Preparing for the "Big What if": Buying a gun

WaPo & Free Republic ^ | Sept 15, 2008 | Joe Brower

[Kevmo]

The Washington Post article is already being commented upon here in Free Republic.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091202414

The purpose of this thread is to help Freepers and lurkers decide upon what the best mode of self defense would be in the case of the breakdown in social order such as happened with the Rodney King riots.

Joe Brower owns one of the RKBA (Right to Keep and Bear Arms) ping lists. I tried to convince him to open this vanity because he and his friends are more knowledgeable about guns. He says, "there have already been threads on the subject you mention right here on FR, although I can't locate them now. Tell you what -- you start the thread and then ping me, and I'll then flag my RKBA list for comments. I'm sure some folks in that group would be able to provide links, as well as plenty of timely advice. "

This scenario is called the SHTF scenario, where the acronym stands for $#|+ Hits The Fan. So this will be the SHTF gun thread for November 2008... Of course, gun ownership isn't for everyone. But it is the most accessible safety measure under our constitution, which is as our founding fathers intended. Recall where the police were when the Rodney King riots started: they left the scene for their own safety. If that were to happen in your neighborhood, what is your plan?

[rmccullo]

I’d second the opinion in the Rem 870 combo. Don’t need to take any stupid test (as for handgun ownership here in CA), reasonably affordable, durable, the newer modles have a safety lock that requires a special tool to disable, ammo is cheap and readily available (use #4 buck for crowd control), easy to maintain. You can also take up skeet or trap with the long barrel if you like. The only other alternative is any of the “security” shottys that Big 5 carry. They’re a little cheaper (and maybe not as solidly built, but still safe) but they all come with the 18.5” barrel which isn’t useful for bird shooting.

Oh, BTW, Obama will win CA, but McCain/Palin will win the general...and there will be no riots anywhere.

[Kevmo]

So You’re Thinking of Buying a Gun
Sierra Times ^ | 11.27.01 | Sunni Maravillosa

Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 8:59:52 AM by

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/578959/posts

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So You Want To Buy A Gun. Enjoy. L. 37 posted on 09/29/2001 6:11:54 PM PDT by Lurker. [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies] ...
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[tacticalogic]

Second the 12 ga. pump recommendations. Take up sporting clays for entertainment.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

And then they complain when stores and other businesses don’t want to located in their neighborhoods.

[Kevmo]

Being a hunter,
***I’m not a hunter.

[BubbaBasher]

A few pieces of info for you. A .22 has NO stopping power. It will only piss them off and they will get you before you can load the next round.

Keep the weapon out of reach of the kids and teach them not to touch it or go near it. A locked gun is useless for self defense.

The reason there were no Y2K disasters is because thousands of people like me worked countless hours to fix the problems before the event. The threat and the problems were real.

The threat of riots is real too. The only way to deal with it is to be prepared. Hope for the best prepare for the worst.

[alarm rider]

What the neophytes need to do is to think, but not to the point of paralysis.

If you live in a large urban area, work in a large urban area or visit a large urban area, you need to pay attention to what is going on and the big “IF” in November. That's number one.

I would suggest to my non-gun owning friends that you sit down and truly look with an objective eye regarding the situation. Can I defend my property if I have to do so? Can I defend the lives of my family if I have to do so?
What are the risks of major rioting and or other upheaval near me?

Shotguns are good for personal defense if you understand the limitations. A .22 rifle is nice for plinking cans and bottles, and I guess in a pinch if you got off a very good shot, you might get lucky. Personally, I would not bother.

My suggestion would be a bolt action rifle, a small revolver and a 9mm or .45 automatic pistol. If you are not familiar with firearms, take a class. Practice. Practice. Practice. Understand that it is a tool, and always treat every thing that even looks like a gun as a loaded weapon.

Good luck to all.

[Knitebane]

Being a hunter, buy yourself a remington 870 shot gun

Blech.

Now don't get me wrong. The 870 is a fine weapon. For hunting. I have one and wouldn't get rid of it.

But when seconds count, I don't want to be fumbling for that silly little button the the trigger guard.

Get a Mossberg 500. The safety is on top, you push it toward the bad guy to shoot.

Plus, the Model 500 is the only shotgun to pass the US Army's Mil-Spec 3443E test.

[WayneS]

Best firearms for defending oneself in a”riot”?

I cast my vote for two (both carried at the same time):

1) A pump action 12 gauge shotgun with plenty of 00Buck shells.

2) A .357 mag revolver with a couple speed-loaders and plenty of extra ammunition.

I’ll certainly not argue with those who are more comfortable with a semi-auto pistol like the good-ol’ .45 ACP (with several spare magazines and, as before, plenty of extra ammo), but I think the shotgun is absolutley indespensible in a “close-in” situation. The police don’t call their short-barreled pump actions “riot guns” for nothing.

[MrB]

OK, so can a “civvy” buy one of those 18(?) rd tube magazined Remington 12 guages?

[dragnet2]

The purpose of this thread is to help Freepers and lurkers decide upon what the best mode of self defense would be in the case of the breakdown in social order

Too late for all that.

The government has already perpetrated a coast to coast lawless violent invasion by allowing into the country upwards of 40 million illegal aliens...

While at the same time forcing the working class to subsidize the business owners illegal low wage labor. While the biz owners reap their profits from low wage illegal workers, the American working class are left twisting in the wind, paying for millions of illegals health care, food stamps, etc.

All this while the government has spent money like a drunken lotto winner.

This is a perfect example of an extreme breakdown in social order that has been building strong for over 10 years now.

[DCBryan1]

If you have never owned a gun: buy a revolver for close in and a bolt action/lever for range ( see below)
If you don't have much $$$, buy a Ruger 10/22 and a brick of ammo...will kill game and feral humans.
If you absolutely want to kill stop a man in your home, get a 12 gauge pump-action and load it with #4 buck.
If you want to defend property outside the home, you need #00 buckshot for distance and car/garage penetration (warning: can penetrate many sheetrock walls).
If you want to defend against a mob, you will need a semi-auto with hi-cap magazines, ar-15/ak series/mini14/sks.
for two man team patrols in/around property, it's hard to beat a .357 lever action for the wife/preteens and a .357 revolver. (can shoot .38 SPL)....this is old school SHTF... But still has merits.
lastly..... For zombie defense, get a M1919a4 on tripod and set the T&E to head level ;)

[MrB]

Another thing that “community organizers” harp about - the higher prices in stores in these neighborhoods.

Well, if you “community organizers” would “organize” a lower crime rate, these businesses wouldn’t have to invest in the extra security measures, have to deal with as much theft, and lower insurance rates,

then they could charge what they charge in “white” neighborhoods.

[CGTRWK]

To paraphrase Jeff Cooper, a gun isn’t the magic wand portrayed on TV that resolves bad people by simply waving in their general direction.

Buying the cheapest one on the Walmart rack - or a $2000 tacticool M4gery for that matter - a month before a crisis and locking it up in the closet just in case is only marginally better than doing nothing at all.

The time to go out in the woods and plink is today. When making every mistake in the book doesn’t matter.

[PGalt]

I tend to agree with you, but it never hurts to “Be Prepared”. Good post, Kevmo. Good advice for everyone who values life...their life...loves freedom...their freedom.

The left has ratcheted up this continuous process of warfare, psychological and political, if not militarily...yet.

I’m somewhat concerned about our candidates well-being. I would not put anything past these socialists.

[GOPJ]

If it looks like McCain's going to win, rent a place in a better neighborhood for a few days.

The places that are burned or destroyed are usually small stores that are easy to loot. Stay away from them.

Riots won't last more than a few days. If you think your neighborhood will blow, go on vacation, visit the in-laws. Send the kids away.

If there's rioting, responsible blacks - including Obama - will be out there telling people to calm down. And the police will be doing their part.

It'll be fine.

Don't be bullied into voting for Obama out of fear.

[Judith Anne]

I’ve always had a 12 gauge shotgun, which I keep loaded for home safety. Recently I bought a .38 snubnose revolver, since it is easier to handle with the arthritis. The kids have home defense weapons, we’ve all grown up with firearms for hunting and defense.

We’ve never needed them, but I’d rather have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.

[itsthejourney]

I wanted this for Christmas

You'll shoot your eye out.

I agree with the person who said it's all in where you live. I can't see much happening in Texas where most everyone has guns and aren't afraid to use them.

[CodeToad]

ROTFLMAO!!! The minority crowd burns down their OWN neighborhoods...not mine. “Riots”?? Fine. Those slums good use a good cleaning out.

[WayneS]

Have you been looking in my gun safe?

I actually HAVE at least one of each of the weapons you mentioned in your post... except the “zombie” gun. Does WANTING one of those count??