Year: 2009

Letter Re: The Risk to Reward Ratio in Getting Concealed Carry Permits

JWR; One option to consider for a Concealed Carry Permit would be to apply for a non-resident permit from the State of Florida. Florida’s Dept of Agriculture issues permits to non-Floridians and the application process and requirements are less restrictive than in my home state of Arkansas. The training requirements are very generous. Along with traditional types of training, they will accept firearms training courses conducted by your state or any NRA-certified instructor; a hunter’s education course, or even a Form DD-214 for military members or veterans. The cost is reasonable and Florida has one of the best reciprocity programs …


Economics and Investing:

The Army Aviator notes: “Just a head’s up, perhaps a sea change of some sort: Bloomberg[‘s televised financial news on Sunday] started off by saying that several Asian countries had pooled together a fund of $125 Billion to fight FOREX attacks against their currency but it didn’t seem like enough. Then they described Hillary’s visit to [mainland] China in an unusual way. Their comment: ‘We thought she was a presidential candidate but she’s just a bond salesman.’” From reader HPD comes this BBC news link: Is the US heading for a depression? The US economy is contracting sharply. Is there …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader S.H. notes: Many good lessons here in this outstanding photo-essay on the recent devastating Australian forest fires. There are definitely some lessons to be learned here in many of the aerial views burned homes and structures about defensible space and the repercussions of not evacuating when you should. Some of these pictures are rather sobering reminders of the power of fire.    o o o I heard that for a limited time, Ready Made Resources is offering the Warrior Aid and Litter Kit at 40% off. This medic kit package includes a Talon II 90C folding handle collapsible litter, …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 21 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: Two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 21 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for …


Perspectives on Prepping on a Very Low Income, by Kuraly

I was raised in a missionary family, on nine different mission fields around the world. At the age of nineteen, I went out to serve the Lord on my own in the former Soviet Union. I had no formal Theological training, but was accepted by the missionary societies of my denomination because of my experience under my father and my willingness to go to dangerous areas. I married, and my wife and I have now six children. A few years ago, due to some changes in my theology, I fell out of favor with my denomination and had to return …


Letter Re: Kids and Home Security

Jim:: I have some observations on home security where there are children under the roof: I have given my kids two new directives. 1) Every time they enter the house, they must now shout out their name and lock the door behind them. I did this because I realized that I was getting desensitized to the sounds of my front door opening… 2) If they hear me say “Hit the ground!” they immediately do just that, no excuses. If I ever need to discharge a weapon in my house I want to decrease the odds of a bullet hitting them. …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: Santelli’s Chicago Tea Party Gone in 60 Days: Citi and Bank of America Won’t Live to See May (A hat tip to KT for the link.) Another Friday FDIC bank failure notice: Citizens Bank, Corvallis, Oregon, Assumes All of the Deposits of Silver Falls Bank, Silverton, Oregon Items from The Economatrix: Stock Decline Hits Depression Levels Get Ready for Mass Retail Closings (220,000 stores may close) GM Break-up Close as Saab Files Bankruptcy No Bailout Can Mend the Economy Now. A quote: ” …the life of the depression is being deliberately extended in order to complete …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jeff M. found this: Family of Four Trying to Live on $1,500 for the Year    o o o The folks at CampingSurvival.com got creative and put together a fairly complete one year food storage system. including Yoder’s canned meats and cheese. All you need to add is some cooking oil, a sprouting kit (or multivitamin tablets) and a couple of tubes of toothpaste!    o o o KAF sent us: How to Build a Cold Smoker    o o o Our Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson found this: Building a stick welder from an old microwave oven.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 21 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: Two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 21 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for …


Preparing Your Feet for TEOTWAWKI, by The Surgeon

This essay will cover several common foot problems which can be prevented with proper care. These problems can lead to impaired walking, running, and decreased mobility, which may adversely affect survival in a serious post disaster situation. The foundation for this information is basic knowledge gleaned from the 1930s edition Scout Handbook, which relied heavily on Lord Baden Powell’s experience in the British Army.The author is a Board-Certified Surgeon. The feet have a hard job to do. They support the weight of the body standing, walking, running, and jumping. Any time there is excess body weight, the added load on …


Three Letters Re: The Risk to Reward Ratio in Getting Concealed Carry Permits

Sir: Some states allow for the public release of permit holders names and sometimes address. Newspapers have requested these lists (since they are public information) and then published them. Other states (like Minnesota, and others) makes it a crime to release to the public who is a permit holder. – X. James, This headline says it all: Dateline Feb. 17, 2009 in The Miami Herald: Florida can’t keep up with concealed weapons permit requests. Regards, – Jim H. Mr. Rawles, Thanks for your very reasonable and level-headed response on concealed carry permits. I agree that you they aren’t for everyone! …


Economics and Investing:

Justin sent us a link to an excellent documentary on the chain of events in the global credit collapse, with a bit of pro-interventionist coloring from PBS: Inside the Meltdown. Heather sent us this: Volcker: Crisis May be Even Worse than Depression Jim Willie nails it: Russia’s Post U.S. New World Order Blueprint ( A hat tip to KT for the link.) Luddite Jean in England sent us three bits of news of ill-portent: £2trillion – the terrifying total of our national debt… that’s £33,000 for every man, woman and child in Britain. — Car industry in meltdown as plant …


Odds ‘n Sods:

LRG spotted this: Cave house for sale in Festus, Missouri    o o o I just heard about another preparedness blog The Prudent Home. Check it out.    o o o Oxy sent this: Scratch Guadaloupe off the list of possible retreat locales.    o o o The JPFO’s latest Talkin’ to America show features and interview is with Mark Spungin, the author of “Neither Predator nor Prey“. Mark’s novel is about the reaction by a minute percentage of Wyoming gun owners to a nationwide ban and confiscation of firearms.