Notes from JWR:

Please pray for the families of those killed and injured at the Boston Marathon Bombing. OBTW, my cursory examination of the videotape leads me to believe that it was an act of domestic terrorism. And the brownish color of the smoke just after the blast does not bode well for American target shooters. I suspect that the explosive used was Tannerite–a binary low explosive that is legal for use as an explosive rifle target in most states. — You’ll note that today’s blog coincidentally includes two similar-looking but unrelated acronyms: COMEX and CONEX. The former is an abstraction of something …


Getting Back to My Roots — Why I am a Prepper, by Chad T.

I was born into a family of preppers.  My grandparents were all farmers and lived through the Great Depression in the Midwest.   My parents both grew up on farms and came from large families.  While my folks would not label themselves today as preppers, they would consider themselves as independent and self-reliable.  In order to understand my journey as a prepper, you have to go back a few years.  Early into my parents’ marriage, my dad just got out of the navy and worked in various cities and towns, from Texas to Minnesota.  The largest town we lived in was …


Letter Re: CONEX Shipping Container Problems

James: A good friend who has own three acres at the end of my dead end road rented two 40 foot-long shipping containers eight years ago, paying $250 a month for the pair, and filled them completely up with stuff that he moved from Ohio.  I recently built a two-storey barn for him. When we opened the containers, which had been sealed for eight years [to shift the contents to the new barn] we found that holes had rusted through the top of the containers and everything inside of them was totally ruined.  Nothing inside was salvageable.  He is depressed and …


Economics and Investing:

A Tale of Two Markets: At the same time that the speculative COMEX spot and futures market for silver has been slammed down hard, the physical market for silver has been so frantically bought that it hard to find any pre-1965 “junk” silver or 1-ounce silver rounds for sale. Nearly all of the wholesalers are reportedly sold out of bullion coins! They’ve all been snatched up by eager buyers. Reader Diana V. wrote to mention: ” The local shop I use sells any face amount of junk silver. Up until about two weeks ago [they charged a premium of] 3 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jason H. sent: First Amendment lesson sparks outrage at Florida school. Jason’s comment: “Reason number 6,264,468 to homeschool your kids…”    o o o Nan’s newest how-to video is called Starting Heirloom Vegetable and Herb Plants at Home is available from Seed for Security.    o o o Senator Mike Lee of Utah reads a letter sent in from a family that took shifts standing armed guard with their neighbors – all banding together to protect the homes on their street during the L.A. riots. They watched the city burn, and saw no police officers…..for five days. Jump forward to …



Notes from JWR:

April 16th is the birthday of two notable novelists: Agorist-Libertarian activist J. Neil Schulman (born April 16, 1953) is turning 60 today. He is best known as author of the novel Alongside Night. and, The late Samuel Youd (born 1922, died February 3, 2012.) He was the British novelist who was best known for his science fiction writings under the pseudonym John Christopher, including the survivalist novel Death of Grass (titled No Blade of Grass, in the American edition) as well as the Tripods Series of young adult sci-fi novel series. Youd wrote prolifically, using eight pen names. He was …


Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy, by The Angry Prepper

Hurricane Sandy tore through the northern eastern seaboard.  The hurricane combined with two other weather systems to create a Super storm (Some say).  The Hurricane or Super Storm created a destructive path that hasn’t been seen this far up north, ever.  Homes were damaged, properties were destroyed, and lives were lost.  This Hurricane had a lot to teach us.  A lot of us (Preppers) were prepared for this storm and tested our emergency plan for the first time, in real time.  We got to learn a lot about our emergency plan and some of us will patch the holes in …


Letter Re: Home Invasion Prevention

Sir, I’ve often wondered what the “typical” home-invasion victim’s house looks like.  Does it have high fences; does it sit perched on a hill with a beautiful view; are BMWs seen entering & leaving?  Perhaps.  I wonder if home invaders (or burglars, for that matter) even bother with modest homes that have 20-year-old cars parked in front?  Probably not so much. What I’m saying is that, even if you have the means to live well, part of OPSEC should probably include maintaining the appearance of being a low-value target.  Making your home into an obvious fortress will naturally cause those with …


News From The American Redoubt:

Heracles Research, well-known for their Bed Bunker gun vaults had added Truck Bunkers to their product line. The company is located in Spokane, Washington.    o o o Some Idaho headlines, courtesy of Joe M. and R.B.S., and Bret F.: EPA issues new permit for suction dredge miners. – Idaho wealth concentrated in just a few areas.– Idaho restricts drone use by police agencies amid privacy concerns – Frugal Idaho among states in the black, with $60 million surplus    o o o More Federal meddling: Montana Management Plan Would Close Public Land to Target Shooting.    o o o …


Economics and Investing:

I heard that some precious metals investors have felt panicky, in the recent sell-off. Don’t panic. The current sell-off was manipulated. The thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve have nearly tripled the money supply in the past four years. So the long term prospects for the metals remain strong. Look at big dips such as these at buying opportunities. The bull will resume his charge. DO NOT sell into the falling market. I recommend buying physical silver right now. Remington Sells Out To NY For $80 Million “Sniper” Rifles Government Contract. Granted, they …


Odds ‘n Sods:

PRNMED is conducting a three day medical class May 17-19 at the Ohio State University Campus in Caldwell, Ohio. This class will be unique since they will be doing some new scenario-based training. They will also include some new information on tactical medicine, and will be using some skill stations to allow for more individual instruction in key areas. Please contact Dave Turner at dturner@prnmed.com, or telephone: (610) 633-2276. Visit www.PRNMED.com for details.    o o o Reid’s Gun Control Bill Makes a Missing Firearm a Ticket to Five Years in Prison. This is of great concern to anyone who …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it political? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular – but one must take it simply because it is right." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Notes from JWR:

April 15th is dreaded as Income Tax Day in these United States, but it is also Patriot’s Day and this year it is also celebrated as National Buy A Gun Day. — Final Day! A reminder that Safecastle is currently running a semi-annual 25% off sale on Mountain House canned long term storage foods. Get your order in before midnight, Eastern time on April 15th. — We had hoped to announce the availability of the American Redoubt .999 fine silver coin today, but unfortunately because of a contractual problem between S.B.S.S. and their mint, this project is now on hold. …


Excerpt From: Home Invasion Prevention, by Frank Hilliard

[JWR’s Introductory Note: I’m presenting this book excerpt as a guest post. His book is available at Lulu.com.] The prospect looms of an economic collapse caused by the enormous sovereign debt of the United States and moves by China, Russia, Brazil and others to dump the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. If they succeed, America will be dethroned from its position as the middle-man in world financial affairs and the dollar will begin to reflect America’s true financial position. In short, America will become the new Zimbabwe. This devaluation will create massive disruptions in domestic economic activity, banking, public …