Friday, February 10, 2023

Responding to the illegal alien invasion and the crime wave it's fueling

 

A few days ago I published an article titled "The real danger of the illegal alien invasion".  If you missed it, I suggest you click over there and read it before continuing with this one, because I won't waste space or time repeating its contents here.  This article takes up where that one left off.

There's no doubt whatsoever that cities are faced with a crescendo of crime, made worse by millions of illegal aliens who can't (or won't) find work.  It's getting worse just about everywhere.  Ignore the "official" statistics that try to claim this, or that, or the other crime is actually decreasing.  Remember, city authorities have a vested interest in trying to make their towns appear to be low-crime areas, because that attracts business, residents and visitors.  As a result, many law enforcement agencies are under orders not to record all crimes in specific categories, or to ignore them when they're encountered.  How many police departments have announced that they will no longer respond as an emergency to reports of burglary, car theft, and so on?  They don't have the time, the money or the personnel to cope, so they're copping out - you should pardon the expression.

No, if you want to know what crime's like in your area, ask business owners whose stores open onto the streets.  A whole lot of them are reporting that crime is on the increase.  They're speaking of groups of young men congregating on street corners, all unemployed, all just "hanging around" with nothing better to do.  Many of them appear to be dealing drugs.  Others flash money at each other.  Cops drive past, but can do nothing to break up these groups unless they're seen to be breaking the law.  Business owners report that they recognize some of them as having shoplifted or stolen goods from their stores, but they daren't point them out to the cops, because if that becomes known there will be violent retaliation against them.  Some cities have private citizen crime reports online, such as HeyJackass in Chicago.  Look to them for real crime figures, rather than official sources.

The illegal alien invasion is doing nothing but add to this crime wave, as discussed earlier this week.

So, the question becomes, what can we do about it?  Any number of Web sites offer "prepping" solutions about stockpiling necessities, hardening your house against criminals, and so on.  I endorse such steps, and I've taken them myself.  What we're specifically interested in here is crime.  How do we prepare to deter it, and if necessary deal with it?

First, get to know your neighbors.  In an apartment, that can be a problem, because renters tend to be transient.  They may not stay around for long.  Some of them are also not as trustworthy as we wish they were.  Those who own their own homes are in a better position in talking with fellow home-owners nearby, because they all have a stake in the neighborhood and a vested interest in keeping it a good place to live.  Find a few of them who think as you do, and if necessary act as a sort of "anti-crime evangelist" to encourage others to investigate the problem for themselves and join you in planning to deal with it.

The point is to form a small group of people who will help each other.  You'll all undertake to keep an eye on each other's homes during the day, when many people are at work.  You'll agree to come to each others' assistance in emergency, including offering mutual defense and protection where necessary.  (That largely depends on where you live;  some neighborhoods will need that more than others - but there is no neighborhood that can say with certainty it'll never need it.)

That, in turn, implies that each member of the group should be armed, and sufficiently well trained to use their weapons defensively if needed - without shooting each other in the process.  This isn't just a matter of buying a gun.  It's learning to use it, finding out how often the cops patrol your area, asking your local cops for their impressions of crime and/or dangerous areas nearby, and so on.  When it comes to training, why not ask your local police department which instructor(s) they recommend?  Why not approach [an] instructor(s) in a group, so that you can all train together at least occasionally?

We're talking defensive weapons here, not hunting or target firearms.  Right now, you can buy an entry-level AR-15 for under $500 (before tax, of course).  At the time of writing, Buds Gun Shop lists ten models below that priceCDNN Sports lists three:  and Palmetto State Armory has ten.  (If you'd prefer an AK-47 model, Palmetto has some "blemished" ones available for $620 - the lowest price I've seen on a decent AK in a long time.). There are any number of other dealers online if you look for them to compare prices.  Your local gun shop probably has more expensive models, but even if you pay shipping and a transfer fee, your total cost to buy an AR-15 from one of the three vendors I mentioned should be below $550-$575.  Magazines and ammunition will cost you a couple of hundred more to begin with.  Let's say you shouldn't have to spend more than $750 to put together a usable basic personal defense rifle outfit.  (If you live in an area that doesn't allow the sale of such weapons, a lever-action .30-30 or pistol-caliber carbine will cost you a bit more, but you can still equip yourself with a very effective weapon for under $1,000.  A shotgun - less useful at longer ranges - will cost much less than that.)

Bear in mind, too, that such rifles may not remain available if the progressive left gets its way.  President Biden made that clear in his State of the Union address earlier this week.  The facts of the matter aren't important to such people.  They blame the instrument for the crime, not the perpetrator - and that's a fallacy and a mistake in every single circumstance.  They'll happily disarm honest people and leave them at the mercy of criminals, knowing that many honest people will hand in their guns while the criminals won't.  If you need such a rifle, get it while the getting's good.  I think every adult in your family should have one, and if you have responsible, reliable teenagers, they should have their own as well.

I'll go further.  Those of us who are armed and trained should make a concerted, active effort to "spread the good news" and encourage others to do likewise.  I'll publicly undertake, here and now, to see to it that this year, 2023, at least a dozen families - one per month - are equipped with at least one personal defense rifle and trained to use it.  I've already made a start on that;  January's family is provided for, and I'm in the process of arranging to help February's.  I can't pay for all that myself, of course - I'm on a rather limited income - but I can help the poorest families, I can show them how to assemble and maintain and use their weapons, and I can provide training.  What I can't do, I'll try to do with the help of others (including generous readers, who've stepped up to the plate in the past to help those in need of protection buy what they need).  How about you, dear reader?  Can you - will you - commit to helping at least one other family in need get what they need this year?  If we all did that, we could transform a lot of lives.

Of course, part of the problem is that the left-wing administrations in this country - federal, state and local - are trying to make it as difficult and expensive as possible for us to defend ourselves.  We've spoken about that often in these pages.  As Tucker Carlson pointed out on Thursday, "Self-defense is becoming illegal".  We need to fight back against that as well.  How many of us are aware that District Attorneys - our local and regional prosecuting authorities - are often elected by less than 20% of the electorate?  Most voters don't bother to turn out for such local contests.  Why not motivate your friends and family and acquaintances and co-workers to turn up and vote for a solid law-and-order candidate?  We can nullify the pernicious influence of progressive election funding if we stand together and vote accordingly.  Let's do it!

Let's also make sure to offer our support to individuals and families who are targeted by the authorities for defending themselves.  We can contribute to fund-raising efforts for them;  try to help their families if they're in financial difficulties;  and show public support to counteract left-wing demonstrations against them.  If, for example, each of us donated a couple of cans or packets of food, we could make a serious dent in their food budget, which might be very helpful if their breadwinner is locked up.  There are many practical ways we can be of assistance.  Let's look for them, and use them.

Finally, let's make sure we are visible in our neighborhoods - not as vigilantes, armed to the teeth, walking menacingly up and down, but as normal, law-abiding citizens who keep our eyes open and make sure we're seen doing it.  Look for vehicles you don't recognize cruising up and down your street.  Watch for idlers, people walking along looking at houses without any recognizable need to be there, that sort of thing.  Ask your local cops to pay more attention to trouble spots, and make sure they know where to look.  If the cops get to know you as solid citizens who support law and order, they're a lot more likely to pay attention if you call them in emergency.  The smaller and more intimate your community, of course, the likelier that is.  In the town where I live, many of us are on first-name terms with our officers.  We eat breakfast at the local diner with them, we see them driving our streets on patrol and wave at them, and generally we interact with them frequently and positively (such as the time cows were eating our neighbor's rose bushes!).

As individuals, we can't solve the big problem of border security.  That's for federal and state authorities to tackle, and we should make our voices heard in urging them to do so.  In the meanwhile, let's focus on what we can achieve, which is to make ourselves as secure as possible against the crime wave that the illegal alien invaders are escalating every day.

(If you can't do that where you are, maybe that's a sign that you need to move somewhere else!)

Peter


28 comments:

  1. Nothing gets opinions flowing quite like gun preferences. Still, I'm going to say this: The most expensive aspect of owning an AR will be the ammunition you put through it over its life. So it makes little sense to me to put many thousands of dollars in ammo through a $500 rifle when a $2,000 rifle is not that much more considering the total expense overall.

    I would challenge anyone to shoot something like a Daniel Defence M4-A1 and then say they wished they saved money by buying something less expensive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I paid about 7-800 for my Anderson Mfg upper and lower about 6 years ago.
      I just bought a NIB SigSauer M400 complete for 800 cash (private party sale, no tax, no TICS).

      Delete
  2. @Johnny Taopi: If you can afford the $2,000 rifle, good for you. Most of us can't.

    Besides, a cheaper AR doesn't necessarily mean a bad AR:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEH4paJ6fQ

    More videos on the same subject:

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cheap+ar+as+good+as+expensive+ar

    ReplyDelete
  3. The average person doesn't need a $2000.00 AR. They need a $500.00 AR and $2000.00 dollars in training. Upgrades can come later...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This^
      It's not just the rifle and ammo, either.
      Once a small level of proficiency is achieved, a trigger upgrade becomes worthwhile but can be a relatively inexpensive ALG. Ditto a decent red dot.
      Then there are magazines, spare magazines, spare parts, and kit. And always more ammo. There are many more useful things for budget than paying an extra $1k for the rifle.
      If you can afford a DD and can wring the extra performance out of it, you already know who you are.

      Delete
    2. Yes, ammo and training costs should be multiples greater than gun...

      Delete
  4. True about cheaper AR. Things to look for are staked bolt screws and properly mounted barrels. Rest of it is bone simple.

    I have several, some I have assembled and some are bought complete. I would definitely go for the preassembled ones.

    Ammo and Magazines will have more bearing on whether it works correctly. Brownell's used to have 10 20 round metal magazine for 9.99 each if you bought 10 which should be the minimum.

    Get a gun, 10 magazine and 600 rounds of ammo for around 1200-1500 and you should be ready to go.

    If you go 30-30 route you cannot have a matching pistol.

    I have a beretta 9mm and a rifle that takes the same magazine.

    I live in a blue bubble in a red state so I am a little more armed than most.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes- I have a Beretta CX4 carbine and a 9mm Beretta- made a lot more sense to me to have the same ammo and use the same magazines.

      Delete
    2. I'm thinking of the smith and Wesson 15 range kit with scope. Has any an opinion that?

      Delete
    3. The CX4 is really under appricated.

      They are good, handy carbines.

      Delete
  5. I think the 30-30 isn't a good option anymore.

    Price per round is around $1.50-$2.00.

    A Mossberg Patriot or Ruger American Ranch that takes military ammo & mags would be better.

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  6. Point taken, Peter. I watched the first video, but please realize that the guy used a $1600 scope on the 'cheap' rifle. Open sights on a better rifle wouldn't be far off from that.

    Truth be told, I am most irritated by the outrageously loud report from the less expensive AR. The video didn't convey just how bad it is. All my shotguns are on the cheap end. I can relate to 'good enough' for what you use them for.

    I have read your blog for a number of years because you write well in my opinion. I should probably look at some of your fiction writing. Peace and blessings.

    Johnny

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm not as focused on rifles as defensive weaapons as everyone else. I prefer a 10mm pistol. It appears 10mm wasa bit too much for the Fibbies, but my wife, a slip of a woman no longer middle-aged, can shoot it all day with no probs.
    Not to advertise, but Hi-Point just cam out with A new 10mm pistol, the JXP for ~$200 which also has a "matching-magazine" carbine, the 1095 for ~$400. I find they're a good, inexpensive defensive combo.

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    Replies
    1. Hi-point! I often see reviewers shaking their heads in dismay at how such a low dollar firearm can be as dependable as a stone doorstop!!!

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    2. When people do have issues, it’s often because a third-party extended magazine or similar. Be sure to check different sources on that.

      Delete
  8. All these comments about rifles are great. But I bet most don't take a long arm when walking around the neighborhood. It will be probably be a concealed handgun and cell phone.

    ReplyDelete
  9. (If you can't do that where you are, maybe that's a sign that you need to move somewhere else!)


    I live in NH. Lots of good people in the state; not so sure about my immediate area.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Many folks in today's economy cannot afford even a $500 rifle. The key is to have a rifle and know how to use it. While certain platforms and calibers may be ideal for a fire fight situation sometimes you have to make do with what is at hand. A round from an old hunting rifle is every bit as lethal as one from a fancy state of the art rifle. Train with what you can afford and be comfortable with it. Encourage others to do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Crime stats websites help in understanding areas.

    Driving around, seeing homeless encampments, graffiti, illegal dumping, and crowds of military age people helps.

    Police departments play tricks on statistics, where “active” investigations are not logged. A person hanged themselves near a property I was interested in, and finding details on it was hard. I’m still not sure if the guy lived or not.

    In many areas the definition of what is a crime has been redefined. Plus many victims see reporting crimes as useless, so don’t bother.

    ReplyDelete
  12. In five years you'll pay $2000 for a crap AR. Get the Daniel Defense now for the same price. Ten years ago Mosins went for $89. Twenty years ago SKS's were $99.

    Maybe the future price for all of them is 'not available'.

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  13. Hi. I see a lot of interesting comments about training and firearms. There are some other accessories that are needed if you want to train at a range. Recommendations for ear protection and safety glasses?
    TIA

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the pep talk. I'm in a blue zone in a blue state. Maybe I'll get up the nerve to ask the two people with compatible viewpoints near me about it, one of which is a retired Marine. I don't think I'll mention my concealed carry permit, though.

    I'm holding off purchase of a long arm due to my state's laws which may be overturned in the next few months (or years.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish the Ca ones would be over turned.

      A friend says people go to Las Vegas to get cheaper ammo. Unfortunately Ca stakes out the local cheap ammo supplier and notes Ca plates on buyers. So when you cross the Ca border, you get stopped. What his friend does now after getting stopped at the border, is take an Uber from his hotel. He has not been stopped since.

      Delete
    2. For home defense...
      My vote is to get the best rifle you can reasonably afford. Then in order:

      *Ammo
      *Ammo
      *30 and 20 round mags
      *A decent white light
      *Optic
      *Sling
      *More ammo

      Optional:
      *Upgraded, but not a super light, trigger
      *Charging handle

      A light, mags, and ammo are absolute must haves. They make light mounts that attched to a GI handgaurd so replacing that isn't 100% necessary, but a MOE or good railed/Mlock one makes life easier.

      The nice thing about an AR, (and to a lesser extent an AK) is that you can buy a pretty crummy one and upgrade when you can to good or even great.

      Delete
    3. CA looks like it will be soon. The judge in charge if thise cases, and who has ruled favorably on them before, is expiditing the cases.

      In the mean time... a clip loaded, magazine rifle might be best for restriced states. Think SKS, M1, Model 8, or a few other options. If you go leaver then I think a .357 mag or a .44 is better than a .30-30 for the capacity, report, and recoil. A .30-30 or .35 Rem is still a good option too.

      In some states the M1 Carbine, Mini 14 , and even the M1A are still an option though all 3 are a bit $$

      Shotguns can be a good choice and were my number 1 reccomondation years ago. I have moved away from them for several reasons. Mainly: The recoil, capacity, and manual of arms make the skill floor much higher. That would be post four, but that is too much for right now

      Delete
  15. Has anyone research the effect of childhood disease have increased in the last few years? I would except that although not reported in the news it is way up.

    ReplyDelete
  16. In my experance the sweet spot for a good AR is was about $800-1200 before 2020, now it is more like $9-1500. The M&P15 was minimum viable. That said, the really budget rifles, such as PSA are much better than they were. Once you go above that to you are either at the point if deminishing returns or:

    A) a monolithic upper (Colt's is right at $1500 LMT$$$$) or Knights
    B) A piston gun
    C) A percision/match/3gun rifle
    D) otherwise adding a bunch of stuff you really don't need - see A-C

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks. Just thanks, for all your intelligent posts, of which this one is a gem.
    Nice combination of education, humour and general interest. Well researched.

    ReplyDelete

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