The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the newly-minted U.S. Space Force.

US Space Force to Take Over Florida Bases

Linked over at the great Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Patrick AFB, Canaveral fall under new US Space Force. Indeed, the Space Force is now officially the sixth military branch. JWR’s Comment:  This inevitably leads me to ask: What color or camouflage pattern will their uniforms be? Star Wars Black? My personal vote is for the Star Wars Endor camouflage pattern.  That would be stylin.  🙂

New Jersey Bill Would Allow Opt-Out for Smart Meters

Regular content contributor DSV mentioned this, over at WorldNetDaily: New program offers consumers opt-out for smart meters. An excerpt:

“According to Mike Maharrey at the Tenth Amendment Center, a bill has been proposed in the New Jersey Assembly to give utility customers in the state the ability to opt out.

‘Passage of this bill would enable New Jersey residents to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step toward blocking a federal program in effect,’ his report said.

Three members of the legislature have proposed Assembly Bill 5884.

‘Smart meters monitor home energy usage in minute detail in real-time. The devices transmit data to the utility company where it gets stored in databases. Anybody with access to the data can download it for analysts. Without specific criteria limiting access to the data, these devices create significant privacy issues. Smart meters can also be used to remotely limit power usage during peak hours,’ the report said.

‘A5884 would require utility companies to provide written notice to customers at least 90 days before installing a smart meter. Customers would have an option to decline the installation of a smart meter within 30 after receiving written notice with no fee or penalty. Customers declining installation after 30 days but not later than 90 days after the notice could be charged a fee of no more than $100…'”

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” – Revelation 14: 1-12 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 4, 2020

January 4th is the birthday of George Hyde. His surname at birth was “Heide”, but it was later anglicized. He was born in 1888, in Arpfingen, Germany. He was the chief gun designer for the Inland Division of General Motors (GM) in Dayton, Ohio during World War II. Hyde was best-known as the co-designer of the M3 “Grease gun” SMG and the Liberator pistol, but he also designed the Bendix-Hyde Carbine and the M2 Hyde submachinegun. He immigrated to the United States in 1927.

6.5 Creedmoor for Survival? by John McAdams

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Editor’s Introductory Note: The following is a guest article authored by John McAdams, the founder of The Big Game Hunting Blog and hosts The Big Game Hunting Podcast. He kindly wrote it for SurvivalBlog, at my request. I recommend bookmarking both his blog and his podcast. Great stuff.

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With the continued popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, it’s only natural that some people are considering equipping themselves with a rifle chambered in the cartridge for use in a When The Schumer Hits The Fan (WTSHTF) situation. Countless hunters and shooters have embraced the 6.5 Creedmoor in recent years, but many others are understandably skeptical about making the switch over to the relatively new cartridge.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a well-designed cartridge that does indeed offer certain advantages to the user when compared to some of the other more popular and more well-established centerfire rifle cartridges. That said, it’s not perfect either. In this article, I’m going to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the 6.5 Creedmoor so you can make a well informed decision on whether or not you should be using it in a survival situation.

First, we’ll start off with a short history of the 6.5 Creedmoor as well as what it was originally designed for.

The venerable .308 Winchester was an incredibly popular choice among competitive shooters for many years. More recently, Dave Emary and Dennis DeMille of Hornady Manufacturing and Creedmoor Sports set about developing a new cartridge that would outperform the .308 Winchester in that application. Their goal was a mass-produced and extremely accurate cartridge that had less recoil, a flatter trajectory, more resistance to wind drift than the .308 Winchester.

Formally released in 2007, the new 6.5 Creedmoor used a .30 Thompson Center case necked down to 6.5mm (.264”). The new cartridge was specifically designed with a long neck and with a relatively large powder capacity that enables it to successfully use extremely aerodynamic bullets without intruding into the powder column. Additionally, even when using very long, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets, the cartridge also fits in a short action magazine just like the .308 Winchester.Continue reading“6.5 Creedmoor for Survival? by John McAdams”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Tomorrow, I’m heading home to the Rawles Ranch. Hopefully, the drive will take me only two days. But it could possibly be longer, depending on the road conditions. There is some snow in the weather forecasts for much of my route. I thank the Lord for studded snow tires and four wheel drive! Now, over to Lily…

Avalanche Lily Reports:

Dear Readers,
I want to thank many of your folks that commented on my recent article, A Cowgirl’s Night Out.  We appreciated all of the ideas and suggestions that you wrote in the comments section concerning clothing and light discipline for others to learn from.  For me, I mostly enjoyed my night out with the animals observing them and acclimating myself to being outside alone at night on our ranch.  It was also a fun article to write.  As the Lord God gives me more adventures, I will be sure to share them with you.

However, I feel like I need to clarify a few things in my article concerning clothes and Light Discipline.  It appears that I there was a little bit of flak/misunderstanding from a few folks who seem to think, that if I am the wife of James Wesley, Rawles that I should have all of the same wisdom, knowledge and experience as he has.

But, I don’t. I wasn’t ever in the military…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” – Proverbs 12  (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 3, 2020

On this day, in 1521, Martin Luther – the father of the reformation and founder of Protestantism – was officially excommunicated by Pope Leo X from the Roman Catholic Church.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 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. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  3. 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,
  4. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  5. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  6. 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).
  7. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Good2GoCo.com is providing a $400 purchase credit at regular prices for the prize winner’s choice of either Wise Foods or Augason long term storage foods, in stackable buckets.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  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.

Round 86 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.

Daily Habits for Happiness, by EBL

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My Dad has had a full and rewarding life. He was: An Eagle Scout, Camp Counselor for six years starting at age 14, a lifetime National Ski Patrolman, also starting at age 14, started eight successful small businesses in 30 years, holder of four US patents, member of the National Speakers Association, authored and published 15 books that sold in 22 countries… I could go on. But I think you will agree after reading what follows, he is a real “Value Added” kind of guy!

I recently wrote to my Dad and asked him to write down the best ‘Daily Habits’ that made him successful and happy. Here’s how I plan to use my Dad’s written response… the same way I hope you the reader will too.

I’ll use it for two reasons:
First, The Legacy- to pass down to my children.
Second, To share with the world.

Here are my Dad’s Daily Habits:

1. “ MAKE IT a Great Day !!”
My Dad does Not say… ever…, “ Have a Good Day”. He always says when ending a call or a personal visit, “Make it a Great Day.” Ask yourself: Who is responsible to make it a ‘Great Day’? YOU Are ! End your conversations with this phrase.

2..”Leave Your Campsite Better Than You Found It.”
My Dad learned this from his parents as a young camper. Substitute ‘Campsite’ for “Your World”, “Your Career”, “Your Church”, “Your Community”, etc. This advice builds legacies.

3. “Learn and Use Time Management Skills Daily.”
My Dad,who is now in his 80s, gets more done than anyone I have ever met! What is his secret? He always uses a Clipboard with a form to make a Weekly Plan, in advance of Every week! He writes down his plan on the single page form that includes a box for each of the seven days. (Yes, weekends too), along with a listing on the right side for all the “Projects To Be Completed This Week”. He starts planning, on paper, each week in the middle of the previous week. He includes Meetings & Appointments, etc. Then he keeps the Weekly Plan clipboard near him during every day and crosses out items as he finishes them. At the end of each week, he “Carries Forward” any items not finished in the current week. My Dad guarantees that this will result in much more being accomplished. It will for you, too!Continue reading“Daily Habits for Happiness, by EBL”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the heavy truck market, as an economic indicator. (See the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

A fascinating piece by Lyn Alden, over at Gold-Eagle: Gold Price Forecast: A Weaker Dollar Is The Easiest Path To $2,000 Gold

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Gold Price Forecast: Gold To Rise On Fed Dollar Debasement

Economy & Finance:

My wife (Avalanche Lily) suggested this: 2020 FINANCIAL CRISIS — Has it started? The $500 Billion Dollar Question

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Is the Fed’s $3 Trillion in Loans to Trading Houses on Wall Street Legal? (Thanks to G.P. for the link.)

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2020 FINANCIAL CRISIS — Has it started? The $500 Billion Dollar Question

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At Wolf Street: Turmoil in the Heavy-Truck Market as Seen by a Truck Dealer. The piece begins:

“‘On our lots, there are no lookers for used sleepers, and we will sell new sleepers at a loss to clear them out, and new orders for sleepers have come to a stop,’ a heavy truck dealer who owns two stores with several franchises told me. The truck dealer was talking about the turmoil in the heavy-truck business, where orders for new Class-8 trucks have collapsed by as much as 80% year-over-year…”

Reader H.L. sent this: Americans Are Back To Using Their Home Prices As ATMs: Most Cash Pulled Out in 12 Years!

Sweden: First Central Bank Exits Negative Interest Rates.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible.” – Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience

A Cowgirl’s Night Out, by Avalanche Lily

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On a moonless night, a few nights ago, I was concerned about the safety of our newborn calf, so I decided to camp out with our cows and horses.  In doing so, I learned a few things about both livestock behavior and my night vision.

To begin, this past Friday morning, I went out to feed the animals and saw that my Matriarch cow had not shown up.  I called and called and called her.  I heard her mooing at a low volume.  I went looking for her and found her on the edge of the woods next to the driveway with a newborn calf, just barely standing and very wobbly.  I watched a few moments until, it nursed.  To see the rest of this part of the story please go back and read, “The Editor’s Prepping Progress” column, for last week.

I made two attempts on Friday to get mama and babe into the corrals for safety from predators and easy access for de-horning in a few days, but was unsuccessful.  So I decided to spend the night out with them to add to the protection level.

So about ten o’clock on Friday evening I began to prepare to go outside. I wasn’t sure if I’d spend the whole night out with them or just a few hours.  I was a little bit nervous about it. The temperature was about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and was expected to get down to 24 degrees Fahrenheit with about two inches of snow on the ground in the open areas and only a trace under the trees.  I wore my LL Bean flannel lined jeans, a pair of socks, Bogger’s garden shoes, cotton-t-shirt, Cashmere sweater, Aran Irish wool sweater, my light puffy down jacket, fleece-lined hat and mittens.  I brought my inflatable sleeping pad, my ancient LL Bean qualophill 20 degree sleeping bag (that washes very easily), a big MagLite flashlight, water bottle, and my .45 Glock Model 30.Continue reading“A Cowgirl’s Night Out, by Avalanche Lily”

Annual Reminder: The Ten Cent Challenge

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Each year, I only post one reminder, encouraging voluntary Ten Cent Challenge subscriptions, and this is it.

Hopefully, some readers appreciate the fact that SurvivalBlog is one of the last of the daily “Old School” blogs without any of these annoyances and intrusions:

  • Annoying pop-up ads
  • Opt-in pop-ups to generate e-mail lists
  • E-mail list spamming
  • Auto-playing media
  • Paid placement pseudo-articles
  • Instant surveys
  • “Are you sure you want to leave?” messages
  • Animated graphics or animated/blinking ads
  • “Top 10” slideshows
  • Cheesy stock photography
  • “Members-only” exclusives
  • Keyword stuffing
  • Sporadic posting

SurvivalBlog is not sporadic. I’ve only missed two days of posting in nearly 15 years, and those were just after my first wife passed away. And I have never stooped to the assorted marketing and data-mining trickery that has become so commonplace on the web. No, we are still truly Old School. And we will never sell your e-mail address. We don’t even maintain any e-mail lists for our own use.

Everything at SurvivalBlog–including the full archives–is available free of charge. And we certainly do not harass you with droning week-long PBS-style pledge drives.

Please keep in mind that to operate SurvivalBlog we have considerable expenses for bandwidth, web hosting, maintaining our backup server, software, and legal fees.

If you find that you get more than 10 cents worth of value per day in reading SurvivalBlog, then please donate 10 cents a day ($36.50 per year) to help cover the blog’s costs. And by the way, even with inflation, that suggested donation amount hasn’t changed since the blog’s inception, back in 2005.

There are several payment options including PayPal, cash, checks, booklets of “Forever” U.S. postage stamps, and even mailing us a few silver dimes or quarters. Many folks thoughtfully send some pre-1965 silver dimes or quarters taped to a piece of cardboard.

Only about 1% of readers are Ten Cent Challenge subscribers. Please join in, and do your bit. Your contributions are needed and greatly appreciated.

If sending your subscription by mail, then please use this address:

James Rawles
P.O. Box 303
Moyie Springs, Idaho 83845

Note that unless I have my Amazon Associates account suspended (like Claire Wolfe did), or my PayPal account suspended (like Joe Biggs and Laura Loomer did) then this post will be my only mention of the Ten Cent Challenge, in 2020. I won’t pester you.

Lastly, please consider other ways that you can help support SurvivalBlog. Even just placing links helps a lot. And if you sell food storage, communications, night vision, body armor, alternative energy, shooting, or other preparedness-related products or services, then please consider either advertising or becoming a writing contest prize donor. You’ll find the publicity beneficial to your business, as well!

Many Thanks!, – JWR

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the announced issue of Tikka T3x Arctic rifles, in Canada.

Canadian Rangers to Get Tikka T3x Arctic Rifles

An interesting video from Bloke on the Range (a British ex-pat who lives in Switzerland): Tikka T3x Arctic / Canadian Rangers C19 Rifle, 7.62 / .308 Winchester. JWR’s Comment: I think Jeff Cooper must be smiling, up in heaven.

Using Your Vehicle In Self Defense

An Active Self Protection (ASP) video: Using Your Vehicle In Self Defense Is Almost Always A Great Option

Visualizing the Safe Retreat Locales

NASA – Earth at Night. Dozens of PDFs with high resolution (zoomable) photos. JWR’s Comment: My advice is to move to where you don’t see a lot of lights at night. There, your main concern will be four-legged predators–not the two-legged variety. (Thanks to Ol’ Remus, who linked to this in his Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report blog.)

100 Years of Immigration to The U.S., 1919 to 2019

I spotted this at Whatfinger.com: 100 Years of Immigration to The U.S., 1919 to 2019Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Antifa posers with fantasies of a Civil War II need to worry more. ATF says more than half of all rifles sold were scary semiauto carbines. Combine these so-called “assault rifles” with the current Big Thing for traditional bolt action rifles: shooting very small targets at very long distances, and with more powerful ammo. Then explain to the campus commandos they do this as a hobby, for fun.” – Ol’ Remus, in his Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report blog.