News From The American Redoubt:

Washington’s newly-enacted I-594 private party gun sales ban went into effect. This onerous law makes it illegal for citizens to sell guns (and even flare guns) to each other without routing the transfer through a FFL holder and doing a background check. The new law is just one more reason for freedom-loving Eastern Washington to seek partition from liberal/statist Western Washington. (The two halves of the state now have very little in common!) Thankfully, the new law has an exception for pre-1899 guns that are chambered in obsolete cartridges. Since cartridges like 7.65 Argentine Mauser, 6mm Lee Navy, .45-60, .45-75, …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Privacy will not exist in 10 years, Pew survey of tech experts says. One will need to make concerted effort to not be tracked, such as driving an older vehicle with no GPS in it, using an OLD flip phone, or removing a modern phone battery except when using it, using CASH to purchase things, live off the grid as much as possible, et cetera. Still, with National ID coming, there is no place to really go in the USA. – H.L. o o o A follow on to Monday’s post about a Sheriff’s Deputy in Washington stating that their …




Guest Article: Pepper Spray Decontamination and Medical Treatment, by D.F.

1

Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from “Oleoresin Capsicum”), OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even temporary blindness), and it is used in riot control, crowd control, and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears. Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, taking away vision. This temporary blindness allows officers to more easily restrain subjects and permits persons using pepper spray for self-defense an opportunity to escape. (The following is the regimen I use for decon after field training in the agencies …


Scot’s Product Review: Chinook Level 1 Emergency Preparedness Medical Kit (EPMK)

Chinook Medical Gear, Inc. is a Durango, Colorado-based company that provides medical gear to first responders, military, and all the rest of us. They supply pre-built first aid kits, custom kits, packs and cases, individual items, and pretty much anything else medical you might need for an emergency. I’ve written about some of the modules they sell to help you put together a kit on a step-by-step basis. The kit I’m writing about here, the Level 1 Emergency Preparedness Medical Kit (EPMK) is a different strategy. It is a pretty complete package you can purchased in one fell swoop. It …


Recipe of the Week: Enchilada Sauce, by L.H.

I haven’t priced the stuff in 10 years, but back then buying two cans of it came near to the cost of the meat for the dish I was purchasing it for. So by golly, I decided I could learn to make my own, homemade, at a much lower cost. This recipe does it; it tastes exactly the same as the name-brand cans in the grocery store, at 1/4 the cost. And it’s easy too! I think you’ll like it. I usually double the recipe, which is no more trouble than a single batch, and use/freeze it in 2-cup (pint) …


Letter Re: What Haven’t I Thought Of For Nuclear Survival?

Hugh, I spent 15 years in the nuclear industry working at a nuke plant and was the site Radiochemist most of that time. I have never seen any sort of functional anti-C that will “stop” or even attenuate gamma radiation. In fact, nothing will “stop” gamma rays. Shielding (lead, concrete, water) can attenuate gamma rays, but it will not “stop” it. Some measurable energy still gets through all shielding. So I am not sure what the author is referring to, but any anti-C that isn’t meant to be disposed of has to be deconned after each use. Of course when …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Teacher shot during school robbery sues district after being told he ‘should have played dead’. – B.B. o o o Sharyl Attkisson: CDC Is Tracking 1,400 Possible Ebola Cases in US Today(Video) – B.B. o o o Islamist terror: why I now fear going on the Tube (subway). – A.D. o o o For those with a Netflix account: 20 Best Prepper and Survivalist Shows on Netflix. – M.A. o o o Florida ‘theme park’ let’s teens shoot real machine guns, live ammo, at zombies and other actionable targets. – D.S.



Notes for Sunday – December 21, 2014

December 22nd is the anniversary of the death of SP4 James T. Davis, the first uniformed American combat casualty of the Vietnam War, in 1961. This ASA soldier (of the 3rd Radio Research Unit) was killed in a Viet Cong ambush on a road outside Saigon. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 56 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate …


Rapid Prototyping and TEOTWAWKI, by PMN

If there is a breakdown in the normal manufacturing system because of TEOTWAWKI, the usual supply of parts may be unavailable to replace the broken pieces of our machines. However, 3d printing might provide a solution by allowing us to make whatever we need as we need it, but we’d need to exercise caution. There are problems of strength, accuracy, and technical ability involved in this process, and it isn’t “Beam me up Scottie” quite yet. Some of you guys/girls may have heard of rapid prototyping, which is also called 3d printing. If you haven’t, it is roughly equivalent to …


Three Letters Re: Prepper Armor

Hugh, In response to K.W.’s concern, posted December 18, 2014, about M193 5.56 ball ammunition vs. Level III plates: It should be noted that two things defeat body armor– velocity and mass of the bullet. The NIJ 0101.06 (the most current) standards rate a Level III hard plate to stop a 7.62mm 147 grain steel jacketed bullet at 2780 feet per second. Considering the M193 travels right around 3000 fps (close to the NIJ standards) and the mass is significantly less, that should put you on the safe side. Incidentally, it seems some companies understand this concern and make sure …