http://www.sierratimes.com/03/03/03/arbw030303.htm
Preparing for War Part VI:
Homeland Defense Weapons in Terrorist Times
By Brian Woodworth - www.valmet-weapons.com
The subject of survival weapons has been a popular topic for quite some time. For many it started in the Cold War scares of the 60's and 70's. Modern Day survivalists continued this discussion in the 80's and, as the Iron Curtain came down, discussion of this decreased. With recent terrorist events, many of us are wondering how we can protect our families and ourselves in these uncertain times. Being prepared is now a fact of life that all of us must deal with. This article is to help those people with the desire to protect our freedoms and our way of life.
Many don't think there is a need for a firearm to protect your home and family. I think that this is a naïve attitude. Simply take a look at recent events such as the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict, and the need for a firearm becomes evident. Rioting can, and will, take place after natural and man-made events. Examples that could cause this type of reaction are terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and even reactions to court verdicts. During the Los Angeles Riots, lives and businesses were saved through the presence of a firearm.
Weapons for the home
The majority of our time is spent in our homes. We need the ability to defend our homes and families. Most households in America have a firearm. Typical firearms found are the common pump action 12 gauge shotgun or a .22 rimfire rifle. Both of these can be put to good use for this environment.
What I suggest for a home for defense is the following:
- Pump shotgun: Easy to shoot and learn, devastating results, very intimidating, and very economical.
- Pistol: Requires more training, harder to shoot accurately than a shotgun for the average user, much more compact and easy to move around with inside. I view the minimum caliber for the pistol as .380 acp and up. Common defense caliber's are .380 acp, 9mm, .38 Special. .357 Magnum .40 S&W, .45 acp. Glow in the dark sights for your pistol are available from several sources such as Trijicon, and Meprolight. These are valuable tools for your choice of a pistol.
- Carbine type rifle: Can be used if a person is recoil sensitive to a shotgun. Several carbine type rifles from the M1 Carbine, to the latest Kel-Tec, Ruger, Bushmaster, or Beretta Storm carbines. They offer a low recoil, very easy to use solution. Many of these carbines are economical as well. Several of the carbines such as the Kel-tec and Beretta use the same magazine found in many pistols. This is a very nice advantage. Carbines offer several advantages such as higher ammo capacity, lower recoil, and lower muzzle blast than a shotgun or a pistol. They are quite accurate as well.
Other suggestions for home defense items include:
- Phone / Cell phone: I keep both a telephone and cell phone accessible in my home.
- Flashlights: Powerful flashlights such as those made by Surefire, Streamlight, and Maglite are very popular and useful. Several companies make flashlights that attach to your weapon. These units are quite useful.
Outside of our homes I would suggest that we look at survival firearms in the situations that the average person encounters in a normal life. Since most of us work 8 - 10 hours a day, we should think of what we would carry in that environment as a start. Terrorist events are frequently timed for the most victims to be present…. Which means during the daytime and evening hours. My first choice for a defensive weapon outside of our home would be a pistol. This allows the best options of concealment, and more importantly, the fact that we are able to carry the gun on our person. For most of us, carrying a firearm during the day will depend on our state laws, or where we work.
Another factor to consider in your choice of a handgun is the environment in which you are in. Carrying a full size .45 auto in the middle of summer in South Texas may not be the best choice. A good start for a defensive handgun is 9mm and up. Smaller caliber's may be the only option depending on how large a pistol you are able to effectively conceal. Get the gun that you feel the most comfortable with and practice with it frequently. Breaking down these factors, some excellent choices of defensive pistols are as follows:
Hot Weather
Hot weather presents the most difficult carry environment. Light weight clothing in many cases prevents carrying a full size handgun. My personal choice for this is a Seecamp LWS-32 or a Glock 26. Both are very small, offer excellent corrosion resistance, and are powerful for their size. The Seecamp is a .32 caliber auto, which in many eyes is too small of a caliber for defense. I view the .32 round as a LAST DITCH caliber, when I cannot carry a larger caliber handgun.
- Kel-Tec P-11 or P-32 - Nice light, economical guns. Easy to use.
- Beretta Tomcat
- Seecamp LWS-32 - Ultra small, lightweight, easy to conceal
- Smith & Wesson Centennial - Very small for the power
- Glock 26 / 27 / 33 - one of the best choices in my opinion for size versus power
Normal weather
- Ability to conceal a handgun increases. Allows a choice of larger caliber, larger size handguns Sig P239 / P228 / P239 / P245.45 auto - Springfield
- Armory, Kimber, Colt, etc.
- Mid and Full size Glocks
- Beretta 92 / 96 series - Extremely reliable
- Ruger pistols: Economical, and high quality
Carrying a firearm for protection is a serious decision. If you invest in carrying a firearm, invest in a high quality holster for your choice. Carrying concealed means exactly that. You do not want others to know you are carrying. A high quality holster will help you in this matter.
Bottom line for a pistol is get the pistol that suits your budget, and feels comfortable to shoot. Invest both money and time in ammo, and practice! A pistol that you are proficient with is a great start for a survival type weapon. Before you carry your pistol into harms way, make sure it is totally reliable with your choice of ammo. I suggest shooting a minimum of 200 rounds through your pistol with your choice in ammo…. BEFORE carrying it. You do not want to have a pistol jam in a defensive situation.
Other items to carry for personal defense are:
- Extra magazine / ammo for your pistol
- Pepper Spray
- Flashlight - Surefire makes the best in my opinion
- High quality folding knife
- Cell phone
Other weapons and solutions
In some cases carrying a pistol is not feasible. In most states carrying a firearm locked in the trunk of your car is an option. Check out your state laws before doing this. Most states allow the carrying of an unloaded firearm in a vehicle if it is locked in a separate compartment, such as the trunk. I know several people that have installed locking compartments within the trunk of their car to secure their weapon. This allows us to carry a more appropriate survival firearm, such as a shotgun, rifle, carbine, or even a pistol. I view this an ideal situation for a military type "Homeland Defense" rifle. Military type weapons are durable, and can take a beating.
MY personal Choice for this type of gun is a high quality military type carbine, rifle, or shotgun. Good choices for this are:
- Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
- Military type rifle or carbine: Offers rugged, tough and reliable weapon to the user
In all cases select a weapon which you are comfortable with, and practice with it. It is much better to have a lower cost firearm and actually be knowledgeable of it, than to spend a fortune on a weapon and never train with it.
Spend time thinking about the items you need for the defense of yourself and your family. Flashlights, cell phones, extra ammunition, and more importantly… having a plan are frequently overlooked items. The time you spend preparing for this will pay off in the future with the safety of your family and your home.
Links
http://www.kel-tec.com/
http://www.glock.com/
http://www.sigarms.com/
http://www.mossberg.com/
http://www.springfield-armory.com/index.shtml
http://www.kimberamerica.com/
http://www.berettausa.com/
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/
http://www.bushmaster.com/
http://www.trijicon-inc.com/
http://www.meprolight.com/
Preparing for War Part VI:
Homeland Defense Weapons in Terrorist Times
By Brian Woodworth - www.valmet-weapons.com
The subject of survival weapons has been a popular topic for quite some time. For many it started in the Cold War scares of the 60's and 70's. Modern Day survivalists continued this discussion in the 80's and, as the Iron Curtain came down, discussion of this decreased. With recent terrorist events, many of us are wondering how we can protect our families and ourselves in these uncertain times. Being prepared is now a fact of life that all of us must deal with. This article is to help those people with the desire to protect our freedoms and our way of life.
Many don't think there is a need for a firearm to protect your home and family. I think that this is a naïve attitude. Simply take a look at recent events such as the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict, and the need for a firearm becomes evident. Rioting can, and will, take place after natural and man-made events. Examples that could cause this type of reaction are terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and even reactions to court verdicts. During the Los Angeles Riots, lives and businesses were saved through the presence of a firearm.
Weapons for the home
The majority of our time is spent in our homes. We need the ability to defend our homes and families. Most households in America have a firearm. Typical firearms found are the common pump action 12 gauge shotgun or a .22 rimfire rifle. Both of these can be put to good use for this environment.
What I suggest for a home for defense is the following:
- Pump shotgun: Easy to shoot and learn, devastating results, very intimidating, and very economical.
- Pistol: Requires more training, harder to shoot accurately than a shotgun for the average user, much more compact and easy to move around with inside. I view the minimum caliber for the pistol as .380 acp and up. Common defense caliber's are .380 acp, 9mm, .38 Special. .357 Magnum .40 S&W, .45 acp. Glow in the dark sights for your pistol are available from several sources such as Trijicon, and Meprolight. These are valuable tools for your choice of a pistol.
- Carbine type rifle: Can be used if a person is recoil sensitive to a shotgun. Several carbine type rifles from the M1 Carbine, to the latest Kel-Tec, Ruger, Bushmaster, or Beretta Storm carbines. They offer a low recoil, very easy to use solution. Many of these carbines are economical as well. Several of the carbines such as the Kel-tec and Beretta use the same magazine found in many pistols. This is a very nice advantage. Carbines offer several advantages such as higher ammo capacity, lower recoil, and lower muzzle blast than a shotgun or a pistol. They are quite accurate as well.
Other suggestions for home defense items include:
- Phone / Cell phone: I keep both a telephone and cell phone accessible in my home.
- Flashlights: Powerful flashlights such as those made by Surefire, Streamlight, and Maglite are very popular and useful. Several companies make flashlights that attach to your weapon. These units are quite useful.
Outside of our homes I would suggest that we look at survival firearms in the situations that the average person encounters in a normal life. Since most of us work 8 - 10 hours a day, we should think of what we would carry in that environment as a start. Terrorist events are frequently timed for the most victims to be present…. Which means during the daytime and evening hours. My first choice for a defensive weapon outside of our home would be a pistol. This allows the best options of concealment, and more importantly, the fact that we are able to carry the gun on our person. For most of us, carrying a firearm during the day will depend on our state laws, or where we work.
Another factor to consider in your choice of a handgun is the environment in which you are in. Carrying a full size .45 auto in the middle of summer in South Texas may not be the best choice. A good start for a defensive handgun is 9mm and up. Smaller caliber's may be the only option depending on how large a pistol you are able to effectively conceal. Get the gun that you feel the most comfortable with and practice with it frequently. Breaking down these factors, some excellent choices of defensive pistols are as follows:
Hot Weather
Hot weather presents the most difficult carry environment. Light weight clothing in many cases prevents carrying a full size handgun. My personal choice for this is a Seecamp LWS-32 or a Glock 26. Both are very small, offer excellent corrosion resistance, and are powerful for their size. The Seecamp is a .32 caliber auto, which in many eyes is too small of a caliber for defense. I view the .32 round as a LAST DITCH caliber, when I cannot carry a larger caliber handgun.
- Kel-Tec P-11 or P-32 - Nice light, economical guns. Easy to use.
- Beretta Tomcat
- Seecamp LWS-32 - Ultra small, lightweight, easy to conceal
- Smith & Wesson Centennial - Very small for the power
- Glock 26 / 27 / 33 - one of the best choices in my opinion for size versus power
Normal weather
- Ability to conceal a handgun increases. Allows a choice of larger caliber, larger size handguns Sig P239 / P228 / P239 / P245.45 auto - Springfield
- Armory, Kimber, Colt, etc.
- Mid and Full size Glocks
- Beretta 92 / 96 series - Extremely reliable
- Ruger pistols: Economical, and high quality
Carrying a firearm for protection is a serious decision. If you invest in carrying a firearm, invest in a high quality holster for your choice. Carrying concealed means exactly that. You do not want others to know you are carrying. A high quality holster will help you in this matter.
Bottom line for a pistol is get the pistol that suits your budget, and feels comfortable to shoot. Invest both money and time in ammo, and practice! A pistol that you are proficient with is a great start for a survival type weapon. Before you carry your pistol into harms way, make sure it is totally reliable with your choice of ammo. I suggest shooting a minimum of 200 rounds through your pistol with your choice in ammo…. BEFORE carrying it. You do not want to have a pistol jam in a defensive situation.
Other items to carry for personal defense are:
- Extra magazine / ammo for your pistol
- Pepper Spray
- Flashlight - Surefire makes the best in my opinion
- High quality folding knife
- Cell phone
Other weapons and solutions
In some cases carrying a pistol is not feasible. In most states carrying a firearm locked in the trunk of your car is an option. Check out your state laws before doing this. Most states allow the carrying of an unloaded firearm in a vehicle if it is locked in a separate compartment, such as the trunk. I know several people that have installed locking compartments within the trunk of their car to secure their weapon. This allows us to carry a more appropriate survival firearm, such as a shotgun, rifle, carbine, or even a pistol. I view this an ideal situation for a military type "Homeland Defense" rifle. Military type weapons are durable, and can take a beating.
MY personal Choice for this type of gun is a high quality military type carbine, rifle, or shotgun. Good choices for this are:
- Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
- Military type rifle or carbine: Offers rugged, tough and reliable weapon to the user
In all cases select a weapon which you are comfortable with, and practice with it. It is much better to have a lower cost firearm and actually be knowledgeable of it, than to spend a fortune on a weapon and never train with it.
Spend time thinking about the items you need for the defense of yourself and your family. Flashlights, cell phones, extra ammunition, and more importantly… having a plan are frequently overlooked items. The time you spend preparing for this will pay off in the future with the safety of your family and your home.
Links
http://www.kel-tec.com/
http://www.glock.com/
http://www.sigarms.com/
http://www.mossberg.com/
http://www.springfield-armory.com/index.shtml
http://www.kimberamerica.com/
http://www.berettausa.com/
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/
http://www.bushmaster.com/
http://www.trijicon-inc.com/
http://www.meprolight.com/
