As we’ve seen over and over again the last few years, when a crisis hits crime follows close behind it.
Whether it was looting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, or the widespread theft and arson that now seems to follow protest marches, on top of whatever disaster you’re having to deal with you need to be ready to protect yourself from criminals too.
That isn’t a comfortable thought – who needs another problem to deal with? – but it’s the reality, and you have to prepare for it. More than that, you have to prepare for it now.
When a crisis looks imminent a lot of people panic and rush out to buy what they need to defend themselves. The result is predictable – shortages. If you wait until the last minute to buy self-defense items, there’s a real danger you’ll get to the store and find nothing left.
As a prepper you have a greater need for protection than most people, because your home is stuffed with all the things people will be looking for after a disaster. You need to be able to defend your stockpile, and the tools to do that must already be in the stockpile.
Here are some items you need to have now, because if you leave it until you need them you’ll find a lot of other people had the same idea.
Guns
Look at a typical gun store and it’s likely to be pretty well stocked; it’s hard to imagine going there and finding bare shelves – but it can happen.
Right now about 45% of US households own at least one gun, and we can assume the percentage of individuals that own one is a lot lower.
Although the number of guns in circulation has risen significantly over the last 50 years the percentage of households that own them has actually stayed in about the same range. At times it’s risen as high as 47%; at other times it’s fallen as low as 37%. Today’s 45% figure is pretty typical, though.
Related: What Kind Of Guns Are Best Stored To Leave As An Inheritance
What’s noticeable, though, is that it doesn’t take much to trigger a sudden spike. If a gun control advocate wins an election, or a new law restricting ownership gets passed, people rush out to buy guns while they can.
Often they sell them again when the perceived threat fades, so overall ownership doesn’t rise over time, but buying spikes do happen. The thing is, manufacturers make enough guns to meet normal demand. When demand spikes, guns are selling faster than new deliveries reach stores.
Now imagine a major crisis is obviously approaching. A lot of the 55% of households that don’t have a gun are suddenly going to decide they’ve made a mistake, and they’ll rush out to fix it while they can. Demand for guns will rise sharply, and deliveries won’t keep up.
That means the most popular guns, starting with AR15-style sporting rifles, 12-gauge shotguns and 9mm handguns, will sell out. Then people will turn to other sporting rifles, other handgun calibers.
Before long all that will be left are the most expensive high-end guns and weapons in oddball calibers. A gun you struggle to find ammunition for isn’t a lot of use in an emergency.
Ammunition
Of course you might struggle to find ammunition anyway, whatever caliber you need.
I’ve always been a fan of sticking with NATO-standard calibers.
There are vast quantities of them in military, law enforcement and civilian stocks.
If you look for weapons in 5.56mm, 7.62mm NATO, 9mm Luger and 12-gauge you can be pretty certain of finding ammunition for decades to come. The problem is you might not find it in gun stores when a crisis hits.
Over the last decade the US has suffered from a series of highly publicized ammunition shortages.
After President Obama was elected in 2008 gun owners, worried he would bring in new gun control laws, rushed out to stock up on ammunition. That led to a shortage of most popular calibers that lasted for almost four years.
Then in December 2012, just as shooters were getting used to being able to get ammunition easily again, maniac Adam Lanza murdered 26 people at Sandy Hook.
Fears of gun bans returned, panic buying resumed, and it was 2016 before prices stopped rising and shortages faded out. Another spike in gun and ammo sales after the 2020 George Floyd riots triggered yet another shortage, which lasted over two years.
If you try to stock up on ammunition when a crisis is on us, it’s going to cost you a lot more and you might not be able to find popular calibers at all. The time to build up your ammo stockpile is now, not in an emergency.
Non-Lethal Weapons
It’s possible to stop an attacker without shooting them.
Tasers, stun guns, pepper spray and other non-lethal tools can be very useful for self-defense.
They’re also a lot cheaper than guns and there are fewer restrictions on buying and carrying them.
Even if you already have guns and ammunition, having some non-lethal alternatives can be a smart move. After all, why use lethal force when you don’t have to?
A pepper spray, collapsible baton or stun gun is going to persuade a lot of opportunistic thieves or desperate refugees to move on and look for an easier target.
The problem is that because these items are cheap and easy to buy, a lot of people are going to be buying them – and when affordable guns start running out, pepper spray is going to fly off the shelves even faster.
Security Systems
Modern security systems are great. For not very much money you can set up motion-detecting, night vision cameras all round your home, and access the feed from them on your phone. Alternatively, you build your own off grid security system against looters and intruders.
As people start to fear an approaching crisis, sales of security systems will jump dramatically – and the products will soon be out of stock. If you want a security system get it now, so you have time to set it up properly and get used to how it works.
The truth is, in the early stages of a crisis anything that can help you protect yourself is likely to sell out quickly.
Guns and ammunition are the most obvious, and we’ve all seen those become hard to find over and over again in recent years.
Don’t risk you and your family’s security by leaving self-defense to the last moment; if you don’t already have the tools you need to protect yourself when a crisis becomes imminent, there’s a good chance you’ll never get them at all.
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The door is still open, but it is closing as fast as they can get enough people to help them, close it.
stay sharp
PS: He’s getting ready Y’all…
Look to the sky, for His great return.
Look to the sky he maybe there, so are the drones watching.
There are wars and rumors of wars, this is not Armageddon yet.
We will have many journeys on earth before his coming in the end times.
The two European World Wars, to the citizens there, thought it was end times.
We will go through many trials with people like Biden.
Unless we get people in like Trump to reverse our decline into the dark forces of the Deep State Swamp.
You can pray all you want, God expects us to defend our homeland like the Jews in Israel. No one gets a free ride. Not even the illegals here, soon.
This is our country not there’s.
Are there enough Americans left to defend Miss Liberty or bow down to her enemies? We have seen terrorist group rallies supporting Hamas in America. We have the civil Obama troops of Antifa and BLM.
Will we, you and I defend America against, foreign and domestic. Coming across our open border?
God is watching!
God helps those who help themselves. We better be prepared to help ourselves, and keep an eye out for those who “trespass” on us thru the porous southern border.
Unidentified threats are coming in. The Border Patrol has caught some but surely have missed more than the few hundred that are being reported as found on the terror watch list.
This Jihadist “protest” has some gov’t people saying to just go about your daily business as usual, (Gov. Hokul),,,,,,,, and others are saying we should watch our a$$es, even the JTTF says watch out. I even saw a posting suggesting people stay in their homes if possible, and try to avoid public transportation. And more,,,,,
Trash cans have been pulled off the streets of NY, (bomb avoidance?) and mailboxes have been sealed. Oh, and Gov. Hokus Pokus Hokul says not to worry? Yeah, uh huh, sure. From a sealed, virtually locked down building, and protected with HEAVILY ARMED security all around her.
Trump lol ….. ok vote harder
The vaxx is an extinction level event, technology necessary to fulfill Mark of the beast and every eye will see is here. Time is short.
Loner Boner Wolf-it Troll of the Jihad, go suck eggs and a sausage!
lol. Jesus is not worried about drones.
Why should you.
GOD has it all under control.
Trust in Him.
We just might need to move out of His way and let Him do it, His way.
Stay sharp
As in Israel these fighter will need to go underground to destroy the Hamas Gaza Jihad tunnels of death to completely rid of the terrorist.
For those who have been to S. Korea there are tunnels that can carry large trucks, personnel from the N. Korea to S. Korea. 24/7 surveillance.
The United States border areas must be vigilant to the same of Korea, Israel, The Middle East tunnels and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. These historical tunnels are a source to invade a country.
The Mexican drug cartel are known for smuggling and death of innocents.
Time to ramp up the Southern Border above and below ground 23/7 surveillance. Increase the Border Patrol, stage armed National Guard and Reserve units full length of the border from now on.
China Joe will need to take back the Chinese American Farmland as terror staging areas. Back the US dollar with GOLD again!
Do what Guerrilla warfare has done before. Take their weapons, many people are not proficient in self defense. We can read between the lines on what to do.
Even if they are fairly knowledgeable in some arts, doesn’t mean we can’t try.
SHTF there are no rules.
At that point we are fighting to survive or save our families lives in the mix.
Look at present Israel, handout weapons to nonmilitary to defend with their military reserves. Biden won’t give out the guns to American citizens.
Biden will give out weapons to our enemies as seen in the Afghan Withdrawal. And getting are military killed as the 13 Americans and a lot of the Afghans who fight with us dead too.
What will the Biden administration do as these terrorist cells crossing the open Southern Border amass in large numbers in the 50 States?
Israel in a wake up call to the people ans sheeple of America.
We can see it coming, you decide for yourselves.
We all can pray but need to do the physical part to.
I believe in all 50 States of America to have open carry. Change the CCW laws into open carry loaded. A well armed society is a polite society.
Clean up the city streets of homeless drug and mentally ill, place them in rehab hospitals. The homeless seniors be giving a lower tax to remain in their homes. Then be pushed out of a home because of useless taxation of elders.
Friday the 13th Jihad day, those terrorist protesters for Hamas be neutralize by law enforce by nonlethal to lethal means or permanent deportation.
There’s no more room at the INN to house the illegals.
We need to take all of the anti-gun laws and strike them off the law books. Congress, crooked politicians have been compromised over time by foreign Influencers who try to disarm American gun owners.
Open carry and loaded seems to be the right message to these social media mobs that rob all stores in America. George Soros and Son must be in prison also their DA’s who let criminals out in a legal revolving door of crimes.
Give civilians a bounty for permanently stopping the criminals, in tax rebates, maybe a consideration.
Well Trump and Reagan
Screwed up gun rights with their anti gun bullshit
I pray that ALL state governors have their state national guards on alert for attacks that the secret cells of terrorists that have crossed the Southern Border. Be ready for when they decide to make their moves to attack US cities!
The red and purple States will have a better chance in defense. The Blue States whom are run by liberals will be in eminent danger because of Gun Free Zones. Ridiculous gun laws that favor the criminals, jail the gun owner.
We are at the precipitous tipping point of being 2A defenseless than being home of the brave, land of the free. Not the land of cancel culture witch hunts.
Which side will you be on in 2024?
The side of the RIGHT! And righteous.
There are enough signs knowing that Jesus will soon come. There’ll be no second chances, no ” rapture” it’ll happen like the flood, most will be lost.
Two marks will have been given, the seal of God, or the mark if the beast.
Those that choose to worship the image to the beast will have the mark. Those who know and love God will receive the seal of God.
It doesn’t hurt to prepare for a disaster, especially if you have children. But I don’t think the Bible says , ” God expects us to help ourselves.”
Revelation 12;17 ,and revelation 14:12 make for a good read.
The Bible verses have been cherry picked to make peoples points of the end times. Even preachers misinterpret the Bible for their own profit in religion to their church worshipers who don’t think past their smartphones.
Yes God wants us to defend our homeland from the evil we see!
I just heard a major manufacturer of 5.56 is not selling to the civilian market (again) and as of yesterday providing ammo only to military, police and for export (Israel specifically). If you need 5.56, better go fetch some.
Bidenomics makes everything scariest and scary, a tyrant for sure!
Elections have consequences.
We are being sucked dry of the 2A as Trump told us would happen with these twits in charge. And the sheeple still voted for Let’s Go Brandon!
bEST DEFENCE IS AN OFFENCE!
Will never surrender !
I Love America! I will defend untill my last breath.
This is why I train in stick fighting (there’s several different disciplines of it, each with their own type of ‘stick’), all the way through to learning to throw a boomerang.
Guns are one form of self defence (and a good one!) but sometimes what you have at hand is easier and sufficient… and a stick is usually at hand.
I used to carry a pocket full of quarters and trained myself to put a quarter between my index and middle finger and fling it. It would lodge 3/8 of an inch into a pine board. Never had to use it on a human forehead but I know what the outcome would have been. Slings hit harder than sticks in close combat.
Interesting idea! I’ve wanted to get into throwing knives but they are illegal where I live… I could totally get down with this idea though… off to play!
You would be dead with a handful of quarters. That must be one of the dumbest ways to die
Do you mainly study the Filipino stick fighting system?
I am/have played with a few different systems. Aikido, Tai Chi, Kung Fu and so on all have sword and stick fighting options. There’s also traditional stick fighting in the Phillipines, Ireland, Germanic countries and some South American… I’m sure there’s others too.
There’s similarities between many, and differences. Playing across a few different theories has helped me to find a style that suits me, learn to wield different types of sticks vs different types of combat, and each philosophy has helped me see the world in a different way. Like any martial art learning is slow and it’s an exercise in patience.
I carry a wood dowel 6 inches long and 1/2,inch in diameter in my back pocket. I can inflict pain intense pain and n several parts of f the body to disable an attacker regardless of their skin ze or fighting skills. Of course I only use it when the .9 mm is empty.
Protect YOUR assetts , right to live free, respect other s and defend your livelyhood
MOST of all Pray ,
for isreal, justice, transperancy , clear vision in these time s of evil and unpside down views of right and wrong
I dont see things as you do , but I give you room to live , make mistakes, change, a chance to view another day with a second chance in life
God is patient, waiting, willing to forgive , willing to allow you to change your mind
Now you still have time to seek , Look , ask , if God can open your eyes
very important , NOT to harden your heart , follow evil people for acceptance or family acceptance .
God NEVER , EVER rewards EVIL , rape,stealing, murder, lies massacuring people
Wake Up , Ask God to Revil to you the Truth
Dont ever accept my view or other s view , but let God who is faithful open your eyes
only The True, Holy , Real God can give True , Real Peace and life eternal
john 3:16 , Romans 828 , John 14:6 , Isiah 7: 1-10 , 2 chronicles 7:14 , Rev 16 :
only if you really want Truth , peace , contentment , forgiveness of deeds
Totally your choice
Most of you are not newbies, this article is preaching to the choir. We all know there has been an ongoing crisis for years and it is now finally starting to peak.
The middle class foundation of this country has been built by the wealthy on the “sand of corruption”, and we are all sinking faster and faster.
Best get right with god today…
If Iran, Quatar, Jordan, Syria, and others gang up on Israel, then we will have a World War…regardless if China sneak attacks Taiwan, and NKorea sneak attacks SKorea and Japan, and Russia drops a couple dozen small nukes on Ukraine’s military.
Yup, a lot of things will disappear yesterday if these scenarios go down.
Even if Israel maintains control and does not slaughter all the sick (ISIS) Hamas terrorists along with tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian women/children that the cowards are hiding behind, we still have our own quagmire pulling us slowly down, potentially heading us towards a civil war.
You can’t count the number of ways the rich financial capitalists of our country have orchestrated the transfer of massive amounts of our wealth from our pockets to theirs.
It’s not just the NEW ongoing higher inflation of food and gas. There was the OLD financial rape that has been ongoing for decades with banks, and NOW their Fed enforcer jacking up high interest rates that are essentially legalized theft (you buy a house for 100,000 and due to high interest you pay 300,000).
Plus we NOW have the pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and insurance, (controlled by the government attorneys) where only the wealthy can afford the expense of a solution to a medical crisis (but it is still free the immigrants).
YUP, attorneys create the laws that allow them to charge $500 per hour, including when they are on the toilet wiping their ass.
There is no end to the capitalistic “sucking noise” that is the sound of our wealth going down the toilet into the sewage of the immoral rich. We are just like the “frog in the pot of water”, we are slowly being boiled and before we noticed, it was too late.
Are we sadly past the point of recovery already? Ya, that boat has already sailed…
A walk through the valley of stupidity.
America still has the Yankee ingenuity in our DNA, maybe in some of the legal immigrants that can do.
We have been through a lot of ups and downs. Our history shows we are resilient in the American spirit, the can do attitude.
We do well in grassroots actions that spread like wildfire. The recent university Marxist indoctrinated adults rallies for the opposition against Israel will need some weeding out.
Marxist professor’s need to be booted out of tenure. Why do kids want an indoctrinated over blown very high priced college education of worthless degrees?
Then they want a student loan bailout, are you kidding? Go to a trade school and get a part time job like the rest of us did to pay for our school classes.
The supposed minimum wage is $20USD something, BS!!
Start minimum wages at $5/hr. A minimum wage job is to get experience to move on to a better skilled job position.
Your crazy to think a person is worth $20/hr with no experience!
A living wage is BS! A living wage for burger flippers at $5/hr makes sense and more opportunity for advancement up the ladder of work.
Dump-bass CA gov Newscum signed a bill for next April burger flippers will get somewhere of $15-20/hr. You want to pay an extra $5 bucks for an already expensive burger?
The union protesting higher wages is non-sustainable in Bidenomics, without drilling for oil and build the border wall.
Unions have become a cancer, gone beyond what they stood for back in the early 20th century. It has always been corporations versus the blue collar worker, same with cities versus the farmers. This is no different in world history. As said before, those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.
Today we are reliving in modern day terms, the president Jimmy Carter days. He didn’t do executive orders to stop oil drilling in America that Biden has done. God takes no side in the wars of man, but in innocent individuals.
God help us!
Biden opened the Southern border to terrorist. So we can conceivably end up in a second civil war because of a globalist in charge.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but does ammo expire? I’ve got several boxes that are at least a decade old. Can I still use them? I also see ammo often at estate sales and have wondered if it’s still viable.
Use old ammo for practice, new ammo when your life depends on it…