I live in a very red rural area in a red state. Official vaccine uptake was around 55%. I know my neighbors for at least a mile in all directions (not as many neighbors as you might think due to the distance between houses). EVERYONE owns multiple guns. You hear them going off regularly as people practice on their property (including me). I feel supremely safe. We don't need to lock our doors, keys are often left in ignitions. At the local grocery I've accidently forgotten my wallet and keys while I shopped and both were still there when I came out.
About two miles down the road there's a small stand that has a sign stating "FRESH EGGS". A cooler contains several cartons of eggs and a coffee can with a slot in the lid is provided to pay for the eggs. It's not chained up. The stand has been there for at least a decade, so I'm assuming the money isn't regularly stolen. It's a whole different world from the city life I grew up in.
My neighbors across the street have such a stand; my brother in central/east of the Cascades has such a stand. Maybe instead of asking about schools one should be asking about, looking around for untended kiosks⁉️
Unless there is a charter school, or a low cost private, you can be sure that almost every single school in every single district across this sad country is being run by people with communist ideology. And at least half the teachers are commies at heart. And the other half are cowards at heart because they seldom challenge the ideology of American public education - which is communism. So schools are really a zero reference point for a community.
My area has a lot of retired, female, rural teachers who complain bitterly about the twisted ideology that has wormed its way into their profession. I hate to say it, but I don't see how we can restore sanity to education (primary and secondary, that is) without breaking the power of teachers' unions. That, and regaining competition from private and charter schools.
The one thing that could maybe break the power of the teacher's union is to turn all federal education funds into individual family vouchers after closing down the DOE. Also, maybe a law that makes it ILLEGAL for anyone who is paid out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers to belong to a union. If you are on the dole, you should not get to hire powerful criminals to negotiate for you.
we are doing it with GOD. My kids Catholic school is not too hip on Vatican II. Lots of stuff said in Latin. Ever wonder why the FBI went after Latin Mass parents?
And those who can't think for themselves, they teach. And those who like power over those who are too lazy to think for themselves, they go into admin or the union meat factory.
I have a friend who bought plane tix, hotel for Charlie Kirk's funeral but then cancelled a few days ago due to her kids' fears that there could be a terror attack. I kind of thought it a little over the top, but then when I heard the slate of speakers I thought well, there are a lot of high ranking cabinet members + Trump going to be there. Which means massive security but there has already been a fake LEO arrested at the stadium. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-man-posing-law-enforcement-detained-site-charlie-kirks-memorial-rcna232609 Praying.
I read this morning that the person detained (not arrested) turned out to be private security for one of the high-profile attendees. I also saw an alleged Antifa "bulletin" reported by Andy Ngo suggesting that now is the time for them to lay low. Good thinking.
Taqqiyyah. You will not recognize them. Taqqiyyah says they can shave their beards and not cover their heads. Taqqiyyah means that the guy with the baseball cap is - making me nervous.
When in Rome - but when you outnumber the Romans....
I have thought that visiting a local grocery store to look in the parking lot for shopping carts that have not been returned. I like your egg basked idea too.
I live in a gated golf club community in a red state. An egg stand like that in this neighborhood would have the money stolen, the eggs thrown at houses in the middle of the night and parents saying, “ My sweet child would never do that,” when a neighbor reported them. A teenager crashed their car into our mailbox, destroying it and raced off. Thankfully, our neighbor was outside and took a pic of her tag. Her parents paid for a new mailbox (and retrieved the side mirror the daughter left in our yard.) Some kids…
When the three letter grievance groups were going through local communities ‘protesting’, one may have had ‘advance people’ checking things out. They were told (the actual quote) ‘we can’t assure your safety’, so their shenanigans went elsewhere. And yes, all citizens well armed. Peaceful. Rule conscious.
I live in one of the few remaining red counties left in CA and life is much like you describe here. I attribute it to our law and order based sheriff and a DA that actually prosecutes criminals. During the BLM stupidity of 2020 it was refreshing to see neighbors sitting in their front yards with shot guns in their lap.
I live in a red suburb (although it is turning purple in the past few years) of a blue county. There was a BLM protest scheduled in our downtown in 2020 but a local motorcycle club and a few of their armed friends spread themselves out in the entire business district and just peacefully stood in front of the businesses. About 50 people turned out for the protest and gave a few speeches and that was it. However, crime IS on the rise, especially car break-ins and thefts, and shoplifting due in large part to many years of soft on crime prosecutors.
However I AM proud that've taught 4 neighbors to shoot, three have bought "house" guns (working on one husband to start carrying...) and am currently working on local wife no. 5 (to be followed by her husband and their two 19-yr-old sons! All agreed to). Share the knowledge -- all it costs is some hours and ammo!
In the farm community I grew up in, you could drop your wallet on the street, which I did once, and the sheriff drove it out to our farm. And stayed for a couple beers. One of which was consumed by 16 yr old me. With the Sheriff. Every farm in the county had an unlocked gun ‘closet’ stuffed with ammo, pistols, and shotguns. I never even heard of gun murder, suicide, or kids playing with guns and shooting themselves. First gun crime I knew about was reading Capotes “In Cold Blood”. My first thought was if those two had visited any farm in my county, the murderers would have been fed to the pigs about 30 min after entering the house. If they could have gotten past the cattle dogs. Our school was small, but kids on the rifle team on practice days would carry their rifles into home room with them. So, commies and Mad Mothers, have you built a better nation today?
I was in high school in the mid 80's in southern VA. There were always guns--probably loaded--all over the school parking lot. Many of the guys drove trucks with gun racks full of guns. They hunted deer for food. There was never any kind of gun incident in the entire area, that I knew of, at a school--or anywhere else. This was a more suburban area, for the most part. My house didn't have a lot of guns, but always a loaded and accessible pistol and my brother had his own shotgun in his room at age 13 for squirrel hunting.
I have 9 boys and 2 girls. They all, including the girls, got a .22 for their 13th birthday. My oldest daughter is the best shot of all of them, lol. She also has a black belt in Shotokan karate. I never worried about that girl going out on a date. 😁 She has 7 children of her own now. She was always a tomboy. Were she a child now someone would probably be telling her she was trans.
I'd be in the same boat on being labeled trans now or gendered confused. I was definitely a tomboy--very rough kid. I'd play outside all day, if possible and if I came inside at the end of the day filthy, bloody and clothes torn, then it was a really good day! My brother and I would do the same things together and he'd come back neat as could be--how we looked so different is still a mystery. Older boys--like several years older--would try to push me around sometimes and I'd send them bleeding and crying to their mommy haha. I've never once wanted to be anything other than a girl/woman--I just didn't want to do girlie stuff when I was young because the boys had the cool stuff.
You may be but I'd agree with you but maybe I think too highly of myself! My 16 year old son and I were doing some kind of work outside and he didn't want to do something. I said--great you're gonna make the old fat lady do it--I'm 56--and laughed. His response was--you're pretty durable for an old fat lady and I said thanks, I think?
Prolly not prejudice -- you're just rational! The tomboys, generally (I suspect), have a MUICH DEEPER connection to REALITY!! Makes a woman MUCH more tolerable, cause she's not off in cloud-cuckoo land much of the time!
Same at our town's HS. I did not live in the area at the time, but have friends who did, and it was still fairly rural in the early 80's. Said gun racks in pickups were nothing unusual.
I didn't grow up on a farm just on the outskirts of Houston, Almeda area. Farms/ranches were close by. Early on we didn't lock doors "because the neighbors might want to come over".
Hubs drove past the school and my daughter had left his shotgun in the rack in the back window of her pickup. She heard about it when she got home, from him. If she wanted to leave hers, fine. Just leave his at home.
I sorrowfully remember my high school (on Long Island NY!) that back in the '70s had a working RIFLE RANGE under the science building, and a gun club. Of course, back then, girls were *probably* allowed, but not encouraged, so I got to watch sometimes but not shoot. My old yearbook has PIX of the guys and their arms!
I live in a small town in a deep blue state; I've been selling eggs with a cooler and an honor box for years. Only very recently have eggs twice been taken without payment, and that is undoubtedly summer or weekend people. Money has never been taken.
It is virtually 100% white folks here; no Hispanic residents, only an occasional black visitor, and remember, deepest blue state. The high trust society can still exist, but not where those who don't share our culture live.
And since a small apartment house in our town was converted from Section 8 housing to ordinary rentals a year ago, no crime or hooliganism of any sort other than speeding.
It really isn't about red vs blue. The blunt reality is that everybody knows what it means when someone speaks about a 'good neighborhood', but nobody wants to admit it...
It is about red versus blue though. That isn’t the ultimate point to be made, but de facto, that IS what it’s all about. Red versus blue. Right versus wrong.
Democrats are more an infection vs packing. Ditto on the Loudoun county. As recently as 2004 the farm kids pickups had gun racks with guns in the school parking lot on school days. The kids would drive to school with work boots still on after morning chores. Now? The commies running the indoctrination camps will EXPELL a student for a knife locked a car in the school lot. And they lie to keep tranny rapists in school and arrest a parent objecting. And it’s almost a job requirement to be a nasty short hair commie lesbian if you want to be a principal or administrator. In just 20 yrs. It’s what you get when Dems infect your voting precincts.
I live in a bad place - Hazelbrook, NSW, Australia. I recently lay in bed and listened to a gang of youth rob from my shed and yard. I was too afraid to move this time. Previously, my attempts to hold abusers accountable, using peaceful, official channels (ie. Police), has reliablely led to my persecution, arrest, social ostracization, prolonged unresolved court hassles, financial despair, etc.
I hate to upvote comments like this; makes it feel like I'm saying I'm happy about your situation. But nothing could be further from the truth.
That's a huge problem when there's a bigger, badder government force that would stop you from being able to defend yourself. Wish I knew what to tell you, other than there will be more generations after you and you might as well start trying to change things for them if you don't see it happening in your lifetime. If you're ever in my neck of the woods look me up and I'll invite you for supper.
This sounds like my neck of the woods. I have a tiny home compound for myself and my grown children, with 3 living quarter cabins and a freestanding kitchen and laundry building that stays unlocked 24/7. Over the years we’ve accumulated a long list of friends and family that know they can come by day or night to wash a load, have a snack, chill on the hammock, borrow some sugar, leave some bonus garden veggies… you name it. It’s lovingly referred to in our circle as the “[location name] Swap n’ Shop”. After growing up in Phoenix AZ and never even knowing my neighbor’s names, living this way is such a gift I could have never predicted.
Sounds nice. We have five acres, not a lot, but I've planted about 40 fruit trees, blackberry bushes, a strawberry patch, we raise chickens, turkeys, and ducks, have a stocked pond, and have a huge garden. Lol, my friends call it “The Compound”. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods, I'll do a load of laundry and definitely bring something to trade. Sounds like we'd hit it off.
5 Acres is definitely more than I technically have, but we have 3 family properties that all share property lines, totaling about 24 acres in all. I manage our share, but we have a great system... I'm the maternal and medicinal branch, 2nd (and largest) property is all about the livestock and hunting, while 3rd is all blue collar tradesmen. The exchanges between us all are stellar and if we could ever go fully off-grid we would want for nothing. I'm slowly wearing down the unrelated neighboring property owners to sell me their dilapidated and abandoned 5 acres for an orchard. While I'm no fist-shaking extremist, I value self-sufficiency and equitable cashless trade and that's what we're working to establish in our little corner.
When you day medicinal branch, do you mean herbs and natural remedies and such? I've really gotten into that in the last ten years or so. It's really amazing the varieties of medicinal plants growing around here that I formerly thought were just weeds. Next year I'm planting elderberry, echinacea, golden rod, and mullien. Haha, I'd grow my own poppies for opium and brew my own moonshine if it weren't illegal.
I would love to be off grid as well. I do have solar batch water heaters, well water we use for the animals and garden, and we heat with wood.
Sounds like you have a really good thing going. Best of luck to you.
Medicinal for me goes both ways... clinical and herbal. I make tinctures, topicals, and salves, grow my own herbs and HERBS. I was very blessed to learn at the feet of Dr. Andrew Weil so I make sure to share what knowledge is safely absorbable to the folks in my circle. At the same time I'm Red Cross certified for emergency first response and CPR. I'm 2 hours from the closest "real hospital" so I keep my kitchen building stocked with splints, trauma kits, butterfly bandages, etc... I've got a great reference library along with practical training to bare minimum stabilize someone till transport can be managed in an emergency. I've seen that this thread has gone heavily political but all I worry about is keeping all the people around me healthy, happy and whole. Health is how I do it. There's 18 of us here (not counting frequent guests) and I'm the go-to for every cut, scrape, rash, gash, burn and yearn. Just don't ask me to process a turkey or butcher a deer. I *CAN* but it's not my strongsuit.
You have quite the skill set. I've often thought about taking first aid courses but never got around to it. We handle the basics on our own, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns, but I'm not as far as you from civilization, less than an hour to the nearest hospital. Thank goodness we've never needed them. I've read lots of Dr. Weil's stuff; you learned from a good one. Take care.
I am 71. I remember living outside Corvallis, OR (just above Hwy 99W) back in the 1970’s. Left the garage door up all the time. Never locked the front door. Lived at the end of a short private road with two other houses before ours. The only dangerous thing (to me, but not actually) I encountered there was a big Bull snake having a nice rest in my cool garage one summer.
It was the same in Appalachia. You knew all your neighbors, you left your doors unlocked, and everyone owned a gun collection. Hunting and target shooting were pastimes.
I live in a red state, but I still keep my doors locked. Too many illegals and criminals running around. When I grew up in WV it was definitely a lot more free feeling. When I raised my boys in WV, it was still more free and safe than now. I moved to TX ten years ago and with the amount of illegals Biden let flood into our country it’s definitely not as safe.
I went white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers about 25 years ago. One of the best times I ever had in my life. Beautiful country, very friendly people everywhere we went. Hopefully it hasn't changed much because I'm planning on heading back next year.
Sorry to hear you're in a worse area now, but I know what you mean. Red states are no cure all. I can drive 40 miles and be in a drug infested, crime ridden, war zone. We have a lot of work to do.
WV is still as pretty, especially in the fall with all the changing leaves colors. I love to go visit my son who lives there. He and his son went white water rafting this past Sunday on the Big Gauley after they released water from Summerville Lake. It’s a once a year experience when the Big Gauley is truly filled non-stop with rapids. He said it was a hard work and a most enjoyable ride.
I live in a nice subdivision, outside of San Antonio, but San Antonio is Dem controlled disaster, not as bad as Houston criminally and not as woke as Austin.
Quite true. I live in rural New York State, ruled by Progressive Elite Democrats.
The rural areas are Fire Engine Red; 1 in 3 households have a long gun (or many) for hunting. 1 in 5 have a handgun (or a few) for all legitimate uses. Its not a good idea to be making trouble for homeowners.
Getting arrested, booked, arraigned and remanded is a good outcome.
I grew up in a red rural area like this in the 50’s and 60’s. We didn’t even have working locks on our doors. Most everyone was Baptist, two branches to choose from. A few Pentecostals. A few Church of Christ. No atheists who would admit it.
Ditto here but no one has chickens so no eggs. We have about 20 homes in our little community in central TX with an estimate of about 200 firearms. My personal stash is 4 shotguns, 4 pistols, 1 270 rifle, 2 22 rifles. Some neighbors have a lot more than me. That gets me to thinking that I need to keep up with the neighbors since I'm getting behind.
We might need to watch out for friendly crossfire if the bad guys come around.
Broadcast licenses have never been subject to the First Amendment. It does not matter if you're a ham radio hobbyist or a TV network... if you want a license to use the airwaves, you have to play by the FCC's rules. When it comes to broadcast TV and radio stations, that means they must operate in the public interest, as the FCC defines it. That is a far more stringent standard than would be found in the First Amendment.
Howard Stern used to have his show on broadcast radio stations, and he constantly pushed the limits. The antagonism was always portrayed as being between Stern and the fuddy-duddy station managers, but the station managers had to be that way to avoid fines and protect their employers' broadcast licenses. Stern has the First Amendment right to do raunchy content and to use profane language, but that First Amendment protection does not extend to having the right to do that stuff on the public airwaves.
I find it to be a reasonable argument to say that Kimmel was not acting in the public interest with all of the hate he has been stirring up for a long time now, and the lie about Kirk's assassin being a MAGA was just the last in a long series of "not in the public interest" content. The FCC chair did not actually move to pull ABC's broadcast license... he merely gave an informal "just throwing it out there" kind of warning that this kind of blatantly false propaganda is not in the public interest.
Since he made no move to issue fines or cancel the broadcast license, it is a moot point. All of these people on the left who have suddenly discovered the First Amendment have missed the point... Kimmel never had the right to say whatever he wants to say on public airwaves. If he doesn't like those terms, he should have his show on a cable TV station.
Or he could choose to be a big fish in a small pond. Like Australia. Yanks who come over here in Entertainment do very well. ...and...the bluer the better.....
I live in a similar place. Everyone has guns and everyone knows everyone has guns. Have never seen a police car in my area except for the highway patrol out on the highway — they’re not needed.
We used to have such stands in my rural town. Then we were the recipient of mass migration out of cities due to COVID. Now the stands have to have security cameras
I recommend purchasing it in Oregon. Not only do you avoid Newsom’s bonus 11% ammo tax on top of regular sales tax, you pay no sales tax. There’s something very gratifying about not paying tax on ammo.
@Jrod- we were in Oregon a couple of weeks ago (we live in NY). Had we driven, we'd have stocked up but we were flying this time. We're not far from the PA border so there's still hope.
Let the gigantic pierced and mohawked mofos like me carry open if we want to. I'm *already* drawing attention. I'm willing to be the person that the criminals pay attention to. Just, y'know, if things go poorly for me, hopefully the concealed carry folks will back me up. ;)
This is a debatable thing. Concealed carry has the advantage of, well, being concealed. And while open carry may have a deterrent effect, it also points to you as the first one to take out in case of an attack--if they can do it.
I'm a little old (78) guy, so I carry concealed and rely on some measure of stealth. Fortunately, I look very unimpressive, so I'm not likely to attract attention. Unlike our lady on the subway, I don't sit down in public and ignore what's around me. When I go out, I sit facing the door. My wife--and my other friends--know his and sit with their backs to the door so I can sit and watch. At the synagogue I attend, it's assumed that at least some are carrying.
I'm not quite as old (71), but I'm with you on concealed vs. open carry. I bought my pistol in MA about 15 years ago, and there was only open carry. So I bought a large frame semi-auto. with a 4" barrel. I lot of firepower, but not very concealable. It also is pretty heavy, and I'm not nearly as strong as I was. (Plus I'm afraid it might pull my pants down if I use a belt holster!) Now we live in a state that just made concealed carry legal, and I wish I had bought something a bit more compact. I've encountered several nice compacts, but so far haven't been able to scrape the coin together for one. (Also, I invested in reloading for the .45, and have a ton in storage. I've also been thinking about a rifle chambered in .45 ACP. Once past a certain age, one prefers "gun porn.")
I went to suspenders for the same reason but for a reasonably heavy carry, like my Desert Eagle (My second choice in bear country gun, if I drop it I can run A LOT faster.), I cobbled together a Sam Browne belt with a non elastic no stretch strap that I can slip on over anything else I'm wearing.
Live in a red state that passed open carry a couple of years ago. In all that time, have seen maybe 3 holstered guns on random individuals. My take is as yours. Keep your head on a swivel, sit where you can see everyone and sweep the area, no matter where you are.
Places like Pakistan and Afghanistan, you can and do get your hands on every sort of weapon and what you got is endless blood feuds carried out quite bloodily. Sharia law stops none of the offenses sharia law was written to control. They rape their own over there before they come over here to rape us.
Don't forget we had plenty of uncivilized behavior here too as we conquered and settled the west of America and we had our moonshine wars in a place where guns were ubiquitous.
There's nothing more appealing to me these days than a well-disciplined guy who carries both himself and his weapon well. That young guy a few years ago who dropped a criminal in a mall with one perfect shot--may his kind live long and prosper.
I understand and share your feelings but I think we must be rigorously clear-eyed too.
@SCA: --Benjamin Franklin's response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"Answer: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Disarming God given Creator inspired Rights is Satan et al.'s way to bring the Chaos they need for their Change! As we see today, compared to when we were more Christian, Chruch and Home nation! God Jesus is your only salvation from this/ Satan's world! So live with it!
Godless, anti-free market capitalism, George Bernard Shaw, a staunch socialist and a co-founder of the Fabian Society, a British intellectual movement advocating for gradual, social change, using his "Out of Chaos, comes Change" (See his famous, stain glass, slam on chruch windows) "Fabian Window" His politics were a constant, central theme throughout his life and work, influencing his many plays and political essays. Fabian socialism and early anti-American Rejection of laissez-faire free market capitalism, for a man playing god rule! : Early in his life, Shaw rejected capitalism, viewing it as inherently exploitative and responsible for the poverty he witnessed! (As if Godless Marxist Socelisem was the answer!)
It may have been over your head? I was just responding to Mitch's "Chaos" reference. Chaos is the mother's milk for destroying nations! Break down Chruch & Home, & what do you get? I.E., what we got,... Chaos! [Fact!] No huh about it.
Here, if any Western nation had started doing the same thing on that scale, even if just sticking to illegals and criminals, the media-noise from the usual Quislings would have been heard on Mars and various people would immediately engage in lawfare, sabotage, threats and open violence including riots and insurrection.
But when it's pakis telling afghanis "march or die" there's just the sound of silence.
How weird then that it is "impossible" to deport illegals, terrorists, criminals and so on in the West.
To mangle the metaphor - I'll be shutting that barn door anyway, lest a bear moves in to hibernate in the hay.
There was an excellent Substack piece I read the other day--one of those breadcrumb trails so I don't remember how I got there--and it referenced Thomas Sowell's "Black Rednecks" and the lineage, so to speak, is quite striking.
We started out as the ruffian sort and then a period of settled prosperity enabled the Founders' generation to produce the finest fruits of the Western Enlightenment.
One thing I’ve observed missing from the Carry Conversation is how invaluable training is. I am surrounded by small gun clubs and there are beginner carry classes offered (for either free or low price) almost every couple of weeks. The first class is always about situational awareness. Societal distractions, including walking around with your earbuds in while scrolling through your device, instantly marks you as a perfect target.
Amen on things like earbuds. My kids are 19 and 16 and I've harped this a lot to them. We're in a suburban area but live out in a rural farm county. In the local towns, I constantly see people walking on the street or sidewalk with headphones or earbuds or always looking down at their phone. I used to see personal security experts on tv--in the 80s and 90s talking about what you said. Number one to not becoming a victim is to always stand up straight, move with confidence, always scan the area, make eye contact with people--basically pay attention and look like you know what's going on around you. Even if you do conceal carry--in my area conceal and open are both legal--nobody wants to have to shoot someone.
I was very fortunate to have such an instructor for my NRA certification. This was in MA, where the laws are so convoluted you need a law degree. I actually had to hire a "firearms lawyer" to convince my local police I was entitled to carry. (Who knew there even was such a specialty?) All told, I probably spent about $800 just to be able to go shop for a pistol. I hear tell it has gotten even worse since we left.
Yep. The Constitution isn't what it used to be. It's clearly out of bounds to outlaw all guns, so we'll just make it as difficult and unpleasant as possible to obtain one. The following is one of my favorite stories. We moved from rural NY to MA 15 years ago. I owned 2 rifles/3 shotguns at the time. We loaded 'em in the van and drove to our new home. I subsequently found out I committed a violation by not turning them in to my local police dept., until such time as I had the appropriate certification to possess them. FF to 2020, and we were preparing to move to KY. I didn't want to start my relationship with our new state as a criminal, so we called the county sheriff to inquire about firearms regs. His reply: "Hell, just bring 'em all in!" My kind of place. No one is uptight about it here, which is a big relief.
Exactly! That was the first thing I noticed about the Meme on how white girls stay safe on trains ..... She sat where there was no one behind her ..... and she doesn't have a phone in her hand for distraction (let alone someone in a hoodie and unidentifiable).... those 2 things may have saved Iryna without needing the gun and pepper spray.
I suspect growing up in Ukraine, it never crossed her mind that a subway car would be more dangerous than anywhere in her home country, including the battlefields.
Gato talks a lot about "second world". That's what we've become in many places.
Indeed, situational awareness has been sullied also by the 'don't be a racist' maxim.
However, one cannot always evade these people. In the NYC subway not long ago, I tried to move away from a crazy black man. He followed me, cornered me in my seat, and spat all over me, threatening to kill me. I'm surprised he didn't. He very well could have killed me, and there would have been nothing I could have done about it.
Lived in Bay Ridge from the late 70s to early 90s. I used to ride in the front car with the motorman. Especially riding the train at very off hours. Don't know if it's changed but back then cabs wouldn't go to Brooklyn so subway rides in the wee hours was the norm.
Interestingly, in prisons, the inmates have to follow the customs for “polite” behavior (as defined by inmates). Failure to conform to these informal rules brings physical consequences when the behavior persists or becomes too annoying. The enforcing inmates are not always “armed”, but even the threat of a beating with fists and feet is usually enough to prevent certain behaviors.
That is one of the benefits of having moved to a red state. I couldn't believe how courteous people were to complete strangers. It eventually occurred to me that it was at least partly due to not knowing who was armed. In 5 years here I've never felt threatened enough to carry--concealed or otherwise. It's pretty nice!
I live near Toronto, and yes - treasonous Canadian government is trying their damnedest to disarm us & charge homeowners who defended themselves against home invaders. But the government will fail. Too many examples (the one you posted is mild) of this psychotic criminality abound & people are done. The gun grab will not succeed. #pewpew
A magnificent post. Situational awareness is all. I teach a NRA seminar called Refuse to be a Victim. It's non weapons oriented self defense. We start and end with the basic rule of survival: have a plan. People die in the "I can't believe this is happening!" time.
I have a California CCW, but the advice given by my instructor was in the form of a question. Do you really need to be in a place where there is a high probability of using your weapon. Better to frequent lower risks environments, and situational awareness is essential when you do find yourself on unfamiliar turf.
Agree, never put yourself in a position where you can’t see the dangers. On a bus or subway pick a seat with a view of the entire area, don’t zone off into your phone, newspaper, or book. By all means carry if you’re comfortable but you need to give yourself a chance to see the danger and to use the weapon. If you pull it don’t be afraid to fire it. You won’t just be saving your own life.
As someone who used to roam large cities solo at all times of day and night in the late 80's may I add, don't make yourself a target. Don't wear flashy, valuable jewelry or impeding clothing or footwear. Look alert and carry yourself with purpose. And just be aware enough to not get yourself into situations in the first place. Best way to avoid shit is not to be there at all when it goes down.
My NYC ex taught me how to look out for people trying to block me on sidewalks or approach me obliquely. I am forever indebted to him for that, that advice saved my hide a few times.
I live in a rural central Iowa county of 27,000 population. 10% of that number live in my town. The percentage of homes with a firearm is high. I get the impression that 10-15% of the people in my bubble are carrying (barely) concealed whenever I’m out and about in the county—either in my town or in the “big” county seat of 12,500. Homicide rate in the county has been 0.00% every year since 1999. The last homicide associated with this county occurred in 1966. The city and county police blotters have been comically tame every week of the nine years I’ve lived here.
There are downsides, of course. The area scores below-average on community rating sites for Night Life, Weather, and Diversity. I endure these tragic deficits with a stoic spirit.
> people talk about this as though it were some kind of “taxi driver” level vigalanteeism, but it’s not.
>
> it’s the simple rediscovery of a basic principle of human interaction that has underpinned many of the better societies in human history and whose forgetting has turned them awful:
>
> lethal violence is a legitimate form of self defense.
For another example, one that is probably one of my most extreme beliefs:
I think it should be explicitly legally protected to run down, drive over, and kill any pedestrian in a controlled-access freeway road. As in, protestors want to block the highway? Their lives are forfeit.
People look at me like a bloodthirsty monster when i say this. "What, you think thousands of protestors deserve to die just because they made you late for work?". No, I think that like, four people should. After like, four people die, nobody will ever block a highway in protest again. At the cost of fewer deaths than one weekend in Chicago, we have *permanently* solved the problem.
Nobody ever thinks about higher order consequences
This is similar to the law in Germany. If you cross the street and you are not at a crosswalk and don't have the walk signal, no driver will be held responsible if you are hit, and no lawsuit can be filed unless the driver was willfully inpaired (DUI). When my cousin was 6 he walked into the street and was hit by a car and almost died from his injuries, many of which are permanent. Whether the driver tried to avoid him, didn't see him, or stepped on the accelerator was irrelevant - my cousin was at fault. As a final indignation, my uncle had to pay to fix the dent in the driver's bumper left by my cousin's head during impact.
San Francisco Walgreens, 2025: You have to wait 10 minutes for an attendant to unlock the security screen protecting the toothpaste and shaving kit, but you're keeping your head on a swivel the whole time knowing that there is no plexiglass protecting you from whatever lunatic off his meds is wandering around the aisles. Sometimes, readers bring such questions about our low-trust/ high-"empathy" city to me: https://aynsrants.substack.com/p/san-francisco-i-have-questions
> up until quite recently a number of scandinavian societies were so safe that parents left babies in strollers in corrals outside of coffee shops while they went inside.
Here's a modern day American metric for whether or not you live in a high-trust or a low-trust community, one I do all the time.
Let's say you're at a cafe working on your laptop when you have to go to the restroom. Do you
1) Just leave your laptop there, open. It'll be fine
2) Just leave your laptop there, closed. It'll be fine
3) Look around for someone who looks trustworthy, and politely ask if they'll watch your stuff till you get back
4) Pack all your stuff away in your bag and leave your bag at the table
5) Pack all your stuff away in your bag and take your bag with you.
When I was a teenager in midwestern Canada, most places were (1) but since my dad is an infosec guy, I know better than to leave an unattended laptop unlocked.
In California, almost everywhere was a (5).
In Texas, most places are between a (2) and a (3). I have left my laptop locked-but-unattended at probably a dozen different places in Austin over the years, many many times, and never once had an issue.
But there are large swaths of America where I wouldn't even consider doing this, and I think this is a useful indicator of low-trust-ness.
In the 1970s and 1980s, even Stockholm City was no. 1 - no. 3.
Now, anyplace except the remote villages, such as the one I live in, is no. 6: don't flaunt anything valuable.
Which by the by is official police advise, and is also taught to children in Kindergarten and schools: don't wear or show anything expensive, and if someone robs you just hand over whatever they ask for and do whatever they tell you.
I'm all for criminals getting just deserts, Viking-era style and in public, but I'd really like to line up all the politicos, urinalist and social workers and have them dig Crown's ditches for the rest of their lives.
(A Crown's ditch is an old measure for a drainage-ditch: 2 meters wide and 2 meters deep, traingle-shaped.)
I live in England and I would never ever leave any of my possessions unattended in a cafe or anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine doing so, even in the quiet village where I live- it’s just inconceivable. I’m pretty sure that no one I know would either…is England a high crime society, I don’t know, but it just seems like such an unnecessary risk.
I live in very rural NE AZ on a small, 40 acre ranch. Everyone around me has similar large parcels, everyone is conservative, and we all have shooting ranges on our property. I don’t know anyone who locks their doors. I was just talking about this to my sister who lives in the city. She can’t comprehend how I can sleep
at night with my doors and windows open. When everyone is armed, and everyone knows everyone is armed, nobody is stupid enough to take any chances. And we all have “early alert systems”….lots of dogs. My home is almost 1/4 mile off the road and my dogs will alert to a vehicle driving by. Country life is AMAZING but not for the weak.
I seriously enjoyed going to a movie theater the other day and noticing their "no guns allowed" poster...while I walked in with my concealed carry .38 Special. No way am I not going to protect myself in a building that has designated itself a target.
I hate being thrust into a low trust atmosphere by SoCal politicians. I hate going to a supermarket with swat looking guards standing around. Somehow Trader Joe's hasn't succumbed but perhaps it is because, despite unpleasant progressiveness seepinging in, TJs always has a few burly looking workers milling around. Or perhaps it is an attitude that 'trust' lives here. Instead of making rules that benefit the averages, everything is geared towards the extremes. Males who want to dress up in women's clothes and pretend they are women, well that extreme is now the norm and those who protest are outside the norm. Same for crime. Because one person may be wrongly prosecuted we must act as if all are at risk of wrong prosecution and act accordingly.
The city I live in has several stores one a chain, the other local that seem to mostly hire the most downtrodden, socially confused people. It’s weird but I guess very much inline with today’s post.
I live in a very red rural area in a red state. Official vaccine uptake was around 55%. I know my neighbors for at least a mile in all directions (not as many neighbors as you might think due to the distance between houses). EVERYONE owns multiple guns. You hear them going off regularly as people practice on their property (including me). I feel supremely safe. We don't need to lock our doors, keys are often left in ignitions. At the local grocery I've accidently forgotten my wallet and keys while I shopped and both were still there when I came out.
About two miles down the road there's a small stand that has a sign stating "FRESH EGGS". A cooler contains several cartons of eggs and a coffee can with a slot in the lid is provided to pay for the eggs. It's not chained up. The stand has been there for at least a decade, so I'm assuming the money isn't regularly stolen. It's a whole different world from the city life I grew up in.
such a farmstand is basically the acid test for "do you live in a good place."
if the place you live cannot pass it, something needs to be fixed.
My neighbors across the street have such a stand; my brother in central/east of the Cascades has such a stand. Maybe instead of asking about schools one should be asking about, looking around for untended kiosks⁉️
Unless there is a charter school, or a low cost private, you can be sure that almost every single school in every single district across this sad country is being run by people with communist ideology. And at least half the teachers are commies at heart. And the other half are cowards at heart because they seldom challenge the ideology of American public education - which is communism. So schools are really a zero reference point for a community.
My area has a lot of retired, female, rural teachers who complain bitterly about the twisted ideology that has wormed its way into their profession. I hate to say it, but I don't see how we can restore sanity to education (primary and secondary, that is) without breaking the power of teachers' unions. That, and regaining competition from private and charter schools.
The one thing that could maybe break the power of the teacher's union is to turn all federal education funds into individual family vouchers after closing down the DOE. Also, maybe a law that makes it ILLEGAL for anyone who is paid out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers to belong to a union. If you are on the dole, you should not get to hire powerful criminals to negotiate for you.
I approve of both of these plot points.
we are doing it with GOD. My kids Catholic school is not too hip on Vatican II. Lots of stuff said in Latin. Ever wonder why the FBI went after Latin Mass parents?
https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-report-details-extent-fbis-weaponization-law-enforcement-against
What's wrong with Latin?
Latin used to be required in public schools. Bringing that back would be a good start. Good luck finding enough people to teach it though.
those that can't do ........... teach
And those who can't think for themselves, they teach. And those who like power over those who are too lazy to think for themselves, they go into admin or the union meat factory.
I have a friend who bought plane tix, hotel for Charlie Kirk's funeral but then cancelled a few days ago due to her kids' fears that there could be a terror attack. I kind of thought it a little over the top, but then when I heard the slate of speakers I thought well, there are a lot of high ranking cabinet members + Trump going to be there. Which means massive security but there has already been a fake LEO arrested at the stadium. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-man-posing-law-enforcement-detained-site-charlie-kirks-memorial-rcna232609 Praying.
I read this morning that the person detained (not arrested) turned out to be private security for one of the high-profile attendees. I also saw an alleged Antifa "bulletin" reported by Andy Ngo suggesting that now is the time for them to lay low. Good thinking.
I'm pretty sure most of us can identify an Islamic nut-job disguised as a cop.
Taqqiyyah. You will not recognize them. Taqqiyyah says they can shave their beards and not cover their heads. Taqqiyyah means that the guy with the baseball cap is - making me nervous.
When in Rome - but when you outnumber the Romans....
It is scripture.
Religion of Peace
Truck of Peace
Knife of Peace
Aloha Snackbar - Dirka Dirka
You must not live near a city?
I have thought that visiting a local grocery store to look in the parking lot for shopping carts that have not been returned. I like your egg basked idea too.
I live in a gated golf club community in a red state. An egg stand like that in this neighborhood would have the money stolen, the eggs thrown at houses in the middle of the night and parents saying, “ My sweet child would never do that,” when a neighbor reported them. A teenager crashed their car into our mailbox, destroying it and raced off. Thankfully, our neighbor was outside and took a pic of her tag. Her parents paid for a new mailbox (and retrieved the side mirror the daughter left in our yard.) Some kids…
Your state is more purple than you suspect.
Just the larger cities.
Some PARENTS.
Probably the reason for the kids…
When the three letter grievance groups were going through local communities ‘protesting’, one may have had ‘advance people’ checking things out. They were told (the actual quote) ‘we can’t assure your safety’, so their shenanigans went elsewhere. And yes, all citizens well armed. Peaceful. Rule conscious.
Nailed it!! Both this comment and article. How society works (or why its not right now), in a nutshell.👏👏👏👏💯
"u might as well say “seatbelts do not save lives in car crashes because i know a guy who died in a car crash while wearing a seatbelt.”"
This is the answer. You stupid it down wonderfully.
I live in one of the few remaining red counties left in CA and life is much like you describe here. I attribute it to our law and order based sheriff and a DA that actually prosecutes criminals. During the BLM stupidity of 2020 it was refreshing to see neighbors sitting in their front yards with shot guns in their lap.
I am rural and when I first heard about that rioting by BLM, I am like "Why is the Bureau of Land Management rioting??"
I live in a red suburb (although it is turning purple in the past few years) of a blue county. There was a BLM protest scheduled in our downtown in 2020 but a local motorcycle club and a few of their armed friends spread themselves out in the entire business district and just peacefully stood in front of the businesses. About 50 people turned out for the protest and gave a few speeches and that was it. However, crime IS on the rise, especially car break-ins and thefts, and shoplifting due in large part to many years of soft on crime prosecutors.
I wish.
However I AM proud that've taught 4 neighbors to shoot, three have bought "house" guns (working on one husband to start carrying...) and am currently working on local wife no. 5 (to be followed by her husband and their two 19-yr-old sons! All agreed to). Share the knowledge -- all it costs is some hours and ammo!
Intriguing, Jrod! I would love to know which county, but I understand why you wouldn't want to reveal.
If it weren't located in the Communist Republic of Cali, I might consider relocating from my cobalt blue enclave of retards.
Sierra foothills.
In the farm community I grew up in, you could drop your wallet on the street, which I did once, and the sheriff drove it out to our farm. And stayed for a couple beers. One of which was consumed by 16 yr old me. With the Sheriff. Every farm in the county had an unlocked gun ‘closet’ stuffed with ammo, pistols, and shotguns. I never even heard of gun murder, suicide, or kids playing with guns and shooting themselves. First gun crime I knew about was reading Capotes “In Cold Blood”. My first thought was if those two had visited any farm in my county, the murderers would have been fed to the pigs about 30 min after entering the house. If they could have gotten past the cattle dogs. Our school was small, but kids on the rifle team on practice days would carry their rifles into home room with them. So, commies and Mad Mothers, have you built a better nation today?
I was in high school in the mid 80's in southern VA. There were always guns--probably loaded--all over the school parking lot. Many of the guys drove trucks with gun racks full of guns. They hunted deer for food. There was never any kind of gun incident in the entire area, that I knew of, at a school--or anywhere else. This was a more suburban area, for the most part. My house didn't have a lot of guns, but always a loaded and accessible pistol and my brother had his own shotgun in his room at age 13 for squirrel hunting.
I have 9 boys and 2 girls. They all, including the girls, got a .22 for their 13th birthday. My oldest daughter is the best shot of all of them, lol. She also has a black belt in Shotokan karate. I never worried about that girl going out on a date. 😁 She has 7 children of her own now. She was always a tomboy. Were she a child now someone would probably be telling her she was trans.
I'd be in the same boat on being labeled trans now or gendered confused. I was definitely a tomboy--very rough kid. I'd play outside all day, if possible and if I came inside at the end of the day filthy, bloody and clothes torn, then it was a really good day! My brother and I would do the same things together and he'd come back neat as could be--how we looked so different is still a mystery. Older boys--like several years older--would try to push me around sometimes and I'd send them bleeding and crying to their mommy haha. I've never once wanted to be anything other than a girl/woman--I just didn't want to do girlie stuff when I was young because the boys had the cool stuff.
My wife was a tomboy. I think they make the best wives, but I may be prejudiced. 😁
You may be but I'd agree with you but maybe I think too highly of myself! My 16 year old son and I were doing some kind of work outside and he didn't want to do something. I said--great you're gonna make the old fat lady do it--I'm 56--and laughed. His response was--you're pretty durable for an old fat lady and I said thanks, I think?
Prolly not prejudice -- you're just rational! The tomboys, generally (I suspect), have a MUICH DEEPER connection to REALITY!! Makes a woman MUCH more tolerable, cause she's not off in cloud-cuckoo land much of the time!
Same at our town's HS. I did not live in the area at the time, but have friends who did, and it was still fairly rural in the early 80's. Said gun racks in pickups were nothing unusual.
I didn't grow up on a farm just on the outskirts of Houston, Almeda area. Farms/ranches were close by. Early on we didn't lock doors "because the neighbors might want to come over".
Hubs drove past the school and my daughter had left his shotgun in the rack in the back window of her pickup. She heard about it when she got home, from him. If she wanted to leave hers, fine. Just leave his at home.
I sorrowfully remember my high school (on Long Island NY!) that back in the '70s had a working RIFLE RANGE under the science building, and a gun club. Of course, back then, girls were *probably* allowed, but not encouraged, so I got to watch sometimes but not shoot. My old yearbook has PIX of the guys and their arms!
I live in a small town in a deep blue state; I've been selling eggs with a cooler and an honor box for years. Only very recently have eggs twice been taken without payment, and that is undoubtedly summer or weekend people. Money has never been taken.
It is virtually 100% white folks here; no Hispanic residents, only an occasional black visitor, and remember, deepest blue state. The high trust society can still exist, but not where those who don't share our culture live.
And since a small apartment house in our town was converted from Section 8 housing to ordinary rentals a year ago, no crime or hooliganism of any sort other than speeding.
It really isn't about red vs blue. The blunt reality is that everybody knows what it means when someone speaks about a 'good neighborhood', but nobody wants to admit it...
It is about red versus blue though. That isn’t the ultimate point to be made, but de facto, that IS what it’s all about. Red versus blue. Right versus wrong.
Good vs. Evil.
However I would clarify that not EVERYONE on the left is evil. A lot are just very stupid.
I'm going to steal that quote.
Whether red or blue or independently dumb, it is all about good vs. evil.
believe it or not, 30 years ago Loudoun County Virginia was just like this.
It was called the boonies. We loved it.
It was near Dulles Airport and not many houses around, mostly farms.
I stood in my back yard many times and watched the Concorde take off. What a sight!
Now, Loudoun county is packed full of democrats.-- Virginia is full of democrats
Democrats are more an infection vs packing. Ditto on the Loudoun county. As recently as 2004 the farm kids pickups had gun racks with guns in the school parking lot on school days. The kids would drive to school with work boots still on after morning chores. Now? The commies running the indoctrination camps will EXPELL a student for a knife locked a car in the school lot. And they lie to keep tranny rapists in school and arrest a parent objecting. And it’s almost a job requirement to be a nasty short hair commie lesbian if you want to be a principal or administrator. In just 20 yrs. It’s what you get when Dems infect your voting precincts.
I believe it because I lived in Loudon County 40 years ago. Nice place. Moved to Hawaii from there. Not a nice place.
I live in a bad place - Hazelbrook, NSW, Australia. I recently lay in bed and listened to a gang of youth rob from my shed and yard. I was too afraid to move this time. Previously, my attempts to hold abusers accountable, using peaceful, official channels (ie. Police), has reliablely led to my persecution, arrest, social ostracization, prolonged unresolved court hassles, financial despair, etc.
I'm 54, white, male and good.
Houston, we have a problem.
I hate to upvote comments like this; makes it feel like I'm saying I'm happy about your situation. But nothing could be further from the truth.
That's a huge problem when there's a bigger, badder government force that would stop you from being able to defend yourself. Wish I knew what to tell you, other than there will be more generations after you and you might as well start trying to change things for them if you don't see it happening in your lifetime. If you're ever in my neck of the woods look me up and I'll invite you for supper.
It's important to acknowledge that Australia has very weak self defense rights.
No Bill of Rights.
Guns taken away in the 90's (though country folk and crims still have them - I heard rifle fire last night).
But if I try to defend my property and they get hurt, I'm criminally liable.
If I try to defend my husband, and they get hurt, I'm criminally liable.
If I try to defend myself, and use more force than was used by the offender, I'm criminally liable.
Having a black belt - only makes me more liable. Because I'm supposed to "know better."
This country is upside down in more ways than one.
All I know to tell you is to find like minded people and start fighting to change that. Best of luck to you.
horrifying!
This sounds like my neck of the woods. I have a tiny home compound for myself and my grown children, with 3 living quarter cabins and a freestanding kitchen and laundry building that stays unlocked 24/7. Over the years we’ve accumulated a long list of friends and family that know they can come by day or night to wash a load, have a snack, chill on the hammock, borrow some sugar, leave some bonus garden veggies… you name it. It’s lovingly referred to in our circle as the “[location name] Swap n’ Shop”. After growing up in Phoenix AZ and never even knowing my neighbor’s names, living this way is such a gift I could have never predicted.
Sounds nice. We have five acres, not a lot, but I've planted about 40 fruit trees, blackberry bushes, a strawberry patch, we raise chickens, turkeys, and ducks, have a stocked pond, and have a huge garden. Lol, my friends call it “The Compound”. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods, I'll do a load of laundry and definitely bring something to trade. Sounds like we'd hit it off.
5 Acres is definitely more than I technically have, but we have 3 family properties that all share property lines, totaling about 24 acres in all. I manage our share, but we have a great system... I'm the maternal and medicinal branch, 2nd (and largest) property is all about the livestock and hunting, while 3rd is all blue collar tradesmen. The exchanges between us all are stellar and if we could ever go fully off-grid we would want for nothing. I'm slowly wearing down the unrelated neighboring property owners to sell me their dilapidated and abandoned 5 acres for an orchard. While I'm no fist-shaking extremist, I value self-sufficiency and equitable cashless trade and that's what we're working to establish in our little corner.
When you day medicinal branch, do you mean herbs and natural remedies and such? I've really gotten into that in the last ten years or so. It's really amazing the varieties of medicinal plants growing around here that I formerly thought were just weeds. Next year I'm planting elderberry, echinacea, golden rod, and mullien. Haha, I'd grow my own poppies for opium and brew my own moonshine if it weren't illegal.
I would love to be off grid as well. I do have solar batch water heaters, well water we use for the animals and garden, and we heat with wood.
Sounds like you have a really good thing going. Best of luck to you.
Medicinal for me goes both ways... clinical and herbal. I make tinctures, topicals, and salves, grow my own herbs and HERBS. I was very blessed to learn at the feet of Dr. Andrew Weil so I make sure to share what knowledge is safely absorbable to the folks in my circle. At the same time I'm Red Cross certified for emergency first response and CPR. I'm 2 hours from the closest "real hospital" so I keep my kitchen building stocked with splints, trauma kits, butterfly bandages, etc... I've got a great reference library along with practical training to bare minimum stabilize someone till transport can be managed in an emergency. I've seen that this thread has gone heavily political but all I worry about is keeping all the people around me healthy, happy and whole. Health is how I do it. There's 18 of us here (not counting frequent guests) and I'm the go-to for every cut, scrape, rash, gash, burn and yearn. Just don't ask me to process a turkey or butcher a deer. I *CAN* but it's not my strongsuit.
You have quite the skill set. I've often thought about taking first aid courses but never got around to it. We handle the basics on our own, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns, but I'm not as far as you from civilization, less than an hour to the nearest hospital. Thank goodness we've never needed them. I've read lots of Dr. Weil's stuff; you learned from a good one. Take care.
Wow. Impressive neighborhood and neighbors. ❤️❤️
Used to be the norm
I am 71. I remember living outside Corvallis, OR (just above Hwy 99W) back in the 1970’s. Left the garage door up all the time. Never locked the front door. Lived at the end of a short private road with two other houses before ours. The only dangerous thing (to me, but not actually) I encountered there was a big Bull snake having a nice rest in my cool garage one summer.
It was the same in Appalachia. You knew all your neighbors, you left your doors unlocked, and everyone owned a gun collection. Hunting and target shooting were pastimes.
I'm sure it's not all that unusual once you get out of the blue zones.
I live in a red state, but I still keep my doors locked. Too many illegals and criminals running around. When I grew up in WV it was definitely a lot more free feeling. When I raised my boys in WV, it was still more free and safe than now. I moved to TX ten years ago and with the amount of illegals Biden let flood into our country it’s definitely not as safe.
I went white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers about 25 years ago. One of the best times I ever had in my life. Beautiful country, very friendly people everywhere we went. Hopefully it hasn't changed much because I'm planning on heading back next year.
Sorry to hear you're in a worse area now, but I know what you mean. Red states are no cure all. I can drive 40 miles and be in a drug infested, crime ridden, war zone. We have a lot of work to do.
It's not red state vs. blue state. It's large cities vs. the rest of us.
WV is still as pretty, especially in the fall with all the changing leaves colors. I love to go visit my son who lives there. He and his son went white water rafting this past Sunday on the Big Gauley after they released water from Summerville Lake. It’s a once a year experience when the Big Gauley is truly filled non-stop with rapids. He said it was a hard work and a most enjoyable ride.
I live in a nice subdivision, outside of San Antonio, but San Antonio is Dem controlled disaster, not as bad as Houston criminally and not as woke as Austin.
You're probably about 80 miles from me. I live between Marble Falls and Burnet off of Park Rd 4.
Quite true. I live in rural New York State, ruled by Progressive Elite Democrats.
The rural areas are Fire Engine Red; 1 in 3 households have a long gun (or many) for hunting. 1 in 5 have a handgun (or a few) for all legitimate uses. Its not a good idea to be making trouble for homeowners.
Getting arrested, booked, arraigned and remanded is a good outcome.
I grew up in a red rural area like this in the 50’s and 60’s. We didn’t even have working locks on our doors. Most everyone was Baptist, two branches to choose from. A few Pentecostals. A few Church of Christ. No atheists who would admit it.
I think that may contribute to social order far more than guns.
Ditto here but no one has chickens so no eggs. We have about 20 homes in our little community in central TX with an estimate of about 200 firearms. My personal stash is 4 shotguns, 4 pistols, 1 270 rifle, 2 22 rifles. Some neighbors have a lot more than me. That gets me to thinking that I need to keep up with the neighbors since I'm getting behind.
We might need to watch out for friendly crossfire if the bad guys come around.
I think it sounds like you need to get some chickens!
Circular firing squads are a GOP specialty. Case in point Ted Cruz’s comment on the FCC concern about that pathetic worm jimmy kimmel.
Cruz missed the whole point with that one.
Broadcast licenses have never been subject to the First Amendment. It does not matter if you're a ham radio hobbyist or a TV network... if you want a license to use the airwaves, you have to play by the FCC's rules. When it comes to broadcast TV and radio stations, that means they must operate in the public interest, as the FCC defines it. That is a far more stringent standard than would be found in the First Amendment.
Howard Stern used to have his show on broadcast radio stations, and he constantly pushed the limits. The antagonism was always portrayed as being between Stern and the fuddy-duddy station managers, but the station managers had to be that way to avoid fines and protect their employers' broadcast licenses. Stern has the First Amendment right to do raunchy content and to use profane language, but that First Amendment protection does not extend to having the right to do that stuff on the public airwaves.
I find it to be a reasonable argument to say that Kimmel was not acting in the public interest with all of the hate he has been stirring up for a long time now, and the lie about Kirk's assassin being a MAGA was just the last in a long series of "not in the public interest" content. The FCC chair did not actually move to pull ABC's broadcast license... he merely gave an informal "just throwing it out there" kind of warning that this kind of blatantly false propaganda is not in the public interest.
Since he made no move to issue fines or cancel the broadcast license, it is a moot point. All of these people on the left who have suddenly discovered the First Amendment have missed the point... Kimmel never had the right to say whatever he wants to say on public airwaves. If he doesn't like those terms, he should have his show on a cable TV station.
Perfect! Maybe Kimmel will move to cable...but given his ratings performance, there's likely to be a substantial alteration in remuneration.
Or he could choose to be a big fish in a small pond. Like Australia. Yanks who come over here in Entertainment do very well. ...and...the bluer the better.....
I live in a similar place. Everyone has guns and everyone knows everyone has guns. Have never seen a police car in my area except for the highway patrol out on the highway — they’re not needed.
Locked and loaded
I stick by this old adage, too:
The best defense is a good offense. It's also simple common sense.
IMHO, everyone should know how to handle a firearm safely and be able to carry. It solves so many issues...
Amen
You go girl. 😁
Red area in a blue state. Same results... When I go into blueland everything is different, to say the least.
We used to have such stands in my rural town. Then we were the recipient of mass migration out of cities due to COVID. Now the stands have to have security cameras
That's a shame. I hope that doesn't happen here because I'm too old to move. This is my homestead; my final stand.
Same.
How life should be!
I live in California, so all I can do is hope and buy more ammo
I recommend purchasing it in Oregon. Not only do you avoid Newsom’s bonus 11% ammo tax on top of regular sales tax, you pay no sales tax. There’s something very gratifying about not paying tax on ammo.
@Jrod- we were in Oregon a couple of weeks ago (we live in NY). Had we driven, we'd have stocked up but we were flying this time. We're not far from the PA border so there's still hope.
Everyone everywhere should, at every opportunity. There’s no such thing as “enough guns and ammo”. But you must carry, or all is for nothing.
I live in So Texas, had a new neighbor accuse me of "hoarding" guns and ammo.
He was a recent asylum seeker from California so his opinion don't count
Learn to reload
Definitely an under appreciated skill.
good luck!
The price is crazy here.
seems rather alarmist.
*Any* carry is better than no carry.
Let the folks who want to carry concealed do so.
Let the gigantic pierced and mohawked mofos like me carry open if we want to. I'm *already* drawing attention. I'm willing to be the person that the criminals pay attention to. Just, y'know, if things go poorly for me, hopefully the concealed carry folks will back me up. ;)
Wrong
This is a debatable thing. Concealed carry has the advantage of, well, being concealed. And while open carry may have a deterrent effect, it also points to you as the first one to take out in case of an attack--if they can do it.
I'm a little old (78) guy, so I carry concealed and rely on some measure of stealth. Fortunately, I look very unimpressive, so I'm not likely to attract attention. Unlike our lady on the subway, I don't sit down in public and ignore what's around me. When I go out, I sit facing the door. My wife--and my other friends--know his and sit with their backs to the door so I can sit and watch. At the synagogue I attend, it's assumed that at least some are carrying.
I'm not quite as old (71), but I'm with you on concealed vs. open carry. I bought my pistol in MA about 15 years ago, and there was only open carry. So I bought a large frame semi-auto. with a 4" barrel. I lot of firepower, but not very concealable. It also is pretty heavy, and I'm not nearly as strong as I was. (Plus I'm afraid it might pull my pants down if I use a belt holster!) Now we live in a state that just made concealed carry legal, and I wish I had bought something a bit more compact. I've encountered several nice compacts, but so far haven't been able to scrape the coin together for one. (Also, I invested in reloading for the .45, and have a ton in storage. I've also been thinking about a rifle chambered in .45 ACP. Once past a certain age, one prefers "gun porn.")
Roger that.
"Plus I'm afraid it might pull my pants down if I use a belt holster!"
I've started wearing suspenders. Don't make them tight--just let them make micro-adjustments throughout the day. Life-changing.
I went to suspenders for the same reason but for a reasonably heavy carry, like my Desert Eagle (My second choice in bear country gun, if I drop it I can run A LOT faster.), I cobbled together a Sam Browne belt with a non elastic no stretch strap that I can slip on over anything else I'm wearing.
Live in a red state that passed open carry a couple of years ago. In all that time, have seen maybe 3 holstered guns on random individuals. My take is as yours. Keep your head on a swivel, sit where you can see everyone and sweep the area, no matter where you are.
It doesn't work in Cali because the crims know it's rare as hen's teeth and if you actually stop one of them, it's the hero that's going to prison.
California is a terrible place to draw examples from.
For me I’d rather have the ability to have some control over when and where I engage. Also, I prefer not to be an automatic target right away.
There's a caveat though.
It only works in an already civilized society.
Places like Pakistan and Afghanistan, you can and do get your hands on every sort of weapon and what you got is endless blood feuds carried out quite bloodily. Sharia law stops none of the offenses sharia law was written to control. They rape their own over there before they come over here to rape us.
Don't forget we had plenty of uncivilized behavior here too as we conquered and settled the west of America and we had our moonshine wars in a place where guns were ubiquitous.
There's nothing more appealing to me these days than a well-disciplined guy who carries both himself and his weapon well. That young guy a few years ago who dropped a criminal in a mall with one perfect shot--may his kind live long and prosper.
I understand and share your feelings but I think we must be rigorously clear-eyed too.
@SCA: --Benjamin Franklin's response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"Answer: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Disarming God given Creator inspired Rights is Satan et al.'s way to bring the Chaos they need for their Change! As we see today, compared to when we were more Christian, Chruch and Home nation! God Jesus is your only salvation from this/ Satan's world! So live with it!
"bring the Chaos they need for their Change" is critical for people to understand.
Godless, anti-free market capitalism, George Bernard Shaw, a staunch socialist and a co-founder of the Fabian Society, a British intellectual movement advocating for gradual, social change, using his "Out of Chaos, comes Change" (See his famous, stain glass, slam on chruch windows) "Fabian Window" His politics were a constant, central theme throughout his life and work, influencing his many plays and political essays. Fabian socialism and early anti-American Rejection of laissez-faire free market capitalism, for a man playing god rule! : Early in his life, Shaw rejected capitalism, viewing it as inherently exploitative and responsible for the poverty he witnessed! (As if Godless Marxist Socelisem was the answer!)
@Steve- huh?
It may have been over your head? I was just responding to Mitch's "Chaos" reference. Chaos is the mother's milk for destroying nations! Break down Chruch & Home, & what do you get? I.E., what we got,... Chaos! [Fact!] No huh about it.
You might want to switch to tea from coffee.
I don't understand your incoherent babble. Did I offend you? Or Benjamin?
The peace of the Lord is strong in you, kid.
The abiliety for you to pen a luced thought may not be in you? I didn't get your coffee tea dig! Peace of the Lord be with you, my brother!
The mall guy stopped a mass casualty event in an astonishing few seconds! Barely made the local news!
It made the national news. How do you think I know about it?
Related to that area, Pakistan just finished deporting 1 500 000 or more afghanis residing illegally in Pakistan.
Shutting barn doors etc. etc.
Guess so, but it makes for some nice contrasting.
Here, if any Western nation had started doing the same thing on that scale, even if just sticking to illegals and criminals, the media-noise from the usual Quislings would have been heard on Mars and various people would immediately engage in lawfare, sabotage, threats and open violence including riots and insurrection.
But when it's pakis telling afghanis "march or die" there's just the sound of silence.
How weird then that it is "impossible" to deport illegals, terrorists, criminals and so on in the West.
To mangle the metaphor - I'll be shutting that barn door anyway, lest a bear moves in to hibernate in the hay.
Well now. Dishonesty is baked into politics.
@SCA- so....Chicago.....
There was an excellent Substack piece I read the other day--one of those breadcrumb trails so I don't remember how I got there--and it referenced Thomas Sowell's "Black Rednecks" and the lineage, so to speak, is quite striking.
From your comments, you really didn’t understand the article, and somewhat proved its point…
Indubitably.
Crips, FYI.
We started out as the ruffian sort and then a period of settled prosperity enabled the Founders' generation to produce the finest fruits of the Western Enlightenment.
One thing I’ve observed missing from the Carry Conversation is how invaluable training is. I am surrounded by small gun clubs and there are beginner carry classes offered (for either free or low price) almost every couple of weeks. The first class is always about situational awareness. Societal distractions, including walking around with your earbuds in while scrolling through your device, instantly marks you as a perfect target.
Amen on things like earbuds. My kids are 19 and 16 and I've harped this a lot to them. We're in a suburban area but live out in a rural farm county. In the local towns, I constantly see people walking on the street or sidewalk with headphones or earbuds or always looking down at their phone. I used to see personal security experts on tv--in the 80s and 90s talking about what you said. Number one to not becoming a victim is to always stand up straight, move with confidence, always scan the area, make eye contact with people--basically pay attention and look like you know what's going on around you. Even if you do conceal carry--in my area conceal and open are both legal--nobody wants to have to shoot someone.
Earbuds! So bad, in so many ways...
I was very fortunate to have such an instructor for my NRA certification. This was in MA, where the laws are so convoluted you need a law degree. I actually had to hire a "firearms lawyer" to convince my local police I was entitled to carry. (Who knew there even was such a specialty?) All told, I probably spent about $800 just to be able to go shop for a pistol. I hear tell it has gotten even worse since we left.
Sounds like multiple layers of "infringement" to me. Sad.
Yep. The Constitution isn't what it used to be. It's clearly out of bounds to outlaw all guns, so we'll just make it as difficult and unpleasant as possible to obtain one. The following is one of my favorite stories. We moved from rural NY to MA 15 years ago. I owned 2 rifles/3 shotguns at the time. We loaded 'em in the van and drove to our new home. I subsequently found out I committed a violation by not turning them in to my local police dept., until such time as I had the appropriate certification to possess them. FF to 2020, and we were preparing to move to KY. I didn't want to start my relationship with our new state as a criminal, so we called the county sheriff to inquire about firearms regs. His reply: "Hell, just bring 'em all in!" My kind of place. No one is uptight about it here, which is a big relief.
Exactly! That was the first thing I noticed about the Meme on how white girls stay safe on trains ..... She sat where there was no one behind her ..... and she doesn't have a phone in her hand for distraction (let alone someone in a hoodie and unidentifiable).... those 2 things may have saved Iryna without needing the gun and pepper spray.
I suspect growing up in Ukraine, it never crossed her mind that a subway car would be more dangerous than anywhere in her home country, including the battlefields.
Gato talks a lot about "second world". That's what we've become in many places.
Indeed, situational awareness has been sullied also by the 'don't be a racist' maxim.
However, one cannot always evade these people. In the NYC subway not long ago, I tried to move away from a crazy black man. He followed me, cornered me in my seat, and spat all over me, threatening to kill me. I'm surprised he didn't. He very well could have killed me, and there would have been nothing I could have done about it.
Lived in Bay Ridge from the late 70s to early 90s. I used to ride in the front car with the motorman. Especially riding the train at very off hours. Don't know if it's changed but back then cabs wouldn't go to Brooklyn so subway rides in the wee hours was the norm.
As a teenager, some decades ago, I read that in a heavily armed society you either get more polite or you get more dead.
... and I am totally zen with that. It strikes me as both accurate and desirable.
Interestingly, in prisons, the inmates have to follow the customs for “polite” behavior (as defined by inmates). Failure to conform to these informal rules brings physical consequences when the behavior persists or becomes too annoying. The enforcing inmates are not always “armed”, but even the threat of a beating with fists and feet is usually enough to prevent certain behaviors.
That is one of the benefits of having moved to a red state. I couldn't believe how courteous people were to complete strangers. It eventually occurred to me that it was at least partly due to not knowing who was armed. In 5 years here I've never felt threatened enough to carry--concealed or otherwise. It's pretty nice!
I live near Toronto, and yes - treasonous Canadian government is trying their damnedest to disarm us & charge homeowners who defended themselves against home invaders. But the government will fail. Too many examples (the one you posted is mild) of this psychotic criminality abound & people are done. The gun grab will not succeed. #pewpew
Amen, I wonder if we’ve ever crossed paths 🤣
@Unvaxxed (and Riff)- we're in Lewiston NY, a mile from the border. Howdy, neighbors!
Hey neighbour!!
I’ve ended up there once after a missed turn, very pretty town!
😊🍻
A magnificent post. Situational awareness is all. I teach a NRA seminar called Refuse to be a Victim. It's non weapons oriented self defense. We start and end with the basic rule of survival: have a plan. People die in the "I can't believe this is happening!" time.
I have a California CCW, but the advice given by my instructor was in the form of a question. Do you really need to be in a place where there is a high probability of using your weapon. Better to frequent lower risks environments, and situational awareness is essential when you do find yourself on unfamiliar turf.
Dick Minnis
Agree, never put yourself in a position where you can’t see the dangers. On a bus or subway pick a seat with a view of the entire area, don’t zone off into your phone, newspaper, or book. By all means carry if you’re comfortable but you need to give yourself a chance to see the danger and to use the weapon. If you pull it don’t be afraid to fire it. You won’t just be saving your own life.
As someone who used to roam large cities solo at all times of day and night in the late 80's may I add, don't make yourself a target. Don't wear flashy, valuable jewelry or impeding clothing or footwear. Look alert and carry yourself with purpose. And just be aware enough to not get yourself into situations in the first place. Best way to avoid shit is not to be there at all when it goes down.
My NYC ex taught me how to look out for people trying to block me on sidewalks or approach me obliquely. I am forever indebted to him for that, that advice saved my hide a few times.
Left Of Bang is a good book on this subject.
I live in a rural central Iowa county of 27,000 population. 10% of that number live in my town. The percentage of homes with a firearm is high. I get the impression that 10-15% of the people in my bubble are carrying (barely) concealed whenever I’m out and about in the county—either in my town or in the “big” county seat of 12,500. Homicide rate in the county has been 0.00% every year since 1999. The last homicide associated with this county occurred in 1966. The city and county police blotters have been comically tame every week of the nine years I’ve lived here.
There are downsides, of course. The area scores below-average on community rating sites for Night Life, Weather, and Diversity. I endure these tragic deficits with a stoic spirit.
Once you get older, peace, quiet and safety increase in value. I'll take that over "nightlife" any day.
Below-average on Diversity? The horror...
Well put, Old Breed. Semper Fi.
> people talk about this as though it were some kind of “taxi driver” level vigalanteeism, but it’s not.
>
> it’s the simple rediscovery of a basic principle of human interaction that has underpinned many of the better societies in human history and whose forgetting has turned them awful:
>
> lethal violence is a legitimate form of self defense.
For another example, one that is probably one of my most extreme beliefs:
I think it should be explicitly legally protected to run down, drive over, and kill any pedestrian in a controlled-access freeway road. As in, protestors want to block the highway? Their lives are forfeit.
People look at me like a bloodthirsty monster when i say this. "What, you think thousands of protestors deserve to die just because they made you late for work?". No, I think that like, four people should. After like, four people die, nobody will ever block a highway in protest again. At the cost of fewer deaths than one weekend in Chicago, we have *permanently* solved the problem.
Nobody ever thinks about higher order consequences
This is similar to the law in Germany. If you cross the street and you are not at a crosswalk and don't have the walk signal, no driver will be held responsible if you are hit, and no lawsuit can be filed unless the driver was willfully inpaired (DUI). When my cousin was 6 he walked into the street and was hit by a car and almost died from his injuries, many of which are permanent. Whether the driver tried to avoid him, didn't see him, or stepped on the accelerator was irrelevant - my cousin was at fault. As a final indignation, my uncle had to pay to fix the dent in the driver's bumper left by my cousin's head during impact.
I don't want to mess up my car.
Run into and over them slowly ... the first time.
That is pretty close to legal in Florida.
San Francisco Walgreens, 2025: You have to wait 10 minutes for an attendant to unlock the security screen protecting the toothpaste and shaving kit, but you're keeping your head on a swivel the whole time knowing that there is no plexiglass protecting you from whatever lunatic off his meds is wandering around the aisles. Sometimes, readers bring such questions about our low-trust/ high-"empathy" city to me: https://aynsrants.substack.com/p/san-francisco-i-have-questions
Hm. Off his meds. More likely the problem is he’s on them in lieu of being locked up.
> up until quite recently a number of scandinavian societies were so safe that parents left babies in strollers in corrals outside of coffee shops while they went inside.
Here's a modern day American metric for whether or not you live in a high-trust or a low-trust community, one I do all the time.
Let's say you're at a cafe working on your laptop when you have to go to the restroom. Do you
1) Just leave your laptop there, open. It'll be fine
2) Just leave your laptop there, closed. It'll be fine
3) Look around for someone who looks trustworthy, and politely ask if they'll watch your stuff till you get back
4) Pack all your stuff away in your bag and leave your bag at the table
5) Pack all your stuff away in your bag and take your bag with you.
When I was a teenager in midwestern Canada, most places were (1) but since my dad is an infosec guy, I know better than to leave an unattended laptop unlocked.
In California, almost everywhere was a (5).
In Texas, most places are between a (2) and a (3). I have left my laptop locked-but-unattended at probably a dozen different places in Austin over the years, many many times, and never once had an issue.
But there are large swaths of America where I wouldn't even consider doing this, and I think this is a useful indicator of low-trust-ness.
In the 1970s and 1980s, even Stockholm City was no. 1 - no. 3.
Now, anyplace except the remote villages, such as the one I live in, is no. 6: don't flaunt anything valuable.
Which by the by is official police advise, and is also taught to children in Kindergarten and schools: don't wear or show anything expensive, and if someone robs you just hand over whatever they ask for and do whatever they tell you.
I'm all for criminals getting just deserts, Viking-era style and in public, but I'd really like to line up all the politicos, urinalist and social workers and have them dig Crown's ditches for the rest of their lives.
(A Crown's ditch is an old measure for a drainage-ditch: 2 meters wide and 2 meters deep, traingle-shaped.)
"urinalist"
lol
I live in England and I would never ever leave any of my possessions unattended in a cafe or anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine doing so, even in the quiet village where I live- it’s just inconceivable. I’m pretty sure that no one I know would either…is England a high crime society, I don’t know, but it just seems like such an unnecessary risk.
That's a pretty accurate and useful scale.
I live in very rural NE AZ on a small, 40 acre ranch. Everyone around me has similar large parcels, everyone is conservative, and we all have shooting ranges on our property. I don’t know anyone who locks their doors. I was just talking about this to my sister who lives in the city. She can’t comprehend how I can sleep
at night with my doors and windows open. When everyone is armed, and everyone knows everyone is armed, nobody is stupid enough to take any chances. And we all have “early alert systems”….lots of dogs. My home is almost 1/4 mile off the road and my dogs will alert to a vehicle driving by. Country life is AMAZING but not for the weak.
I seriously enjoyed going to a movie theater the other day and noticing their "no guns allowed" poster...while I walked in with my concealed carry .38 Special. No way am I not going to protect myself in a building that has designated itself a target.
Excellent piece! It's hard to believe that the universal right to self defense including lethal force is even controversial.
And your statistics examples remind me of this one:
'More pedestrians are killed using crosswalk, therefore using crosswalks is more dangerous than jaywalking.' 🤣
Texas just sentence a guy to LIFE IN PRISON because he has 9 DUI convictions. The judge said the guy clearly will never change.
What? Only 9? What happened to 34 strikes and your out?
I hate being thrust into a low trust atmosphere by SoCal politicians. I hate going to a supermarket with swat looking guards standing around. Somehow Trader Joe's hasn't succumbed but perhaps it is because, despite unpleasant progressiveness seepinging in, TJs always has a few burly looking workers milling around. Or perhaps it is an attitude that 'trust' lives here. Instead of making rules that benefit the averages, everything is geared towards the extremes. Males who want to dress up in women's clothes and pretend they are women, well that extreme is now the norm and those who protest are outside the norm. Same for crime. Because one person may be wrongly prosecuted we must act as if all are at risk of wrong prosecution and act accordingly.
Have you considered moving to a civilized location?
The city I live in has several stores one a chain, the other local that seem to mostly hire the most downtrodden, socially confused people. It’s weird but I guess very much inline with today’s post.
They can pay them less.
I know the owners of the local shop. I don’t believe they pay them less. The National shop, who knows. They probably justify not giving them raises