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Letter Re: Should We Currently Emphasize Storage Food or Gun Purchases?
Hello Jim,
I've finished reading your fine novel "Patriots" several
weeks ago, and have passed it on to another like-minded individual. I've also
been scouring your
web site
daily for the last several months, and gleaning extremely valuable information
not only from you, but the many fine individuals who add excellent links
to current events. I have forwarded your link to others, and have it saved
as "required reading" daily.
A brief background on our family; I had been one of the Y2K aficionados,
and had lived on the Big Island for many years. If it were still just my wife
and
myself, we would probably still be there. But having children changes everything.
I became involved in politics there as a fund raising chairman for a twice successful
Republican, who was seated in the State house on Oahu, hoping that we could make
a difference. But after 10 years there, (and the birth of our first daughter),
I determined it was time to relocate back to the mainland. China had also recently
bracketed Taiwan, and expressed they could now hit Los Angeles with their now-successful
missile launches. (Thanks to Loral Corporation and Bill Clinton). If the balloon
ever
goes up, I fear that Hawaii will be in deep kim chi.
I had done extensive research from Kona on the best place to settle on the mainland.
We had traveled to the mainland numerous times, and visited all of the locations
I deemed appropriate. We looked at Prescott, Arizona in the southern extreme,
Grand Junction and Estes Park in Colorado, Mazama, Twisp, and Sequim, Washington
(in
the
rain
shadow of the Olympic Peninsula), Driggs, Idaho, Whitefish and Missoula, Montana,
along
with several
others. I had multiple criteria as determining factors, such as growing season/weather,
local political mentality, and economic vitality. After visiting everyone of
these places, I had decided southern Oregon was an area that could conceivably
weather both a nuclear exchange and long term social upheaval. I did not believe
it was practical to "bug out" to a retreat locale, but would be "bugging
home" from a business trip in any "event". We learned in the restaurant
business that there are three things important for a successful endeavor, and
those are "location, location, location". I have second -guessed my
decision many times, but have sent a tap root down with the kids in school. So
I would advise your readers to seriously consider their location, and to relocate
to a desirable community, as I feel time is short.
With that segue Jim, I have a question for you, and would seek your council.
I have a dreaded sense of foreboding with the recent election results, as I'm
sure many of your readers do. After Y2K,
my preparations for long term unrest had lapsed, and I feel into a state of complacency.
I have slowly accumulated
a fair number of firearms to protect my family over the years, and have acquired
a couple of thousand rounds for each main battle rifle. The additional magazines
have arrived in the mail, (thanks for that great link to CDNN by
the way), and I feel I'm somewhat prepared in this regard. If only I could convince
my wife
to shoot.
At any rate, my question is this: I don't know if I should head to
the local gun show today, or to the local store for
sustenance for the family. I feel that if we are to buy ammo/firearms, it must
be now,
as Barack Obama could make us all felons with the stroke of a pen. All he has
to
do
is
to
sign a treaty with the U.N., or file an Executive Order. So what should we
do, buy guns/ammo, or additional food?
BTW, I continue to pray for the swift and complete recovery of The Memsahib.
God Bless. -
Steve
in SW Oregon
JWR Replies: First, do not neglect buying storage food for
your family. But in my opinion the outcome of the recent presidential and congressional
election
dictates
putting
a
higher
priority
on guns and accessories for the next few
months. We
are living in exceptional times, and that calls for temporarily re-sequencing
our
priorities.
If your State law law allows it, then buy your guns from private parties--not Federal
Firearms License (FFL)
holding dealers. Private party sales of modern (1899 and later) guns across
state lines (in "interstate commerce" ) are banned under Federal
law, but intrastate
sales are still legal in most states. (Be sure to consult your state
and local laws!)
Buying a gun through a licensed dealer leaves a prominent
and permanent paper trail. Here are some relatively low profile alternatives:
Private party (non-FFL) sellers that are fellow Citizens of your State,
at gun shows in your State.
Private party (non-FFL) sellers that are fellow Citizens of your State,
advertising in newspaper ads.
Estate sales, garage sales, and farm auctions operated by private party
(non-FFL) sellers that are fellow Citizens of your State.
Private party (non-FFL) sellers that are fellow Citizens of your State advertising
at GunBroker.com 
(Use
the "Smart Search" feature, and select "USA only - State where
item is located")
Private party (non-FFL) sellers that are fellow Citizens of your State advertising
at GunsAmerica.com (Use
the "Advanced Search" feature, and "LIMIT TO STATE". You can also select
a check box to exclude guns that were listed by FFL holders.)
Pre-1899-manufactured "antique" guns chambered for modern cartridges, either
in-state or out of state. (No FFL is required for Federally-exempt antiques.
See my Antique
Guns FAQ for details. Again, your State and local laws may vary, so do
your homework.)
One of president-almost-elect Obama's publicly
stated goals
is to "close
the gun show loophole." Clearly he wants to end private paperwork-free
firearms purchases. This leaves us just a brief window of of opportunity to
stock up what may need to be a decades-long supply. Be sure to buy
plenty of full capacity magazines, since it is very likely that there
will be an import ban
(via executive order) soon after BHO comes
to office, and a domestic production ban (via an act of Congress), soon after
that. These bans
will freeze the numbers
of "grandfathered" magazines in private hands and will likely triple the
market price of all magazines of 11+ round capacity.) Buy plenty of
extras for
barter--even for models that you don't own, but that will likely be in high
demand.
There
may come a day when owners won't be willing part with
magazines
for
anything but
astronomical prices, but they'll probably still be willing to barter on
a rational; "value for like value" basis.
Put an emphasis on gun and full
capacity magazine purchases for
the next three months, followed by some extensive ammunition purchases soon
after the presidential inauguration.
