Firearm Q and A - Questions From the Interwebs.

Today I asked a group of people randomly found on the internet to openly ask  me any questions they had about a daily CCW carrier. Out of the barrage of questions (had a few hundred posts), some were worth noting here in an entry. The format was open forum, anyone could post whatever they wanted anonymously without having issue or worry. Some have been corrected for spelling and grammar.

It went as follows:

Question:

What kind of gun and what kind of caliber, discrete holster or open carry? Hip, thigh, shoulder, or ankle Holster?

TSB:

I suggest anything that is .380 or larger for a few different reasons. I personally prefer 9mm myself but I would not denounce anyone for carrying a .380 (summer comfort carry usually) or even a .22 for self defense. Do I prefer .22 for self defense, no. 9mm is the smallest I go if I have the option. A CCW means discrete. Open carry is not an option for my EDC. I prefer a nice leather inside the waist band option (IWB) and I have been using a small of back (SOB) for my frame. I use a Tagua if interested and it's a very nice holster. Only drawback is you may have issues bending over or squatting in public because with larger framed pistols it may print or pop out if not careful. Its called concealed carry for a reason. The other styles pose obvious problems if you think about it. Especially with shoulder holsters and ankle holsters. Shoulder holsters require constant adjustment. And not only this they are expensive, and point the firearm in a dangerous direction at nearly all times. Also, you have to wear a jacket with them and this would not work in the summer. Ankle holster pose another problem. If you needed to get to it, you would have to be leaning down and nearly tying your shoe to reach it. This is not effective as a main carry. For a backup, I would suggest it as a last resort carry.

Q:

Why are you such a tool? I hate to generalize but I never met a guy who carried a gun and was not a complete ass hat.


TSB:

I find this hard to believe since most CCW holders do not announce they are carrying. The general population that are CCW holders are strictly discrete carriers. Chances are you have met many people that are abnormally nice that are just so happening to be carrying firearms and you never knew it. As with any group, there are always going to be douches that represent a bad portion of an awesome group of people. This is no exception.

"This is not your typical CCW carrier, I promise. He has a record I am sure of it."

Q:

How small is your penis?

TSB:

I do not carry a .50 AE pistol to compensate for anything lost in the nether region.

Q:

What are you afraid of?

TSB:

Not much really. I carry as a sense of security knowing that if anything were to happen I would have the option to protect myself and my loved ones and complete strangers in the worst of situations. I live not in fear but in confidence of my training. Its a comfort and a privilege to do so.

"WHUAAAAAAAAA?!"

Q:

Do you carry with one in the chamber?

TSB:

Yes, I carry with one in the chamber. I also do not have a safety on my primary carry firearm. Some people do not like the idea of carrying a firearm with a round chambered for different reasons. One is the accidental discharge myth which I can debunk. In a proper fitting holster, a firearm will not discharge on its own without the aid of an outside force, such as a finger inside of the trigger guard. The triggers are recessed and a proper fitting holster covers the entire trigger guard making accidental discharge nearly impossible. In order to be ready for a scenario you do not have time to charge a weapon most of the time. You will lose the chance to act out of surprise. Carrying with one in the chamber closes the gap of safe to engage, not safe to engage. Some carry with safety on. That is okay if you have been trained to deal with it. Glocks do not have safeties and its for a logical reason. Safeties in the heat of engagement can get you killed. I have never been hot on using safeties for this exact reason, but my lifestyle allows me to do this. I also do not own a Glock.

Q:

Now what do you do if said robber breaks in when you are at work, or on vacation. Your gun will do jack shit.

TSB:

According the the company I work for, the right to carry does not transfer to the employees. Patrons inside our premise can carry though. So at work, I do not carry although my General Manager said if it was up to him, I would be carrying every day there. But this does not mean I am unarmed completely. I carry a work knife that would be suitable for self defense in some scenarios. By policy, if I was robbed whilst working I would have to do whatever they wanted. If my life was in danger I cant say exactly how I would react. But I can mention that utilizing my work knife would be part of it. I have learned a bit about disarming a violent person with a handgun and can say in confidence it would be hard to fire a weapon with a broken pointer finger. On vacation, nothing would change. My CCW routine would remain as long as the laws allow me to travel with it there. I wont go to California or Illinois anytime soon. So I don't have to worry much about that.

Q:

Would something like the Taurus Public Defender be a good home defense weapon?

TSB:

Anything is better than nothing. A pistol like that would be suitable for most jobs presented to it. Options for .45 and .410 is a great option and you can use it to your advantage. Alternating rounds .45 - .410 - .45 etc can help is making sure you hit your target, whatever it is. For carrying in public it would be difficult for most, but for larger framed men it wouldn't be much of an issue. And also, revolvers have little problems when firing. Less failing to fires, and better for loading and forgetting. You can store a loaded revolver for years and not worry about if its going to operate. Revolvers are great. Don't let anyone tell you differently.


Q:

Do you think it would ever be possible in the US to restrict gun ownership in ways that made it difficult for criminals to get them? Or would that require changing the 2nd Amendment, and leave guns in the hands of criminals anyway?

TSB:

In short, no. I do not think that restrictions will change anything. Bad people tend to get guns by doing illegal things anyways. If you restrict, the majority of law abiding citizens are affected in more ways than criminals. Criminal types will always just steal guns. Its one of the biggest worries and obligations of being a responsible gun owner is securing them so they do not GET stolen and used in a crime. Its sad. There is no simple way to do it though. And if there is, it isn't in my own knowledge bank now.

Q:

 What is a good home defense option?

TSB:

I prefer a 12g pump shotgun, with a 18.5 inch barrel. There is much debate over what load to use in it, but I say "Where do you live, what is your scenario" before choosing. For apartment dwellers, condos, and town houses, you live in close proximity to other neighbors. Trailers could be included in this too. You could use bird shot and not worry too much about pass through with smaller sized shot like 7, 8, or 9. In a home with space in between, buckshot can pass through walls hitting loved ones in other rooms. Its all about your scenario and job for your weapon though. Pistols would work great with a tactical light option. But like a broken record, anything works better than nothing. But you have to break down the important bits of information about your surroundings and choose what works best for you and the safety of your family. 00 buck is not ALWAYS the best option. But many disagree with me and say LULULUL LOAD UP MAGNUM SLUGS AND BLAST AWAY. Which is irresponsible and incorrect for most.


I may do this again in the near future as it was fairly comical with some of the questions, and responses to my answers. Will be posting more frequently if time allows it. I would like to specially thank the random internet lurkers for this one, as it was completely up to them with what was posted for this entry.

-TSB

Your Bug Out Bag and YOU!

The show "Doomsday Preppers" has done wonders in doing two things successfully. The first and most prominent thing is opening up the world of preparing to people who never would have had access to the idea otherwise. The unfortunate opposite end of this stick is making people who prep look like paranoid, tin-foil hat wearing, conspiracy theorists.

Is it really that strange that there are people who like to be prepared? Have some people shown on the National Geographic show made it seem like folks are just losing their minds in general? Is it necessary to go the extent these people explained and brought to light? What is going too far survival wise?

The short answer to all these questions is no. However, I do think the Doomsday Preppers program is making the individuals out to be loonies and such with editing and cutting major bits of video. And of course, the extent you are willing to go is up to the individual. And also the digits their bank account possesses helps dictate how far one is fiscally capable to go.

Years ago, I started to make my Bug Out Bag or (BOB) as its aptly called in forums and other web areas. A BOB is a bag that you can take with you at any moments notice and survive for days at a time. This was long before the show Doomsday Preppers was even conceived. What had sparked my interest in building my own was fairly simple. Zombies. Yes, that is right. My love for everything zombie actually aided me in the start to building my own. My need/want to be self sufficient, and self reliant was a major drive to fuel the endeavor. What I knew was this.

• In the scenario came when I actually needed this stuff I was accumulating, Id be happy I did.
• If a scenario never came to be for the intended use, I still got camping gear etc.
• Natural disasters have happened in recent years past, and people were helplessly unprepared.

What started out as light research, turned into something different. The research I was doing was extensive to say the least. And in the true fashion that is TSB, it went full blown compulsive at some point near the start. The way I looked at this BOB gear was, "It certainly could not hurt." And in a very white and black way, I was never really prepared before this. It was not really a worry before this point.

Should I have a bug out bag?

Yes. I think everyone should have a contingency plan for given scenarios, and have a single bag ready to go in the case of any emergency.

"Everyone needs a plan B in their life. Sometimes, I even like plan C, D, E, F, or G."

Where do you start if you are interested in BOB gear and the items you should include?

As I said before, the love for fictional horror-based movies that usually had zombies was the start. Deep within that statement there is more. I hated the idea of not being able to leave ASAP if needed and being confident I had everything to leave for 72 hours in most scenarios. The drive to learn was leading me to the eventual forum areas. Which ones do not matter specifically, but many tactical forums and zombie related forums have much more information than I can give right here. I separated from the forums I was originally part of shortly after, as I felt the direction and demeanor of the moderators, and site advocates were not on the same page as my own. They were highly unrealistic to what real world scenarios one might encounter, and what measures one should take to diffuse/resolve them. Although, the differences in ethics shouldn't deter anyone from learning the necessary information.  My separation was quiet, I left because I was a paying member of the group. I refused to pay people who avidly opposed talking about the darker areas of survival, yet preach living under the guise of a "zombie apocalypse".

What types of things should I put in my BOB?

To loosely understand how and what yo put in your bug out bag, you should divide your bag into these categories. I have found this works the best for me, and many other people have too.

• Water
• Fire
• Shelter
• Food
• Medical
• Signal
• Miscellaneous

Each of these categories are very important. And you should remember if you were planning on having a 72 hour (3 day) bag to pack smart because you are hauling it around for long periods of time. Weight will come into play very quickly to an inexperienced new hiker.

"This is an example of an exploded BOB for comparison. Its a pretty good general idea of what would be found in any given BOB, with the exception of a few important tools."

1. Water - purification tablets and collapsible canteens are pretty much a must.  You can get kits that allow water purification for under $100. Otherwise, you can decide to carry all the water you would need for 3 days from the start. Camelbak's are a great way to haul and drink. 100oz packs are easy to come by, and they are usually reasonably priced. 
2. Fire - Well derp. You cant cook, or keep warm without it in most cases. Lighters, waterproof matches, and magnesium bars will usually get the job done. Candles may also come in handy for starting and keeping light as the wax is a good fire starter. Or if you are Bear Grylls, you can rub your penis on a piece of wood and fire appears.
3. Shelter - The most important things regarding shelter can be learned with learning some bush craft skills. The lessons are invaluable in a survival situation. You could carry a tent, but its heavy and bulky. Or carry some para cord, and a tarp for example to make a simple shelter. Or a hammock would work good in some cases. Yes, companies do make single person, light bivvy alternatives. They get a bit expensive. Anything light or backpacking gear seems to have been picked up and price raped by REI. If money isnt the issue, why are you reading this still?
4. Food - High energy bars, granola, soup packets, or MRE's (meals ready to eat) will suffice. Or if you got the cash, you can buy food prepacked in camping outlets. Some other items are a mess kit, fishing supplies, knife, aluminum foil, and freezer bags will be useful if you plan on obtaining food while out. Should I mention guns yet?
5. Medical - Lip balm, butterfly sutures, surgical knife, broad spectrum antibiotics,  gauze, soap, bandages, topical ointments, anti fungals, aspirin, anti-diarrhea, safety pins, and compression wraps. Any medications taken should be stored here too. Manuals, and first aid booklets would help the average person in most cases.
6.  Signal - Personally, I think every bag should contain 3 items for signalling. A mirror, a loud whistle (of the rape variety), and flashlight. You can also get cheap neon items to use as signalling devices. Laser pointers work too. A US flag is always recommended as.
7. Miscellaneous - Compass, money, knife sharpener, survival manuals, maps, needle and thread, extra glasses/contacts. All of these items are good to have. While I don't consider some of them miscellaneous and more so ultimately necessary, the US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL does. 

"This single person bivvy tent is great for backpacking. Lightweight backpacking gear is $$$ if its price that dictates your gear."

This list is a very basic idea of what you would want to have with you in a BOB. Weight is key. Think durable, multipurpose, and lightweight. Imagination can do wonders for a bag like this. This by no means is a finalized version of what every person needs in a bug out bag for every situation. Your bag will change through out the year seasonally to conform with what will be needed clothing wise and equipment wise. Plan for a specific, generalized scenario. It will help with the overall usefulness of your BOB, and make for a more comfortable survival situation.

You can spend obscene amounts of money on something like this. But truth be told your equipment is of no use if you are a busted up, rambling mess in the woods someplace. Knowledge is the golden key to this, and practice using the tools and smarts you acquire will make your chances for surviving go up exponentially. Read manuals, and find forums where the information is free to you. Find ways to try and get others involved doing the same thing. If you care about them, you should care about their survival too. Remember though, the first aid in your backpack is not meant for your friends. Its ultimately meant for yourself. Spread the information to them and hopefully they will share an interest in learning and achieving alpha level survival skills like your bad ass self.

"Sorry, TSB refrains from posting his personal collection. A few items in this picture would work"

Oh, and I almost forgot. Not only can this whole bag be left to the imagination but I kind of forgot one very important thing. Defending yourself! The possibilities are endless. I suggest carrying a firearm (or 8) to help in the possible situation you encounter zombies or food you want dead. A short - medium range rifle, and a pistol will work for most people. This is open to interpretation, and local laws play into this heavily but lets be honest. If the shit hits the fan, you want to have this part covered. Because laws wont mean dick. You will need every necessary means to defend yourself, and to be able to thrive and survive if any SHTF scenario does arise. Firearms make that part a little bit easier. Tools like machetes, hatchets, axes, saws, and shovels are also in this area I think as they are multi use.

"For survival purposes and to keep moral up, I keep a copy of The Road Warrior in my BOB."

Congratulations! You are now a sniveling ball of compulsive, paranoid, doomsday preaching homeless vagrant! I kid.  What you are now is aware of a plan of what might be necessary in a hit the deck situation. I try my best to stay on topic, as this specific area could be written about for days on end. I might even consider doing follow ups about this exact subject. What I figure I can offer is a very easy to understand and follow guideline to making you more aware of what it might take to be prepared person. Think of it this way. You might want to outlive all your neighbors and sworn enemies just to be able to wear tires as armor, and see a real life gladiator arena. Why not?! Just to be able to say, "back when the (insert awesome apocalyptic event) happened" would be worth it.

Yes, you might tell people that you are making a BOB, and they might look at you like you are crazy. Then again, when you tell people that you are doing it, you should probably glare back with an intense look like you are sizing them up as a meal. With the idea in mind that its really just camping gear, it will put them in a different place with the intentions specially with family members. God forbid it has to be used as such, but its a possibility. Teaching others about being prepared is a duty. If you care about them, you will talk sensibly to them, and talk practicality, and if they have half a brain they should understand and be open to learning.

"They have delicious meals. Alpha children are the future."

Some people make Bug Out Bags (BOB), some make Get Me Home bags (GMH), and some people concentrate on Every Day Carry kits (EDC), all of which are important. I have at least some idea about each one of these and hope to touch eventually on each subject. I will provide links about where to begin, and I will also provide as much pictures (because I know people love pictures) to explain and gain understanding in depth. My hopes is that someone finds this of use. The whole point of writing this as a blog is to gain understanding and interest in the areas I have studied. I'm finding that after a long time of trying to explain individually to people, and open forum its exasperating and fruitless. Being a survivor is about being the ultimate alpha. Its about being prepared, and being conditioned mentally, and physically to endure any situation. With the economic situation changing here in the States, and the dollar becoming worth less than it was yesterday, it may not be that strange to start thinking about this off the grid information. You have to rely on yourself. You cannot rely on your government, or your local authorities to take care of you as we have seen in the past natural disasters and with any degree of alert.

"The Clark Griswald beachside vacation 20XX"

Links of interest for further reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Preppers

http://survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingency_plan

US ARMY FM21-76 SURVIVAL MANUAL FREE TO READ DOWNLOAD IT!

http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm

ONLINE STORE FOR GEAR

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/

FORUM - BUG OUT BAG THREADS

http://www.survivalistboards.com/tags.php?tag=bug+out+bag

The Flu Pandemic - An Epidemic of Misinformation

According to modern news outlets were looking at a flu problem. The theme I keep hearing is that its about to hit a level not seen before. The primary hot key words keep hearing is pandemic, and epidemic. Typically, I do not even bother watching the news on TV, and I do not actively search for the local/national news on the Internet either. I tend to get news from oddball websites and from people I trust and know online. I do not trust modern media conglomerates to tell me what is going on, I rely on 3rd party sources for the most part and independent sources. If I catch a blurb about something, I research it on my own and look for the facts.

With that being said, lets look at the current map of the situation.

*EDIT: at the time of this writing, this was the only map that showed severity in this manner. If there was a more reliable source with more recent data, I would have already posted it.*

The Center for Disease Control has viable info on the website, but what I didn't include was the disclaimers at the bottom of the map. Because the maps do not portray the numbers really effectively as one cities controlled problem can turn a state red by proxy. Even with these issues with the data, this is one of the only sources that matters. We have quite a few high areas but are we at pandemic levels? Not yet.

Reputable sites have not said anything about an epidemic or pandemic yet. What I found strange was that in states like New York, and Massachusetts they have declared the flu to be a "diabolical problem" but on this map they are only rated as moderately active with the virus. What gives? These cities have literally closed schools and even set up areas for special E.T. movie-esque treatment of the flu but the levels are only moderate according to the CDC?

"This is pretty much one of the scariest scenes from early childhood..."

With sources like Los Angeles Times reporting things like:

"New York's governor declared a state health emergency Saturday because of a flu epidemic that has sickened more than 19,000 people, giving pharmacists the right to immunize infants and children in hopes of curbing the spread of the potentially lethal virus."

of course the news will get a rise out of people with throwing around terms like this.

Even 3rd party media sources are even jumping on the keyword bandwagon. Sites like patriotvoices.com even went as far as to write an article aptly titled "Flu Reaches Epidemic Levels" and claiming the CDC made a statement about 7.3% of deaths recently are either flu or pneumonia related. Funny thing is no where on the CDC's site claim any of the aforementioned. You would think that info related to a outbreak of epidemic proportions would be on the front page of the Center of Disease Control. Well, it isn't. They actually have stated that the current situation isn't at pandemic level, and its measured by how the flu spreads, not based on the numbers.

Yes, there is a difference between epidemic and pandemic.

The key thing is that your average FOX NEWS watching person has no idea that there is an actual difference and neither do the anchors and reporters who are doing the work for the news network. Both terms are used interchangeably from news sources to the people who are talking in the public about it.  There is a lack of understanding that one term means above average numbers, and the other means no means of avoidance basically on a continental level. No where on the CDC's page did it even mention the term epidemic which makes me think that the claims of some fairly reputable 3rd party, alternative news sources are full of shit. CDC doesn't even report on epidemics. They are interested in global, and continental pandemics of mass proportions.

Yes, the flu is a problem. Yes for older people, younger children, and all with compromised immune systems, it can reek havoc and possibly kill you. Are the numbers as bad as they are making it out to be? According to the reliable info sites, in deaths the short answer is no. But the numbers are higher than (insert key word here) expected. And this strain of the flu is particularly harsh. Instead of being a 72 hour ordeal its lasting in between 7 - 10 days as I heard from a friend to went to the doctor for it.

When claims about virus' come out, do your research. Because you have to do the work yourself to find the info you need. Your typical news outlets are creating headlines and get people to just read the articles. All of which use red flashing klaxon alarm words that get you interested and to read further when the truth is the words being used are improperly selected and intentionally chosen to gain readers and overall interest.

I do not agree with optional vaccinations. And I can actually say that I would flat out refuse to get something as trivial as a flu shot. In my lifespan, I have legitimately gotten the flu maybe 3 times. Its not enough for me to run out and get some shot that scientists and doctors have to predict what strain is going to be relevant to the population. And by the time the flu is becoming apparent its most likely already evolved way past that. Its a crap shoot. And most of the time as sheep we lose anyways on this front. I'll state here and probably again that I am not a gambling man.

For instance, here is the list of possible side effects of this optional vaccination taken directly from the Flu's now ever incredibly popular wiki page:

***************************************************************************** 

Side effects

Side effects of the flu vaccine injection include:

• mild soreness, redness, and swelling where the shot was given
• fever
• aches

These problems usually begin soon after the injection, and last 1–2 days.^[127]
Side effects of the activated/live/LAIV flu nasal spray vaccine:
Some children and adolescents 2–17 years of age have reported:^[128]

• runny nose, nasal congestion or cough
• fever
• headache and muscle aches
• wheezing
• abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea

Some adults 18–49 years of age have reported:^[128]

• runny nose or nasal congestion
• sore throat
• cough, chills, tiredness/weakness
• headache

More severe, but very rare side effects include:^[128]

• life-threatening allergic reactions

*****************************************************************************

Oh well look at that. Life-threatening allergic reactions. Sounds painful, uncomfortable and not to mention not a very pride filled, worthwhile way to go out.

Modern medicine is a business. And its something to keep in mind. With the economy and situations with jobs, going to the doctor is a luxury. It is not a something most people can afford to do on a whim. This is something to take into consideration as well. Creating mass chaos with misinformation, and word play automatically means money is being made.  And claims the vaccinations are running low is a sign people are playing into it.

"Dr. Fat Stacks is in the house bitches."

This whole post was not intentionally written about how/why the flu works or happens. The drive was to write this was for people to think a minute about how modern news and modern medicine work. Its a game. And people are making copious amounts of profit from it. If you think for just a second, and go do a bit of research yourself before regurgitating the same crap you heard on the news, or from a friend of a friend do yourself and everyone else a favor. Please have a grip on what the fuck you are talking about.

Yes you may get the flu this year. You probably wont die. And other people you know may get it as well. Do the smart thing and prepare against it. Do things like take vitamin C, and drink and eat things high in antioxidants, and try to keep contact with people that are sick to a minimum. Drinking green or black tea is good, and halls defense vitamin C drops. Or if you are Alpha, you will do research into Yerba Mate. All of these things combined will aid in boosting your immune system to nearly immortal regions. You could live long enough to meet Palpatine and finally punch him in his scrunched up, wrinkly face, which has always been a life long dream of mine.

 "TSB is not a doctor, but he has Alpha level immune system"

Let me save you a few hundred bucks from going to the doctors and tell you what will happen if you do. You will cry and complain to a doctor who has seen many other crying and complaining people that you don't feel good and you think its the flu. They will tell you, "Whelp shit son, you got the flu probably then. 'Round these parts we got lots of flu's going around." No test will be done and they will send you home at best with a $80 anti-nausea medicine because they literally have nothing else to prescribe besides bed rest and fluids. Boom. I just saved you probably $500 if you didn't have insurance.

Use your brains. Check websites that have URLs that end in anything other than .com. And when applicable, try to cross reference the sites in question with informative data from reputable sources. And for the love of Christ, stop spreading incorrect info to other people. You are far more likely to suffer from hearing idiots preach and repeat misinformation and fear from the news, rather than contract the flu.

-TSB

Citations - in no specific order

http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/index.html#

http://www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/vaccination/index.html#

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ny-flu-20130112,0,6684690.story

http://patrioticvoices.com/2013/flu-reaches-epidemic-levels/

http://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html

http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/current-situation/index.html#

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Epidemic_vs_Pandemic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_vaccine