Arm Thy Neighbor?

[Abraham]

Ah yes, The Ant And The Grasshopper" syndrome, eh?

Some don't get it...

Yes, if utter chaos becomes reality and my neighbor is in my house without equipment, I'll certainly lend him/her some of mine, but trudging over to his house to supply him, nah...

[tacticool]

With rare exceptions, if they don't have guns, they often lack skill at arms, not to mention stored food, water, and other supplies to get through the incident. Recently, I have been picking up budget guns when they cross my path. My limit is $100 so I have only accumulated two used single shot shotguns and one 22 rifle. In an Allison or Ike type of event, I am prepared to lend certain neighbors a budget gun and a box of ammo. If necessary, I can throw in a bag of white rice and a bag of pinto beans.

However, in a longer term scenario, I won't be lending anything. If they want to buy or barter for a gun, or rice and beans, the price is going to be a lot higher than now, when the grocery and sporting goods stores are open.

[jollyman]

Their preparedness is for their benefit, not mine and I wouldn't assume otherwise.

Abraham, it sounds like you in in the throes of a moral/ethical malaise known as "Personal Responsibility Disorder". You should turn yourself in to the nearest Federal Government office for re-education right away. How can we live in a "fair" society if everyone isn't willing to share with each other?

Seriously, though. Folks with a strong sense of personal accountability and responsibility are doing for themselves, and I don't worry about them at all. They'll likely be hunkered down consolidating their base like me. It is the politically acceptable masses who believe that they are entitled to their "fair share" of everything -- even though they didn't bother to make any preparations -- that I worry about. In extreme circumstances, all societal rules will go out the window for most folks who suddenly come to the realization that they need to feed themselves and the fast food joints and the grocery arent't open.

You sure got that right!

[mamabearCali]

I would love to be so charitable. However my husband and I have precious few guns. We are hoping to get more in a month or so, but budgets are tight. Often times we have the choice do we stock up on more food this month or more ammunition and magazines for weapons we already own. The past two months food has won out. I am hoping in Jan to be able to do both. We hope in Feb (if my DH gets a bonus) to pick up three more weapons. Once I have my weaponry secured and my food supply stabilized. Then I might look to getting extras for one both for those who are good and decent people just happy go lucky.

As far as people coming to my house for shelter and protection. Family and close friends are fine, but be ready to man a post and pick up a bucket and shovel, bring as much ammo, weapons and food as you can. I know that in a nasty sitaution I have to sleep sometime and that means someone else must take a watch. My husband and I can do it for a few days alone, but then we are going to need help.

[Purplehood]

Teach a man to fish...

My elderly neighbor (lady) just took herself out to the range and took a class and some firing-time. She called me over and showed off her 25-yard paper target with 80% of the shots in the black and the rest at 12 o'clock high. Incredible shooting for a life-long non-shooter.
Now she wants to buy a handgun.

Until she gets her gun she can count on me to provide aid in the event of a catastrophic scenario.

[The Annoyed Man]

Teach a man to fish...

My elderly neighbor (lady) just took herself out to the range and took a class and some firing-time. She called me over and showed off her 25-yard paper target with 80% of the shots in the black and the rest at 12 o'clock high. Incredible shooting for a life-long non-shooter.
Now she wants to buy a handgun.

Until she gets her gun she can count on me to provide aid in the event of a catastrophic scenario.

This, and.....

I'd hand out my Mosin Nagant, Mauser, and SKS (in that order) to unarmed people who I thought "deserved" them, with the understanding that they'd be returned after said people were able to get their own guns (or if I ran out of ammo for my others). Other than that, though, I don't have enough guns to arm even a full family, let alone a neighborhood.

.....this I think are kind of where I fall on this idea.....

.....along with a smidgeon of this:

If TEOTWAWKI occurs, I would be happy to host a limited number of folks, as long as they bring something to party -- i.e. material things like guns and ammo, non-perishable foodstufs, or certain specialized skillsets/knowledge. As for arming the neighbors, charity begins at home. Until everyone in my home has a full compliment of pistols and long arms, each, with an acceptable supply of rounds for each arm, all sharing will be within the immediate family.

But, I also have to highlight this one:

Each of the firearms I have added to the family collection serve a specific purpose much like the different clubs in a golfers bag. To start handing out my "clubs" might mean that when I need to put, I'm left holding a driver.

The reason I highlight it is because this is the current state of my own collection. None of my long guns are "spares." Each one was picked with a specific purpose in mind. I do have a couple of pistols I could dispense with to hand out, but they were NOT cheap guns. One is a .44 magnum and the other is a .357 magnum, and they are not exactly "beginner" guns. I have a significant investment in them, and I'm not likely to consider them as "give-aways." On the other hand, I'm not averse to the idea of picking up 3 or 4 "junk" (meaning old, used, inexpensive, but serviceable) revolvers in a common caliber at gunshows—buying them over a period of time so that it isn't a sudden major expense. I would be willing to use these guns to make up 3 or 4 mini-bugin kits for those that deserve them. I'd be willing to include a 50 round box of cheap ammo, a couple of water bottles, a can of chili and a small bag of rice.....or something like that. But I wouldn't give them to just anybody. It would have to be somebody deserving, and that would be defined by some kind of overt indication that they were serious about taking responsibility for their survival going forward. And like Middle Age Russ said, it would have to be someone who brought something to the party.

But that said, I would likely never help the neighbor across the street. He makes more money than I do and he has a regular income. When he makes statements like his saying that he's coming over to my house when it hits the fan, it irritates me no end that he thinks that this type of preparedness is necessary, but he doesn't have to spend his money on it, because he presumes upon me and mine. In other words, although he's not a democrat, he acts like one.....like he is saying "what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine too." If TEOTWAWKI ever comes, he's going to be cold, hungry, and unarmed, because I'm refusing to be his enabler. I'm not even sure that I'd sell him one of my "give-away" kits at a 1000% profit, because he's not worthy, and paper money won't have any value then. He won't have anything of value to pay with. An absolute grasshopper.

Anyway, I find that my thoughts are still evolving, and maaaaaaybe when I have my own preparations built up to where I am satisfied with them, I'll feel more able to be generous. Maybe. But until then, it's going to be hard cheese for my short-sighted neighbors.

[OldCannon]

Interesting point. I always tell people that if you're REALLY in an survival situation, having a few Hi-Point pistols around can't hurt. They can definitely be given to your friends like candy and they're pretty darned reliable for being so cheap. They're nowhere near the serviceability of a Glock or M&P, but, for a carbine around $250 or a pistol around $150, they'll do the job (I've owned a Hi-Point carbine in the past...it was very reliable and went bang when you pulled the trigger).

Added bonus: Hi-Points handle +P ammo

[OldCannon]

He won't have anything of value to pay with. An absolute grasshopper.

You know, one of the biggest moral decisions people will genuinely face in a TEOTWAWKI situation is making decisions where you know somebody may/will die, like your grasshopper. For many people, this may be conflicting, but can be rationalized. It becomes more difficult if you see a woman begging for food/medicine or else her child will die. I do not think people are spiritually prepared to walk down these kind of moral roads, but most will have no choice.

There's an interesting Q&A narrative from a person that survived in Bosnia that's worth reading. It's focused on the "in the city" hardscrabble life that people had to endure on a daily basis. A LOT of fascinating insights, and I'd daresay this is similar to what people would endure here. http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blo ... ccount.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[karder]

Oddly, I was thinking about this same subject a few days ago. I guess it would depend entirely on the situation.

A. Bug in plan. I would get my good neighbors together and organize as best I could. I would likely provide weapons to those who were responsible and trustworthy.

B. Bug out plan. My wife and I would take what we need, probably 2 ARs, a 12 gauge, .308, a pair of .45s and maybe a .22. I would give the rest away to those in need and leave.

At least that sounds good from the comfort of my living room.