Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay, for it is not only an evil itself, but also it is a fertile source for further evils because it invites reprisals.” – Frederic Bastiat

Notes for Monday – December 28, 2015

December 28, 1793 is the day that Thomas Paine was arrested in France for treason. The charges against him were never fully detailed, but he was tried in absentia on December 26 and convicted. Best known as the author of Common Sense, he moved to Paris to be part of the French revolution. Initially welcomed, the tide soon turned against him, because he was opposed to the death penalty and the French revolutionaries were sending hundreds to the guillotine.

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Cold Steel’s Tiger Claw

Wicked! That’s the word that comes to mind, whenever I think about certain types of knives, especially those designed for self-defense use. Of course, many will associate the word “wicked” with an ex-spouse, and I can certainly understand that! LOL! However, many knives have passed through my hands over the years for articles, perhaps a thousand or more knives. Many, while designed for self-defense, weren’t especially “wicked” looking to my mind. Oh, for sure, you could tell they were what many call “tactical” knives, whatever that means to different people.

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I’ve been trying to lay claim to a Cold Steel Tiger Claw folding knife, since they were first announced in the 2015 Cold Steel catalog and on their website. Needless to say, I really hounded Cold Steel owner, Lynn Thompson, for months on end to get a sample headed my way. As it is, with many new knives (and guns), sometimes they don’t come out right away, or when we think they should be out. I know Thompson was getting sick and tired of my e-mails to him, requesting a sample of the Tiger Claw. Lynn and I have been friends for a lot of years– ever since the early 1990s. I knew, sooner or later, he’d get a sample into my hands for testing.

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We have to remember that knives are considered tools, first and foremost. To be sure, knives, in some form were some of the very first tools civilized man produced, perhaps our oldest tool. Who knows? Many knives are designed with a specific purpose in mind. Some are designed strictly for use in the kitchen, and at that we have many different designs for various kitchen chores. Some kitchen knives are designed for cutting steaks, some for de-boning meat, and some for carving the Thanksgiving turkey or the Christmas ham. Then, we have the outdoorsman knives. Once again, there are different designs for different tasks. Some of these knives are great for all-around camp chores. Some are for dressing out big game, while others are better suited for caping big game.

Just about any knife can be used for self-defense purposes; however, some designs are better suited than others for particular self-defense use. Of course, we have the ever-popular folding knives. Then we have fixed blade knives. Given my druthers, I’d select a fixed blade knife for self-defense, if I knew when and where trouble was coming my way. Then we have all manner of blade shapes and designs. Probably one of the most popular is the Bowie shaped blade and then the drop point blade, the tanto blade, and the list goes on and on. Just as with firearms, there is no one knife that can do all the different things we expect from a cutting tool.

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Enter the Indonesian “Karambit” knife, which can be had as a folder or a fixed blade. While I’ve been involved in the martial arts, actively, for about 35 years, I readily admit that I wasn’t familiar with the Karambit until about a 20+ years ago. It was obviously a well-kept secret from much of the world.

As you can see in the pictures with this article, the Karambit has something of a Hawkbill shape. It has a drastic curve to it, and the curve is there for a reason. (There is more on this in a bit.) The Tiger Claw, which custom knifemaker Andrew Demko came up with for Cold Steel, is without a doubt a wicked-looking blade meant for serious self-defense use. The blade is only three inches in length; however, because of the curve, the actual cutting portion of the blade is a bit longer. The handle is manufactured out of super-tough, black G10 material, which is almost bullet-proof and once the domain of custom knife makers only. The handle has fine checkering, too. The handle alone is six inches in length, and the overall length of the (opened) Karambit is nine inches, though it looks longer, but it’s not! The knife weighs-in at 5.1 oz, and the blade steel is Carpenter CTS XHP Alloy. I don’t know exactly what that is, but I’m impressed with this steel, to be sure. It came sharp and stayed sharp though my testing.

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Speaking of the blade, it has the patented Demko thumb plate that allows for a super-fast draw from the pocket. As the knife is drawn from the pocket, a little rearward pressure is applied, and the thumb plate catches on the edge of the pocket, opening the knife as it is pulled rearward and upward from the pocket. Once completely out of the pocket, the knife is open. Nice! The reversible pocket clip allows the knife to be carried in the right or left front pants pocket and is easy enough to change it over from one side to the other. There is also a large aluminum ring on the butt of the handle, and this is there for several uses. One is, when holding the knife in the reverse grip, that you can put your index finger through the opened ring for a sure hold on the knife. In the forward raking grip, you can slide your hand further down the handle, giving you a little more reach towards your attacker. It takes some practice, but the opened ring really is a nice touch to use.

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Of course, we have the Demko-designed Tri-Ad lock on the top of the handle scales that is positioned just “right” so there is no fear of accidentally activating it and closing the knife on your fingers. The Tri-Ad lock is one of the strongest folding knife locking systems there is to be had.

The entire blade has a nice polished finish on it and is only sharpened on one side. This allows a stronger blade edge with less chance of the edge of the blade “folding” under hard use. I have had expensive custom made knives where the blade, under extremely force, put a “fold” onto the edge; that is not good. Additionally, this provides but one edge to sharpen instead of two. I’ve found with this type of edge, after running it on some croc stix on the one side when finished, to just give it a swipe or two on the stix to take off the “wire” edge on the non-sharpened side.

Now, while the Cold Steel Tiger Claw Karambit can be used for some chores, like ripping open boxes and cutting rope and the like, this is really designed for self-defense use. The extremely curved blade design is meant for ripping into clothing and flesh and not letting go. As a matter of fact, this curve actually draws flesh and other material into it, instead of allowing it to slip off, like a straight edge knife can do.

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Over the years and through experimenting, I’ve found one of the best uses for a curved blade like this is in the “raking” motion, similar as to what you might see a cat do. They reach out with their claws (tiger claws for example) and rake downward, ripping deeply as the blade digs into flesh and clothing. It is actually scary watching how wicked this curved blade rips. I tested it on cardboard as well as clothing, and it digs in and doesn’t want to let loose. Without giving knife fighting lessons in this article, one can only imagine the damage this blade can do, say for example, if you hooked someone’s arm or wrist. It would rip into the muscle and flesh, cutting nerves along the way and disabling your attacker.

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For those of you who live in states or jurisdictions that have limits on the length of a blade on a folding knife, the Cold Steel Tiger Claw might be right up your ally. The blade is only three inches long, and many places allow pocket knives to have blades that are three inches in length. However, as I mentioned early on, the blade looks much longer than it is; it’s an illusion, because of the extreme curve of the blade. To be sure, like all Cold Steel products, this knife is stoutly built.

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I’m not about to second-guess my friend, Lynn Thompson, on this, but I’m betting there will be a huge demand for this same Tiger Claw with a two-inch blade. So the knife is a little smaller yet has all the attributes of the current Tiger Claw, it’ll work for those jurisdictions that only allow folks to carry a pocket knife with a two-inch blade. Now, while one wouldn’t think a “mere” two-inch blade knife could possibly be used for serious self-defense work, I would disagree. With the curve of the blade, it can rip into flesh and clothing like you wouldn’t believe.

The Tiger Claw can also be had with a fully-serrated blade, and one can only imagine how wicked those serrations would rip into flesh and clothing. WOW! Currently, Cold Steel, is sold out on their website. However, if you shop around, you can find a Tiger Claw on the Internet. Full retail is $199, and while some may think this is expensive, it isn’t. You are getting the Cold Steel lifetime warranty and the expertise of custom knife maker Andrew Demko behind the design of this knife, and also the testing, extreme testing, by Lynn Thompson himself. I don’t know of any other company that tests their knives to the extreme Thompson does. Watch his short videos on his website to see some of the torture tests he puts his knives and other products through. You’ll be impressed.

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So, if you’re in the market for something a little bit “different” in the way of a serious, proven self-defense blade, take a close look at the Cold Steel Tiger Claw. It is one wicked folder, to be sure.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Nutty Chicken Breast

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 2 Tbsp chopped peanuts
  • 4 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp instand minced onion
  • 1 Tbsp minced parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • Several drops of red pepper sauce
  • 1/8 tsp ground ginger
  • 4 whole chicken breasts, halved, skinned, and boned
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 Tbsp melted butter
  • 1 (10 1/2 oz) can chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch

Directions:

  1. Mix peanut butter, peanuts, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, onion, parsley, garlic, pepper sauce, and ginger.
  2. Spread on the inside of each chicken breast and fold in half; close with a small skewer or toothpick.
  3. Place in a slow-cooking pot.
  4. Mix remaining soy sauce with honey, butter, and broth; pour over chicken.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
  6. Remove chicken from pot, turn control to high.
  7. Disolve cornstarch in a small amount of cold water; stir into sauce.
  8. Cook on high for about 15 minutes.

Makes 8 chicken rolls. Serve with sauce.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Being Anonymous, by Spotlight

HJL,

One note on this. I’ve had a “mailbox” (mail receiving service) for longer than I’ve been at any address. It started when important documents ended up with the wrong carrier and were “returned to sender – address does not exist”. A full service private mail receiving service can (for a fee) forward any mail, as well as UPS or FedEx packages to your mail. (Note: Wyoming allows PO Boxes as an address for the drivers’ license last I checked.)

Also, with E911, you can’t avoid tracking, at least with cell towers. GPS can be jammed/blocked. Note that 315MHz is common for remotes and is 1/5th the GPS satellite frequency, but short of a Faraday cage your provider will have your location. – T.Z.

Economics and Investing:

The War against Cash, Part I – Sent in by G.G.

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Negative Power Prices Highlight Some Regulatory Problems

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Report: Fed-Up Creditors Seek to Put US Energy’s Zombies Into Bankruptcy (Reuters) From the Article: “Rising financial stress in the U.S. energy sector has prompted some suppliers and vendors to take unusual legal action to collect unpaid debts: forcing struggling companies with billions of dollars in debt into bankruptcy.”

International News

The Commodities Party is Officially Over and “Now We are Suffering the Big Hangover” (Business Insider) Hint: There will be a significant shift in supply in relationship to the substantial drop in demand. High cost producers are not likely to survive for one reason… It’s that dreaded four letter word: DEBT.

Everything Central Banks Have Tried Has Failed According to Citi’s Buiter (Zero Hedge) Spoiler Alert: Central Bank QE has failed. “The reason for this failure? What we said from day one dooms all unconventional monetary policy – too much debt.”

Hope and Fear in the Endless Greek Crisis (GreekCrisis.net) From the Article: “…the capital controls imposed in June remain in force and the economy has fallen back into recession.”

Oil Collapse Sees Venezuela Burning Through Its Savings (Bloomberg) From the Article: “…the collapse in oil means the spendthrift government of President Nicolas Maduro may now struggle to meet its $1.5 billion debt payment in February.”

Angela Merkel Going to be Less Popular In Germany (Business Insider) From the Article: “…given that Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe, nobody sees the trouble brewing. They’re oblivious to the incurable balances the euro has created in trade in Europe…”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

The Best Frugal Household Hacks (US News) Great Story: “Last spring, the blogging husband-and-wife team known as “Mr. and Mrs. Frugalwoods” realized that they wanted to live a different kind of life, unlike the typical consumer-driven lifestyle usually featured on television.”

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader B.G. sent in the link to a Washington Post article detailing that the Justice Department just shut down a huge asset forfeiture program. It’s important to note that this is just a small part of the whole “asset forfeiture” system. States can still use state forfeiture rules, and it does not address seizures by federal agencies, like the FBI, DEA, or DHS. It’s ironic that an individual confiscating your property under the same rules would end up in jail for theft. I guess stealing is deemed okay, when you’re a government.

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The Anti Safe Act Organization is suing the US Attorney General for exceeding their authority on background checks. The issue stems from the Justice Department cross checking against lists that do not preclude ownership of firearms. Specifically, if you ended up on a watch list for potential terrorist because of an anonymous tip, you were potentially denied your right to own a firearm without due process.

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Many readers have written in to point out H.R.4269, which has been introduced into the 114th Congress and basically outlaws all semi-automatic weapons. It’s important to remember that every Congress gets such bills introduced and the likelihood of this bill getting anywhere is pretty slim. Nevertheless, we will be watching.

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Reader M.F. sent the link to this article: Thomas Jefferson on taxes. It’s an interesting read on how the U.S. government managed to not directly tax individuals for the first 140 years of this nation.

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Measles Police State: ‘Parents who do not vaccinate their children should go to jail’ – D.S.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” – Samuel Adams

Notes for Sunday – December 27, 2015

On this day in 1979, in an attempt to stabilize the turbulent political situation in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union sent 75,000 troops to enforce the installation of Babrak Karmal as the new leader of the nation. The new government and the imposing Soviet presence, however, had little success in putting down anti-government rebels. Thus began nearly 10 years of an agonizing, destructive, and ultimately fruitless Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. Death by a thousand cuts.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 62 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

The Second Amendment and Its Relevance in Today’s Society, by B.E.

1

Amendment II (the Second Amendment) of the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights declares a well-regulated militia as “being necessary to the security of a free State” and prohibits infringement of “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” It is a controversial subject whose ramifications are still being debated to this day, over two-hundred and thirty years after it was written. Its place in the Bill of Rights as the Second Amendment is indicative of how important our nation’s founding fathers thought that right should be. It is still relevant in today’s society, despite haphazard attempts at gun control. This is evidenced by other countries’ takes on gun control, regulation, or lack of it.

Our right to keep and bear arms stems from the English Bill of Rights, which states: “The subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law.” (Volokh, 2)

Many of the original thirteen states included in their constitutions or in their state ratification conventions provisions or language that upholds a citizen’s right to bear arms to defend oneself and the state. For instance, Pennsylvania’s constitution states, “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.” (Volokh, 2) Rhode Island’s constitution states, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” (Volokh, 2) Vermont’s constitution declares that, “The people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State.” (Volokh, 2)Connecticut’s constitution reiterates that idea with the statement “Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the State.” (Volokh, 2) In at least seven more of the original states, similar language is included in their constitutions.

In his 1992 Senate Sub Committee on the Constitution report, “The Right to Keep and Bear Arms,” Senator Orrin G. Hatch says:

In my studies as an attorney and as a United States Senator, I have constantly been amazed by the indifference or even hostility shown the Second Amendment by courts, legislatures, and commentators. James Madison would be startled to hear that his recognition of a right to keep and bear arms, which passed the House by a voice vote without objection and hardly a debate, has since been construed in but a single, and most ambiguous Supreme Court decision, whereas his proposals for freedom of religion, which he made reluctantly out of fear that they would be rejected or narrowed beyond use, and those for freedom of assembly, which passed only after a lengthy and bitter debate, are the subject of scores of detailed and favorable decisions. Thomas Jefferson, who kept a veritable armory of pistols, rifles, and shotguns at Monticello, and advised his nephew to forsake other sports in favor of hunting, would be astounded to hear supposed civil libertarians claim firearm ownership should be restricted. Samuel Adams, a handgun owner who pressed for an amendment stating that the “Constitution shall never be construed . . . to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms,” would be shocked to hear that his native state today imposes a year’s sentence, without probation or parole, for carrying a firearm without a police permit. (Hatch, 1)

It seems very clear that our founding fathers and their contemporaries in the individual states thought that in order to maintain their freedom it was of utmost importance that the people of the United States have “the right to keep and bear arms” in defense of themselves and as the framework of a militia. The “right to bear arms” was a fundamental right to our founding fathers. David E. Vandercoy says, “Both the Federalists, those promoting a strong central government, and the Antifederalists, those believing that liberties including the right of self-rule would be protected best by preservation of local autonomy, agreed that arms and liberty were inextricably linked. ” (Vandercoy, 3) Thus, it was placed in the Bill of Rights.

Some people may argue that the Second Amendment’s thrust was for a military or militia, but that is not in evidence. The men of the militia in the colonies were expected to provide their own weapons. It is clear that the private arms of these men were protected. Tahmassebi states that “Ordinarily when called for service these men were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time.” (Tahmassebi,3)

The Second Amendment still has significant relevance in today’s society. A recent article from the American Rifleman magazine explains why an isolated town (Aquila) of 1,064 in Arizona has decided to arm themselves. The recent closing of the nearest sheriff’s sub-station, 25 miles away, has left the town without any police protection. The nearest sheriff’s station is now over 60 miles away, and police response times are over 24 hours for most incidents. Residents don’t even bother calling anymore. With recent drug-related burglaries, thefts, and murders affecting almost every person and business in town, the townspeople have decided to arm themselves to protect their families, businesses, and properties. (Tahmassebi,2)

In the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Korean shop owners defended themselves and their property against rioters and looters. In that same incident, the truck driver who was pulled from his truck and nearly beaten to death on national television could have benefited from a firearm. (Tahmassebi,2) The recent home invasion and murder of the Petit family in Connecticut may well have been prevented, if the family had firearms in the home and were prepared and able to use them.

The United States can learn a lesson of what not to do regarding gun control from our neighbor, Canada. According to Alan Gottlieb, Canada’s restrictive gun controls have failed miserably. He states, “The situation is so bad that in the Jan. 3 edition of Canada’s National Post, writer David Frum startled readers by revealing that ‘Canada’s overall crime rate is now 50% higher than the crime rate in the United States.'” (Gottlieb,1) He further noted, “Since the early 1990s, crime rates have dropped in 48 of the 50 states and 80% of American cities. Over that same period, crime rates have risen in six of the 10 Canadian provinces and in seven of Canada’s 10 biggest cities.” (Gottlieb,1)

The most recent complete data available from both countries continues to support Gottlieb’s claim: In 2003, the violent crime rate in the United States was 475 per 100,000 population, while up north there were 963 violent crimes per 100,000 population. The figure for sexual assault in Canada per 100,000 population was more than double that of the United States– 74 as opposed to 32.1, and the assault rate in Canada was also more than twice that of the states, 746 to our 295 for the population rate. The crime rate hasn’t improved recently for Canada, while it has for the United States. Toronto had 78 murders in 2005, according to Frum, which represents a 28 percent increase in homicide since 1995. (Gottlieb,1)

Gottlieb attributes the rise in Canadian crime rates to their restrictive gun laws and the reduction in U.S. crime to the adoption of “shall-issue” and “right-to-carry” laws in many U.S. states. In the intervening years, laws to restrict gun ownership in Canada have become stricter. A national gun registry, costing Canadians billions, has been implemented. As a solution, Prime Minister Martin has proposed to ban private handgun ownership. (Gottlieb,1) Apparently, they are not seeing the connection that research is so obviously pointing out.

David Koppel and Stephen D’Andrilli, in their article from the America Rifleman Feb. 1990, say of Switzerland:

The army sells a variety of machine guns, submachine guns, anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft guns, howitzers, and cannons. Purchasers of these weapons require an easily obtained cantonal license, and the weapons are registered. In a nation of six million people, there are at least two million guns, including 600,000 fully automatic assault rifles, half a million pistols, and numerous machine guns. Virtually every home has a gun. Despite all the guns, the murder rate is a small fraction of the American rate, and is less than the rate in Canada or England, which strictly control guns, or in Japan, which virtually prohibits them. The gun crime rate is so low that statistics are not even kept. (Koppel, 8)

As evidenced by this significant finding, gun ownership lowers the incidences of murder as well as all other crimes. Criminals are less apt to victimize others when they know the potential victim is armed and capable of competently using the weapon. With this knowledge, criminals are deterred from committing crimes as they are aware that the tide would easily turn, and they would become the victim rather than the perpetrator.

In conclusion, the Second Amendment was second for a reason; it was because the writers thought it was of utmost importance. This was shown time and again in state conventions and constitutions with similar language. The fear of a standing army was the driving force behind “the right of the people to keep and bear arms” as a counter to a standing army. The attempts at gun control in other countries have been a failure. Most notably our neighbor to the north, Canada, has experienced the negative consequences of strict gun control laws, as their crime rates have soared while crime rates in the U.S. have continued to decline with the adoption of “right to carry laws” in most states. Countries, such as Switzerland, with liberal gun control and an armed, trained population, have some of the lowest crime rates in the world. We might do well to model our gun control legislation and enforcement after the Swiss model and stop trying to dismantle the Second Amendment.

Works Cited

Letter: Good Samaritan Bag

Hugh,

I was getting together some clothes that I don’t wear anymore (amazing how they seem to shrink just hanging in my closet) to donate to Salvation Army and had a mini-inspiration. In my car I carry my Get Home Bag, first aid kit, a case of water, my EDC, a tool kit, some spare parts, tarps, and blankets. In other words, all the things a good prepper should have on hand. Then I got to thinking, what about emergencies that are less than TEOTWAWKI?

Specifically, what if you come across an accident, someone who is lost and wet or freezing, or any other number of possible situations. Sure you can wrap them in a blanket and give them water, but what else would you ideally like to have?

I decided to take an old AWOL bag and put some assorted clothes, such as sweat pants and sweat shirts in a couple of different sizes, stocking caps, socks, and towels in it to keep in the trunk, just in case. I put each set of clothing in its own gallon zip lock bag and threw in a quarter of a dryer sheet, to keep it fresh smelling. I also added a couple of small teddy bears, just in case a small child needed some comfort.

I’m trying to come up with a name; I am thinking of calling it the Samaritan Bag. I’d appreciate hearing from other readers about what they think of the idea, what they would but in a bag, and if they have any suggestions for a name. – B.F.

Economics and Investing:

In Sweden, a Cash-Free Future Nears – Sent in by G.G.

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Saving Puerto Rico from Itself (Wall Street Journal) From the Article: “After snowballing for decades, Puerto Rico’s debt problems have become an avalanche.”

Economic Growth Slower Than Thought in the 3rd Quarter (Washington Examiner) But wait, there’s more… The Federal Reserve projects growth of just 2.4% in 2016.

Biggest Economic Story of 2016: Inflation (Business Insider) The Fed has taken its strategic position: that inflation, rather than deflation, will be the greatest risk to the economy in the coming year. Is it the right one? This is a complex question involving many different and dynamic driving forces. …and the results can create confusion among us in trying to understand what’s happening and why. We’re all trying to discern a story that is at once unfolding over time and in the moment. In my view, it’s likely we’ll see elements of both and that the interaction of these (in conflict and competition) will complicate policy decisions going forward.

Pennsylvania and Illinois Usher in the New Year with Record Budget Impasses (Zero Hedge) From the Article: “And so, we see what happens with gross fiscal mismanagement meets petty partisan bickering.”

IRS Costs Taxpayers $46M in Suspect Refunds (Waste Fund and Abuse) From the Article: “The mistakes and shortcomings at the Internal Revenue Service could incorrectly drain up to $230 million from the Treasury during the next five years if left uncorrected, according to the report.”

International News

China Establishes Rival to World Bank (The Telegraph) From the Article: “Despite the opposition of Washington, major US allies such as Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Philippines and South Korea have joined.”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Scam Warming: Redemption, Strawman, Bond Fraud (FBI)

Odds ‘n Sods:

Sleazy MN Council Woman “Doxes” Constituents Who Opposed Her Involvement in Illegal Protest – T.P.
For those that don’t know…”Doxing” is the posting of someone’s private information such as email, phone number, resident address, et cetera in a public forum. If you sent a message to this Council Woman disagreeing with her position, she publicly posted your contact information to Twitter. So much for OPSEC.

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Chocolate Gives Statins A $29 Billion Run For Their Money – Let’s see…taking Big Pharma drugs for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, which are known to have side effects (which include heart failure) versus eating chocolate? Hmm…that’s a hard one. At least make sure you are not unnecessarily medicated. – D.S.

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Homeland Security seeks thieves who stole 43 propane tanks – Sent in by B.B.

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Another reason to curtail refugees and deport illegal aliens: Why Are Many Diseases Back, Decades After Being Wiped Out in the U.S.? Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa don’t discriminate. It is also another reason to relocate to the Redoubt, where there are fewer invaders. – T.Z.

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Reader B.B. sent in a link with some wonderful photographs of life in Iowa: This Is What Life In Iowa Looked Like In 1939

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A new listing at our SurvivalRealty spinoff in the hinterboonies of Northern Saskatchewan deserves special mention: Paradise in a Wilderness Reserve – Floatplane Access Only!

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” Luke 4:33-36 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – December 26, 2015

A very thought-provoking article has been posted over on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: The Line Has Been Drawn

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 62 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

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