Arming the Neighborhood: What's YOUR plan?

[Sky]

Old Krow not a disagreement about the founding principles that brought this country into being.

If I would have lived back then I would have tried to be a raider or scout either way I believe I would have fought.

I tend to be more of a gorilla type fighter only because every time I got into deep kimchi it was by orders from someone who did not know the lay of the land or enemy location.

I am not one to stand in a line with my fellow arm bearers and take a fifty cal ball on some important part of my body because the leaders can't think of a better way to do it. If it is serious enough to go to war it better be serious enough to win.

Slight difference between the Red Coats and some contemporary government agency with flir, night vision, and hand held infrared vision and all kinds of air support. Either way who ever survives the what ever I will see you on the other side or I won't; only time and the situation will tell.

 

[CoastieShep]

Don't see a problem with having people close to you coming over to your house, just as long as they bring supplies. I'd rather have 10 armed people that aren't afraid of guns in my house than just me and the wife. Assuming I had the guns to arm them with of course. But they'd better be bringing food, water and anything else they have that could be useful.

 

[22-rimfire]

I tend to think I am the least-well armed house in the immediate area, with only a .22LR bolt action rifle, and an 870.

You might be in for a surprise. You would be amazed at what people have and at the same time, you would be amazed just how ill prepared most people are even for an electrical outage. Food? That one would shock you. Older folks tend to keep more food around, and my impression of most younger folks is that they tend to buy a groceries on an as-needed basis and have little beyond a couple of days food (max) in the house.

 

[Old krow]

Old Krow not a disagreement about the founding principles that brought this country into being.

If I would have lived back then I would have tried to be a raider or scout either way I believe I would have fought.

I was merely advocating that preparedness and prevention are sometimes related. Situations such as that were foreseen and we were given a means of preventing them should we try.

Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession.

--George Washington

 

[xcgates]

to be fair, if something went foul, i'd probably be on base in short order though.

You do remind me, I need to stock up on more canned food. Heck, I couldn't live for more than probably 1 week on the food I have. Of course it doesn't help I just moved, and haven't spent more than a couple weeks in my new home at a time.:banghead:

 

[OmutaX]

I live in a state, better yet a county, where mass chaos and looting is obligatory for the jerks out here if there's any sort of mass disaster (LA Riots) or if the Lakers win the Championship. Guess what answer I'll be giving to all my bleeding heart friends when their homes are being trashed and I'm in my apartment birds nest defending my loot?

 

[22-rimfire]

I could handle fairly easily living comfortably for a month with existing supplies. The problem comes in with my wife's family (who live nearby) who might not even have enough food for the next day. Guns? Chuckle Chuckle.... they can't even afford to pay their electric bill consistantly let alone have disposable cash for guns and ammunition. Again, older folks tend to have more resources.

You would face the same issue with some neighbors. Hence firearms would come in handy in a worst case situation. Hopefully, the presence of the firearm would be enough to maintain order.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

i here this as well,

(when it hits the fan IM COMING TO YOUR HOUSE)

news flash me and mine wont be around i hope, we will be in the sticks were some country kin live, if we can get there before the lock down.

everything is cased ,loaded , and caned, for easy toss and go.

stick around town there will only be the

HAVES
AND
HAVE NOT'S

 

[Hanzo581]

I would gladly help family and friends...the neighbors? Not so much. Though as long as they contributed something to the general survivability of our neighborhood I would try to protect them as best I could.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

One thing about arming your neighbors is that if they don't know how to shoot, that can become a tactical liability you know.

 

[22-rimfire]

Hanzo581, my first thought after reading your post was.... , my guns and their blood....

I know one guy who litterally has a bomb shelter with air filtration in his back yard along with cases of guns.

 

[wrs840]

Arm Thy Neighbor
by Matthew Bracken

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=514063

I'm one who believes there's wisdom in the above. For me, a half-dozen each of used Marlin 336s, and S&W M64 police-trades, all available in the $250 range or less, are smart to pick up when you run across good examples, for "if and when" the occasion comes that someone needs to arm the "deemed-trustworthy" hangers-on that will inevitably arrive without hardware or much skill. It's just another preparedness-plan that makes as much sense as any of the rest of the "be-prepared" plans.

IMO,
Les

 

[armoredman]

When I lost my house a few months ago, we moved to a rental area in a VERY small town. One nieghbor has a lot of the characteristics of meth use, and another house down the other direction sports many of the tattoos I see on the prison yards. We won't have time to worry about arming our neighbors as I am reasonably certain they will already be coming for what little we have. ONLY exception would be our landlord, very nice guy.
As for scenarios, the one most likely would be if the cartels moving humans and drugs through this area unfettered by Uncle Sam decide to go to war with our Sheriff for standing up to them, (not Arpio), which would likely cause a great deal of unrest, but not total government collapse. The economic collapse scenario becomes more likely the longer the "recovery" is hampered, and we get closer to that downgraded credit rating for the USA. But still I don't see the hordes roaming the streets or the Road Warrior setting.
But, if we had this total government collapse postulated by the OP I would be too busy fighting my neighbors to consider anything inane like arming them. They don't know what I have now, and I will keep it that way.

 

[Sky]

armoredman,
I am so sorry about the house and neighborhood. Good luck to you and yours.

 

[Leanwolf]

FIVETWOSEVEN - "One thing about arming your neighbors is that if they don't know how to shoot, that can become a tactical liability you know."

I agree 100%. It would be very unwise to start handing out firearms to people who haven't the faintest idea how to use them SAFELY and ACCURATELY, and IMMEDIATELY, when needed, without remorse whatsoever.

Also, given that most people -- at least whom I know -- who don't own firearms, don't believe in actual self defense, and are usually anti-guns. Therefore, arming people such as that could very easily backfire on you.

L.W.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I think if its something like LA riots I'm handing out to any neighbors willing to take a stand. Those pictures of guys standing on the roof with long guns amid an otherwise burning area are a good reason for that. Aside from that probably not.

 

[kd7nqb]

Where I live we have a few pro-gun guys and a few anti-gunners. As far as I am concerned if one of the pro-gun neighbors comes over in an emergency and for whatever reason needs a loaner gun, then not a problem. However if one my neighbors who gives me a dirty look when I pull my shotgun out of my truck from a day of sporting clays, then they are on their own.

Its likely easier in theory than practice but its my plan anyway.

 

[A and O]

Funny the OP mentions this, I think about it often. Several of my neighbors have said that they are coming to my house wtshtf. My response was/is we'll work out a trade at the prevailing market rate at that time. Point blank I told them it's within their means to provide for themselves right now and to do it now.

In less than 30 minutes I'll be turning 54 and it took me all of the first 53 to figure out the following. Most friends/neighbors are fair weather friends. As soon as clouds show up they are gone or full of excuses as to why they can't be there to help in your time of need. To think that I'll arm them after educating them on the need to do so on their own now will cost them dearly on the day of desperation to come. Only the SKS's and 22's will be up for sale and at a hefty price too.

 

[hill.country]

Location: Texas

This.

Comparatively I think we have a well trained and armed citizenry even if we lack obvious things like Open Carry. [Oddly Texas recently installed metal detectors at the state capital, but then added a (much faster!) bypass line for CHL holders.]

I like to think I have good and prepared neighborhoods. "Even" here in Austin the family across the street (with the Obama bumper sticker on their SUV) goes hunting together, another Democrat neighbor is an well armed (ex-)marine, and I've seen a city government employee who jogs our neighborhood clearly "printing" [did I mention we need open carry? FWIW I'm not sure if it's for two legged varmints or not, as we also have a multitude of unfenced dogs, unpredictable/unafraid coyote, as well as an occasional mountain lion].

I consider us fortunate that if the scenario required more armed citizens than just my family, I honestly think there are more neighbors I'd be willing to loan a gun to than those I wouldn't.

And while I don't think the neighborhood is lacking for small arms, you've got me thinking that I really should stock more food. Thanks.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

If it comes to it, I'm on my own. I haven't talked to or seen my family in years, no wife or gf, and my closest Army buddies live about 40 miles away. I'll take care of myself.

 

[Blackrock]

I live in a small semi rural community where most all able bodied males are members of the local VFD. We consider ourselves the towns self appointed militia as well. Lots of weapons and generators and food storage around here. Probably 80% Mormons with their one year food supplys.

 

[leadcounsel]

Use guns NOW as gifts to build relationships and training.

I've given Mosin Nagant rifles and a handful of ammo ($80 a piece) to three of my most trusted neighbors as gifts or payments for favors (watching my house, helping build a fence, etc). They are all military with families. They are all gun owners, but more guns is better, right? And some of them have young sons, soon old enough to handle a rifle. Strength in trusted numbers. The strength of the wolf is not in his ability, it is in the pack.

Cost to me was negligible but it cements relationships and gives them the opportunity to learn NOW to use the weapon. A Mosin is about as simple and effective of a firearm as you can imagine, and potent enough to stop any aggressors in any armor. Would be very effective to have every house in your neighborhood armed with a Mosin in the upstairs window with overwatch of your neighborhood in a crisis.

Cost to me, less than $300.

 

[doc2rn]

My brother lives in my neighborhood, in EOTWAWKI, I am cordially invited over according to him as long as I bring the arsenal. I gave him a 12g for christmas 2 yrs ago and a Ruger sp 101 for his birthday. He can hold out until I arrive, but he has moved forward and now wants an AR of his own.

 

[jr45]

I am not one to stand in a line with my fellow arm bearers and take a fifty cal ball on some important part of my body because the leaders can't think of a better way to do it. If it is serious enough to go to war it better be serious enough to win.

Slight difference between the Red Coats and some contemporary government agency with flir, night vision, and hand held infrared vision and all kinds of air support. Either way who ever survives the what ever I will see you on the other side or I won't; only time and the situation will tell.

+1 for the above...very different fight. I do not know of any typical small arms that will even stop the surplus APCs given out or sold to local govs and collectors.

Arming my neighbors is a scary thought. I could imagine two of them, but as for the others, I would not trust them with slingshots.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

+1 for the above...very different fight. I do not know of any typical small arms that will even stop the surplus APCs given out or sold to local govs and collectors.

And yet as we are seeing overseas, there are ways available to even the most backward savage that can stop our most advanced tanks and armored vehicles. But that's another discussion entirely.