Chuck Baldwins thoughts on A Suggested Survival List
As a disclaimer i voted for Chuck Baldwin in 2008. Do i agree 100% percent with him on everything? Of cource not, i don't agree with me 100% of the time, but when you looked at the alternatives. When I did it i understood completely that i was "theoretically" throwing my vote away, but i'm just tired holding my nose when i vote. What ever political view point you hold, the articles is worth the read.

A Suggested Survival List
By Chuck Baldwin
November 4, 2010

Archived column:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=2504

This column was initially released last June. Without a doubt, this
has been one of my most requested columns. So, in response to the
large number of readers who have asked me to re-release this column, I
do so today. And in doing so, I have added some new material to the
original column.

One does not have to be a prophet to know that we are on the
precipice of some potentially catastrophic--or at the very least,
challenging--days. In fact, most of us are already in challenging
days, and some are already enduring catastrophic events. That is, if
one would call being out of work, losing one’s home, facing
life-threatening medical conditions without any prospect of medical
insurance, several families being forced to live in one house due to
homes being foreclosed, etc., catastrophic.

The potential for an escalation of cataclysmic events, however, is
very real. Only a “blooming idiot” would call someone who attempts
to prepare for “the day of adversity” a Chicken Little now. Anyone
who does not see the storm clouds on the horizon isn’t paying
attention.

For example, can one imagine what would happen if terrorists nuked a
major American city or cities? (Once again, I encourage readers to go
get the videos of the CBS TV series “Jericho” to get an idea of
how quickly life, and even civilization, could change.) Imagine if
there was another 9/11-type event. What would happen if some form of
Zimbabwe-style inflation hit the US? What would happen if anything
disrupted the distribution of Welfare checks, or food to local
grocers? Imagine a Hurricane Katrina-style natural disaster in your
town. I think people everywhere are beginning to awaken to just how
vulnerable we all really are.

As a result, people from virtually every walk of life have recently
been asking my thoughts on how they should prepare. Therefore, I will
attempt to share with my readers some of the counsel I have given
these folks.

First, a disclaimer. I am not an economist; I am not a survival
expert; I am not a firearms expert; I am not an attorney; I am not a
physician. In fact, I am not an expert in anything! For several years,
however, I have tried to learn from others. I am an avid reader. My
work has allowed me to travel extensively. I have had the privilege of
sitting at the feet of--and learning from--many of America’s most
learned, most trained, and most qualified “experts” in a variety
of fields. What I write today, I have learned from others. I’ve
formed my own opinions and priorities, of course, but everything I’m
sharing has been said, or written about, before. But if I can share
something in today’s column that will help someone be better
prepared for the days to come, then my goal will have been achieved.

Location:

First, analyze your living conditions. Where do you live? Do you live
in an urban or rural environment? Is it a big city or small town? Do
you live in an apartment or condominium? How close are your neighbors?
Do you even know your neighbors? Would you trust them if the
electricity was off and they were hungry? Could you grow your own
food, if you had to? How easily could you secure your home? If you
live in a cold weather environment, how long could you stay warm
without electricity? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask
yourself now.

Over the past several decades, masses of people have migrated into
large metropolitan areas. More people live in urban areas than at any
time in American history. While this may be well and good for times of
prosperity, it is an absolute nightmare in any kind of disaster. Does
anyone remember what New Orleans looked like after Hurricane Katrina
came through? Can anyone recall what happened in downtown Los Angeles
during the 1992 riots? Needless to say, any inner-city environment
could become a powder keg almost instantaneously, given the right (or
wrong) cir***stances. And the bigger the city, the bigger the
potential problems.

If you live in the inner city, I suggest you consider moving to a
more rural location. Obviously, now is a very good time to buy
property (especially rural property), but the downside is, selling
property is not as favorable. If you can afford it, now is a great
time to buy a “safe house” outside the city. If you are fortunate
enough to have family or some true friends nearby, you might want to
put your heads--and some resources--together in preparation for
serious upheaval. Obviously, a team of prepared people is much better
than being alone.

If you must stay in your urban location, have some commonsense plans
in hand in the event of a major disaster. Get to know your neighbors:
find out whom you can trust and whom you can’t. Keep some extra
gasoline on hand, in case you need to get in your car quickly and
leave. Have several exit routes planned ahead of time, in case roads
are blocked. Have a “bug-out” bag containing essential ingredients
to live on for 3 or 4 days. If leaving is not an option, have a plan
to secure your home as best you can. You’ll need to think about
things such as food, water, medicine, warmth, self-defense, etc. But
at this point, to do nothing is absolute lunacy!

Provisions:

During a major disaster, food will quickly disappear. Living for over
3 decades on the Gulf Coast, I can tell you with absolute certainty
that whenever disaster strikes (usually an approaching hurricane, for
us), food and provisions at the store sell completely out in a matter
of a few hours. People panic, and within hours, you cannot find food,
bottled water, ice, generators, batteries, candles, etc. In a matter
of hours, every gas station in the area will be completely out of gas.
Not days. Hours!

Furthermore, almost all disasters include a complete loss of
electricity. The water supply is compromised. Bottled water becomes
more valuable than bank accounts. Dehydration becomes a very real and
present danger. I remember witnessing a man offer an ice vendor $100
for an extra bag of ice during Hurricane Ivan. My wife and I went 2
weeks (14 days) without electricity in the aftermath of that
hurricane. Believe me, I got a taste of just how precious bottled
water, ice, batteries, generators, fuel, etc., can become.

I suggest you have a supply of food and water to last at least 2
weeks. A month would be even better. Personally, I can live a long
time on tuna fish or peanut butter. You can purchase MREs from a
variety of sources, as well as “camp-style” packaged food from
stores such as Academy Sports & Outdoors. Of course, bottled water is
available everywhere during normal times. Stock up! Plus, I suggest
you have some water purification tablets or a Katadyn water filter on
hand. And, if you are able, prepare to grow your own food. Canning
food is another very helpful hedge against deprivation. If your
parents were like mine, this was standard operating procedure.

Get a generator. Keep a supply of fuel on hand. Stay stocked up on
batteries, candles, portable lights, first aid supplies, and personal
hygiene items--especially toilet paper. Trust me, during times of
intense and prolonged disaster, toilet paper could become more
valuable than money. I also suggest you never run out of lighters or
matches. You never know when you’ll need to build a fire, and during
a prolonged survival situation, fire could save your life. If you live
in a cold weather climate, you probably already have some sort of wood
stove or fireplace.

Obviously, you need to take stock of your clothing. Do you have
clothes suitable for extended outdoor activity? What about boots?
During a disaster, you would trade your best suit from Neiman Marcus
for a good pair of boots. Do you have gloves? Insulated underwear?
What about camouflage clothing? These could become essential outerwear
in the right conditions. Plus, any “bug-out” bag will need to
include spare clothing.

Communication and medical provisions are also a high priority in any
kind of emergency. How will you communicate with your loved ones when
the phones (including cell phones) go down? A preordained rally point
(or safe house) might be something to think about. And what about
medical supplies? Do you have enough to take care of routine (and
not-so-routine) emergencies? What about your prescription drugs? How
long could you function if you were cut off from your druggist for any
length of time? Think about it now.

And one more suggestion, while we’re on this subject: the best
resources in the world are of little use if one is physically
incapable of making good use of them. In other words, GET IN SHAPE.
During any kind of emergency situation, physical exertion and stamina
become immensely important.

Commodities:

I suggest you have at least some cash on hand. Just about any and all
disasters will result in banks being closed for extended periods of
time. That also means credit card purchases being suspended. You need
to have enough cash to be able to purchase essential goods (if they
are even available) for an undetermined amount of time.

Of course, some survival gurus insist that during any cataclysmic
climate, precious metals will become the only reliable currency. But
when most of us are trying to feed our families and pay our bills, it
is difficult to get excited about buying gold and silver. Obviously, I
would never recommend that anyone jeopardize the present on the altar
of the future. My parents made it through the Great Depression with
canned goods and garden vegetables; gold and silver were certainly not
a priority with them. On the other hand, a little gold and silver
could go a long way in a prolonged emergency--if you can afford it
without jeopardizing present needs.

In fact, in a disaster, what is considered a valuable commodity can
change rather quickly, as the barter system takes a life of its own.
What is valuable is determined by what you need and how badly you need
it. In a prolonged disaster, simple things such as toilet paper,
canned goods, ammunition, and clothing could become extremely
valuable; while cars, video games, televisions, etc., could be reduced
to junk status. In antiquity, wars were fought over things such as
salt.

Speaking of cars, remember that during a prolonged “national
emergency” that might involve some sort of nuclear attack or
widespread civil unrest, an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) might be
employed; in which case, most every late model vehicle would be
completely inoperable. Accordingly, if one can keep an older,
pre-computer-age vehicle in good working order, he or she might be
driving the only non-government vehicle capable of going anywhere.

Self-Defense:

Needless to say, during any kind of disaster, your safety and
protection will be completely up to you. If you really think that the
police are going to be able to protect you during an upheaval, you are
living in a dreamworld.

In both the New Orleans and Los Angeles disasters, police protection
was non-existent. Lawless gangs quickly took control of the streets,
and people were left to either defend themselves or swiftly become the
helpless prey of violent marauders. In fact, in New Orleans, some of
the policemen actually abandoned their oaths to uphold the law and
joined with the criminals, turning their weapons upon the public.

Face it, folks: in any kind of disaster, you must be able to defend
yourself, or you and your family will be meat for these animals of
society that will quickly descend without mercy upon the unprepared,
unsuspecting souls around them. This requires that you be armed! It
also requires that you be skilled enough to be able to efficiently use
your arms.

Therefore, I strongly suggest that you purchase firearms sufficient
to keep you and your family safe, and also that you practice
sufficiently to know how to use them.

Now, when it comes to a discussion of which firearms are preferable
for self-defense, the suggestions are as varied as the people who
proffer them. These are my suggestions:

I believe every man (along with his wife and children of adequate
age) should be proficient with the following weapons: a handgun in .38
caliber or above, a .22 rifle, a center-fire hunting rifle, a
semi-automatic battle rifle, and a shotgun.

My personal preference for a self-defense handgun is either a .45 ACP
1911 (either Colt or Kimber) or a .40 S&W. In the .40 caliber, my
favorite is a Glock 23. In the 1911, I like the Commander size
configuration. I also like the Glock 21, 30, and 36 in .45 caliber. My
wife prefers to carry a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the
snub-nose, J-frame configuration. But this is primarily due to the
reduced weight of these weapons for carry purposes. If needed, she
could make a good accounting of herself with a Glock 19 in 9mm. If you
are someone who has never owned and seldom fired a handgun, I
recommend you buy a Glock. They are as simple as revolvers to operate,
reliable, and almost indestructible. Plus, they provide increased
magazine capacity, and are safe. They are also very easy to
disassemble and clean. Of course, in dangerous game territory, you
will need the power of a .45 Long Colt, .44 Magnum, or even a .454
Casull. These calibers are not for the limp-wristed, but when one is
facing a brown bear or mountain lion, it is what one will need to
survive. Plus, when your life is on the line, you’ll never feel the
recoil.

For a .22 rifle, I really like the Ruger 10/22. For a hunting rifle,
my suggestion is either a .270 or .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle. I
prefer the Remington Model 700 BDL or Browning X-Bolt, but there are
several fine weapons in this configuration and caliber by numerous
manufacturers. In dangerous game territory, a Marlin .45-70 could be a
lifesaver. For a battle rifle, I suggest an AR-15-style weapon (I
prefer Bushmaster) in .223 caliber or a .308 Springfield M1A. For a
shotgun, I suggest a 12-gauge pump. Here I prefer a Winchester Model
1300, which is not made anymore. So, you’ll probably have to choose
between Mossberg and Remington. For ladies, however, a 20-gauge
shotgun is probably a better choice, and at “bad breath” range
(where a shotgun shines, anyway), it is just as lethal.

Whatever you choose, practice with it to the point that you are able
to use it proficiently. And be sure you stock up on ammunition. A gun
without ammo is reduced to being either an expensive club or a
***bersome paperweight.

Go to your local independent sporting goods store (I don’t
recommend the large national chain stores to do your firearms
shopping) and get to know your hometown firearms dealer. Most of these
people are kind and helpful folks who will be more than happy to
assist you in finding exactly what type of firearm is suitable for you
and your family.

Spiritual Power:

I firmly believe that man is created to have fellowship with his
Creator-God. I really don’t know how people can face the uncertain
future that we currently face without the spiritual knowledge, wisdom,
comfort, and power that is made available through Jesus Christ. I
believe the maxim is true: “Wise men still seek Him.” I strongly
suggest that you seek to possess a personal relationship with God’s
only begotten Son. In truth, spiritual preparation is far and away the
most important preparation of all. Accordingly, be sure to pack a copy
of God’s Word in your survival gear.

That we are facing challenging days is a certainty. Exactly what that
means is yet to be determined. I trust that some of my suggestions
will help you be better prepared for what lies before us. Plus, here
is an excellent online Survival Blog chock-full of great suggestions
and resources for all things survival. Check it out:

http://www.survivalblog.com/

I am sure that I have left out several items that others more
qualified than me would include. I welcome their suggestions, as I am
always desirous to learn from those who are wiser and more
experienced. In the meantime, remember your Boy Scout motto: “Be
Prepared.”

P.S. We are now successfully relocated in Kalispell, Montana. Wow!
What a view. It’s a balmy, sunny 55 degrees as I write this column.
I wish my patriot family (especially my Christian patriot family)
could all join us here. We are at the “tip of the spear” in the
liberty fight. We need as many patriots as possible to move to the
Flathead Valley of Northwestern Montana. Pray about it, folks!

Letting everyone know, too, that our new ministry here in Montana is
called “LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP.” For those who live within driving
distance to the Kalispell area, we are searching for a meeting
location and will let you know the location and times of our services
as soon as possible. Please also be assured that we will begin
livestreaming my Sunday messages just as soon as we can purchase the
equipment and get it all functional.

Obviously, our move to Montana and the subsequent costs to establish
our new ministry here is extremely expensive. Needless to say, we knew
this was going to be a step of faith at our age, but we had no idea
how much so.

Therefore, I am appealing to my friends and readers to make either a
one-time contribution or a monthly contribution to LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
to help us establish this new work. LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP is an outreach
of ChuckBaldwinLive.com and gifts made are NOT tax deductible. If you
can help me get this new work started, please send your check or money
order (we do plan to accept credit cards in the very near future) to:

Liberty Fellowship
P.O. Box 10
Kila, Montana 59920

Thank you very much for reading my columns and helping us fight the
fight for God and freedom!