arthur Lovi had this to say about his thoughts about the initial treating physician:

“I’ll have hard feelings about it until the day I die. Not that a day would make a difference, but maybe it would have. I’ll never know. I felt like [during the recent therapy session] the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I don’t start trouble, I don’t look for trouble, but if somebody starts it with me, I’m going to stand up for myself. That’s just the way I’ve always been.”

While discussing the very emotional issue with his therapist, the Illinois veteran also spoke in detail about a 1960s Air Force crash he was involved in that has haunted him to this day. Lovi also talked about the drug overdose death of his son-in-law and the drowning death of his three-year-old granddaughter during the same appointment. The painful life experiences are what led the veteran to speak to the therapist. He had been seeing a Veterans Administration psychiatrist as well.

Illinois police officers came to Arthur Lovi’s home after the phone call from the therapist and asked if he owned any weapons. The retired veteran told the officers that he had three antique guns, including a century-old musket. The veteran’s home is decorated with a plethora of antiques, including vintage telephones, tea kettles, and old kerosene lamps. The guns sat upon his fireplace and were kept unloaded out of safety concerns for his frequently visiting grandchildren.

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

Lovi also reportedly told the officers that he had never fired any of the weapons. The law enforcement officers left the property without incident, but the reprieve did not last for long.

The doctor who misdiagnosed Cindy Lovi’s cold was then contacted by the police about the alleged threat. The doctor stated that he did not believe that his safety was in imminent jeopardy from Arthur Lovi. The situation should have ended there – but it did not. Prior to midnight the same night, Lovi’s son answered a knock at the door and saw five police officers standing on the front porch.

Police officers maintain that Lovi voluntarily turned over his guns when asked, but the veteran feels that the antique firearms and his FOID card were confiscated. The incident spawned the filing of a civil rights violation lawsuit by the elderly man. The legal action was filed by Meyer & Kiss LLC, a Chicago-based law firm. In the lawsuit, Arthur Lovi detailed his version of a contentious conversation with the officers leading up to the gun confiscation.

Lovi claims the officers threatened to “tear up his home” if they were not permitted inside, but the police report referred to the homeowner as cooperative and gave up his guns voluntarily. Several days after the late night encounter, the Illinois veteran called the police station and an officer came to the home. According to the lawsuit, when the man’s deceased wife was brought up during the course of the conversation, the officer thought Lovi became too upset and deemed that a psychiatric examination was necessary. The veteran claims that he was told if he did not get into the ambulance willingly, he would be handcuffed and physically escorted into the waiting squad car. An excerpt from the Arlington Heights Police report detailing the incident reads:

“Lovi agreed to have the Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics respond to his residence and be transported to Northwest Community Hospital to speak with doctors there. Arlington Heights Fire Department responded and transported Lovi on a voluntary admission basis.”

Arthur Lovi’s attorney, Dan Kiss, had this to say about the gun confiscation:

“That’s an extreme abuse of power. It’s bad enough to come to someone’s house and take their guns. It’s another to get them effectively imprisoned under phony allegations of mental illness. We want a fair amount to compensate him for what he was put through. Not just the shock and embarrassment of police coming to his home without legal reason but also the direct attempt of police to try and have him civilly committed.”

The veteran was released the following day after treating doctors decided that the elderly man was not a danger to himself or others. Once Lovi had his release from the Northwest Community Hospital in hand, he went to the Arlington Heights Police Station to attempt to retrieve his antique guns and FOID card. The Illinois senior ultimately made a total of three trips to the same police station to regain possession of his property.

During one visit, he also took a letter from the therapist who reported the threat to the law enforcement officers. Lovi claims he was once told this his FOID card had been mailed to Springfield, which reportedly was later found to be untrue. Two months after the incident, the veteran utilized his NRA membership to find a law firm to help him foster the return of his guns and the FOID card.

The civil rights lawsuit alleged that one of the antique weapons was damaged and that both Lovi’s Second and Fourth Amendment rights had been violated. The civil litigation is ongoing and preliminary motions have been heard on several occasions. According to Arthur Lovi’s attorney, there have been settlement talks, but both parties remain very far apart from agreement.

IRS agents have been armed with AR-15s and are actively training to use the semi-automatic rifles, according to South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan. During a tour of the Maryland Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Training Facility, the Republican lawmaker witnessed IRS agents with AR-15s. The tour of the DHS facility was conducted as a part of Duncan’s investigation into the copious amounts of ammo the federal agency has been purchasing.

Representative Jeff Duncan recently shared the IRS AR-15s story with the American public via Twitter. Duncan’s tweets read:

“A few weeks ago when I toured a DHS facility I saw IRS agents training with AR-15s. I’m looking into the issue now. There are many reasons to ask why IRS needs heavy firepower. For one we’re 17 trillion in debt. Two, is it even appropriate? #PJNET”

During an interview with a WYFF News Channel 4, Jeff Duncan went on to note that he saw about nine shooters practicing at an indoor 100-yard range. The South Carolina Congressman was told that the shooters were IRS agents. The Republican also had this to say about the baffling discovery of armed IRS agents:

“Why do IRS law enforcement agents need standoff capability that you would have with a long rifle or with a weapon similar to an AR-15? They’re generally investigating tax evasion, fraud, and money laundering. We think of the IRS as an audit agency more than doing the type of law enforcement where they have to use an AR-15. While we were sitting there, the gentleman told them to sling their weapons and load a 30-round magazine into the AR-15s they were training with.”

If the IRS needs the assistance to bring a “tax villain” to justice, they have the services of a SWAT team and the FBI at their full disposal. There is no logical reason to spend taxpayer money training an unnecessary armed IRS force. Mark Green, a spokesman for the federal agency did confirm that agents do train at the Maryland facility. The IRS representative would not comment further on the matter, citing firearms training operations security dictates.

The Tea Party and other patriot groups targeted by the IRS will probably sleep a little less soundly now that they know their nameless reviewers might be very well-armed. Will the agents be ordered to use their stand-off capacity weapons against rowdy Obamacare protestors or folks who neglect to empty their pockets on tax day each year?

Everything You Need To Know To Keep Your Home And Family Safe.

Liberals argue that AR-15 rifles are military style weapons and should only be in the hands of soldiers. The Internal Revenue Service does have a law enforcement division, but the stated primary mission of the group is to serve the public by investigating possible tax code crimes – not exactly a “Dirty Harry” type career. The job description for the IRS law enforcement branch reads:

“A Career In Action! As an IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent, you will pull together your accounting and law enforcement skills. CI special agents are duly sworn law enforcement officers who investigate complex financial crimes associated with tax evasion, money laundering, narcotics, public corruption, and much more. Are You Ready For The Challenge? IRS special agents must follow strict procedures to initiate an investigation and recommend prosecution to the Department of Justice. These procedures include approval by several IRS officials to ensure investigations are based on factual evidence that tax fraud or another financial crime has occurred.”

According to IRS statutes, a special agent’s authority to carry a firearm is “implied” from the power to makes seizures and arrest as outlined in 26 USC7608b. The use of deadly force by IRS agents statute reads:

• Use of deadly force is permitted only when necessary and if in the considered opinion of the special agent, either the special agent or another person is in imminent danger of loss of life or serious physical injury.
• “Imminent” has a broader meaning than “immediate” or “instantaneous.”
• A subject may pose an imminent danger even if he/she is not at that very moment pointing a weapon at the agent.
• Deadly force may be used to prevent the escape of a fleeing subject if there is probable cause to believe the subject has committed a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical injury or death and the escape of the subject would put the special agent or others in imminent danger of serious physical injury or death.
• Special agents may direct deadly force against dogs or other vicious animals when necessary for self-defense or the defense of others.
• Special agents must conceal their handguns upon their persons, keeping them away from public view when conducting official business. However, special agents may display their handguns, if they feel it will relieve a threat against special agents or others.
• Warning shots are prohibited due to the risk they pose to innocent parties. In addition, warning shots can communicate to fellow agents/officers that the use of deadly force is warranted, leading to improper reactions.
• Special agents detailed and/or temporarily assigned to another Federal law enforcement agency, will follow the policies and guidelines promulgated by that agency (e.g., temporary Air Marshal, Secret Service details, etc.)
• Special agents detailed and/or assigned to multi-agency task forces will continue to follow IRS-CI policies and guidelines (e.g., JTTF, OCDETF, HIDTA, etc.)

Only terms like “intermediate weapons,” “weaponless control,” and use of handguns are used in posted duties and procedures manual – AR-15 style rifles are not noted at all. The vagueness of what actually constitutes imminent danger is more than a bit disconcerting. But the fact that the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice could potentially “call up” IRS agents for special assignment is outright frightening.

The checks and balances cleverly built into our governmental system are further eroded by such agent sharing. Another IRS criminal investigation statute notes that an agent’s authority and responsibility in respects to crimes committed outside the agency’s jurisdiction. The ongoing scandals surrounding the Obama administration has generated the highest level of government distrust since the Nixon administration. The co-mingling between federal agencies THAT could be called upon to one day investigate each other does not restore a shred of integrity to Barack Obama’s presidency.

Why does the IRS need such heavy firepower?youtu.be/TzHzqpNQNJ4 #PJNET #tcot

— Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) June 13, 2013

Do you own a master-of-all-trades weapon, a rifle with which you can take large and small game? How about one that can defend your family and home from an attacker or multiple attackers? Something accurate enough for long-range shooting, but something handy enough for close-range fighting?  A weapon you can carry with you without anyone knowing? If there is a weapon out there that can do all this, I want it, and I want it bad. Unfortunately, there isn’t a weapon I know of that has mastered all of these traits. A lot of weapons can be jacks-of-all-trades and can fit several of these requirements; however, they master even fewer of them, and even then probably not fill all of them.

You can what-if me all day with things like “my folding stock means I can fit it under my trench coat or in my duffle bag.” Well any guy in a trench coat is suspicious, and any gun in a duffel bag isn’t exactly on hand. So since we don’t have one gun to rule them all, we get the joy of justifying owning multiple guns to our significant other. If you can’t look at your spouse and say, “Honey, it’s for the zombies,” then why get married in the first place?

I’m going to give a rundown of the weapon types I think everyone should own for when things get tough or just to have in a respectable gun collection. Few of us need an excuse to own another weapon though. I’m simply listing broad types since the actual weapons will always be up to debate. The one thing these all need to have in common is a common and easy-to-find stockpile ammo. I love the 22-250 round. It’s expensive but common enough, so I don’t stockpile it. Now, the .308 is incredibly common, and surplus rounds are relatively affordable.

Number 1: Combat Rifle

This could be the most important firearm you could ever own. This rifle can be used for defense and hunting. With proper shot placement, even smaller rounds like the 5.56 are good for hunting medium game. This rifle should be magazine fed, semi-automatic, accurate out to a minimum of 300 meters, and chambered in a center-fire rifle cartridge.

The magazine should also be detachable to insure not only quick and easy reloads, but also because owning multiple magazines means one can break and you’ll have extras. The magazine should have a capacity of no less than twenty rounds, unless of course you live in a state that you need to vote the politicians out of. The weapon should feature dependable iron sights, and though not required, a quality optic should be able to be mounted. Rifles like the Browning BAR (not the machine gun) are a great hunting rifle, but a substandard battle rifle.

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

Your combat rifle will be your go-to gun when both four- and two-legged predators come calling. This rifle must be trusted and dependable. If you were only going to own one gun, this should be the one you own.

Examples: AR-15, AK47, M1A

Number 2:  Shotgun

A shotgun is an excellent hunting weapon that has been used by police and military for combat for over a hundred years. The application of a shotgun is limited due to its range, but up close you are unlikely to find a more devastating weapon. The different types of shot you can fire from this weapon really make it versatile though. Small game like squirrels and bird can be taken with birdshot, and the weapon can be instantly loaded with buckshot without any modification to take down medium game.

What kind of shotgun should you own? Here is the point I feel pretty flexible on. I prefer a pump-action like the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, as these weapons have proven to be tough and reliable. I really don’t see a problem with double barrels though, besides their limited self-defense aptitude. There are some great combat shotguns, like the Saiga and Benelli models, but their hunting applications are limited. Remingtons and Mossbergs both can very easily swap barrels and parts to be fine-tuned for hunting or defense.

Now what gauge? The 12 guage is great and my preferred caliber, but if you can’t handle it, then I suggest the 20 gauge. Anyone can handle a 20 gauge, and it’s powerful enough for most things. The best thing is to just have a good, dependable shotgun.

Examples: Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Stevens/Savage 511

Number 3: Handgun

A handgun is a niche weapon, but the niche is very important to fill. The handgun may be a backup weapon when wielding the rifle, but it’s also the ace in your pocket. A concealed handgun gives you an advantage when carrying a rifle openly isn’t a choice. A handgun is also a great choice when you’re doing day-to-day tasks where a rifle would just get in the way. A handgun is one of those weapons that is there to help you survive and fight your way to a rifle or out of a situation.

So what kind of handgun should you choose? The weapon should fire a center-fire cartridge, and I believe the minimum should be 9mm. The 9mm is a good fighting caliber, easy to handle for the majority of people including women and young adults. Now the debate between automatic and revolver is going to appear. This will be personal preference, and nothing I say will ever finish this battle.

I prefer the .45 ACP for my automatics and the .357 magnum for my revolvers. Both rounds have a history of being good man-stoppers. My personal preference and favorite gun is the 1911. Glocks, Smith and Wesson M&Ps, and Sigs are great modern choices as well.

The weapon should not be a little pocket pistol. The LC9 is a great gun for concealed carry during normal situations, but you may find yourself under gunned after the lights go out.

Examples: 1911, S&W M&P, Glocks

Number 4: Long-Range Rifle

This rifle ranks kind of low for the simple reason that your combat rifle can probably take care of this. The combat rifle may not be the master of long-range shooting, but it could fill the role in a pinch. Your long-range rifle should be capable of placing precision shots at a minimum of 600 meters; farther shooting will depend on your skill level. I feel 600 meters is easy for most people with a precision rifle and an optic.

The rifle should be chambered in a center-fire cartridge that is capable of taking down medium-to-large game. I prefer the 308 and 30-06; due to my location, I don’t need anything bigger like a 300 Winchester magnum. Choosing your caliber will be based off your needs for game and how far you can skillfully shoot.

I believe a bolt-action rifle fed from a detachable or internal magazine is optimum for this role. The rifle should have a scope mounted and be zeroed. A bipod is helpful and downright just nice to have when shooting from the prone.

Examples: Winchester Model 70, Remington 700, AR-30

Number 5: The Rimfire

A good rimfire rifle is incredibly handy. The small size of the rounds means hundreds can be carried without significant weight. The rounds are great for taking small game. They are also incredibly inexpensive and should be stocked up on prior to SHTF. In a defensive situation, it can be a last resort.

Keep Your Handgun Locked and Loaded, Ready For Instant Use – Without Fear Of An Accident!

I’d recommend a .22 long rifle over a .17 HMR or .22 magnum mainly because of availability and price. The weapon can be bolt, lever, or semi-automatic— it’s all the shooter’s choice. The same goes with magazine, single shot, or tube fed. A cheap scope on one of these is a force multiplier and perfect for short-range precision shot (ike a rabbit’s head).

Examples: Ruger 10/22, Marlin 60, Henry Lever Gun

These are the big five—that’s what I call them anyway. I believe owning these five weapons gives you options for a large variety of situations. There is also one more rifle that can prove it itself handy, but it no dramatic fashion.

Bonus Gun: Surplus Style

A surplus weapon is a handy weapon to have for a few reasons. For one, the ammo is probably readily available and inexpensive. Two, the weapon itself is probably cheap and in low demand. The surplus weapon can be handy as a backup rifle should you get low on ammo stores. The weapon can also be used to arm a trusted but ill-equipped neighbor or family member.  Surplus weapons are also amazingly durable, as most were built during a time when fighting was in trenches and hand-to-hand combat was commonplace.

This applies to both rifles and handguns; I haven’t seen any surplus shotguns in my life, but hey, if they show up, go for it. Most of these weapons are out of date when it comes to firepower and feature either a bolt action, a fixed magazine, or low-capacity magazines. A surplus weapon maybe handy, but it’s a maybe in most situations.

Examples: Mosin Nagant, SKS, Makarov

These are the weapons I keep for when things get tough. Having a variety of weapons helps when it comes to the expenditure of ammo, and multiple guns can fill multiple niches. Plus, who doesn’t like more guns?

image courtesy of KDRV-TV

An Oregon veteran had his AR-15 rifle confiscated and was charged with a crime after firing a warning shot at a felon attempting to break into his home. Corey Thompson, of Medford, was alerted to the attempted burglary when the wanted felon tried to enter the home through a back door around midnight.

The 36-year-old Iraq and Afghanistan veteran told the intruder that he was armed and was only going to give him one, and only one, warning shot. Jonathon Kinsella opted to flee after Corey Thompson fired his AR-15 rifle towards the ground. Kinsella was ultimately caught and arrested on outstanding warrants for both assault and burglary.

Thompson’s ordeal should have been over, but it was not. Medford, Oregon law enforcement officers ultimately decided the veteran was not justified when firing his weapon. Police Lt. Mike Budrea stated that nothing Jonathon Kinsella was doing could be construed as aggressive enough to validate the firing of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Oregon’s Castle Law does allow for citizens to use deadly force to protect their home and property.

A wanted felon with a record of assault crimes should have been construed as aggressive enough to warrant the self-defense acts of Thompson. While the Oregon war veteran could not have realized the long list of criminal charges which had been levied against Kinsella during the attempted break-in, he did know that a potentially armed intruder was trying to come through the door.

Corey Thompson had this to say about the gun confiscation during an interview with local news station, KDRV-TV:

“When I’m dealt with a stressful situation, being a veteran from both Iraq and the Afghanistan war, it’s natural. I just jump into combat mode. I told him, ‘I’m going to give you a warning shot.’ I can see where they’re [Medford police] coming from, with those kinds of ordinances and stuff. I understand yes, I did discharge my weapon but I was careful not to fire it at any body’s residence. It was at the ground specifically.”

The veteran’s AR-15 was immediately seized by the Medford Police Department. The law enforcement officers took the gun because they felt it had been used in the commission of a crime. Corey Thompson will only get his semi-automatic weapon back if the local judge throws the case out of court or if the Oregon man is found innocent. Corey Thompson was charged with the unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and reckless endangering.

Keep Your Handgun Locked and Loaded, Ready For Instant Use – Without Fear Of An Accident!

While Thompson understands the dangers which come with firing a weapon in the city, he does not agree with the charges levied against him or the AR-15 confiscation. Thompson also stated that when an individual decides to break into someone’s home, there are consequences. The Oregon veteran appears to rightly feel that the winding up on the wrong side of a gun was a choice made by Jonathon Kinsella.

Medford Police Department Lt. Mike Budreau had this to say about the gun confiscation and the charges levied against the Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran:

“They [bullets] just don’t hit something and absorb. Especially if it’s something with that high velocity. It could skip off of objects and wind up going into a house, through a wall, through a window.”

Lt. Budreau is correct that bullets fired towards the ground (or in any direction) could ricochet and harm property of a person. But, if Thompson aimed at the intruder and missed, the bullets could have just as easily hit an unintended target. Oregon’s Castle Doctrine includes a “Stand Your Ground” clause, meaning Thompson was not required to retreat before opting to use deadly or physical force.  The Oregon self-defense statute also states that when a citizen feels that another person is going to use deadly force against them, deadly force is permissible.

image courtesy of KDRV-TV

Corey Thompson had every right to believe that the man trying to break into his home could and would attempt to use deadly force against him. Therefore, the firing of a weapon was justified. The safe firing of the AR-15 was a reasonable response and the least amount of force the veteran could have used to thwart bodily harm. Perhaps if Thompson would have just used his military skills to fire a kill shot at Jonathon Kinsella, he would not be facing criminal charges and would still have possession of his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Oregon is also an open carry state. Cities and counties within the state are not allowed to approve gun laws which are more restrictive on Second Amendment rights than existing state law. A gun range law also protects firing ranges from proposed municipal ordinances which are deemed more restrictive than state law. Oregon is largely viewed as a pro-gun state, making the actions of the Medford Police Department even more difficult to comprehend.

The Oregon Supreme Court was presented with a self-defense law case in 1982. The court was tasked with deciding whether or not the use of deadly force provision also imposed a duty to first attempt to retreat when faced with a self-defense scenario. Prior case law sated that in a civilized system of law, the supreme value of life must be noted and taken only in conditions when such force was absolutely necessary. The court ultimately decided that citizens did need to attempt to retreat and only use deadly force when there was no opportunity for escape.

The court opted to reverse itself in 2007. The justices termed the analysis in the case, “distinctly odd.” The Oregon Supreme Court decided that the intent of the legislation was not to mandate that citizens try to retreat before using deadly force when faced with imminent danger.

Although the clarification in Oregon’s Castle Doctrine and “Stand Your Ground” law makes the rights of citizens to protect themselves crystal clear, Corey Thompson still had his AR-15 confiscated. Police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities every single day. These brave men and women should be heralded for their efforts. But, the subjective and erroneous manner in which the Medford police officers chose to apply the Castle Law in the Corey Thompson case was just plain wrong. Since Jonathon Kinsella was attempting to break into the home, the veteran would have been justified with using deadly force; instead, he chose to give the criminal a chance to reconsider his illegal career choice. Thompson does not deserve to face criminal charges or be minus his weapon.

I’m amazed sometimes when I talk to fellow preppers how they prep for everything up to and including Armageddon. That’s great and I’m all about it, but then those same people don’t have a pair of jumper cables in their car. That’s a basic everyday “prep” for me since my battery could go dead any day. Then again, how many people have a small gas can in their vehicle? The tools to change a flat? A spare tire at all? What about a gun?

Yeah, I put a gun up there with all the necessary equipment I drive with. I’m much more likely to use a gun outside my home than anywhere, that’s why I carry concealed right? Well not all situations can be handled by my snub-nose .38 or my LC9, so I carry my truck gun.

I have known about the idea of a truck gun for as long as I can remember. I never called it a truck gun, however. To me, it was just the gun in the truck. My father, for as long as I can remember, kept a shotgun in his truck, especially during hunting season. His logic was that, God forbid, he be out doing something and run across a trophy buck without a gun. We lived in the middle of nowhere, so a gun in a gun rack in a truck was never a big deal. We had a lot of property with a lot of horses and more than once we got a call that our horses were being chased by dogs or even brave coyotes. That shotgun in the truck was enough to dispatch or at least frighten away the predators.  I never thought about the other reasons to have a good truck gun until I was older.

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

So why do I have my truck gun if I carry concealed already? Am I paranoid or something? You’re damn straight I am. Hey, it’s healthy though (although, not so much for my blood pressure, but I digress). I carry an additional weapon for a few reasons. In the Marines we are taught a pistol is for fighting your way back to a long gun. I never plan on being in a situation where my pistol can’t handle it, but what I plan and what happens is hardly ever the same. I don’t think of a pistol or any handgun as a truck gun.

I like having access to a long gun anywhere I am; you never know when the proverbial *&%$ will hit the fan. The long gun and a little bit of ammo can go a long way to helping you get to your main preps. In a defensive scenario, if you get the chance to get your long gun, why wouldn’t you? If you live in a very rural area like I do, you may run afoul of some nasty little critters. A load of birdshot does wonders for a rattlesnake. Where I came from, killing rattlesnakes on the back roads was a community service for your neighbors. Plus you never know when that trophy buck will cross your path.

Weapon choice

So what weapon should you be carrying in your truck? Well like always, it’s user preference, based on what you’re capable with, your environment, and of course the laws in your area. As I said before, it should be a long gun, capable of being shoulder fired. In my opinion, that pistol grip shotgun isn’t incredibly useful.

So what are you using it for—purely defense or SHFT? An AR is great if you live in the country. The weapon is perfect for medium range shots, especially for pest removal as well, and there’s no reason to get too close to coyotes. It can hunt as well, and it’s is more than capable of defensive purposes.

A shotgun or pistol caliber carbine is a great choice, and both are good for folks in more urban settings. The Kel Tec Sub 2000 is an awesome little rifle. It folds in half in front of the pistol grip for convenient storage. Chambered in 9mm or 40 S&W, the weapon accepts Glock, Beretta, and Smith and Wesson magazines. Throw in a .33 round Glock mag and you have some fire power for a rainy day. The weapon is very lightweight as well, easy to use no matter your size, woman or man. Older folks would appreciate the ease of use, light weight, and low recoil.

A shotgun is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. Shotguns work well for self-defense and hunting. Shotguns are capable of taking small and large game, as well as getting rid of pests without any worry of the rounds going astray. Slugs can extend the range quite a bit and deliver some serious knock down power.

How To Defend Yourself And Your Family Against The New Breed Of Lowlife Criminal Scum

Bolt guns are excellent long-range weapons, dependable, and perfect for self-defense. Accuracy from a bolt gun doesn’t get much better. It’s perfect for taking game and I’ve said it before, you’re going to be hungry more than in combat in a SHTF situation. A bolt action complimented by a good handgun can be a formidable duo.  An old Mosin is cheap enough to be beat around without worrying about it.

The .22 LR has its own category, be it bolt, semi-automatic, level, or whatever. The small caliber, lightweight weapon is similar to the shotgun in that it does a lot of things, but doesn’t do anything perfect. The small bullets mean you can carry a ton of them, and .22s are usually quite affordable. So it can be a beater without worry. A .22 can be used for defense and hunting, but there are calibers that do both better.

My truck gun is a Hatsan Escort shotgun. It was a cheap 12 gauge that works and handles amazingly. It is a solid shotgun that sits comfortably in a canvas case in my trunk or in the gun rack of my truck. I keep a variety of loads, a box of birdshot, some double-aught buckshot, and a dozen slugs. I’m prepped for fighting, hunting, and pest removal.

I like a shotgun for all the above reasons as well as my comfort with a shotgun. I was raised with a shotgun and the manual of arms is muscle memory to me. A shotgun also raises few questions if, for whatever reason, the police pull me over and ask about the gun in my rack. Shotguns are common for hunting and sporting purposes, enough that they don’t raise suspicion.

How to Carry a Truck gun

I pack my truck gun differently for each vehicle, as I mentioned. In the truck, it goes on the rack, and it gets locked to that rack and the rack is locked to my truck seats with pad and cable locks. Smashing my windows and trying to snatch my gun will get you nowhere besides a jail cell. The gun isn’t easy to access right away because that’s what my concealed is for.

In my car, the weapon is in a case and shoved all the way to the back of my trunk. I can access it through my car after pulling the seat down. Again, it’s slow, but I like being able to access it both inside and outside of my car.

I feel both of these ways of carrying are safe and responsible. The weapons stay clean and away from the normal gunk in my car and truck. They can’t be accessed without a key or combination. I do keep them loaded with an empty chamber. I never, ever, even for second, leave my kid in the truck with the gun in the rack—even if I’m just checking the mail. For ammo, I carry a bandolier of 20 buckshot and 12 slugs, and then a 25 round box of number 6 birdshot. The ammo usually sits in the trunk or behind my truck seat.

So the truck gun is an easy concept and a gun is probably carried by more people than jumper cables. I simply believe you should never leave home without a long gun if it can be helped.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy compared gun-control opponents to those who once supported segregation in the South.

The Democratic senator (did I really even need to note that this man is a liberal?) was discussing states that are considering nullifying pending federal gun laws with Rachel Maddow of MSNBC when he uttered the ridiculous comparison. When the lead in to the Second Amendment segment states, “Gun rights radicals embrace paranoia over American majority,” you already know a fair and informative discussion is out of the realm of possibility.

Senator Murphy spent quite a bit of time expanding upon the conditions which the Second Amendment carries, noting in multiple ways the limitation which he feels can be imposed on the constitutional right. He stated that the Second Amendment was not designed to allow average citizens to arm themselves against the government, citing both the Whiskey Rebellion and the Shay Rebellion during the interview segment.

The Connecticut Democrat also had this to say about the Second Amendment:

“I mean, let’s look at the context of nullification. Nullification was last used by Southern states to try to eviscerate civil rights legislation, to try to prevent states from basically enforcing desegregation and frankly, I think history will look back on this round of nullification as kindly as it did on the last round.”

Gun-control advocates really seem to believe early polls that claimed 90 percent of Americans want to infringe upon Second Amendment rights. As Mark Twain so aptly put it, there are lies, damned lies, and then there are statistics. Answers to gun control questions may very largely depend upon what part of the country a person lives (rarely does anyone outside of a major metro area actually get asked to participate in polls) except for a few times during a presidential campaign.

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

Two recent gun-control polls conducted by the Wall Street Journal and USA Today indicate that support for weapons legislation has slipped dramatically in the past month. The USA Today poll shows gun control favorability below 50 percent. The recent Wall Street Journal poll puts support for new gun control laws at 55 percent. Both of the recent surveys only posed the Second Amendment question to about 1,000 people. Citing support for a public policy mandate which impacts constitutional rights on so few poll participants is irresponsible.

Which polls are the most accurate will never truly be known. The changes in figures illustrates either just how quickly opinions change or how widely different mindsets are when different folks are asked the exact same question. Perhaps accurate information about how background checks, a gun ban, and magazine capacity restrictions will do absolutely nothing to reduce gun violence influenced participants’ answers.

Senator Chris Murphy also feels that states threatening nullification of federal gun laws do not really understand the “true nature” of the Second Amendment. If Murphy honestly feels that those opposed to the Civil Rights battle to obtain equal rights for all Americans are similar to the individuals fighting to keep existing rights, he is the one who does not truly understand the Second Amendment.

Murphy also had this to say to MSNBC about the right to bear arms:

“The Second Amendment is not an absolute right, not a God-given right, always had conditions upon it like the First Amendment has. The idea that the Second Amendment was put in there in order to allow citizens to fight their government is insane. If that was the case, we wouldn’t have also included treason in the United States Constitution. We basically said if you take arms up against the government, we’re going to knock your block off.”

According to Murphy, those who voted against gun control on the Senate floor are cowards. The Connecticut politician noted the grief of Newtown families when lamenting the failure of gun control initiatives. The entire nation mourned the senseless loss of life at Sandy Hook Elementary and it is not difficult to understand the daily anger and overwhelming sadness those families are forced to endure.

The desire to do something to prevent another such tragedy is felt by both liberals and gun owners alike. However, the two diverge on the topic when proposed legislation which will do nothing to prevent another slaughter also infringes upon Second Amendment rights. Washington, D.C. and Chicago have the toughest gun control laws in the county, and the highest murder and gun-related robbery rates.

A weapons ban or additional background checks will only create more hurdles for law-abiding gun owners; criminals will still get their hands on firearms, just like they always have. As gun-control dictates have increased over the past 50 years, so have murders and mass shootings. The gun violence problem is directly related to the breakdown of the family, reduced moral fiber, and overall cultural decay in America. Controversial Libertarian author Charles Murray accurately diagrams the connection between societal expectation fluctuations, the growing crime rate, and government dependency in his best-selling books.

The Connecticut Senator is not the only public figure making comparisons between incidents in the South over five decades ago and the ongoing Second Amendment rights battle of today. Tom Brokaw recently had this to say about the fight for desegregation and gun control:

“It reminds me a lot of what happened in the South in the 1960s during the civil rights movement. Good people stayed in their houses and didn’t speak up when there was carnage in the streets and the total violation of fundamental rights of African-Americans as they marched in Selma, and they let Bull Connor and the redneck elements of the South and the Klan take over their culture in effect and become the face of it. And all these component parts claim it’s not their responsibility. NRA says it’s not about the guns. It’s about violence. It’s about mental health. Mental health people say we can’t share information because we have privacy issues here. The video game industry says we have a right under the First Amendment.”

The liberal-leaning journalist is just one of the members of the media who is always willing to name-call and poke fun of rural and Southern Americans, having no qualms about referring to this group of individuals as “rednecks.” Reporters who have bent over backwards to make sure to use only politically correct language when reporting on the Boston bombing suspects often have difficulty concealing their disdain when talking about the NRA and gun owners.

The growing cultural divide between liberals and those who cherish the Constitution shows no signs of being resolved soon; the Second Amendment fight is just one example of how the two groups simply cannot find any common ground.

The word tactical gets thrown out a lot these days when the discussion comes to firearms and prepping. Tactical rifles, tactical knives, tactical gear, and tactical bacon—the list goes on and on. So what is tactical? Do I need to be tactical? Tactical is defined as “relating to or constituting tactics.” So your tactical gear should resolve around your tactics. Tactical is a mindset, not an accessory. As a prepper, your tactical mindset is to survive.

So before buying tactical gear out the whiz wang, you need to examine how your planning suits the situation. Also, how does your prepping budget fit in with your tactical budget? All too often you see new preppers focusing so much on guns and gear that they lack in other departments. Weapons and ammo are very important to have, don’t get me wrong. However, in all reality, you are going to find yourself hungry and thirsty more often than you will find yourself in combat.

The idea of a tactical lifestyle is to be balanced in all forms of living a life after the lights go out. As much as it pains this grunt to say this, guns and grunts win battles, logistics wins wars. The “war” you are going to find yourself in is a war for food, water, and safety. Balancing your budget to appropriately provide the food, water, and safety is critical. You can die from bullet wounds in battle and you can die from dehydration in your day-to-day life.

This is a self-defense article though, so I won’t go over how you can prep for food and water. However, I will go over a proper way to be well-equipped and save a little more of your budget for other things. I’m not trying to insult and tell you this is the only way to do things, but it is a very viable way to do things. People like to base their gear on what the military or police use and why not? Police and military are often the experts on what’s tactical and what works. The problem is, we aren’t police or military.

A big portion of planning the tactical lifestyle is trying to understand what the world will really be like in a SHTF situation. The world will not be a friendly place and will be without rule of law—we know this. You plan your tactics around this, but planning how to win a fight and how to survive are two different things. Military and police plan to win the fight; we should plan to survive. This does involve putting some pride away and focusing on what is important. You can’t always be the hero or the victor. Flush that notion away right now.

How To Defend Yourself And Your Family Against The New Breed Of Lowlife Criminal Scum

Your goal should be to be the survivor. With that in mind, I’m going to go over some tactical gear and show you some alternatives that both make sense and are much more budget friendly.

Carrying enough ammo to reload your weapon is critical in a survival situation. Even in a day-to-day operation, carrying a reload or two for your concealed handgun is highly advised. We are going to start with ammo and gear.

If your main battle rifle is going to be a semi-automatic modern rifle, then of course you’re going to need magazine pouches, which is something you really can’t avoid. Magazine pouches are the best choice, obviously. The question here is, how do you carry the magazine pouches? How do you carry a small, but necessary medical kit? What about other important gear like knives, compasses, and the gear you may need for day-to-day survival. Well, I know of a few ways.

Plate Carriers/LBVs

In the last few years, plate carriers have replaced the heavy, burdensome flak jackets used in the Iraq wars. Their smaller size and weight have made our troops both more maneuverable and have increased the soldiers’ ability to operate. Plate carriers are awesome pieces of gear for police and military because they match their tactics.

For civilians, they are a sturdy platform to mount gear on. Most civilians do not own plates and the main function of a plate carrier is defeated. Some plate carriers do have soft body armor capable of stopping most handgun and shotgun rounds. There are much lighter options for body armor that protect against the same rounds though.

Plate carriers act almost like sweatshirts though. They will quickly become uncomfortable and you will sweat your butt off even without plates. If you are planning on buying 2 to 4 plates for it. you’re more than doubling its weight. Plates are great for a home defense, fortress type. They’re also heavy, fragile, and incredibly expensive.

LBVs or “load bearing vests” are similar to plate carriers and a better option, but not the best. A load bearing vest offers no protection, but supplies the same mounting system for ammo and gear. LBVs are much more comfortable than plate carriers and LBVs are, on average, much cheaper. An LBV is simply a nylon vest with a Molle or PALs system to hold gear.

My biggest problem with either of these set ups is the fact they make you stand out. In a survival situation, evasion is your best option. Wearing one of these makes you instantly stand out. Put yourself into the mind of a predator and what do you see? Possibly someone better prepared with a cool vest with all that gear hanging off it. You can just wait until you get an opportunity to take the guy out, and then take their gear. You don’t have to come at their front or on their rules. None of that gear will save them from a shotgun blast to the legs.

“Batman” Belts

The ability to blend in and disappear is the best tactic the Taliban, mujahedeen, and various insurgents have. You should adopt this tactic. Appearing non-threatening is much different than being non-threatening. So how can you carry your gear and ammo?

I prefer the belt option. Tactical belts featuring a MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) or PAL (Pouch Attachment Ladder) System have actually become incredibly popular with infantrymen. Marines often call them “Batman belts” as a term of affection. These belts are easy to access and are capable of carrying an impressive payload. They make climbing in and out of vehicles easier. The same goes with movement in building and tight locations. Gear hanging off vests is often sticking out several inches from the body; belts hold them much tighter. They are perfect for an IFAK (individual First Aid Kit). No matter where you mount your IFAK, you can access it by simply taking off your belt. Perfect if an arm is hurt.

Keep Your Handgun Locked and Loaded, Ready For Instant Use – Without Fear Of An Accident!

Plus, these belts can be concealed by a baggy shirt or stashed in a backpack until you need them. They are very easy to pull and strap on. A creative individual could even strap it on cross-body and cover it with a shirt for a desperate situation. If necessary, it takes only a second to strip it off and leave behind.

Bandoliers and Surplus

For shotguns and revolvers, a good old bandolier is perfect. A MOLLE-attaching shotgun pouch that holds 25 rounds costs $30; a 55-round bandolier cost $9—see what I’m getting at? The same thing works well for lever and bolt action rifles like 30-30s, revolver caliber lever guns, and Mosin Nagants. These are easy to conceal and stash if necessary.

If a surplus weapon is your main battle rifle, then surplus gear works wonders for it. Do you need anything besides a few simple pouches to carry Mosin rounds on stripper clips? The actual Mosin Nagant Soviet pouches are perfect. The M1 Garand Belts are another awesome piece of gear that gets overlooked. You don’t look dangerous or too intimidating with surplus rifles and gear. You also don’t look like a target to waste time on.

Investigate into your surplus weapon a little, dig up its history,and you’re bound to find the gear that was used with it. Surplus gear can be had for nearly pennies.

Leg Rigs

To the outside observer, these things sure look cool holding handguns or even magazines. However, every Marine I have ever known who has been in Afghanistan and used a leg rig have all agreed they are a great concept but a terrible idea. First off, anything strapped to your leg is going to be uncomfortable and is going to chafe. Next, should you have to cross any water, you have to remove them and juggle them with your main weapon.

Sure, drawing a handgun from a leg rig is fast and easy, but good luck concealing that. A waist holster is as easy as putting a shirt over it. A Blackhawk Serpa waist holster costs about half of what the Black Hawk leg rig does. Pulling a magazine for a reload from the leg rig is uncomfortable and clumsy. Four fully loaded magazines hanging off your legs are going to be heavy and a hassle.

Weapon’s Gear

Before you buy any optics, you should be fully proficient with iron sights. Optics go down—iron sights are simpler and more reliable. A pair of back-up iron sights should be installed on your rifle as well. Optics should be the first thing on your weapon, with a pair of irons as backups.

Next, I’ve said this before and so won’t go too deep—you should focus on making your weapon more durable and easier to handle, such as a better charging handle on your AR-15. You can install better triggers, and more durable pins and springs. Invest in high quality magazines, focusing on quality over quantity. A sling should be the next item. Then you can focus on accessorizing and adding lasers and flashlights.

So that is a few things in the gear section of a survival tactical lifestyle to consider. Tactics are tactics and should be bound to your survival plan, not the gear you carry. Focus on learning what you carry, abusing it, and making sure you can depend on it.

A North Carolina teenager who walks around his neighborhood packing a rifle on his shoulder is making at least one non-gun owning resident very nervous. John Schultz, 19, is from a military family and carries his grandpa’s WWII 303 British Enfield to help protect the area. The Charlotte teenager also wears a bullet-proof vest, packs a knife in a holster, and carries some extra ammo in a vest pocket.

While walking around the Walnut Creek neighborhood, the rifle-toting teenager also picks up trash and has spotted several Peeping Toms and would be robbers. When Schultz encountered those who may have been planning on committing a crime in the area, they ran away when they saw his rifle. He walks varying routes around Sunset Road to get some exercise while watching out for those who live near him.

Although some of the neighbors thank John Schultz for helping to keep the north Charlotte area safe, others are not thrilled with the teenager’s decision to exercise his Second Amendment rights. Resident Vanessa Aidara registered her calm, yet very firm opposition, to Schultz’s armed neighborhood watch habits. The woman told NBC affiliate WCNC News that the rifle scares her children and they no longer want to play out in their yard.

Vanessa Aidara also had this to say during the interview:

“It’s a problem and a concern. He could be good without the rifle. The rifle is what scares everybody because why do you need a rifle to pick up trash, get a trash bag. Let the police take care of that [crime] not you.”

The unhappy neighbor called the police department the first time she spotted John Schultz walking around the neighborhood armed. She said that she had a panic attack and did not know what was going on outside. She also told local reporters that the Charlotte teenager could be an “incident of vigilante justice” just waiting to happen. Aidara also feels that Schultz could ultimately become a target for violence himself.

Keep Your Handgun Locked and Loaded, Ready For Instant Use – Without Fear Of An Accident!

John Schultz maintains that Aidara has not ever wanted to talk to him and believes that if she did, she would feel differently about his actions. Vanessa’s plea for the armed neighborhood trash collection and safety walks to stop was denied by the civic-minded young man.

Instead of giving into her irrational fears, Aidara should simply have a chat with Schultz. Looking out the window and seeing someone carrying a rifle and wearing a bullet-proof vest would surely be a startling sight, but now that she is aware of his intentions, such fears should have long since subsided. There may very well be multiple neighbors walking around the area with a concealed firearm; Schultz is simply displaying his weapon in a manner which will obviously serve as a deterrent to others.

Fortunately for Schultz, his reception for local police officers was far better than that a veteran in Texas recently endured. Charlotte police officers stated that the teenager is not breaking any laws because he is not threatening anyone with his gun or pointing it at any individuals. North Carolina is an open carry state.

As previously reported by Off The Grid News, Army Master Sgt. C.J. Grisham was arrested for “rudely displaying” his weapon during a walk with his son. Grisham did not brandish his weapon and was merely walking along a rural road documenting his son’s Eagle Scout project. Texas is also an open carry state, but Grisham is still fighting charges stemming from the incident – none of which are gun related.

The ammo shortage in America appears to be getting far worse. A police department in at least one state put out an all-call to residents for bullets. Proctor, Minnesota Police Chief Walter Woberg was told that his officers would have to wait about eight months to fulfill an order of just 1,000 40-caliber rounds.

Chief Woberg has sent letters to Minnesota Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuhar asking for some type of action to be taken to thwart the ongoing ammo shortage in the United States. As previously reported by Off The Grid News, the Department of Homeland Security has stockpiled unprecedented amounts of ammunition over the past year. No patriotic American would begrudge agents tasked with protecting the country with all the bullets necessary to do their jobs. But, those sitting in an office in positions of authority appear at least extremely greedy and unconcerned about the training and protection needs of police officers and typical American gun owners.

The Minnesota police chief in dire need of ammunition for his officers had this to say about asking for the loan of bullets from citizens:

“The citizens were like, ‘If you need something, we got plenty here.’ I had several other calls from other citizens that said, ‘Hey, if you need more ammunition we have plenty.’ I know that if I need ammunition, I have citizens out there that will gladly come forward.”

While the support for the Proctor Police Department is commendable, the law enforcement agency should not have to turn to the taxpayers to garner bullets. Residents should also not have to feel that their town will go unprotected and officers’ lives be endangered if privately owned ammo is not shared. After all, the residents face at least the same ammunition purchasing delays as the police department, if not more. Chief Woberg will replace all ammo given to the department once his order is fulfilled, but eight months is an awful long time to be half-stocked with ammo should civil unrest prompted by a man-made or natural disaster occur.

The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly planning to purchase 750 million more rounds in the near future; 360,000 of those rounds are for hollow point bullets. The federal agency already bought 2 billion bullets over the course of the past year. Republican Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe feels that the President Barack Obama’s administration is attempting to deprive others of ammo and “dry up the market.”

Senator Inhofe had this to say about the ammo purchasing habits of the Department of Homeland Security:

“We have in this country, the Second Amendment, that preserves the right to keep and bear arms, and the president doesn’t believe in that. President Obama has been doing everything he could to stop the private ownership of guns in America. Yet he’s been voted down in a big way by a large majority, and so my feeling is that he’s doing this to buy up [ammunition] so honest, law-abiding citizens here in the United States, like my son, can’t even buy ammunition because government is purchasing so much.”

Richard Duarte, author, attorney, and firearms expert said, “We are often told by a number of elected officials that private citizens don’t need guns since a well-armed police force is there to protect them. To learn that a Minnesota police department is finding it necessary to ask citizens for ammunition seriously undermines the credibility of those officials who would have us give up our rights and our firearms on the unrealistic expectation that we can rely on others for our protection.”

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

When testifying in front of Congress recently, the chief procurement officer at the Department of Homeland Security denied allegations the agency was stockpiling ammo, but did confirm that the open orders of huge proportions had been submitted. According to Senator Inhofe’s statistics, the number of bullets currently on order by the DHS is three times the amount used by our military for defense training.

Oklahoma Senator Inhofe also had this to say when voicing concerns about the ongoing ammo shortage:

“I believe its intention [ammo orders] is just another effort to restrict gun activity and ownership. This has never happened in this country before. We’ve never had government trying to take that much control at the expense of law-abiding citizens. And we’re not going to let it happen.”

Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security issued a marketing survey asking gun companies if they would be able to provide 2 million rounds of bullets in a short time period. The DHS release has furthered concerns about ammunition stockpiling by the federal agency.

An excerpt from the DHS release reads:

“The purpose of this sources sought notice is to determine how the Government requirements can be met. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia is anticipating a purchase of Reduced Hazard Training Ammunition (RHTA) for multiple caliber types for use in the training programs for the FLETC sites. This applies to frangible and non-frangible projectiles. FLETC has a requirement for RHTA training ammunition of multiple calibers strictly for law enforcement officer training purposes at multiple training sites in the United States.”

Types of ammunition included in the Department of Homeland Security availability survey

• 9 MM Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 90 -105
• 10MM Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 100-135
• .357 SIG Caliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 100-115
• .38 SPL Caliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 110-
• .380 Auto Caliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 70-75
• .40 S&W Caliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 100-135
• .45 Auto Caliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 155-
• .223 REM aliber Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 50-55
• .308 WIN Caliber Jacketed, Reduced Hazard; 165-168
• 12 Gauge Steel Shot Target Load, Reduced Hazard; #7
• 12 Gauge #00 Buckshot Full Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 8 PELLET
• 12 Gauge #00 Buckshot Reduced Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 8 PELLET
• 12 Gauge #00 Buckshot Full Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 9 PELLET
• 12 Gauge #00 Buckshot Reduced Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 9 PELLET
• 12 Gauge Rifled Slug Full Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 1 OZ
• 12 Gauge Rifled Slug Reduced Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 1 OZ
• 12 Gauge #4 Buckshot Full Recoil, Reduced Hazard, Frangible; 27 PELLET
• 12 GAUGE #4 Buckshot Reduced Recoil, Reduced Hazard; 27 PELLET

Most of the ammunition on the Department of Homeland Security list is already difficult to find. Many gun stores and even mega-retailers like Walmart, have almost-empty ammunition shelves. Purchasing limits placed upon the number of boxes purchased are becoming more and more common.

Senator Inhofe’s Ammunition Management for More Obtainability Act (AMMO ) legislation is still pending in Congress. If passed, the AMMO Act would not limit ammo purchased by the Department of Defense but would prevent ICE and DHS from stockpiling more bullets than used by the agencies than averagely held between 2001 and 2009. The bill would give the Government Accountability Office the authority to inventory weaponry used by all departments other than the DOD.

How do you feel about ammo shortage in America?

The Resistance Arms team has more than two decades of machining and firearms experience. All of the staffers at the company have taken an oath to create and sell only quality American made weapons while focusing on the preservation of the freedoms and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The continued attacks on Second Amendment rights in the wake of the tragic Sandy Hook shooting has not deterred the AK-47 rifle company from its stated goal.

The rifle was one of the first assault rifles of the “Second Generation” after the German StG 44. The AK-47 was first developed in Russia by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The weapon is officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova. The slang term for the rifle in the USSR is “Kalash.”

Design work on the AK-47 began in 1945, the last year of World War II. The weapon was offered for official military review in 1946. The fixed-stock and final version of the AK was presented to select units within the Russian Army in 1948. The rifle was finally accepted for use by the entire Soviet armed forces in 1949.

Off The Grid News recently sat down with Resistance Arms to discuss the manufacture of AK-47s in the United States.

OTG: AK-47s are not currently made in America. Once Resistance Arms is fully up and running, customers will be able to purchase either an AK-47 or a kit. What prompted you to begin creating a company to manufacture the weapons?

RA: We have had a “love affair” with the AK-47 rifle since childhood. Having seen it in every action movie or television show since we can remember, it was just something that stuck around. Mind you, it was introduced to the public as a weapon of communism and most people never really put much thought into its true capability. Sadly, the AK-47 is usually in the hands of our enemies, but we feel it has a place within the law abiding American citizen’s collection.

Resistance Arms has been in the planning stages for some time, but with the recent attempts to sidestep our Second Amendment rights, we have decided to move forward and we are asking the people to help us get operational in a short amount of time.

Once we have reached our goal with our current funding campaign, we will be able start producing our rifle kits. Our kits are a unique design—they are not a copy of the current imported parts we are seeing today. These kits will be interchangeable with the various receivers and barrels that enthusiasts normally use.

OTG: Please share the history of AK-47s and MAKs in relation to purchasing in the United States.

RA: The Kalashnikov rifle was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and the platform has been in production since the late 1940s. It was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1949. Since then it has been battle-proven in many conflicts around the world. Many countries such as China, Egypt, and Romania have manufactured their own variants of the original design.

The estimated number of Kalashnikov platform weapons that have been produced since the late 1940s is around 70 to 100 million. But the exact number are unknown. Currently there is leftover surplus from overseas that is being imported into the US, and this is where enthusiasts are obtaining their kits from.

OTG: Have you faced opposition from the gun control lobby, or liberals in general, during the planning and licensing stages for Resistance Arms?

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

RA: Since we are a new business, we have yet to really experience any issues. We have had some positive feedback via word of mouth. Currently, we are in the process of obtaining our federal licensing, so we are adhering to all the requirements in order to be compliant.

OTG: Considering the continued attempts to ban so-called assault weapons like the AR-15 and high capacity magazines, is time of the essence to begin the production and selling of the AK-47 rifles and the kits?

RA: Absolutely! It has been reported that President Obama may use executive powers to ban the importation of weapons, parts, and ammunition. We feel this is in response to the weapons ban being defeated, so we must become proactive and produce parts so there will not be any lag in the supply chain. This will also help us become less dependent on importation from other countries who really don’t have a good relationship with the U.S., while at the same time growing our economy.

OTG: The attacks from the left on our Second Amendment rights have prompted some gun manufacturers to switch banks and relocate from states where they have created jobs for years. Have you experienced any funding hurdles or backlash from local officials?

RA: This is definitely a real problem. We have experienced what is being reported. We have approached a few financial institutions and in one instance, we were blatantly turned away. I see this as a trend that will gain steam in all aspects of the firearms industry.

OTG: You are utilizing a crowd-funding source to help garner financial backing for Resistance Arms. What does this process entail and how can eager AK-47s fans contribute?

RA: This is new to us as well. We actually have seen that crowd funding has been very successful for companies across the board. The process is quite simple—you choose the package you like and submit the funds. We will receive a list of who ordered what and we fulfill those orders. Packages range from donors being recognized on our site for their contribution, to multiple AK-47 rifle kits and one of our stylish t-shirts. We expect to have most of the kit orders filled within the first 90 days after we receive the funding. This, of course, depends on the amount of our initial orders. But we will have all orders met within six months; we will work around the clock to make good on our promise. With our team of highly experienced machinists eager to begin production, our move-in and calibration time will be minimal.

We felt this may be an avenue to not only fund our machines, but to also allow folks to be involved in this campaign. As you can see, one of our company’s mottos is “By the people, for the people.” As this was in President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, we feel Resistance Arms will be a company built by the people. Naturally, the idea of crowd funding goes hand in hand with our mission.

OTG: Where will Resistance Arms be located and how has the idea been received in the region?

RA: We will be based out of Fort Mill, South Carolina. It has honestly been a mixed bag. There are some folks who think we don’t fit in the area. This is why we have been low key on our exact location. But there have been folks who are cheering us on, so we really can’t complain.

OTG: How will making the AK-47s solely in America be a benefit to gun owners?

RA: Our production of kits and rifles will have a positive impact on the American gun owner in two areas: quality and price. They can rest assured that they will not have to take out a second mortgage in order to have a top quality product they can rely on. If there is an importation ban implemented, they will be able to obtain the parts necessary to keep them up and running. We will be able to meet any demand that is put on us.

OTG: Are all of the AK-47 parts being made in America, or will the guns and kits only be assembled here?

RA: This is what makes us unique because ALL of our parts will be manufactured by us. If we ever outsource a part due to time constraints, we will only use a US facility we can trust.

OTG: What are the long-term goals for Resistance Arms?

RA: We want to be the best at what we do, plain and simple. With an endless love of our great nation and firearms, we will push forward through any adversity we face. The saying “if you do what you love, you never work a day” is very true. It is an honor and a blessing to have a team of like-minded folks with the same goal. We are starting out as a small company that is focused on providing the best we can for the customer, and we will remain that way.

Though we are heavily focused on the Kalashnikov platform, we have many groundbreaking products that we will launch over the next two years. We can’t wait to see these dreams come to life.

OTG: If everything goes as planned and you begin manufacturing and selling guns later this fall, what rifles will become readily available to American customers?

RA: We will offer our base model AK-47 rifle. We have named it (a secret for now), but we are still working out the design. It is one that we feel will “wow” the consumer. It will be dependable and very affordable, while still offering a unique design.

OTG: Will customers need a Federal Firearms License in order to buy an AK-47 kit?

RA: Because we do not include the essential parts to make a functioning firearm (barrel, receiver), no FFL is required to purchase a kit from us in accordance with current BATF rules.

OTG: What parts will be included in the AK-47 kit? What type of steel will be used when manufacturing the parts?

RA: All kits will include: trigger, hammer, disconnector, bolt, bolt carrier, bolt carrier spring, selector, dust cover, trigger guard, and magazine latch.

OTG: Will American customers be able to find the lower receiver, barrel, rear gas block, sight block, stock, and forearm necessary to complete the gun?

RA: Yes. The parts necessary to complete our kits can be found through any dealer, distributor, or even at a local gun show. We do plan on offering receivers and barrels when we produce our rifle.

OTG: Some potential customers may be concerned about payment confidentiality in this age of purchase tracking and related gun ban/restriction pending bills. How will Resistance Arms address such concerns?

RA: Our customers are our friends. We take this seriously and are committed to keeping our customers’ information secured. Resistance Arms is a member of the NRA Business Alliance which helps us stay informed in regard to our ability to help protect our customers as well.

OTG: Do you think the gun control battle is finished after the attempt to pass new restrictions and mandates failed in Congress?

RA: The battle is far from over. The current administration is dead set on disarming the law-abiding citizen due to incidents committed by folks with problems. This is why it is imperative that we remain vigilant in the preservation of our rights under the Second Amendment.

OTG: West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who is often considered a “conservative Democrat” shocked some Americans when he recently vowed to keep pushing for an enhanced background checks law. Manchin had been regarded as a Second Amendment supporter. Do you think background checks would actually deter crime, or be merely yet another obstacle for law-abiding citizens to endure?

RA: This was the crux of the recent battle regarding gun control. While I support the current background check process, I do not believe that any background check will stop a tragedy from happening. We have seen time and time again where everyone said that the suspect “was such a nice guy,” and they had a clean background. The background check debate was just another obstacle and excuse for the current administration to chip away at the Constitution.