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Stockpiling and Panic Buying

Yesterday Ebbs from Haus of Guns posted an article called The Problem with Panic Buying. In it Ebbs highlighted an article with the same title by Rob Tackett from TacStrike Targets talking about the problems with panic buying and the stockpiling of weapons and ammunition. It’s a great article and well worth your time to read.

The bottom line of Rob’s article is that stockpiling guns and ammo without also investing in training is a really bad idea, and I agree. But there is something even more important than training that a lot of people overlook, especially as it relates to disaster preparedness.

Survival Rule of 3

In any disaster, whether a personal disaster like a job loss or the loss of a loved one, a regional disaster like a hurricane, or a national disaster like an economic collapse, your needs will remain the same. The Survival Rule of 3 is a good way to summarize your basic needs.

You can survive roughly:

  • 3 minutes without oxygen
  • 3 hours without shelter
  • 3 days without water
  • 3 weeks without food

All of these things are more important than stockpiling weapons and ammunition. You can have all the guns and ammo that your house can hold, but without food and water, what are you protecting and for how long? What are you going to feed your kids if the lights go out for week? Two weeks? Longer?

Let’s face it – Without Rule of Law (WROL) of some flavor is on a lot of people’s minds lately, rightly or wrongly. Whether it’s because of the ludicrous prepper shows on TV, the zombie craze (The Walking Dead anyone?), our country’s ever worsening financial situation, something else or some combination thereof, a lot of folks are waking up to the preparedness movement.

While waking up is a good thing, going crazy in one area at the neglect of others is not. Those of us who are guns and gear nuts (guilty) have a tendency to think a couple rifles and boatload of ammo is all we need in any disaster situation, but that just isn’t true.

In any disaster from a personal disaster to full on WROL, your needs will remain the same – shelter, food, water, security. Learn the basics of food storage, and store some food. Get out of debt, and save up some cash. Have a way to filter/purify water. And yes, you need layers of security, one of which is a good rifle and some ammo.

Just remember to have a plan and to take a balanced approach.

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2 Responses to Stockpiling and Panic Buying

  1. Ebbs October 10, 2012 at 10:23 am #

    Uh-oh… someone’s blog is turning into a prepper site!!! ;^)

    Seriously good thoughts though man. As much as I’d like to think guns are everything. They’re a tool for preparation, survival and recreation. You can’t eat or breath or drink a gun.

    • Brandon October 10, 2012 at 10:33 am #

      Yes sir – I’ve been a prepper all my life, it’s how I was raised. I just didn’t know it had a name until a few years back. 🙂