Texan Doomsday Preppers Gun Stupidity

[BigGuy]

watched one episode, couldn't understand why someone would show their bunker, the outside of the home and using their names on TV IF the family wanted it to remain a secret.

[CoffeeNut]

Although I agree to some extent with not pointing guns at each other, I would point out that military training usually includes pointing guns at each other, partly to break down training that makes people not want to point guns at each other. Is it possible that these preppers are doing the same so that they and their kids won't hesitate when that day comes?

Last I checked the military had serious issues with pointing what looks like fully loaded weapons at other members of the military (flagging). They have simunitions for that which require a blue bolt and protective equipment, blanks which require a BFA and or airsoft. Regardless these people were not trained members of the military or law enforcement. They were kids and their father aiming weapons at another father and his kids.

TV sensationalism or not, it was wrong.

[JALLEN]

The terms "real" and "television" ought never appear in the same thought. Everything about it is phony, staged. That's what producers and directors are for.

It is my understanding that SEALS train rather extensively with live ammo, firing, but are trained to NOT sweep other team members in the process. I doubt they shoot AT each other. I don't know about the other forces.

[TexasGal]

We've watched a few of those. The overwhelming impression of most of the people is they need more therapy and may have already had the lobotomy. It' s "UN" reality TV. The fear we have is shows like this will feed the wrong impressions of citizens who are already fearful of gun owners. It was interesting to see the ways various people thought they were preparing for something. Some made a bit of sense--others were laughable like the episode where the couple gave their names and then said they had hidden over $30k in gold and silver in PVC pipes on their property. They might really need their guns now

[CoffeeNut]

We've watched a few of those. The overwhelming impression of most of the people is they need more therapy and may have already had the lobotomy. It' s "UN" reality TV. The fear we have is shows like this will feed the wrong impressions of citizens who are already fearful of gun owners. It was interesting to see the ways various people thought they were preparing for something. Some made a bit of sense--others were laughable like the episode where the couple gave their names and then said they had hidden over $30k in gold and silver in PVC pipes on their property. They might really need their guns now

I saw that one as well and had a great chuckle since they had buried all of this gold and silver yet they were purchasing their first firearms, I believe, while the film crew was there. I've got a great metal detector shoved away somewhere that will find all of their jewels and their new shipping container shelter!

I don't know why these people need to "prep" when they can take over a Walmart if a problem arises and live forever.

[jimlongley]

Although I agree to some extent with not pointing guns at each other, I would point out that military training usually includes pointing guns at each other, partly to break down training that makes people not want to point guns at each other. Is it possible that these preppers are doing the same so that they and their kids won't hesitate when that day comes?

Last I checked the military had serious issues with pointing what looks like fully loaded weapons at other members of the military (flagging). They have simunitions for that which require a blue bolt and protective equipment, blanks which require a BFA and or airsoft. Regardless these people were not trained members of the military or law enforcement. They were kids and their father aiming weapons at another father and his kids.

TV sensationalism or not, it was wrong.

Back in my day there were no blue guns or BFAs, we just pointed real guns at each other and hoped that the real ammo had been left behind, and even then the military is simulating pointing weapons at each other.

"Regardless these people were not trained members of the military or law enforcement. They were kids and their father aiming weapons at another father and his kids."

Exactly, thus the reason for breaking down inhibitions against pointing guns at other people, they are trying to be quasi military. If doomsday happened a lot might depend on a ten year old kid being able to fire on his former playmate. I thought that was implicit in my post.

[RPBrown]

Although not a "dooms day prepper", I have a concrete safe room that we had built a few years ago to help my wife's fear if someone were to break in while she is home alone. There was a rash of home invasions back then and she was insistant that even though she has weapons, she wanted a safe room. Since then, the police have caught the people doing the break ins, and they have stopped. Now I have a $35,000.00 gun safe/storm room/safe room.

[TexasGal]

I see nothing wrong with having food, shelter, and a plan in case something goes badly. It's just that it can be carried to an extreme that overwhelms people and turns into neurosis. Every time we see a natural weather disaster, there are people who need food, shelter, money, etc rather desperately. Even though the weather forecasters warn until they are blue in the face for days beforehand. I am hoping the preppers on the tv show are mostly just playing up the bubba angle with the guns at the direction of the producer.

[tommyg]

I think the real danger is in some of the end of the world nuts making trouble
The 2012 prophecy is probably nothing more than the Myan plan to revise their calander
on December 21 2012. Forget about the end of the world and watch out for the nuts that believe it

It is a good idea to have survival rations enough for a week in case of emergency..

If the world really ends then no amount of preparations will do much good

[TexasGal]

If the world hits some serious stuff that hits a fan, then my money is on these guys surviving:
http://www.duckcommander.com/duckmen/
I would love to see them in an episode of doomsday preppers. I'm guessing it would involve blowing something up, wading around in a swamp, shooting fresh vittles, and showing in closeups how to put those critters on the table.

[jimlongley]

I think the real danger is in some of the end of the world nuts making trouble
The 2012 prophecy is probably nothing more than the Myan plan to revise their calander
on December 21 2012. Forget about the end of the world and watch out for the nuts that believe it

It is a good idea to have survival rations enough for a week in case of emergency..

If the world really ends then no amount of preparations will do much good

The Mayans just ran out of room on the rock.

[The Annoyed Man]

I see nothing wrong with having food, shelter, and a plan in case something goes badly. It's just that it can be carried to an extreme that overwhelms people and turns into neurosis. Every time we see a natural weather disaster, there are people who need food, shelter, money, etc rather desperately. Even though the weather forecasters warn until they are blue in the face for days beforehand. I am hoping the preppers on the tv show are mostly just playing up the bubba angle with the guns at the direction of the producer.

I moved here from Southern California. I have lived—in intimate detail—through several major earthquakes in my lifetime. In Southern California, having an "Earthquake Kit" is so common that when somebody says they don't have one or see the need for it, others will look at them like their hair's on fire.

What's an "Earthquake Kit," you might ask? Well, items commonly found in an earthquake kit might include: enough stored drinkable water for 2 weeks per person in the home, first aid kit, enough canned or freeze-dried food for 2 weeks per person in the home, a gas-meter shutoff tool, a large enough tent for the family, batteries, flashlights, a hand-crank radio, a change of clothing for warm weather and one for cold weather for each member of the family, sleeping bags, a firearm with related ammunition, etc., etc., etc.

Some variation of this list would be found in almost any home where they bothered with an earthquake kit. Here in Texas, we might call that a "Tornado Kit." It also begins to look like the start of a nominal "prepper" kit. "Prepping" makes perfect sense to me. There is a limit to how much we can predict what is going to happen in the next 30, 60, 90, 180, or 365 days. Certainly we can't be prepared for ALL possible future events. But, we can be prepared for a lot of those things which will be common to almost any kind of disaster, whether it is a weather, societal, or political disaster.........or even a war brought to our shores. In other words, the core of a earthquake/tornado kit might server your family well in any of those situations.

I don't think it is unreasonable, or even something to make fun of, if some people are smart enough and have the resources to prepare the ability to switch to a "shadow life," the same way our government is set up with a "shadow government" so that continuity of government would continue if the nation's capital were attacked. I've been mocked for making plans to live outside of this society's infrastructure. It's not that I want to live that way, it's that I want to live if things come to that. The simple fact is that those that don't prepare are going to die off in large numbers if something catastrophic were to happen. Those that prepped will survive in higher percentages. The tale of the grasshopper and the ant is timeless. And if the preparations turn out to be unnecessary in my lifetime, then no harm and no foul, and I'll have left my son a headstart on his own efforts.

[jmra]