"The Gun Is Civilization" by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

"The Gun Is Civilization" by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.

The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.

People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.

People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.

The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret.)

5 - 8 -1 Homemade Gatoraid or electrolytes solution

Hydration is important,
Home made electrolyte solution for hard physical activity or illness....

5 cups clean water
8 teaspoons of sugar (or less)
1 teaspoon of salt

Multi Use items

Ideas from:
http://offgridsurvival.com/backpackinggear/

■Bandana - cooling head or neck wrap, sunscreen, water filter, bandages.
■Candles - lighting, fire starter, waterproofing.
■Compass with mirror – emergency signal, personal mirror, finding your way.
■Dental Floss – fishing line, sewing thread, etc…
■Duct Tape – Use to prevent blisters, repair gear, bandage wrap….
■Metal Canteen with Cup- Boiling Water, cooking food, bowl for eating.
■Multitool – Knife, tools, scissors, nail cutters, saws,…..
■Paracord – For traps, cloth line, fishing, clothesline, food bag line.
■Plastic Baggies–carry items, emergency water carrier, storing food.
■Safety Pins – fishing hooks, hanging items, securing bandages
■Socks – warming hands, filtering water
■Tarp - Can be used for shelter rain gear, ground cover, rain catch, etc…

Working hard to get ready for the trip...

Current list with what I have packed
Packing List

Located     Packed      in the Car
79.2%          54.2%        43.8%
38                 26              21             Total Items 48

Food Water and Shelter
Sleeping bag fleece
Pillow
Blanket
Tent 2 man
Case of Vitamin Water
Gallon of water
Coffee
Diet Mt Dew

Hygiene
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Shampoo / Soap
Floss
Towel

Clothing
2 Pair of pants
4 Shirts Polo
1 Suit and Tie
1 Dress Pair shoes
2 Tshirts
1 trunks
1 Sandals
Underwear and Socks

Tools
Tool Bag
Crowbar
Folding Shovel

SCA Gear (Hobby)
2 Costumes
Armor
Sword
Shield
Mug
Belt
Chain
Boots
Cane

Arms
9mm
Ammo

Entertainment, Communication & Documents
Laptop
Work Laptop
Install Skype for Wife
Extension Cord
Power charger for Phone
GPS
Vehicle Charger for phone
Power inverter
Generator
2 gal Gas Can
Birth Cert
SS Card
Drivers Licence
Voters Registration

Some stuff to take and set up that is a bit out of the norm

2kw portable generator

Skype on the boss' PC and mine

Folding Shovel in the car.

Small tent

Packing mostly this weekend I think.
The boss and I are still in negotiations about what firearms stay and go

I also have to look up all the transport laws in all the states I will be in.

Travel List for driving trip and basic need

Road Trip in the Zombie Apocalypse or just heading west

Food and Water
Water 3 gallons in small bottles (Zero Vitamin Water and one gal jug)
Cash for food and standard 3 day food supply

Shelter
Sleeping bag LW
Sleeping bag fleece
Pillow
Blanket

Hygiene
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Shampoo
Towel

Clothing
2 pants
4 Shirts
1 Suit and Tie
1 Dress shoes
2 Tshirts
1 trunks
1 Sandals
Underwear and Socks

Tools
Tool Bag
Power Tools

SCA Gear (Hobby)
2 Costumes
Armor
Sword
Shield
Mug
Belt
Chain
Boots

Arms
9mm
AK
Ammo

Entertainment and Communication
Laptop
Extension Cord
Power charger for Phone
GPS
Vehicle Charger for phone
Power inverter

Cooking over fire and a Long drive

(not my spit)

This memorial day we cooked over fire.  My wife got me a meat spit for cooking over fire for fathers day.  This Monday was the first day we tried it out.  The polish sausage went very well.  The tenderloin was not cooked after two sets of coals so we finished it in the broiler for 20 min.  To roast a multi pound chunk of meat would take several hours or a hotter fire.  More fuel than I expected.

In a couple weeks I will be making a long drive, I am planning on doing it in one shot.  Although I may break it in two depending on further planning.  I thought this would be a great opportunity to plan for a trip across the country after the zombie appoc.  So I will be planning my real and imaginary gear for the trip.