Breakfast with Survival Sam, Duane and me was becoming a regular weekly event at the Café 23.  Sam thought there was a lot we needed to discuss.

            “Haven’t we hit the basics of survival and preparation pretty well?” I asked.

            “One subject we haven’t covered is self defense,” Sam said.

            “What do you mean?” asked Duane as he spread strawberry jelly on his toast.  “You’re not recruiting for some sort of militia or something, are you, Sam?”

            Sam chuckled.  “Only a militia of one.”  I guess Duane and I both looked perplexed at that one.  “You’re both men, and you’re each the head of your respective households.  What are you doing to protect your families?”

            “I’ve got insurance of all kinds up the gazoo,” said Duane.

            “That’s good as far as it goes,” Sam said, “but what if someone wants to do you bodily harm or break into your home to steal your valued possessions?”

            “I know crime’s going up around here,” Duane said, “but I don’t live in a particularly bad part of town.  I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”

            “Besides, what do we hire police for?” I asked. "I’m a taxpayer.  That should be good for something, shouldn’t it?”

            Sam nodded knowingly.  “If someone breaks into your home, it could be several minutes, even an hour, before help arrives, assuming you’ve been able to place a 911 call.  Do you want to take the chance that some gorilla will wait for the authorities to arrive before doing anything?”

            “Good point,” Duane said. 

            “What do you suggest?” I asked.

            “Get a gun,” Sam said.  "A 12 gauge shotgun would be a nice start.  You can get one for as little as $100 or so, and you don't have to get a permit for it."

            Duane’s eyebrows went up.  “Diane would have a cow.  She thinks guns are only for hunting, like her brother Bill does.”

            “Having a self defense firearm is far better than the alternative,” Sam said.  “Who wears the pants in the family, Duane?  We're talking about the safety of your wife and children–the people you love.  Remember, you’re not going out there looking for trouble.  We’re talking about self defense.  You’re not going to wound or kill someone unless it’s necessary.  And one of these days it might be necessary.  As I’ve said many times before, we live in an unfriendly world.  Those people at church in Colorado a couple weeks back were thankful someone had a gun when the shooting started.”

            “Yeah, you’re right about that,” said Duane, “but not every crime ends up in murder.”

            “Of course not,” Sam said, “but consider this.  If we have an economic collapse or some other tipping point that sets off chaos, you may have all kinds of unfriendly people at your door.  Will you be prepared for them?”

            “I don’t know if it will come to that,” Duane said.

            “I don’t know if it will either,” said Sam.  “If things start popping though, you’ll need to be ready.  Maybe you’ve seen pictures after one of the big hurricanes where a man is sitting on his doorstep with a rifle across his lap to thwart looters.”

            “Yeah,” Duane said, “but there are an awfully lot of people who help out when things get bad, too.  Disasters bring out the best in people.  This is America after all.”

            “I wouldn’t count on that,” Sam said.  “People have changed.  Let me give you an example of something in the news from a few weeks back.  Two boys in their upper teens in Oregon were staying for a while with a 19-year-old girl.  They paid back her kindness by mercilessly killing her black and white cat.  They scalded it to death in hot water, then cut off its head with a hatchet.  The boys were charged with aggravated animal assault.”

            Duane grimaced.  Maybe he was thinking of Schroeder, their family cat.  "Those kids should have been put away in a dark, cold corner for a long time.  Something's seriously wrong with them."

            Sam continued.  “The girl said the boys showed no remorse at all.  I think it’s significant that their eyes reportedly showed no emotion.  Beware of those dead eyes.  How many crimes have we heard of over the years where even young children show no emotion or compassion?

            “What would cause somebody to be that messed up?” I asked.

            Sam sipped his coffee.  “Causes could be anything.  Cell phone radiation proliferating, fast food diets, and MSG in foods, or any number of variables.  Kids taking prescribed drugs for ADD.  Parents on drugs when the boys were born.  CIA mind control.  Anything.”

            “You really believe all that?” asked Duane.

            “What does it matter what I believe?  These days such things can’t be ruled out,” said Sam.  “The main thing is, no matter what the cause, the result is that more crimes are committed by remorseless individuals.  The question is whether you’ll be ready should you encounter one or more of them.”

            “Well, all right,” Duane said, "What do you suggest I do?”

            “We should go to the shooting range so you can get hands on experience.  That will help you not to be afraid of firearms.  Once you and I have gone a time or two, perhaps we could make it a family affair.  Get Diane and the kids into this as well.  The kids aren’t too young to learn about safely using firearms.”

            “Is there anything I can read or study?” Duane asked.

            "A copy of The Shooter’s Bible would be good to have.  I'll have John post a link to Amazon.com."  He turned to me as he said that.  I jotted it down on an extra paper napkin.  "Get acquainted with different firearms and calibers.  Don’t be discouraged if it looks overwhelming at first.  You might subscribe to a gun magazine, such as ‘Guns & Ammo.’  Their ‘Fully Loaded’ blog is linked on the right column of John’s blog.  It will take you to their web site.  You’ll notice there’s also a category called ‘Survival Shooting’ on that right column.  Take a look at the e-books at ‘Firearms Explained’ and the ‘Precision Shooting Program.’  There’s information for people of all levels of firearms experience.”

            “Sounds like something Diane’s brother Bill might be interested in,” said Duane, jotting down his own notes on a napkin.  “I know he’s been to the shooting range a few times.”

            “There you go,” said Sam.  “You might also click on the Brigade QuarterMasters banner.  Enter the key words ‘home defense’ or ‘self defense’ and see what comes up.  Firearms aren’t the only aspect of self defense, but they’re an important part you must include when it comes to your own survival and preparedness.”