Notes from HJL:

There is a developing story that has not been reported by the mainstream media yet, and its effects are far reaching. In 1992, federal agents squared off against Randy Weaver and his family/friends in an incident known as “Ruby Ridge”. While the merits of Mr. Weaver’s case can be and has been argued, the bottom line is the Federal Government used inappropriate, overwhelming force and tactics in dealing with the situation. (We might also mention that there was no real disciplinarian action taken against those who were guilty of taking innocent American lives either.)

We now have, what appears to be, another similar incident shaping up in Nevada. The Moapa Valley Progress reports that one of the rancher’s sons has been arrested in what is clearly inappropriate restriction of First Amendment rights.

When Ruby Ridge occurred, and again when Waco occurred, citizens were incensed and promised that that would never happen again. Now, the excesses are occurring again. We need to pay attention and support those who are inappropriately targeted by government.

G.S. wrote into us with the following:

“I’d like for you to re-read the entry of 11-12-13. American Liberty at the Crossroads. Especially JWR’s comments at the end. We now are faced with another Waco/Ruby Ridge style standoff in Northwestern Clark County, Nevada. The ranchers name is Cliven Bundy and the Feds on Saturday have already stolen his cattle. They (the Feds) even have the gall to put up “First Amendment Zones” for those who want to protest!!!!!. I thought 99% of this country was a 1A zone. Mr. Bundy has the support of the community, and I also think it’s time for local Patriots to act like Jim outlined in his comments.”

Each of us should prayerfully consider what the right thing to do is. If you are led to support Mr. Bundy in any way, you should do so. Who knows, the perimeter that the jack-booted thugs set up around Mr. Bundy may end up having a perimeter of freedom-loving patriots around it. We should also note that Nevada is an open carry state. At minimum, I think all Patriots should include Mr. Bundy and this situation in their prayers.

o o o

Today we present another entry for Round 52 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. 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,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.

Round 52 ends on May 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.

Introduction to Prudent Food & Health: by KM in Ohio

Disclaimer: I am not a “medical professional”, and this article is not to be considered “medical advice.”

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29

Healthy Living is Hard Work! We, Americans, have been increasingly dependent on other people for our welfare, food, and lifestyles for a couple of generations. A company far away provides electricity to illuminate and heat our homes, pump our wells, or run the security system. City dwellers get their essential of life– water– from a city-owned pump facility. Most of us get the majority of our food from businesses called grocery stores. Everyday health maintenance is purchased from a health food or drug store business in the form of pills or elixirs. Our Creator never intended for us to be so dependent on others that if something were to happen to our suppliers or our income, we’d be dangerously vulnerable to things like famine, illness, or homelessness. Food is the biggest expense in the household, next to the mortgage or rent. If our food doesn’t keep us healthy, our bodies aren’t properly nourished. Therefore, we’ll spend even more money on healthcare. There are many money-saving skills we can employ to maintain good health that Americans have forgotten to pass on to their children and grandchildren in the last few generations. Thankfully, that trend is beginning to change with increasing speed as many are turning to “prepping,” taking time with our elders, and learning traditional skills. I hope to pique your interest in learning more of those valuable things.

First, You Are What You Eat: “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29. The current American idea of what healthiness is tends to be distorted largely by the vast number of businesses manufacturing products made for health-conscious consumers. Skilled advertising makes these items look like what we think we need. Unfortunately, the average American eats only a handful of natural and plant-sourced foods. There are thousands of nutritious, natural foods having more nutrition that are available and that would provide a greater nutrient base for healthy bodies. In recent years, trends have begun to change as more folks discover natural lifestyles and traditional food practices. The Internet has connected people in the sharing of knowledge more than the inventor of the printing press could have ever imagined.

In most other countries you would be hard-pressed to find breakfast cereal in a brightly colored box or cake mixes and “Egg Replacer”. For some examples, the French tend to think we’re crazy about our idea of what tastes good or is good for us. They pride themselves in making everything from scratch in the kitchen and taking time to have proper meals and savor them by eating slowly. In Thailand, they rarely take a pill for anything. They instead use herbal preparations and teas. In parts of the Russian countryside, one is considered ignorant if there isn’t an ample supply of garlic for cooking and medicinal use in the home. Many Russian families have crocks of lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, and beverages (like Kvass) fermenting in cool corners of their homes. Recently, many American commercial seeds are scientifically modified in a genetics lab for large-scale factory farming to endure pesticide chemicals or make non-viable seed. This not only influences other nearby plants but also meats and dairy. These designer life forms are called “Genetically Modified Organisms” or (G.M.O.s), which become things that are nothing like what God originally created. GMO foods are not very nutritious because they’re grown in industrially damaged soils, and most carry varying amounts of toxins as GMO foods always require some kind of chemical maintenance while growing. They are hard to digest, and toxins are released into our bodies in the process. A majority of food products on store shelves these days are made from GMO wheat flour, soy, or corn. Some of us older people remember Jack LaLanne who started the fitness culture and invented many of the exercise machines we are familiar with. He said, “The more things you do to help your health, the more you’ll be able to do. That is why a lot of people are sick and tired.” Jack lived an active healthy life to the age of 96. He also advocated natural foods. Many current health advisors teach that exercise, natural meats, raw naturally raised dairy, organic produce, and medicinal herbs as the best choices to recover and maintain true health. I want to grow old like Jack! (www.JackLalanne.com)

Naturally-raised, whole grains are basic nutrition sources in most cultures, with the exception being Asia’s preference for white rice. The colorful outer coverings on them contain nourishing vitamins, minerals, and fats. Grains that have had the germ removed and bleached, like our common white bromated baking flour, are stripped of the vitamins and fatty acids contained in those coverings, leaving the carbohydrates with some gluten proteins for fluff. Natural sugar cane sap is brown and full of minerals and essential fatty acids. In the factory it is spun in a centrifuge so that minerals and fatty acids are removed in the form of molasses. The resulting lightly amber liquid is dried to become turbinado sugar. It is then baked at high heat to bleach it and evaporate the so-called impurities out and further ground to become the white table sugar we are familiar with. White sugar is a substance now shown in many medical studies to be just as addictive as cocaine. Bleached grains are addictive as well. If you don’t believe me, do a two week fast of sugar and white flour foods, but warn your family first. Corn syrup and high-fructose-corn syrup, the later being 30 times sweeter than regular white sugar, can only be produced at the factory level with powerful machine processes. These corn products are so addictive that some health professionals say eliminating them from a person’s diet causes withdrawal symptoms similar to those addicted to street drugs. (Think cocaine.) Alternatively, an extremely valuable sweetener is raw honey. Grocery store honey is usually pasteurized and filtered, making it just as bad as white sugar. Raw honey from a neighborhood beekeeper is nutritious, antibiotic, and anti-fungal with enzymes that support and help digestion. You can put it in cuts or burns, and it will help heal, not harm. It’s also an immune booster. Note that it is not good for children under one year old.

Speaking of pasteurizing, our family has been using unpasteurized milk, cream, cheeses, and butter for the last 10 years. We buy our dairy from a local farmer who only grazes his cows, does not inject them with “rBght” (a synthetic hormone), and only supplements their diet with herbs. Unpasteurized, pastured dairy is a versatile healing food. Pasteurized milk, on the other hand, is an enigma, causing allergic reactions in many people who are regularly misdiagnosed. Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, asthma, frequent ear infections, and recurrent tonsillitis or frequent diarrhea are a few symptoms of dairy allergy. There is more to the story of why milk is pasteurized than we were led to believe. You can read about it in the book called “The Untold Story of Milk” by Ron Schmid, N.D.

Naturally-raised food has lots of vitamins and minerals; industrial food does not. Pill type vitamins and minerals are so expensive they have become a multi-billion dollar industry in this country. While they can be a quick way to begin restoring health for you and your family, you must be careful with them. Most cheap vitamins aren’t digestible (or only partially so) and contain cheap fillers and ingredients, which our bodies can’t process. Look for vitamins that have plants as the main sourced ingredients or have “plant sourced” on the label. Avoid those containing Methylcellulose, names with “-dexter-” (corn) or petrolatum in the ingredient list. Many use binders made from coal, GMO corn, and fuel oil. Why spend all that money on vitamins you’ll end up not digesting and flushing down the toilet? The Internet is a great tool for research.

A Little on Beverages: Clean water is essential to life. Your body is 60% water. The body makes a quart of fresh saliva daily. That’s why you swallow spit between meals. Saliva is the main ingredient for all the other body fluids. This includes blood plasma and various other fluids and lubricants, which it helps manufacture fresh every few days. Sodas, bottled fruit juices, and sugary beverages like Kool-Aid interfere with this production process, the immune system, and also liver and kidney functions. Protect your kidneys and liver! Their main jobs are to eliminate toxins from the body and support your other body functions. Filtered water that is slightly mineralized is your best beverage. If you have city water, filter it as much as possible. City water with fluoride is awful for the body. In nature it occurs as calcium-fluoride, but what is used in public water processing is sodium fluoride– an extremely toxic mix of hexafluorosilicic acid and sodium silicofluoride, which is a by-product of processing aluminum ore. Ingesting sodium-fluoride dulls and suppresses nerve and brain function and the immune system. Filters to remove fluoride and other toxins are available from these vendors: http://directive21.com, http://aquarain.com. “Table salt” is refined sodium (Na) mixed with cornstarch and sugar to keep the sodium from exploding when put into water. Unrefined mined salt, sodium chloride (NaCl a.k.a. “real salt”), already has iodine and minerals that your body wants, and it won’t explode in water either. Your body uses sodium-chloride and water to make saliva. See how they go together?

Natural beverages we can enjoy that support health are: herbal teas; unflavored fresh roasted coffee; white, green, and black teas; lacto-fermented beverages; raw vinegar; and naturally fermented wines and beers, on occasion. Get to know these quality beverages, and add some to your life.

Here’s the Battle– Real food vs. Faux Food: People in most other cultures make meals from scratch, which is cost effective, more physically satisfying, and healthier. Packaged industrial foods leave you feeling hungry, due to a lack of nutrients. So, you feel the need for more “helpings” and buy much more of them to satisfy. Then you gain weight, because your body is still craving nutrients and not receiving what it needs, and so you eat more. What about all that hype over eating fat? Actually, nutritious healthy fats keep you thin! The body burns fat as fuel. Good fats are olive oil, natural butters, cream, coconut and palm oil, lard, tallow, egg yolks, avocado, and more. If it is a fat that comes from a natural source that God made, minimally processed and unadulterated by man, it is a good fat. Your body breaks these down easily and uses them in many ways, like making fuel for tissues, joint lubricants, or cholesterol, which is the primary food for brain and nerve tissue. Yes, your body needs cholesterol! The fad-food called “canola” oil is a GMO, originally designed to be engine lubricant in WWII aircraft but is now marketed as healthy cooking oil. It’s actually a tissue irritant and can cause various forms of inflammation. “Crisco” style shortening is a hydrogenated flax oil (linseed). The recipe was originally intended to be a replacement for candle wax in WWI. It starts to burn at 107F. When does a human body get that hot? This, too, becomes a tissue irritant in the body. Margarine was developed by a French scientist to replace butter for their troops in WWII. It was considered unfit for human consumption and trashed. Some American thought it was a great idea and marketed it as healthy.

If your body is getting enough healthy fats, you don’t gain excess weight. If your body is getting too many carbohydrates and sugars, you will get fat. Consider what the typical farmers do to prepare animals for market. The general practice is for cattle to be fed lots of grain for three months or so to gain weight, which increases profit when the animal is sold and increases the taste of sweetness in the meat. (I may offend some good hard-working people with the following statement, but please forgive me.) This practice causes the animal to be less energetic, so the meat is softer from lack of exercise. Herbivores, like cows, were not designed by God to eat seed-based feed. These animals need leafy plant food to be truly healthy. Grain interferes with the function of their digestive organs, nervous system, and immune system by fermenting in the rumen and producing alcohol, which is bad for the animals. Small farmers have begun to return to natural animal husbandry practices, thanks to educators, like Joel Salatin from Polyface Farms,VA (www.polyfacefarms.com ) and others. Quality meat costs more, but we can be creative to make it a part of a nourishing lifestyle. You are what your food eats.

Produce Your Own Food in A Veggie Garden: Really, this isn’t as hard as you think. Even a neglected garden produces food. Plants are very forgiving. A food garden is an excellent money saver! The food in superstores tends to be flown in from other countries or driven over great distances from other states by truck. Fresh produce must be picked unripe to be shipped great distances. So, scientists have come up with ways of chemically ripening them during the trip in the aircraft or trucks to give the appearance of “fresh off the tree” ripeness. Unripe fruit doesn’t have the complete compliment of nutrients, flavor, or enzymes of truly ripe fruit. Buying local from farms and locally-owned grocery stores is the best way to acquire ripe, nutritious produce.

If a grocery item comes in a box with a pretty picture of what it is supposed to look like on the front, but when you read the ingredients list on the back it doesn’t appear to be English (or looks like a list from a university science lab), it’s a “product” rather than a food. You’ll also pay much more when buying boxed items than you will for the ingredients to prepare that same item in your kitchen. Be careful even with storage foods. Not every MRE is made from nutritious ingredients. Most food made from scratch will in no way harm or kill you. Commercial food products on the other hand have nastier effects. The average American living in 1900 to the 1950’s was exposed to about 20 toxic chemicals per year. In the 21st century, Americans are now exposed to an average of 200+ toxic chemicals per DAY. Many of these are food additives, artificial flavorings, cosmetics, and household chemicals. Most consumer chemicals are neurotoxins and carcinogens. These toxins accumulate in body tissues. With the increases of convenience products we’ve become increasingly unhealthy as a nation. Taste a locally grown tomato or fresh off the tree fruit from your neighborhood orchard and suddenly the produce in the superstores just can’t compare. A fresh egg from your neighbor’s happy little flock of laying hens, which have been out catching bugs and eating a variety of plant life in the yard, will taste so incredible you won’t want industrial eggs. A mind-opening book: “The Fat Fallacy” by Dr. Will Clower can explain these concepts in better detail.

Good, healthy foods begin with good healthy soil. Organic gardeners and natural, small farmers tend to maintain their dirt better than factory farms by putting compost, lime, sandstone, gypsum, manure, and such on their plots to restore and maintain healthy soil along with crop and grazing rotations. This means the produce from the animals and plants raised there will be full of nutrition, minerals, and vitamins. The better your food quality, the better the chances are that you won’t need vitamin supplements or extra helpings at meal times. Healthy food also makes a strong immune system, and, on the occasion you do encounter illness, homemade herbal remedies prepared in the tradition of generations past are easy to make and store.

If all this information is overwhelming for you, listen to Jesus Christ who said, “Don’t worry” (Matthew 6:25-34). Lifestyle changes and new habits are made one step at a time and one day at a time. No one can possibly put all this information into practice by the end of next week or next month. It takes time to develop new skills, habits, and knowledge. I’ve been learning and studying these particular topics for years upon the shoulders of my mother and many others. I didn’t get to where I am today without work. There’s still more for me to learn, more people to learn from, and more skills to gain and improve upon. Learning is so much fun!

I think this is God’s design for us: to always be learning about HIM and Creation, discovering what skills He put within us, pursuing things that interest us, improving our skills and discovering treasures in nature (Psalm 96), and sharing what we know with others by being part of a community that helps each other (John 13:14) and influences our larger society (Matt 5:16). I hope this article has inspired new thoughts and goals for you. Cheers to JWR for bringing us together with Survivalblog! Keep learning and growing.

Recommended resources:

  • “What the Bible Says About Healthy Living” by Dr. Rex Russell,
  • “Nutritional Healing” by Dr. James F. Balch,
  • “Know Your Fats” by Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.,
  • “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon,
  • “The Fat Fallacy” by Dr .Will Clower,
  • “The Cholesterol Myth” by Dr. Uffe Ravnskov,
  • “The Untold Story of Milk” by Ron Schmid, N.D.,
  • “Wild Fermentation” by Sandor Katz,
  • www.WestonAPrice.org,
  • www.RealMilk.com ,
  • www.RadiantLightNutrition.com ,
  • http://directive21.com ,
  • http://aquarain.com ,
  • www.BackToEdenFilm.com ,
  • http://www.youtube.com/user/L2Survive,
  • www.Permies.com

Letter Re: North Carolina Drivers Charged by the Mile

Hugh

I found the following that describes traveling versus driving. Mr. Rawles has an excellent chapter in “Patriots” that also addresses the same. This article is bit more in depth.

I have trouble believing sovereign citizens would allow a government to tax them for public roads paid for with tax payer money. – BT in TX

Hugh Replies: I used to have trouble believing that also, but then I watched sovereign citizens allow themselves to be treated as criminals– front doors kicked in, hands placed on heads or handcuffed, and kicked out of their homes without search warrants. The citizenry has become so complacent and dependent on the government that it can take nearly any step it wants to. It has been a long slow slide to serfdom, but the crises is upon us now! The citizenry of the United States must stand for what is right, what is moral, and what is Godly, and they must do it now.

Odds ‘n Sods:

7th Grader Suspended and Given Psychological Evaluation for Twirling a Pencil . – D.V.

o o o

Under attack: Depth of federal arms race should surprise, shock citizenry – B.B.

o o o

Victory for Gun-Rights Proponents as Open-Carry Bill — Possible Nationwide Model — Approved by State’s Lawmakers – H.L.

o o o

Tucson Cop Who Randomly Slammed Woman To The Ground Not So Tough After Receiving Threats – L.C.

o o o

Holder: We Want to Explore Gun Tracking Bracelets – JBG

Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 52 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. 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,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.

Round 52 ends on May 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.

A Primer On Handgun Holsters, by B.D.

INTRODUCTION

So, you’re standing in front of the handgun holster display at your local gun shop and trying to decide which holster to purchase for adding to your survival gear. The sheer volume of manufacturers, styles, and materials can be overwhelming. Even the specialized terminology can make your head spin. In an attempt to help reduce some of the pain and confusion, I’m sharing my personal experiences and some basic information I’ve picked up along the way that may be worth your consideration before making your next handgun holster purchase. While this information is by no means exhaustive, I hope that it will be helpful and assist those who are less familiar with this particular equipment.

The following experiences and observations are based on my being a handgun owner and enthusiast for almost 20 years. In this time, I have owned, built, and used holsters for both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in a variety of scenarios. These have varied from a recreational day at the range to hunting, competitive action pistol shooting, and concealed carry.

I’ll begin by clarifying some of the common terminology by providing basic explanations.

INDUSTRY TERMINOLOGY (In Alphabetical Order)

Ankle Holster– A holster specifically designed to be worn on the ankle or calf area, using elastic and/or straps to secure the holster.

Belt Loop Holster– A holster that is secured to the belt using loops, straps, or openings.

Cant– Refers to the angle that the holster rides at when carried.  A straight up cant (or 0 cant) refers to the barrel being perpendicular to the ground or in-line with the leg and torso when in a standing position. A forward cant refers to the rear of the frame/grip leaning forward, while the muzzle is tipped to the rear. A forward cant is commonly used for improved draw ergonomics on the strong side (see description below). A rear cant is essentially the opposite of a forward cant. A rear cant is typically used in cross draw (see description below) applications on the weak side (see description below), as moving the holster from the strong side to the weak side would turn what was a rear cant into a forward cant for the strong hand as it reaches across the body.

Clip-On / Clip-Over Holster– A holster attachment method using a metal or polymer clip to allow for easy on/off use of the holster. These can be used with either inside the waistband (IWB– see definition below) or outside the waistband (OWB– see definition below) style holster configurations.

Cross Draw– A term used to describe a holster that rides on your weak side, but the drawing motion is performed across the body using the primary shooting hand. These holsters can be either IWB or OWB.

Draw– The action of gripping and removing the handgun from the holster.

High Ride/Rise– A holster that is designed to locate the grip of the handgun further above the beltline than a normal (mid-ride/rise) holster. This can be for purposes of concealment, such as when covered by a jacket or shirt, or for preference of draw. A high ride holster worn IWB typically has to clear less space prior to being presented at the target and can therefore provide a faster draw.

Inside the Waistband (IWB)– A holster that is worn on the inside of the waistband (beneath clothing), commonly in conjunction with a belt.

Low Ride/Rise– A holster that is designed to locate the grip of the handgun further below the beltline than a normal (mid-ride/rise) holster. This can be for preference of draw. A low-ride/rise holster can cause interference when riding in a vehicle or in other seated positions.

Mid Ride/Rise– A holster that is designed to locate the grip of the handgun just above the beltline. This is the most common or standard position. Holsters that are not designated as high or low ride/rise are typically mid-ride/rise.

Outside the Waistband (OWB) – A holster that is worn on the outside of the waistband, commonly in conjunction with a belt. This is common for open carry applications and can be used for concealed carry, if in conjunction with an outer garment (jacket, shirt, etc.).

Paddle– This part of the holster uses a component that is broader than the holster itself and often shaped similar to the top half of a ping pong paddle. The paddle portion is slid inside the waistband, while the holster itself rides outside the waistband. The large surface area of the paddle helps to prevent the entire holster assembly from being inadvertently removed from the carry position when the handgun is withdrawn from the holster.

Pocket– A holster that either wrap around the handgun to disguise it as a wallet or holds it in place in a pocket to facilitate drawing from the pocket, while the holster stays in place. Wallet style holsters often provide an opening to access the trigger and allow the firearm to be fired while still inside the holster.

Retention Level I– A Level I holster provides passive retention by using compression of the holster against the firearm, creating friction, which is felt as resistance when the handgun is drawn. Common examples of Level I holsters include leather and/or polymer that have been molded to the shape of the specific handgun to create the compression. Both fixed and adjustable (using a tension screw; see definition below) compression/friction methods are available in Level I holsters. No mechanical devices actively capture or engage the firearm to prevent it from being removed from the holstered position. So, a Level I holster uses a single method of retention– a compression/friction system. Some disadvantages include that the firearm can be disengaged from the holster when not intended by the user. This can occur due to a wide variety of possible circumstances, such as abrupt movement that can be caused while riding a vehicle on rough terrain, running, falling or being suspended upside down. This also means that a child or assailant can more easily seize the firearm from the owner.

Retention Level II– A Level II holster provides passive retention by using compression of the holster against the firearm, which creates friction, plus active retention through using a mechanical device to capture/engage the firearm to prevent it from being removed from the holstered position unless the retention device is disengaged. Retention devices can include a strap, catch, lever, block, et cetera. Level II holsters use both passive and active retention systems.

Retention Level III– A Level III holster provides passive retention by using compression of the holster against the firearm, plus two separate active retention systems that use a mechanical device to capture/engage the firearm to prevent it from being removed from the holstered position unless the retention devices are disengaged. Level III holsters use a passive and two active retention systems. This increases the holstered security of the firearm through redundancy, but it also increases draw time and the possibility of failing to release both retention systems on the initial attempt, especially if under duress.

Retention Strap– A band fastened to the holster or extension of the holster material used to secure the handgun in place, commonly using a Velcro or metal snap mechanism. This can also be referred to as a thumb break.

Shoulder Holster– A holster that is suspended from a harness worn over the shoulder or shoulders.  The holster itself usually rides under the weak side armpit.

Small of the Back (SOB)– Refers to a holster that is carried in the small of the back and commonly has a forward cant.  These holsters can be either OWB or IWB.

Strong Side– Refers to the primary shooting hand side of the body.  For example, if you shoot with your right hand, the right side of your body would be considered your strong side.

Tactical Holster– Refers to a holster that is worn on the outside thigh of the strong side. Also commonly referred to as either a drop leg or thigh holster.

Tension Screw– Refers to a screw based device mounted within the holster itself that allows the shooter to adjust the draw tension to his/her specifications.

Weak Side– Refers to the secondary shooting hand side of the body.  For example, if you shoot with your right hand, the left side of your body would be considered your weak side.

When considering your handgun holster purchase, the primary materials used in its construction will affect the form, fit, and function of the final product. The following are the most commonly utilized materials by current manufacturers.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)– As the name suggests, this is a polymer product that has reinforcing material added to lend strength and stability to the product. The woven carbon fiber fabric material embedded in the polymer helps to add resiliency, while reducing the likelihood of fracturing under duress. The material can be molded to the size and shape of a particular handgun to provide a custom fit. The material does not retain moisture and is considered stable within typical temperature ranges.

Kydex®– A thermoplastic material used to produce holsters that are molded to the size and shape of a particular handgun to provide a custom fit. As Kydex® is a polymer, it does not retain moisture. It can be susceptible to breaking under stress in cold temperatures and can be deformed when exposed to high temperatures.

Leather– A natural material produced from animal hide that can either be used to produce generic size holsters or ones that are molded to the shape of a particular handgun to provide a custom fit. Leather is a well known and tested material that is versatile. As a natural product, its composition and quality varies widely. It has the disadvantage of holding moisture and losing its integrity with extensive use.

Nylon– A woven fabric made from synthetic material, commonly Cordura® nylon or Kodra nylon, to form holsters that are generic in size and detailing for a broad range of handgun models based on overall length and width.

While a variety of material options are available in most holster styles, the styles themselves have particular applications for which they are best suited. Below are my thoughts and experiences on some of the strengths and weaknesses of the most common handgun holster styles on the market today.

Style/Configuration Pros & Cons

Belt Loop– As one of the most common OWB holsters on the market, the belt loop has many applications. They are well suited for open carry uses, such as a day at the range, working around the yard, or making a trip into town (if your state allows open carry).

Pros: Holster is strongly secured to the belt and unlikely to be inadvertently removed, easy access to handgun, allows for rapid draw.

Cons: Requires taking off your belt to remove, less readily concealed, bulky when in a vehicle or seated position.

Paddle– The paddle holster offers easy on/off flexibility in combination with the ready access of an OWB holster.

Pros: Easily put on and taken off, easy access, allows for rapid draw.

Cons: Can be removed with adequate force, less readily concealed, bulky when in a vehicle or seated position.

Inside the Waistband– This holster is a top choice for concealment underneath garments, while still allowing for fairly fast access if configured properly.

Pros: Allows for concealment without needing an over garment, such as a jacket, and can be drawn with reasonable speed when configured appropriately.

Cons: Can be removed with adequate force, slower to draw than an OWB holster, can be uncomfortable for some users, including when in a seated position or using a larger frame handgun.

Shoulder– This suspended holster offers concealment with jackets and vests. Some versions include a magazine pouch on the side opposite the firearm.

Pros: Offers concealment and easy access.

Cons: Requires a jacket or vest to be worn for concealment, can be difficult to draw from due to lack of rigid support.

Ankle– A holster that offers concealment for small to medium frame handguns that works well with many different types of pants.

Pros: Useful option when concealment is needed and holsters such as IWB or pocket are not an option.

Cons: Can be slow to draw and may come loose if strenuous movement, such as running or jumping, are required.

Drop Leg/Thigh/Tactical– A leg mounted holster system that is tactical in nature.

Pros: Rapid draw, no issues with being seated.

Cons: No concealment options, can be jostled out of place due to strenuous activities.

Pocket– A concealed holster that is specifically designed to be carried in a pocket.

Pros: Easy to conceal small frame handguns, the draw can be discretely disguised as retrieving one’s wallet, keys, etc.

Cons: Can only be readily drawn from a standing position, slower draw time.

Specialty– The range of special purpose holsters is broad and includes such items as pouches, hip packs, purses, tactical jackets, books/binders, and many others.

Pros: Concealment can be achieved in a variety of ways.

Cons: The handgun is less secure, in that it can be taken away from the owner while still in the carry object (hip pack, purse, book, etc.), and can take more time to draw.

While I’ve tried not to focus on particular brands and models in general, I would like to share some of my personal experiences with a few particular holster models that I found to be noteworthy, based on performance at both ends of the spectrum.

The Good, The Bad, and The Really Ugly

Blackhawk! SERPA CQC– This OWB retention level II holster that is made from durable CFRP and comes with both a belt loop and paddle mounting option. The retention system is easily and ergonomically released by depressing a finger paddle in the area of the frame just above the trigger guard, placing the hand in the proper position to safely draw the gun and present it at your target without changing your grip. In addition, Blackhawk! Offers a SERPA Quick Disconnect System that allows the holster to be attached to other mounting systems, such as a drop leg configuration. I believe that the versatility and security of this holster will make it a valuable piece of equipment for hunting, recreational use, open carry around town, or in a SHTF scenario. This holster rates near the top of the good category of my book.

Versacarry®– This is a skeletonized IWB style holster that is essentially nothing more than a polymer clip with a barrel retention plug. By sliding the barrel of the handgun firmly onto the holster plug, the handgun is held in place with a Level I retention system. The plug is connected to the polymer hanger and clip system that function similar to other IWB belt clip systems. The lack of additional materials to cover the handgun means that the holster adds very little width and bulk under the concealment clothing. It also results in the firearm coming into direct contact with your skin, so this may cause discomfort for some users. I have only had this holster for a short time, but I’ve found this to be very comfortable and practical for IWB applications. I give this holster a good rating for function.

Homemade Leather Holsters– When it comes to simple utilitarian holsters, such as a level I retention belt loop holster or pocket holster, I have found that building my own hand crafted holsters from good quality cow hide leather produces satisfactory results. I have come to value the ability to craft holsters that are the specific size and configuration that serve my purposes well. With just a little research and practice, I discovered that building custom leather holsters is fairly straightforward and very affordable. If you take your time and do it well, you can produce a rather good holster. Try to cut corners or rush through the process and you’re likely to end up with a rather bad holster.

Thunderwear– This specialty holster is a hybrid system that I can best describe as a cross between an IWB holster and a flattened hip pack shaped fabric pouch. Worn as a pocket below the waistline and in front of the groin area, it acts like an IWB holster without any clips or other components sticking above or clasping onto your belt. However, while the concept seems sound, I’ve found that I could never get comfortable with a handgun pressed firmly against the area just above my groin. I also found that it was susceptible to creating an awkward appearing print through certain types of clothing. While I believe that this holster has its merits, it did not become one of my favorites. For me, this holster falls into both the bad and really ugly categories.

Application

The unique ergonomics of each person will dictate the style and configuration of holster that will offer the most benefit. For example, the length of one’s arm as it relates to their body’s waistline and where they wear the waistline/belt of their clothing can significantly impact the ergonomics of the holster position. If you prefer to wear the waistline of your clothing near your bellybutton, as compared to around your hips, the difference in location that a high ride versus low ride holster would place the grip of your handgun can be significant.

In order to best determine which holster will offer you the most value for your particular situation, I highly recommend trying out as many styles as you can get your hands on before you make a purchase. Whenever possible, I have borrowed a friend’s holster or visited a gun shop that allows customers to try out their products before buying. As a safety note, always remember to test out holsters using training handguns or an unloaded firearm. No matter how familiar you are with the handgun, you are not used to the holster, so play it safe.

Remember to consider all of the possible scenarios in which you may utilize your handgun holster before deciding which style(s) may be best for your particular application. Based on my own experience, I have found that a normal week of concealed carry may involve the use of three different types of holsters in order to best fit the circumstances of each day or outing. For example, if heading out in normal business attire wearing a pair of dress pants, I’ve found that an ankle holster works the best for me. I might come home and change into a pair of jeans for an evening out and switch my carry handgun into a pocket holster or decide that because I’ll be seated most of the time that evening, an IWB holster would offer better access to my handgun. If purchasing multiple holsters is not an option for you, consider the most common situations in which you are likely to carry your handgun and select a holster that would work well for the majority of your likely situations.

When it comes to your survival gear for a SHTF scenario, it is my assumption that concealed carry and recreational use holsters will become far less important than those holsters that accommodate practical, tactical, and hunting applications. Given this line of thinking, I have selected the Blackhawk! SERPA CQC line of holsters for my survival equipment. I believe that employing a holster system that is durable, offers quick, yet secure access, and that can be carried in a variety of methods will be the most versatile for the array of scenarios that are most likely to present themselves should TEOTWAWKI arrive at our doorstep.

Final Thoughts

Practice, practice, practice. Let me say it again, practice with your holster. It is very important that you build your familiarity, confidence, and muscle memory with your new handgun holster. Given that the life of you and/or your loved ones may depend on your ability to safely draw your handgun and present it on target with all urgency, you don’t want to be figuring out how to extricate it from underneath your clothing or how to disengage the retention system when it is needed most. So become familiar with it now, and it will enhance your level of security and the peace of mind that goes with it.

Letter Re: Jury Nullification

Dear SurvivalBlog,

Having sat on a number of juries in Alaska, I can attest to the fact that judges give instructions to juries that they are only to be the judges of fact and not judges of the law.

In United States v. Dougherty 1972 the decision read, in part, “The fact that there is widespread existence of the jury’s prerogative, and approval of its existence as a “necessary counter to casehardened judges and arbitrary prosecutors,’ does not establish as an imperative that the jury must be informed by the judge of that power.” So, while the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the right of the jury to nullify the law in any case, it also allows the court to hide that fact from the jury. Jury nullification goes back to at least the Magna Carta. What Alaska legislators are trying to accomplish is to allow juries to know their rights and powers. Cops can lie to anyone legally and judges can lie to jurors at least sometimes. Courts will still hide information from the jury, but this is a step in the right direction. – R.

HJL Adds: The only thing more scary than a manipulative judge is an ignorant jury. While I’m not sure that the proper way to deal with this is to include the instructions via the court, every potential jurist should know that the power of nullification exists. Jury nullification is a powerful tool in the hands of the common man even if that man is the “Obama phone woman”. I can see a time where nullification of the law may be the only choice in states like New York or Connecticut regarding the absurd firearms laws.

News From The American Redoubt:

Wyoming Candidate for Governor Runs on Nullification Platform – B.B.

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More Idahoans carrying concealed thanks to enhanced permit – The primary advantage is that this permit is recognized by more states for those that travel. – RBS

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He is an advocate of less government and less taxes. So he is being targeted for recall… Kuna school trustee target of recall petition – B.L.

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Cassia County sheriff offers free concealed carry course

Economics and Investing:

US Threatens Russia Over Petrodollar-Busting Deal – C.V.

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Renewed Estimates of Chinese Gold Demand & their Geopolitical Strategy

Items from The Economatrix:

Baltic Dry Drops 9th Day In A Row; Worst Q1 In Over 10 Years

Nomura’s Chief Economist Richard Koo – U.S. Heading For 1900 Percent Inflation Rate

This Is What Employment In America Really Looks Like…

Why You Should Fear Inflation: The CPI Understates The True Nature Of Inflation. BLS Only Allocates Less Than 2 Percent To Tuition In CPI. Missing Big On The Biggest Expense In Housing.

Odds ‘n Sods:

It may not be the Redoubt, but it’s on the right track. Now if we could just get Constitutional Carry Enacted… Kansas lawmakers OK bill to void local gun rules

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In Kentucky, Any ‘War on Women’ Will Face Armed Resistance. – F.F.

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Code Enforcement Cites Kids’ Garden for Overgrown Head of Lettuce – C.V.

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As it was in Connecticut, so shall it be in New York!EMPIRE STATE REBELLION: Hundred of Thousands of New Yorkers Refuse To Register So-Called “Assault Weapons” Ahead Of April 15 Deadline.

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Taxi unions say government regulation is essential to “safeguard” the public from itself. Cities to Carpoolers: Sharing Your Car is Illegal, We Will Seize Your Cars – H.L.

Note from HJL:

Rest assured, we have not been abducted by aliens or carried off by the NSA. We have been having issues with our Internet service provider and are currently working those issues. We hope to have everything taken care of by the end of this week, so please bear with us.

Guest Article: Why Do I Carry Concealed? by J.B.

I often get asked, “Why would you want to carry a gun?” My answer is usually a little different from other people’s. For me, it comes down to the experiences I had when I was younger. I grew up in Southern California. As a white kid, I was the minority at my elementary school. Maybe I was too young or just didn’t pay attention to the news, but I wasn’t concerned with my safety too much. There was a drive-by on my grandma’s street, and a stray bullet hit her house. Luckily no one was harmed, and having a gun wouldn’t have made much difference in that situation. Besides that, there was the occasional robbery in our apartment complex. It’s a scary situation when someone runs by your door with a gun and T.V. when you are only 4 years old.

We found out my grandpa had terminal cancer and was given one year to live. So to get him and the rest of my family out of the bad living situation, my family decided to move to Salt Lake City, Utah. We had driven through there many times and heard such good things about the city. Again, it might be that I am older or the media exaggerates bad situations, but I still have not felt safe here. It seems like there are more drug and shooting related issues here than there were where I lived in California.

The one specific situation that led me to feel the need to conceal carry happened when I was 14. My friend and I went on a double date to the Fun Dome close by a TRAX station. (TRAX is a trolley system out here.) We left around 9pm and started the two block walk to the station. About halfway there, a gentleman across the street started yelling at us. It sounded like he was trying to scare us, so being the stupid teens we were, we started yelling back. He then started threatening us with physical danger, and we could tell he was intoxicated. Being the oldest of the group, I told everyone to keep walking, and I stayed at the back of the group to make sure he didn’t follow us. Unfortunately, we had somehow offended this guy, and he started walking across the street. While he was walking, he pulled something shiny out from behind his jacket. He threatened me specifically to stop or he would hurt me. I couldn’t make out what the object was in the dim light, until he got about ten feet away from me. At that point I saw that it was a large stainless steel revolver. He had a hard time standing straight, let alone holding the gun straight, which made me even more worried that he would do something reckless. I spoke with him for about 15 minutes apologizing and begging him not to shoot me. He was finally satisfied and turned around to go back to the other guy he was with. I caught up with my friends to find that my friend had wet his pants and the girls had tried to call 911, only to get hung up on because the operators didn’t believe them. We called my mom, and she picked us up and took everyone home.

We were not under the influence of anything. We were not aggressive or anything, just some kids walking to the TRAX station after a night of fun. My friends tried to do the right thing and call the police for help, yet were ignored. Fortunately, everyone was okay, but no one helped us. That was when I decided that I don’t want to rely on someone else to protect me. I need to protect myself and the ones I love. Years and years later, I think back to that incident and how differently it would be if it happened now. I would now have a way to protect myself and those I care about. I would now not have to chance something bad happening or begging for my life. I could choose to fight for my life. Even though I think about that situation a lot, I hope I never have a situation like that again. Just because I carry does not mean I want to ever have to use it. It does not mean I am asking for trouble. It is strictly a tool I will use to protect myself and those around me from harm. It is a tool that I know inside out and I practice with frequently. I share my experience with others when they ask and thought that your blog would be a great place to share it with many more. I feel that if more people share their reasons for carrying, those that do not will understand and not judge.

Thank you for reading.