The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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 “HJL”. The socialist utopia of Venezuela makes the news again over the black market from prescription drugs due to shortages.

California Fires

Wildfires raging across Southern California have shut down major commuter arteries, suspended movie filming, wiped out more than $3 billion of market value and are threatening some of the sates lucrative crops in addition to destroying homes. Ventura County, home to a third of California’s Avocado has seen tens of thousands of acres burned and the states citrus growers have been affected as well. Apparently the reason Edison’s stock has taken a hit is the suspicion that its power lines may be to blame for some of the blazes and it will bear the cost of the fires.

North Korea

North Korea is making rumblings that the U.S. B-1B heavy bombers that the U.S. deployed in exercises with South Korea have made the outbreak of war “an established fact”. This was an annual exercise that South Korea and the U.S. participate in and it draws condemnation from North Korea every year, but the B1-Bs were new this year. China is officially urging calm and Russia has said it will facilitate peace talks between North Korea and the U.S. though I’m not sure either country wants peace at this time. North Korea is like a spoiled child in that it keeps throwing temper-tantrums to gain concessions like it normally does and the U.S. keeps provoking instead of giving in.

How Many Wars?

Reader H.L. sent in this article on how many wars the U.S. is currently involved in world wide. More than you think. U.S. Special Operations have deployed to 135 countries in 2017. That is roughly 70 percent of all the recognized countries on earth. Every day, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is carrying out missions in 80 to 90 countries. Sometimes they are practicing raids, sometimes they are conducting them for real. Sometimes they are training the locals and sometimes they are leading the locals. We have now eclipsed the number and range of missions undertaken at the height of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Venezuela

The socialist utopia of Venezuela has so many chronic shortages that black market medical flea markets are starting to spring up. Peddlers offer everything from antibiotics to contraceptives right along side the traditional fruits and vegetables. The local pharmaceutical association estimates that there is a shortage of around 85 percent of critical drugs due to tanking national production and strict currency controls that crimp imports. Thanks to S.R. for the link.

#LeavePublicSchool

Reader D.S. sent in this article on a law suit from conservative students against a Minnesota high school. The school allegedly violated the students rights to free expression by requiring them to respect peers who chose to dishonor the American flag on Veteran’s Day. The Young Conservatives Club (YCC) posted a video online showing students who refused to stand for the national anthem and “Taps” to honor fallen soldiers with critical comments resulting in a slew of threats labeling the group as racists and bigots. A masked student also threatened members of the club online for their “alt-right agenda”. The school is more concerned about protecting the feelings of the little snowflakes than it is about protecting the members of the YCC from the threats of other students.

Planned Parenthood

Reader D.B. informs us that the Department of Justice has finally launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood over the selling of body parts of aborted babies. This is good news, though there is question as to the effectiveness. The SurvivalBlog reader notes that Congressman Gowdy has consumed tax dollars for over eight years in his investigations and has literally produced nothing except for some amusing verbal chastising of witnesses who have been caught lying.

National Reciprocity

The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 38 which is the national reciprocity bill. The bill passed along partisan lines with the Democrats voting against for ideological reasons. That’s apparently just what the Democratic Party stands for – gun control. With the upcoming elections next year, this is obviously a political ploy. Democrat representatives from states that have “shall issue” concealed carry laws will now be in the position of having to explain to their constituents why they voted against the bill. Sadly, the House also passed it with the “Fix NICS” amended to it.

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Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via ourContact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!




10 Comments

  1. National Reciprocity is a BAD IDEA.
    This is just more gun regulation.
    More laws that can be perverted, twisted, amended or altered to suit your government masters. There is NO benefit for CCW’s here; in fact it will decrease your safety when travelling through gun-unfriendly states.

    I don’t want to be this guy:
    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2014/01/15/unreal-unarmed-but-legal-florida-ccw-gun-owner-drives-through-maryland-then-it-goes-downhill/
    Innocent stopped by MD cop after plate reader identified him as a CCW, despite this being illegal. You want this type of police activity the new norm?
    Really? Do you trust your government to uphold any passed law?

    Easy travel fix: transport weapon in an ammo can with the front wire handle locked to the top with a breech cable lock. This can be sprung loose in less than several seconds without a key. This satisfies the law when passing through states as you’re travelling with said firearm in a locked container.
    I have shown this setup to LEO’s in several states and they approved of it as following the laws nationwide.
    In addition, NEVER announce you are carrying, even in states that require it.
    Travel no more than 8 miles an hour over the speed limit.
    In addition, think twice about travelling through gun unfriendly areas when crossing state lines, and circumvent them if possible, even if it adds travel time.

    Even before this passed the house, we saw them fiddling with the bill and trying to tack on ridiculous requirements.
    This is just a precursor to national gun registration. Identify all gun owners, by storing their fingerprints and other personal info in a FEDERAL database.
    What could possibly go wrong?

  2. Any holder of a concealed weapon/carry permit, IS, already, entered into a “federal database”, via the enhanced driver’s licenses, now required by Federal law. Simply put, when your plate or DL is run for warrant checks, your permit immediately comes up on the MDT screen in the patrol car. This is already in place, in all 50 states, inspite of Internet mythology to the contrary. Yes, it WILL be misused and abused in non-Constitutional states and municipalities, as it already is used as a tool to attempt to intimidate and harass legal citizens. Know your rights and exercise them aggressively while being as courteous and civil as possible. Don’t give the Communist Statists a reason to go further “fishing”….

  3. Ned, I doubt that any type of firearms container will meet with approval from Maryland or New Jersey police.
    They don’t want outsiders to have a gun in their state. And they ignore the Federal law because they can. I simply avoid travelling in either state. If you have to drive I-95 from Virginia to New York, good luck.

  4. As a Retired L.E.O.,when travelling with, or without, a concealed carry permit:1. Don’t admit to having a firearm in the vehicle regardless if that states requirement is to do so. 2.NEVER consent to a search of the vehicle. It’s your Constitutional RIGHT to refuse law enforcement consent to search your vehicle without probable cause,and without evidence of a crime being committed! 3.Lock the handgun(s) in a case that doesn’t LOOK like a gun case. Doskocil has handgun attache cases that I’ve carried handguns in while flying,and TSA didn’t flag it allowing it to go straight through to the baggage carousel with my other bags. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Doskocil-Hard-Shell-Gun-Case-WITH-Key-BLACK-w-Both-Pads-CROC-EMBOSSED/162349767520?hash=item25ccccdb60:g:dEsAAOSw44BYcS0H 4. Affix a label to the case stating it’s the property of someone other than you. EX:PROPERTY OF Joe Blow. This way you can maintain that the case is not your property and you can’t give consent for a L.E.O. to search it. 5. Don’t plaster firearms organizations stickers to your vehicle like NRA,Gun Owners of America, etc. This alerts l.e.o.’s that there might be a firearm in the vehicle, leading to pressure to give a consent to search, or for them to launch into a “fishing expedition “, turning a traffic “detention ” into an arrest of your right to travel. You can only be detained for the amount of time necessary to either cite you for a traffic offense, or otherwise resolve the stop,such as a warning, verbal or written.

    1. James D Faulkner thanks for posting….when I took my CCW class here in North Carolina we were taught to inform the officer of a weapon at once if we were stopped and show our CCW permit…in addition if it’s night time I turn on every interior light….then I place my hands on top of the steering wheel and don’t move them until the officer instructs me…the goal is for everybody to remain calm and get thru the traffic stop as smoothly as possible….I try to look at things from the officer’s POV….especially at night….lots of dangerous people on the roads these days.

  5. In in states where no CCW permit is needed (like Alaska), you don’t get flagged if you get stopped by a cop. When was the last time you did a form 4473? Where do you think that information is being stored/used? Sure, the law says they aren’t supposed to be. After the NSA fiasco et al, do you really think the law applies to licensed purchases anymore?

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