Times are still uncertain
Well even with being inactive for the entire summer, thanks to being involved with the tourist industry, not a whole lot has changed. Ammunition is still hard to obtain and what is available is two to three times the cost that it was before the elections. Manufacturers are running 24-7 and still can’t catch up to demand. High capacity magazines keep going up in price when there is availability. Reloading components are still scarce. And swine flu is still here (it never went away).
As to the flu season everybody should be taking it very seriously since there are all indications that it going to be a bad one. You should have your own precautions in place to prevent contracting anytype of flu. And your employers should have an operational plan in place to keep the spread of the flu in the work place down. I highly recommend getting a seasonal flu shot as soon as you can, since they are now available (a swine flu shot will be up to the individual if/when they come up with one). Individuals should be trying to avoid close contact with strangers if their jobs allow, using hand sanitizers regularly, covering mouths when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if symptoms present themselves to avoid spreading disease.
There is a lot of mention being made about having three day survival kits for everyone in your family. The CDC and FEMA are both taunting them for natural disasters, terrorism, and the flu. Keep in mind three days is the bare minimum kit, Chewy and I recommend at least 5 day kits, with expanded kits and or supplies in the home or cached in some other safe location. The recommendation is being heeded enough that I found ready-made three day kits at COSTCO for $15.00. I picked up two of them as a back-up to my self-made setups based on their contents and price (I would be hard pressed to duplicate them for $15.00 on my own). With these types of deals being available there is no reason for everyone not to have a basic 3-day kit on hand. I’m also in the process of making up two new large bug-out bags to go with my pre-existing arms deployment bags and daily carry small bug-out emergency bags, since my preference is for multiple systems, as opposed to a one bag system containing all needed items that works best for most people. I’m also experimenting with putting together some small multi-purpose emergency bags for daily carry and travel, that way I’ve got a kit I can carry with me when I get on an airplane (and I can leaave my good daily jump bag can then be left behind without worry).
Remember, if you are involved with outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, hunting, off-roading, etc. You should have a daily bug-out emergency kit with you at all times.
Chewy says he wants you to get your daily emergency bug-out bags together and to seriously consider a large bug-out bag, if you haven’t already done so.
The ammunition availability situation is really worrisome, since I have to curtail my teaching and personal training activities, because of limited availability and cost issues. I’m still waiting for the arrival of a training order I made in April and an order for personal carry I made in May. The ammunition I have been able to get, as I said, is costing two to three times more than it did a year ago at this time. Plus, the stores are rationing ammunition when they do get it in, example; five boxes of 9mm per trip at a local major sporting goods store, 2 boxes at the gun shop I use, 10-20 boxes from a major mail order supplier. Then there is the other end of the spectrum, a local gun shop is offering all you want, of course it’s at about twice the acceptable current prices.
My concerns about being able to replace ammunition in general and replacement costs have caused me to forgo a training class I was considering attending in October. Put in perspective the ammunition needed for the classes I wanted to attend would cost more than twice as much as the cost of the classes (if I can get it) and that is not considering travel expenses to and from the school. My son and I have potential CWP students faced with the same problem, i.e. ammunition potentially costing another third as much as the cost of instruction for the class and the state registration fee. Very real concerns, considering the state of the economy.
Hopefully the manufacturers will be able to catch up with production and ammunition will be available at more realistic prices. And reloading components will be available. The combination will make it possible to practice and train at proper costs.
So let’s get the emergency kits that you need to have and keep them with you at all times. Look at putting larger bug out bags together and if firearms are part of you plans pick up the needed ammunition as you can find it, at the best prices you can find.
