As I make my appointed rounds through the blogosphere I read scores, possibly, hundreds of different blogs on a regular basis across a broad spectrum of ideological and political opinion. Something I’ve been reading an increasing amount of, particularly in the more outrageous economic blogs, is info on preparing for civilizational collapse, survivalist stuff. Much of it focuses on laying in stores of this or that, buying guns, etc.
I don’t know exactly what this reflects. On the quantitative side firearms sales seem to have gone up pretty sharply since the beginning of the economic downturn so I guess people are worried.
While I think that being prepared for emergencies is prudent, I think that most of the concerns I’m seeing are overblown. Presumably, they think I’m a fool for not being more concerned.
It may be the reason that I’m not more concerned is that I think that even in what I think is the very unlikely event of something very serious occurring skills will be more important than gear or supplies.
That and that I think it’s more likely that rather than a sudden catastrophic collapse we’re more likely to see a gradual decline with travel becoming increasingly difficult and things just not working as well as they used to.
IIRC, in David Brin’s book “The Postman”(decent book, terrible movie), it’s the survivalists who prevent America civilization from recovering a collapse.
If we suffered a staggering, unprecedented, extended economic downturn we might be as bad off as, say, Italy. Where I noticed a distinct lack of Mad Max types shooting at each other from armored Fiats.
It really accelerated when Obama came into office. At the pistol range where I occasionally shoot, the NRA teachers all play on the fears that Obama is going to take their guns away, just when they need them the most. I suspect that you are kind of insulated from this in the Chicago area, but out here in the sticks, this is taken pretty seriously by a quite a few people.
Steve
I think its definately overblown. That said, a good friend of mine is selling his home in eastern Oak Park in part because of a marked uptick in home invasions, car break ins, street theft etc. The other part is the increasing tax burden, and prospects for more.
That said, a good friend of mine is selling his home in eastern Oak Park in part because of a marked uptick in home invasions, car break ins, street theft etc.
What a *****, can’t take living in rough ol’ Oak Park. @@
Economic collapse…pffft…that will be nothing compared to the coming zombie apocalypse and there guns while good aren’t sufficient. I’d argue everyone should be buying a good solid axe. An axe has a number of good qualities,
1. Does need reloading,
2. Doesn’t require tremendous skill,
3. Will still work well when dull,
4. Can be used for other things as well.
Don’t get me wrong, get a few guns for the zombie hoards, but for a solid back up you can’t beat an axe.
I’ll stick with my katana, thanks. I’ve got the skill and I think that the superior balance issues outweigh a little time spent sharpening.
An axe might be good for facing a zombie attack in open terrain, but not for close quarter fighting as your friends, neighbors and family try to gain access to your house and steal supplies. You’ll need to be able to work in halls and doorways. Better bet a knife, such as a Bowie.
Personal defense against zombie attack is best achieved through multiple defensive layers. First, it is better to defend as a group than as an individual. One should chose suitable defensive locations if possible. If on the move, remember to limit exposure either through stealthy movement or through use of armor. (I mean tanks, or a 1972 Caddilac El Dorado, so long as it isn’t a ragtop.) Body armor isn’t a bad option, but remember that any wound is potentially fatal, so unlike modern body armor make certain armor focuses on extremities. (Old chainmail isn’t a bad option as long as you aren’t going for a swim.)
Weapons should also be chosen with the idea that more is better (up to one’s carrying capacity, of course). One thing of note is that you’d better know what the hell you’re doing before using a weapon, especially if you’re working in a group. Chainsaws are lots of fun until you cut one of your companions in half on the bus. (That might still be fun, depending on the companion, or one’s status as a sociopath.)
High powered rifles can be useful for defending a location, or perhaps for clearing a path at a distance if moving. Shotguns are better close up, but they have a problem not mentioned often enough – gore splatter. Get some zombie viscera in your eye or mouth and you may as well use that blunderbus to blow your own head off. Automatic weapons should be left to those who have practiced.
Pistols are obviously useful at closer ranges (or longer ranges for those with skill), but then you have to decide on what kind you want. A seemingly endless debate has been going on about revolvers or automatics (clip loads). Personally, I will always prefer revolvers for this reason – one misfire is easily surmounted by squeezing the trigger again.
Regardless, you’d better make certain you have enough ammo.
But one shouldn’t limit defense to fire arms. Bladed weapons are useful, as discussed above. Again, defense in depth is key. It’s good to have a weapon with a longer reach, such as a sword or axe, as well as a good hunting knife. You do NOT want to engage in hand-to-frothing-brain-eating-mouth combat with a zombie with a switchblade. Remember, go full Crocodile Dundee – “That’s not a knife. Now THAT’S a knife!”
Fire is also a useful weapon, but you’d better think about what you’re doing before tossing a bunch of molotov cocktails into the next room in the building.
Also, one can always use less traditional weapons to one’s Evil Dead loving content – chainsaws, shovels, C4, dynamite, atomic bombs, etc. (I have no idea if neutron bombs would be effective against zombies. I haven’t heard of any studies of this, but they’d be kept highly classified.)
Of course, this all assumes one has time to plan ahead. In a crisis, just grab anything at all and start hacking up the bastards – any port in a storm, as it were.
“I’ll stick with my katana, thanks. I’ve got the skill and I think that the superior balance issues outweigh a little time spent sharpening.”
Bring your weapon. I will bring my .357. We can re-enact that Indiana Jones scene.
However, should you need a green, renewable weapon, go with a spear. It was the weapon of choice for infantry for many years. Easier to learn, keep foes further away, and if shaft breaks, fixable. An axe is a purely offensive weapon. Swords require too much skill for the average person. Second choice, go mace.
Steve
steve appears to have missed the part about zombies. If you get a spear for zombies, it had better be the kind they used to hunt boars.
21 feet.
Oh, my. This crowd is too violent for me……
The problem is an axe is that it will get stuck in the skull and while you’re trying to pull it out, 5 zombies are taking you down.
Extremes are better – either fortress or mobility. If going mobile it’s better to travel light, practice avoidance and only engage if necessary. Small groups are best for mobility. For a fortress numbers and supply are more important than weapons.
Seriously, though, things could get pretty bad, but not that bad or even Mad Max bad.
For a fortress numbers and supply are more important than weapons.
I’m thinking I want the Masada complex if it still has working wells. (Did it have working wells?)