Home Invasion Story: 64 y.o. Minn. “Victim” Heads To PRISON For Home Defense Mistake?

It was about 7am on a cold Saturday morning when 3 teenagers pulled up to 64 y.o. David Pettersen’s Minnesota home.

Two of the teens jumped out and started checking doors on Pettersen’s house, “testing” the easiest access.

Finding them locked, one of the teens – Kyle Nason (18 y.o.) – got a boost up to the 2nd level deck to look for an easier way in.

The homeowner, Petterson, was still in bed when he saw Kyle walk by his bedroom window.

He jumped out of bed to confront the boy – who, scared, leaped off the 2nd story deck, breaking his ankle in the fall – and began crawling his way to the getaway car parked near Pettersen’s garage.

What Happened Next Sent 1 Teen Criminal To The Morgue… And Will Send The “Victim” To Prison!

Home Invasion Story Home Defense

As the 3 teens scrambled to their vehicle, Peterson ran back to his bedroom to grab his loaded .45 caliber handgun.

Charging outside, he barely made it in time to intercept the criminals’ car as it drove by him in high-speed retreat.

In later reports, Pettersen stated he was trying to shoot out the front drivers-side tire to stop the criminals’ getaway… however, although he was able to get a round into the tire, Peterson kept on shooting… and one of the three bullets he shot hit the driver – 19 y.o. Nick Embertson – in the pelvis, who lost consciousness as he drove off onto the side of the driveway.

Pettersen ran back into his home to dial 911 as the other boys moved their bleeding friend out of the driver’s seat and sped off down the road.

The cops eventually caught up to the getaway car and 2 of the boys went off to jail while the 3rd – the wounded 19 y.o. – later died of his wounds at the hospital.

Oh, and the “victim”, 64 y.o. Pettersen?

Charged with 2 Felony counts that – after what will most definitely be a long and very expensive court trial – will likely put him in a prison cell, right next to even worse predators than the ones who tried to break into his home!

3 Home-Defense Lessons Most Gun-Owners Don’t Realize – Until It’s Too Late!

I see stories like this all the time and it makes me sick.

Law-abiding citizen is in his own home – minding his own business – and then some low-life dirtbags who don’t want to “work” for their money tries to prey on him.

And the “victim” is the one who will could spend the next 10-20 years of his life behind bars dreading the daily trip to “the showers”?

What REALLY makes me frustrated though is that these same law-abiding citizens who are smart enough to own a gun for self-protection… have NO CLUE about how to use it “legally” to defend themselves.

Trust me my friend… it matters! Big time!

In fact, here are 3 things you yourself may not even realize when it comes to using your firearm against a criminal…

1. You’re MIND Is Going To Screw With You

Pettersen was charged with Manslaughter – even though he was the victim – because the 3 teens (in the eyes of the law) were no longer a threat as they tried to get away in their car.

But that’s not likely what your brain is going to be telling you in the middle of the night, as you grip your pistol in your hands and have a bead on your retreating attackers.

What you may be more likely thinking is…

“F*ck that! Not in MY house you don’t!”

“I’m not letting you get away just so you can come back and try again!”

“I’m tired of criminals getting away with sh*t like this!”

Now, that kind of “hell no!” mind-set that could get you to take quick action and save your life…

… but it can also get you to take ILLEGAL action and ruin the REST of your life.

As we say in our “Bulletproof Defense” Certification Course… “Our legal system is NOT about justice… it’s about the LAW! Plain and simple!”

2. Your BODY Is Going To Screw With You

Adrenaline is a funny chemical in your body…

It’s your body’s natural “fight or flight” hormone that can give you near superhuman strength and stamina…

… but it also overrides your critical decision-making ability AND destroys your fine-motor skills you need for accurate shooting.

Case in point…

Pettersen said he was trying to “shoot out the driver’s side tire” to keep the teens from getting away.

While this may sound like a fishy excuse to some, the fact that he shot the driver in the pelvis – which would be at about the same height as the car’s tires – lends some backing to his story, right?

However… not only was it an illegal decision to try to shoot the tires (more on that in a second), but Pettersen’s adrenalized brain didn’t have the ability to account for the movement of the car and the bullet most likely was at least 2-3 feet away from where he wanted it to hit – “accidentally” striking the driver and killing him.

3. The COURT Is Going To Screw With You

At the time of this story, NO CHARGES have been filed against the two surviving teens.

At most, they’re probably looking at a Misdemeanor Trespassing charge because they didn’t actually enter the home, nor did they take anything or threaten the homeowner in any way.

In fact, you’ve seen me refer to these criminals as “boys” throughout this article … and that’s exactly how they’ll be presented to a jury (even though they’re really 18 & 19 y.o. “men”).

The happy pictures of the 3 teens will be shown on a video screen… the parents of the dead boy will be quietly sobbing in the back of the courtroom… and I can tell you pretty much what the discussion is going to be like in the courtroom for Pettersen’s prosecution…

“Mr. Pettersen, you’ve stated that you train at the range with your legally-owned firearm and can hit a target from 21 feet away and put all rounds within a 12-inch box. And now you’d like us to believe that you were aiming for a 3-foot wide tire and couldn’t even hit it from only 10 feet away?

So which is it Mr. Pettersen? Are you lying about how well trained you are with your firearm? Or are you perhaps lying about whether you really meant to shoot the young Nicolas Embertson even though he posed no threat to you?”

The fact is, prosecuting attorneys have all kinds of “tricks” for making you look bad on the stand.

David Pettersen Home Invasion Trial
David Pettersen Trial (Photo by Pat Christman/Mankato Free Press)

They conveniently leave out the physiological effects an attack has on the “victim” and how it can cause you to do things you didn’t mean to do.

Understanding these effects NOW will help you make better legal decisions AND react better if you really are forced to shoot in your own defense.

As a matter of fact, this is why we filmed real “pressure-testing” of expert firearms users (including military contractors and law enforcement) in our training where you can literally SEE the effects of adrenaline – against a live “attacker” trainer.

It shows the jury – with their own eyes – that it’s actually the prosecuting attorney who might be the one they can’t trust, because he either doesn’t seem to understand these physiological factors, or worse… he’s just trying to “trick” them into finding the victim guilty!

This is why we say you can even enter videos of attacks and training as evidence of the legality of your actions based on the “Reasonable Man Doctrine”.

But here’s the secret…

In order for you to use it in your defense, you MUST have watched and participated in this type of training BEFORE you’re actually involved in a shooting.

It does you no good to follow the program AFTER you’ve pulled the trigger and it won’t be allowed into evidence.

That’s because the “Reasonable Man Doctrine” dictates that only the information you knew BEFORE you pulled the trigger is valuable to your defense.

(A Personal Note From The Editor…)

Ok, I might catch hell for saying this, but I’m going to anyway…

Pettersen SHOULD go to jail!

I’m not saying he’s a bad person or that I defend “criminals” over “victims”.

But the actions he took DID unnecessarily take a teen’s life – and that teen could have been my kid, your kid, (or your grand-kid).

You and I both know that – no matter how well we raise our children – they can take a bad turn here and there on their path through life.

God knows I sure did!

While the teens were definitely up to no good and deserve to be brought to justice, there was no sign that this crime was meant to hurt anyone and he didn’t deserve to die.

But even if you disagree with me on that principle, it’s 64 y.o. Pettersen’s 2nd Felony charge that you should care about also…

Home Invasion Felony Charge

“Intentional Discharge Of A Firearm That Endangers Safety <of others>”

Basically that means he pulled the trigger at something he didn’t have to.

For Pettersen, that was the vehicle’s tire.

But that round (or any of the rounds) could have ricocheted off of the car – or missed the target completely – and struck an innocent bystander.

In the end, he got 90 days for his act… which seems like an insanely light sentence considering it could have been anyone’s kids.

Like MY kids… YOUR kids… your grand-kids… your spouse… your dog… or YOU!

Always remember – you’re legally responsible for every damn bullet that comes out of the end of your weapon, no matter where it goes or who it hits.

Bottom line is that – as much as I believe in our right to own a firearm to protect ourselves – I DON’T want untrained gun-owners out there who put MY life (or the lives of those I love) in jeopardy because they aren’t trained well enough.

And I’m not just talking about “marksmanship” training…

I’m talking about “legal” training that will keep you out of prison… and me and my family safe from their stupidity.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve got it all figured out.

I talk to hundreds of gun-owners (and even many, many instructors) who don’t have all the facts.

As A Gun-Owner Yourself, What Common Mistakes Do You See Others Make When It Comes To LEGALLY Protecting Themselves?

Please Share Your Insights Below Now…

11 Ways On How to Survive The Coming Great Depression

Of the many tragedies which have struck our nation through the years, the Great Depression of was the longest lasting and in many ways the most severe.

Few people made it through those trying years without feeling its impact. Millions of families lost jobs and homes, and even those who lost neither one often felt the pinch of hard financial times.

But even in the midst of those trying times, there were those who emerged victorious. Mostly, those were people who did not let the circumstances get them down, but instead sought ways of overcoming it. A large number of today’s well-known corporations were founded in those years, attesting to the indomitable spirits of their founders.

There are many who are saying that we are standing on the brink of the next great depression, and that our national economy is being held up by a flimsy house of cards.

If things really worsen you will want to be prepared. Here are 9 simple ways on how to survive the coming great depression.

1) Store Your Food.

Food is a necessity to life. Don’t become one of the panic merchants hunting for food when its too late. Most families don’t have enough food to last them 4 weeks in a recent study. So don’t become one of the statistics.

Other than the wealthy, the people who were impacted the least during the Great Depression were those who grew their own food. Millions of people had a vegetable garden and a henhouse behind their home. At a minimum, they would be growing some vegetables and have a steady source of eggs to feed their families. While that may not be much of a diet, when you don’t have a job, it can seem like food fit for a king.

2) Learn how to cook

Speaking about food fit for a king, we’re losing the art of knowing how to cook. We are used to using instant meals, frozen foods and “just add meat” packaged mixes. That’s great and it’s convenient, but when you don’t have the meat to add or the right ingredients to add to the packaged meal, it comes out rather flat.

Truly knowing how to cook means knowing how to make something well worth eating out of the ingredients you have available. How many people today know what to do if they don’t have butter or margarine to use in a recipe? What can you use if you don’t have enough flour? How can you turn that milk into yogurt or cheese, instead of letting it go to waste?

True cooks can turn simple ingredients into that meal fit for a king. They know how to get the most out of their spice cabinet and what they can do to make a disastrous recipe turn out anyway. Those skills can do a lot for the family’s morale and nutrition in hard times.

3) Store Clean Water.

You can survive without food for weeks, but without water you can perish quickly. Your body is made up of more than 80% water and some say it is the foundation to life. If the water is cut off to your home what is your plan? Make sure you are stocking water in case an emergency situation arises.

Water stored in plastic containers should be filled to the top so there is no air space and should be stored in a cool, dry location away from petroleum and insecticide products, and away from strong odor food or perfumed products.

4) Store Sharp Tool.

Tools such as an axe are simple but effective when gathering firewood, and hunting. Without a sharp tool, you life can be very difficult. You will want to have this tool and a sharpener close by, especially if live in an area that experience power failures.

5) Keep Warm.

Store firewood, matches, lighters to help keep you and your family warm at night. If there was a true emergency situation, how can you light a fire without these tools. Also it is a good idea to store candles. They are extremely cheap and reliable if the electricity is somehow shut off.

6) Keep a radio handy.

In all major crisis’s you want to be able to look after your family right? So you will want to know what is going on in the outside world. If there is a major power failure how will you keep up to date. With a radio you are able to keep up to date with the latest news, and events.

7) Store toiletries.

Personal hygiene is a must in any situation, good or bad. Be sure to store plenty of toilet paper, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, and other necessary products to get your through your daily hygiene rituals. We sometimes take these things for granted in our society. What would happen to you if one day all these items simply became unavailable?

8) Store Extra Gasoline.

This is a must in any situation, but especially if the economic situation gets worse. Inflation would creep in and send gas prices sky high, so stocking up on gas prices while they are cheap now will not hurt in the long run. Not only will you save money, but you will be well prepare if you have to move from one location to the other quickly, or need to travel somewhere urgently.

9) Make Good Friends With Neighbors.

Ever heard the saying two heads are better than one? Well you should get to know your neighbor yesterday. Forming small communities back in the great depression was how they each got by from day to day. For moral support and to help each other with food and water. This is a powerful way to get by hard times.

10) Have a Simple Backup Plan.

In today’s day and age, many people just simply rely on the government or other people. If the economy was to fail tomorrow these people would be in serious trouble. Have a failsafe backup plan for everything. If you rely on one system that is not designed for the conditions you are left with. You are bound to fail. Make sure you are ready today, and have several backup plans in case one of them systematically fails.

11) Keep your chin up

No matter how bad the situation is, you can always do something to make it better. I mentioned earlier that there were many great businesses which were founded during the Great Depression. That wasn’t an accident. These were men and women who spat in the eyes of destiny. They decided that they weren’t going to become part of the depression and made some bold moves. But they had the guts and the drive to make it happen.

I don’t care what survival situation you might face. The thing that will do the most to see you through is to stare the problem in the eye and laugh. You can overcome if you are convinced that you can. But if you are convinced that you can’t, you’ve already lost the battle.

Are You on the Federal List? (You Can Now be Considered A “Potential Terrorist” Just Because Of Your Religious Or Political Beliefs.)

Are you a conservative, a libertarian, a Christian or a gun owner?  Are you opposed to abortion, globalism, Communism, illegal immigration, the United Nations or the New World Order?  Do you believe in conspiracy theories, do you believe that we are living in the “end times”?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you are a “potential terrorist” according to official U.S. government documents.

At one time, the term “terrorist” was used very narrowly. The official definition of terrorism is “The use, or threat, of force with the intention of achieving a political goal.” That makes it pretty clear what sort of people are covered, and for decades it worked well.  The government applied the label “terrorist” to people like Osama bin Laden and other Islamic jihadists.  But the Obama administration removed all references to Islam from terror training materials, and instead the term “terrorist” was applied to large groups of American citizens.

And if you are a “terrorist”, that means that you have no rights and the government can treat you just like it treats the terrorists that were being held at Guantanamo Bay.  So if you belong to a group of people that is now being referred to as “potential terrorists”, please don’t take it as a joke.  The first step to persecuting any group of people is to demonize them.  And right now large groups of peaceful, law-abiding citizens are being ruthlessly demonized.

Below is a list of 72 types of Americans that are considered to be “extremists” and “potential terrorists” in official U.S. government documents. 

1. “Those that talk about “individual liberties”
2. “Those that advocate for states’ rights
3. “Those that want “to make the world a better place”
4. “The colonists who sought to free themselves from British rule”
5. Those that are interested in “defeating the Communists”
6. Those that believe “that the interests of one’s own nation are separate from the interests of other nations or the common interest of all nations”
7. “Anyone that holds a “political ideology that considers the state to be unnecessary, harmful,or undesirable”
8. “Anyone that possesses an “intolerance toward other religions”
9. “Those that “take action to fight against the exploitation of the environment and/or animals”

10. “Anti-Gay”
11. “Anti-Immigrant”
12. “Anti-Muslim”
13. “The Patriot Movement”
14. “Opposition to equal rights for gays and lesbians”
15. Members of the Family Research Council
16. Members of the American Family Association
17. Those that believe that Mexico, Canada and the United States “are secretly planning to merge into a European Union-like entity that will be known as the ‘North American Union”
18. Members of the American Border Patrol/American Patrol
19. Members of the Federation for American Immigration Reform
20. Members of the Tennessee Freedom Coalition
21. Members of the Christian Action Network
22. Anyone that is “opposed to the New World Order”
23. Anyone that is engaged in “conspiracy theorizing”
24. Anyone that is opposed to Agenda 21
25. Anyone that is concerned about FEMA camps
26. Anyone that “fears impending gun control or weapons confiscations”
27. The militia movement
28. The sovereign citizen movement
29. Those that “don’t think they should have to pay taxes”
30. Anyone that “complains about bias”
31. Anyone that “believes in government conspiracies to the point of paranoia”
32. Anyone that “is frustrated with mainstream ideologies”
33. Anyone that “visits extremist websites/blogs” 
34. Anyone that “establishes website/blog to display extremist views”
35. Anyone that “attends rallies for extremist causes”
36. Anyone that “exhibits extreme religious intolerance”
37. Anyone that “is personally connected with a grievance”
38. Anyone that “suddenly acquires weapons”
39. Anyone that “organizes protests inspired by extremist ideology”
40. “Militia or unorganized militia”
41. “General right-wing extremist”
42. Citizens that have “bumper stickers” that are patriotic or anti-U.N.
43. Those that refer to an “Army of God”
44. Those that are “fiercely nationalistic (as opposed to universal and international in orientation)”
45. Those that are “anti-global”
46. Those that are “suspicious of centralized federal authority”
47. Those that are “reverent of individual liberty”
48. Those that “believe in conspiracy theories”
49. Those that have “a belief that one’s personal and/or national ‘way of life’ is under attack”
50. Those that possess “a belief in the need to be prepared for an attack either by participating in paramilitary preparations and training or survivalism”
51. Those that would “impose strict religious tenets or laws on society (fundamentalists)”
52. Those that would “insert religion into the political sphere”
53. Anyone that would “seek to politicize religion”
54. Those that have “supported political movements for autonomy”
55. Anyone that is “anti-abortion”
56. Anyone that is “anti-Catholic”
57. Anyone that is “anti-nuclear”
58. “Rightwing extremists”
59. “Returning veterans”
60. Those concerned about “illegal immigration”
61. Those that “believe in the right to bear arms”
62. Anyone that is engaged in “ammunition stockpiling”
63. Anyone that exhibits “fear of Communist regimes”
64. “Anti-abortion activists”
65. Those that are against illegal immigration
66. Those that talk about “the New World Order” in a “derogatory” manner
67. Those that have a negative view of the United Nations
68. Those that are opposed “to the collection of federal income taxes”
69. Those that supported former presidential candidates Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr
70. Those that display the Gadsden Flag (“Don’t Tread On Me”)
71. Those that believe in “end times” prophecies
72. Evangelical Christians

The groups of people in the list above are considered “problems” that need to be dealt with.  In some of the documents referenced above, members of the military are specifically warned not to have anything to do with such groups.

We are moving into a very dangerous time in American history.  You can now be considered a “potential terrorist” just because of your religious or political beliefs.  Free speech is becoming a thing of the past, and we are rapidly becoming an Orwellian society that is the exact opposite of what our founding fathers intended.

The Plan To Depopulate 95% Of The World By 2030

According to Wikipedia– Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and global levels. One major objective of the Agenda 21 initiative is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21. Its aim initially was to achieve global sustainable development by 2000, with the “21” in Agenda 21 referring to the original target of the 21st century.

The final Goal of agenda 21 would be to bring down the planets population down to 500,000,000, about a quarter of the current 7 billion in order to make us easier to “control” SO since financial tyranny alone isnt producing results fast enough, well introducing agenda 21. The E.P.I.C (Elite.Powers.In.Control) are attempting to carry out this genocidal scheme through, vaccinations, GMO, predictive programming, removal of 2nd amendment, false flags, manipulation of our public school system, as well as manipulation of the weather causing drouts or natural disasters anywhere they please using H.A.A.R.P, this is how they will remove all the farmers from their land so they can buy it all up for cheap, effectively owning ALL of our consumed seed. Agenda 21 is a highly elaborate, multi-facicetied plan that’s been at work behind the scenes for generations. it’s finally coming to the mass concensuness because it impossible to hide at this point. If this is your first time hearing about agenda 21 I HIGHLY suggest you go research all of those topics I presented above, this affects everyone.

Agenda 21- Depopulation Of 95% Of The World By 2030

The United Nations (UN) for some people conjure up images of a benevolent organization intended for the preservation of human life wherever conflict occurs, and of encouraging international cooperation and peace.

Far from this peaceful image, however, is their little-publicized plan to depopulate 95% of the world by 2030. Or as they have called it, Agenda 21.

United Nations plot to depopulate 95% of the world by 2030

Agenda 21 was United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development and was apparently developed as a means of restructuring the world population to lessen environmental impact and achieve an improved quality of life.

One of the main ways of achieving this, however, is through encouraged and direct depopulation.

As the UN put it:

“comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations system, government, and major groups, in every area in which humans have impact on the environment.”

Although the language used in the original 70-page report (National Implementation of Agenda 21 – A Summary) that the UN published on Agenda 21 is vague and open to interpretation, as well as plausible deniability, the intentions in certain sections are clear:

Depopulation to lessen environmental impact and stop overpopulation leading to instability.

While this sounds like a positive thing in some aspects, mere policy changes at governmental level alone cannot create an environment where big enough changes can come about in a short space of time.

To achieve such huge scale depopulation with a relatively short deadline the actions were taken would have to be drastic. Either a world war, global epidemic or some kind of widespread starvation caused by massive crop failures would be the only likely ways of achieving this.

The idea also raises the question of-

  • Which 5% of the global population would be saved? 
  • Would these be those strong and hardy enough to survive the conditions placed on the earth that would kill off the remaining 95%? 
  • Or perhaps the survivors would be chosen selectively from the elite and wealthy?

Whether such a plan could ever actually be successful is another matter.

Plans of this size and scope would require the collusion and agreement of at least every first world government in the world, not to mention that the amount of resources and effort that would have to go into keeping something like this covered up would be astronomical.

Conclusion– This wicked Agenda 21 puts people close together in urban prison housing and forbids them to visit or walk many places on the earth to decrease the Carbon footprint and reduce Carbon Emissions by destroying fossil fuel and killing off 80% of the worlds population under a One World Dictatorship. This Agenda 21 is becoming more real and should be opposed like much of this climate change initiative which is NOT about Conservation of Earth’s resources but World Fascist Control of ALL nations and destroying their culture and national sovereignties.

Immutable Golden Laws, Central Bank Extremes, Gold Standard Recall (The global financial crisis is better described as a global monetary war to defend the toxic US Dollar)

Several immutable Gold Rules appear to be self-evident and powerfully manifested in the modern world of banker corruption, financial market intervention, currency debasement, phony accounting, and economic deterioration, all amidst powerful incessant media propaganda, against a backdrop of endless war. The global fascism movement has taken deepest root in what during the 1960 through 1980 decade was the capitalism regions steeped in democracy. Since the Lehman Brother scuttle and the Fannie Mae adoption and the AIG black hole admission, the financial crisis that began with the housing bubble and subprime mortgage bust has turned virulent. The global financial crisis is better described as a global monetary war to defend the toxic USDollar, whose sunset can be seen. In the last 12 to 18 months, the monetary war has again morphed, this time into a far more serious and financially violent global Gold War. Nations are fast realizing that their only true liquid assets of value are their gold reserves, and even they have been tampered with or stolen in a vast re-hypothecation scheme.

The Gold War is on, having moved to a higher gear, but nowhere near a climax gear. The true value of gold is being realized. The strength of gold during insolvency crisis is being observed. The resistance and rescue from the plague of insolvency is being made clear on a global stage. The new important part of the Gold War comes with the Allocated Gold Account scandal which will dwarf the LIBOR and MFGlobal scandals. The demands for repatriated gold accounts, primarily from the criminal bank sectors in London and New York, have amplified. Germany has finally joined with demands for gold repatriation. The demands will continue to grow even as tampered gold bars add to the motivation to repatriate. If only Chavez of Venezuela knew that he was to start a global trend to call gold home, in a Gran Aletazo de Mariposas. The grand butterfly flapping has caused a whirlwind that will turn into a tornado to wreck the central banks in a final death blow.

GOLD STANDARD RECALL

The law can be stated: The Gold Standard will return from a sheer standpoint of value, stability, and resistance to storms based in failed bond auctions, debt writedowns, and insolvency consequences. Only a hard asset backed new currency can replace a fiat paper currency reserve.

The law is self-evident and being manifested, with alarm if not deep trepidation by the financial leadership among the Western nations. While the central banks and the finance ministers stumble around seeking solutions, applying patches, making money free, redeeming toxic bonds, and otherwise bumbling in the midst of their own balance sheet and fiscal ruin, the emergence of Gold has become clear. It is the only asset rising of recognized value during the grand debasement of money committed by the central banks. It is the only asset whose value is being demonstrated as strong during the fiscal cliffs that so many major industrial nations have already gone over. They are not approaching fiscal cliffs. Four consecutive years of USGovt deficits over $1.3 trillion amply demonstrate to anyone with an uncorrupted view and unaltered pulse that the crash into the canyon floor is next, not the plunge over the cliff. Downward acceleration and speed have already been achieved.

As nations and continents come to realize their new debt compositions are nothing more than a series of shots of tequila for the patient suffering delirious tremens from alcohol poisoning, they are coming to the painful conclusion (for them) that a Gold Standard is the only solution. Applications of more paper mache accomplish nothing when the base of paper is rotten. The Gold Standard will be imposed upon them by the global rebellion against the USDollar, which will emanate from the trade sector. The Gold Standard will return, in the form of trade settlement as its payment core, as in the short-term trade notes. The bank cartel will be brought into the standard from which they broke away in 1971 with the abandoned Bretton Woods Accord. They will be brought in kicking and screaming, since only Gold can and will properly bring the nations out of the wilderness from the chaos. Once more, the banking systems will follow the trade system, rather than the corrupt banks dictating terms on reserves management in fiat paper currencies which disseminate toxic bonds. It has been backwards for 30 years.

CENTRAL BANK EXTREMES

The law can be stated: The Gold Bull continues unbounded with the Zero Percent Interest Policy (ZIRP) as its primary cylinder, while the artificial 0% distorts all financial markets, all assets, and all value. The Gold Bull will continue until the USGovt debt default, and until the USDollar retirement.

The 0% official rate has been declared as permanent, if the words of USFed Chairman Bernanke are properly interpreted. A sliding forward promise, first told as end 2013, later revised to end 2014, later to be end 2015, is a clear signal to those with an active brain stem. It is permanent. The 0% rate, however maintained like with Interest Rate Swap contracts, renders all financial markets as grossly distorted, since most assets have a value that extends from the cost of money. But practically, the USGovt debt cannot manage a rate hike, or else the borrowing costs approach the size of major social programs, even approach the size of the USMilitary offense budget. A rate hike would break the entire debt structure and result in a quick default and wreckage of the entire USTreasury Bond complex. Worse, a rate hike would cause a sudden collapse of the support structures bound within the vast derivative complex. This complex has enabled the US financial structure from a collapse that should have occurred around the 1998 to 2001 timeframe. Also, a rate hike would bring ruin to the big US banks heavily committed to the USTBond carry trade, for easy risk-free profits. Recall the Jackass forecast of a USGovt debt default, the position stated in the last months of 2008. The event is coming true.

The Gold Bull is powered by the negative real rate of interest. Its calculation is made simple by the 0% official rate. But take the prevailing consumer price inflation rate of about 8% to 10%, subtract it from the rate earned, tied to long-term USTBonds. The result is a negative real rate at minus 6% or minus 7%, sufficient to power the Gold Bull Market. Given the permanent ZIRP policy, the Gold Bull is in permanent mode. All talk about the Gold Bull Market having run its course is based on vacant arguments and nonexistent logic. It is the propaganda of fools, even desperate people. Calls that the bull in gold has run its course since it hit the $1000 level were laughed at by the Jackass a few years ago. Calls from the same scummy deceptive corners that the bull in gold has run its course since it almost reached the $2000 level are also ridiculed. No solutions have been installed, and the grand debasement of money persists without end. Many doubters and critics of the Gold Bull Market will be humbled when it vaults past that level. The justification, numerous as they are, are gaining attention. The Jackass is glad to help the process along, and to silence the corrupt corners.

The law can be stated: The bond monetization known as Quantitative Easing (QE) powers the upward move in the cost structure for the global economy. The result is a shrinking profit margins imposed on the entire economies, felt in job cuts and reduced budgets for expansion, even maintenance.

The expanded bond monetization has been declared as permanent, if the words of USFed Chairman Bernanke are properly interpreted. A sequence of bond purchase commitments, including both USTBonds and Mortgage Bonds, to meet urgent calls to address the quagmire, is a clear signal to those with an active brain stem. It is permanent. In fact, the QE3 has some rather obvious motive to cover the multi-$trillion mortgage bond fraud, thus permitting a possible housing market recovery. Not gonna happen. The foreign bond creditors have vanished, with only a scattering of Japanese and Chinese investors serving as the bulk of foreign demand. In order to prevent the short-term USTBill yields from shooting up to 5% suddenly, in order to prevent the long-term USTBond yields from shooting up to 10% suddenly, the USFed has made a series of commitments to buy the USGovt debt. Nobody seems to want it, nobody seems to afford it (savings vanishing act), nobody seems to find it as holding value anymore. Besides, deep criminal banker fraud is becoming recognized in story after story. Without the vast QE, despite all its deception and chicanery like Operation Twist, and without the vast apparatus of interest rate derivatives to maintain the 0% artificial rate, the USTBond structure would collapse. If these words seems absurd, then the reader is probably ignorant, uneducated, or wearing red white & blue jockey shorts.

The law can be stated, as a profound consequence: The combination of ZIRP & QE lead to capital destruction and systemic breakdown. Observe the fast falling Money Velocity while money supply grows at a staggering pace.

The telltale signals are the capital destruction, the retirement of equipment, the shutdown of unprofitable businesses and business segments. The USEconomy is not in recovery, but rather in a grand deterioration process. The evidence is overwhelming, shown on a regular basis within the Hat Trick Letter reports. Whether reduced rail shipments, or fast rising Food Stamp participation, or significant declines in payroll tax withholdings, or still growing state budget deficits, or the stunning fall in Money Velocity, those among the aware crowd can see the pathogenesis. The principal cause is the Zero Percent Interest Rate matched by Quantitative Easing, which kill capital as they lift costs. This is the glaring shocking blind spot among hack US economists, most of whom are compromised by either Wall Street or university grants. Hardly any have my respect, since abject apologists for the failed system with few if any valued lucid perceptions. They are the corrupt harlots of Wall Street. They are the vapid academic talking heads. The path paved by fiat paper currency has led to insolvent systems.

The current monetary policy coordinated by the major central banks of the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan assure no deviation from the path driven by momentum of the grand sovereign debt defaults and ultimate systemic breakdown. In fact, no solution is even attempted, a consistent Jackass point, since the policies and actions are directed toward preservation of power and away from big bank liquidation. The commitment to the failed system increases every year, assuring the impact of the systemic breakdown to be greater as well.

ENTRENCHED DISORDER

The law can be stated: The anti-Gold system continues to attempt to reinforce itself until its final implosion. Criminal means and false accounting backed by media propaganda are their tools that reinforce the current power structure. It will yield to foreign designed trade settlement systems, to the forced Gold Standard return, and to vast liquidation.

For the US and UK and Europe and Japan, the 0% official rate will continue until the debt defaults occur, which are in progress. The government deficits will not come down. They will instead escalate, as the economies produce fewer tax receipts and the calls for socialist relief programs expand. The political apparatus is being recognized as broken, a travesty in full view. The economies are experiencing a permanence in the shock from the ZIRP & QE in tandem. Households feel the higher cost of food, energy, utilities, town services, and even property taxes. Businesses feel the higher costs of everything from energy to materials to shipping. Lately they will react to the Obama Care as the health care tax is imposed, against their will. The financial firms have been guilty of doctored gimmicked financial statements ever since April 2009, when the USCongress blessed the decision by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The FASB decided to permit the financial firms to declare any value they wish for rotten assets, the collection of impaired assets not to face the grim reaper of reality. The parade of Zombie Banks has reeked havoc ever since upon the economies.

Criminal deeds have become the norm. The established norm has been for outsized naked short positions for the Big Four US Banks. They are an everyday fixture. No laws are enforced for selling enormous supply without metal. Why on November 15th, my colleague Turd Ferguson reported the following gold ambush. In the TFMetals Report, he summarized the ambush as he wrote, “Over the course of about 5 minutes, one single order was filled. This massive dump of about 25,000 gold contracts managed to move the price of gold down by nearly $20. To give you an appreciation of the size and scale of this deliberately criminal act, 25,000 contracts is the paper equivalent of 2.5 million ounces of gold, or roughly 77 metric tonnes, the paper equivalent to the alleged physical holdings of Australia or Indonesia.” No end to the naked shorting. The financial press reported not a peep on order by the Syndicate, who act as advertisers on the network channels.

On November 2nd, the Silver Doctor reported a similar silver ambush. NetDania provides a service, to estimate volume from five separate market sources. It is not an exact indicator of volume data, but does shed much accurate light on the deeply corrupted market. According to NetDania, a total volume of 38,400 contracts, equal to 191.99 million ounces of paper silver were dumped on the market in only ten minutes between 8:30am and 8:40am EST. The Boyz chose to execute the raid precisely on the day of the gimmicked Non-Farm Payroll data release. They smelled a potential for a precious metals price uprising, and snuffed it. The volume for those ten minutes corresponds to nearly one quarter of annual global silver production! Not the US output, but global output. No response by market regulators, business as usual.

Criminal deeds have become the norm. Money laundering has kept the entire major US banks afloat, the money laced with narcotics. Overnight satisfaction of loans is sometimes done with heroin paper packets the size of bricks. For the last 20 years, the New York and London bankers have illicitly (nicer word than illegally) leased official gold accounts. Those nations are one by one demanding their gold repatriation. Hot war has been justified in order to win the release of official gold held in accounts. Plenty of Arab despots sit in power, but the Libyan seat was targeted as special for its 144 tons of gold. The London bankers pilfered the Libyan gold account in the Qaddafi name, offering flimsy requirements for its return to their people, demands which will never be met. The stolen private accounts at MFGlobal waiting for silver delivery served as another criminal deed. The crime scene was protected by the US regulators and the courts. Apparently, the wrong interpretation of bankruptcy law matters little. MFGlobal was a brokerage firm, not a financial firm. Therefore, the private accounts should have been held first in line for redemption, not last.

The criminal appellate court upheld the wrong decision. The newest criminal streak involves tungsten lacing in fake gold bars. The story was cited here in early 2010, with Rob Kirby taking the lead. My source informs that two important characteristics are noteworthy. The Hong Kong banks are the biggest among the victims. The distribution routes run through a crucial Central American nation, just like the narcotics. Fort Knox was systematically gutted as its content bars were swapped, whose extent has yet to be determined. Expect some deep consequences for the counterfeit in Tungsten bars. Refer to TRIAD for old fashioned justice, and the Intl Court of the Hague for justice with more procedure involved. Perhaps the unusual story of bankers simply vanishing will be the case.

ALLOCATED GOLD ACCOUNT SCANDAL

The most prominent criminal practice has been challenged, the illicit usage for leasing of official gold accounts in the name of sovereign governments. The challenge will make for the grandest banker scandal in modern history. My source estimates that over 40 thousand metric tons have been vacated from the official accounts over the last two decades. Clearly, the volume indicates a lot of unofficial unaccounted gold, which nonetheless exists. The pressure has finally come to the London bankers largely responsible for the happy fingers. The New York and Swiss banks have been working overtime, often in midnight emergency shipments, to avoid a direct default. That would be both embarrassing and an invitation for prosecution which would be difficult to prevent, given the public outcry. As the London bankers struggle to meet the repatriation demands, the pressure will not relent. They must replace the leased gold or see their crime scene exposed.

Only when the vast Swiss repository is denied to the London banksters, the drain will erupt into a major gold default event with glaring publicity. It is when they are exposed, when the urgent need to replace the improperly leased (stolen) gold is realized, when the public and financial community is made aware of the altered Supply & Demand dynamics, that the Gold Price will shoot upward fast hard and without stopping. Far less gold is held in supply than recognized, while tremendous gold demand occurs. The Allocated Gold Account scandal will force the Gold price to $5000 per ounce, at a minimum. The agreed upon trade settlement gold core will probably permit the gold price to be fixed on a temporary basis. Gold is in increasingly short supply, given the labor problems in both South Africa and South America. Expect important gaping shortages and deficits. So the $5000/oz price is only a target, easily surpassed.

METALS PULLED APART

The law can be stated: Gold Bullion diverges into official voided supply, matched by huge syndicate supply. The visible vault storage with public accounting will eventually show nothing present, while the private syndicate vault storage will be hidden from view.

One private important location is the Carlyle Group, which holds significant counter-party positions to the vast short positions that Wall Street banks are responsible for. The biggest hidden gold hoards, truly magnificent in size, are located in Basel Switzerland, the Roman Catacombs, under the Kremlin, and by the ancient Chinese families, along with Wilbur & Mack who buried a hoard in their Arkansas backyard ready with buddies Smith & Wesson. The divergence will continue until the official gold supply is demonstrated, with shock & awe, to be near zero.

Another important divergence will occur. The official price discovery markets such as the COMEX and LBMA will be exposed as having near zero Gold & Silver in inventory. The prices posted for Gold & Silver will remain artificially low, held down by corrupt methods such as widespread naked shorting (permitted by the US regulators and USDept Justice). The physical price paid for Gold & Silver will continue to rise without bound. Already, no more large gold purchases can be satisfied, since supply is for the most part gone. Premiums for coins are on the fast rise, if coin supply exists at all. The unfortunate aspect of Supply & Demand dynamics is that when price is forced down by intervention and other illegal pressures, the result is vanished supply. That is precisely what is happening. Expect a tremendous divergence to occur, as the COMEX and LBMA tagteam of corruption experience a total depletion, but report some asinine moderate price. Nobody will be able to purchase at their posted price, since they will not have any Gold or Silver metal in inventory. It will be gone. Extraordinary methods are being used right here, right now, to prevent the default. See vast exports of gold from the US to London. See the vast shipments of silver from the US to London. See the rapid decline in the GLD & SLV inventory, which the Wall Street firms have access to. See the MFGlobal and PFG-Best private account thefts.

Coins exhibit the inflation in a highly visible manner. The coins in the Untied States & Canada are going away for 1-cent and 5-cent pieces. A friend in Toronto reports that recent modifications to the looney and tooney (C$1 and C$2 coins) have not only altered their appearance, but have altered their perception. They seem like play money to the public, which has shown derision. The US merchants will soon be permitted to round the transaction costs to the nearest 10 cents. The visible inflation has resulted in the cost of making small denomination coins too expensive, and thus impractical. ZIRP & QE will do that. The cost to make a 1-cent US penny is now 4.8 cents and the cost to make a 5-cent US nickel is now 16.2 cents. How embarrassing, even adding to the USGovt deficit. Due to high zinc and other cheap contents, the 10-cent US dime and 25-cent US quarter are still inexpensive to make. Why not use wooden nickels? Unless subjected to another fabricated hurricane, they will hold a stable appearance, if not value. A quick review of the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center website will demonstrate easily the evidence of South Atlantic heavy microwave activity during the entire month of September. Angels don’t play this haarp.

GOLD MIGRATION

The law can be stated: With Gold goes the geopolitical power. As huge amounts of Gold are shipped Eastward, with huge tonnage leaving London for points East like China, so goes the important shift in geopolitical power. A Paradigm Shift is in progress, at work.

Since March 2012, a whopping 6000 metric tons of gold bullion has been shipped from London to the East, primarily China. The circumstances behind the shipments are murky, but they indicate private off-market transactions that are intended to avoid publicity. My suspicion is that old wealthy Chinese families had their Allocated Gold Accounts improperly used in leasing practices by London bankers, associated with posted margin on a gaggle of leveraged contracts spanning from sovereign debt to currencies. The trades went sour. Margin calls were enforced with lost gold in a grand forfeit, the London bankers feet put to the fire reportedly. Publicity was avoided, but in the process a tremendous amount of gold was forfeited. With the gold went a transfer of power, to the East. They will dictate terms of the new trade settlement system. They will become the world’s more prominent lenders. They will control the next geopolitical chapter.

ADVENT OF THE GOLD WARS

Since the Lehman bust in September 2008, the global financial crisis has been a fixture, without solution. My preference is to call it the Global Monetary War, whose unspoken main objective by the powers in control is to maintain power, to preserve the big banks as fortresses of power, and to protect the USTBond & USDollar in their primary perches. Two important events have altered the crisis. The first was the breakdown of the Southern European sovereign debt structure. The Greek Govt Bond went into crisis mode in late 2009, which spread to Ireland, Portugal, and lately to Spain, Italy, and France. It will consume the Euro currency, despite all their best efforts NOT to fix anything, despite their best efforts to alter the bond subordination in new bond issuance. The Europeans are guilty of kicking the debt can down the road, just like the Americans. The victims that topple the system will be the big national banks in the affected nations of Europe, even the German banks. Their flagship Deutsche Bank has been dead for years, full of hollowed corridors.

The second important event was the widening demands for repatriation of official gold accounts. It might have begun with Chavez in Venezuela, but it has continued. The Ghana Govt made their gold account repatriation demand, but a mysterious death of their leader halted the process. The Germans are spearheading this revolt. The Dutch will follow. The Austrians are next. Even little Ecuador wants one third of their gold account returned. Others will join.

An extreme wild card has surfaced. It began to be in play when Saudi Prince Bandar was assassinated a couple months ago, at the hands of HezBollah. Of course, the event was kept secret, but the Saudi Minister of Security was killed as revenge for the Saudi role in the high level Syrian assassinations. Phony photographs and other doctored official accounts have been produced by the Riyadh crowd to conceal the damage. The House of Saud, so the Jackass has claimed for two months, is in danger of falling, along with the Petro-Dollar. Well this week, reports have come out that King Abdullah faces death. He underwent a mid-November back surgery but has not recovered, or even come into consciousness. His entire set of organs has shut down, no longer functioning. The risk to the Petro-Dollar was high with the Bandar killing. The risk just went double acute with a succession to the throne imminent. Domestic challenges by an increasingly aware population, beset by higher cost of living, will come. The great Saudi oil surplus is slowly dwindling, what with higher domestic usage in a higher standard of living. The foreign challenge will remain from HezBollah, with roots from the radical and very powerful Shiite sect. Expect the Petro-Dollar defacto standard to fall in the coming months, as only weak successors remain in the line of surviving brothers. Think bottom of the family barrel (of oil). The teetering USTBond and confronted USDollar make for a poor foundation on which to keep the Petro-Dollar in place. Imagine the impact if the Saudis announce that Euros, Pounds, Swiss Francs, and Yen, even Gold are accepted for crude oil transactions. The Petro-Dollar is walking dead.

GOLD BREAKOUT IN ALL CURRENCIES

The process began with a Gold Price breakout in Euro terms. The continent is the site of the most visible systemic bust that has engulfed the sovereign bonds, the big banks, and the economies, even public trust. Soon to follow suit will be the Gold Price breakout in US$ terms, in British Pound terms, and in Japanese Yen terms, an event to occur simultaneously. The central banks from Europe, the US, the UK, and Japan are coordinated and aligned. They are all putting into practice the monetary lethal policies of unlimited hyper monetary inflation with a 0% rate attached. Witness Weimar gone global in a grand currency debasement. The Gold price will surpass the US$2000 mark easily. When it does, the Gold Price breakout will be recognized in all major currencies.

The central bank franchise system is broken. The global monetary system is broken. The big Western banks are broken. The financial markets are broken. The safe savings vehicles are broken. The all-important confidence factor to support fiat paper currencies is fast vanishing. The arrival of the Gold Standard as the solution is being slowly manifested in the form of a gold-core trade settlement system, which will drive a global Gold Standard. The new system will dictate bank reserves practices, and render the USTBond as a rejected toxic paper relic. It should arrive early in 2013. In the process, the Western nations will become impoverished, as they desperately cling to the failed system. Anger will rise. Disorder will prevail. The USDollars inside the United States will be trapped, then devalued as the public watches in shock. The power will shift East inevitably, with the shipment of Gold. A new era will begin.

THE HAT TRICK LETTER PROFITS IN THE CURRENT CRISIS.

Syrian Regime Collapses, Putin Loses Key Ally, Assad

The Syrian government collapsed early Sunday, falling to a lightning rebel offensive that seized control of the capital of Damascus. A Syrian opposition war monitor and two senior army officers said early Sunday that Bashar Al Assad fled the country after the collapse of his regime to HTS militants. The Syrian leader is currently unknown. It is reported he may have tried to reach a Russian airbase but might have been shot down and killed.

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The Fall Happened Very Slowly, Then All At Once

Syrian rebel forces in Damascus have now declared the capital city “free” of Bashar al-Assad after nearly 25 years of rule. Former head of MI6 Sir John Sawers expressed his view to Sky News that he is surprised at how fast the Syrian regime collapsed after a lightning offensive by rebels. The offensive, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was set up in 2012 under a different name, al-Nusra Front.It pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda the following year and then, in 2016, publicly broke ranks with al-Qaeda. Still, it remains designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, Turkey, and other countries. 

The US has even named the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, as a specially designated global terrorist and has offered a $10m reward for information that leads to his capture. Jawlani, possibly to lessen opposition to his actions, told CNN on Friday that “the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime” and he planned to create a government based on institutions and a “council chosen by the people.”

This rapid shift in Syria has brought about all kinds of speculation as to what happens next. This includes how many refugees might rapidly return home to Syria and how it will impact Geo-politics across the globe. This extends to Turkey, Russia, and Iran. Some of this focuses on Putin being humiliated. Putin had been a key backer of the Syrian regime for over a decade, says Bill Browder, human rights campaigner and British financier who fled Russia. This dovetails with the idea Putin and Russia are in a weakened state due to the war in Ukraine, a view that is strongly debated.

By reassuring and almost encouraging the people of Syria to rise up and overthrow their brutal leader, Obama started a series of events that has taken countless lives and destroyed millions of others. Three of the most damaging developments flowing from this are the development of ISIS, the flow of millions of refugees into Europe, and the bombing and destruction of cities and innocent civilians. Continued violence in the region over the last decade has spurred the destabilizing mass migration of millions of people from the area.

As for how optimistic we should be, we need only look at what unfolded following the regime collapse in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya after the fall of Muammar Qaddafi. Unstable political regimes flowing from overthrowing existing governments by force do not have as good a track record as most people tend to believe. 

30-Year Shelf Life Emergency Foods for Long-Term Sustainability + Tips

Whether you’re looking to build an emergency food supply or planning an extended expedition, understanding what 30-year shelf life food items you can keep at home can make a world of difference.

A 30-year shelf life food is nutritionally-packed food that stays safe and edible for up to three decades. Examples include freeze-dried fruits, dehydrated vegetables, and specially canned meats.

Read on to discover the benefits of such food, how to recognize it, and the secrets to storing it for maximum longevity.

What is 30-Year Shelf Life Food?

What is 30-Year Shelf Life Food?

30-year shelf life food refers to food items that have been specially processed and packaged to stay safe, edible, and nutritionally viable for up to 30 years. This is achieved through various preservation methods, like freeze-drying and dehydration. 

The primary aim of these foods is to ensure long-term food security in case of emergencies or situations where regular food supply is disrupted.

Benefits of 30-Year Shelf Life Food

Understanding the many advantages of 30-year shelf life food is key to realizing why they’re such a worthwhile addition to any household, particularly for preppers.

These benefits extend beyond basic survival needs, offering peaceof mind, sustained nutritional value, and extreme convenience.

Peace of Mind

The most distinct advantage of having 30-year shelf life food in your pantry is the peace of mind it provides. With these long-lasting supplies on hand, you’re prepared for a wide array of scenarios, from natural disasters to economic instability. 

Knowing you have a backup food supply can significantly alleviate stress in times of crisis, allowing you to focus on addressing other pressing needs.

Nutritional Value

Contrary to what one might assume, 30-year shelf life foods are not just about filling stomachs; they’re about nourishing bodies too. Many companies that produce these foods carefully formulate them to retain their nutritional value over time.

In survival situations, where access to fresh food might be limited or nonexistent, these products provide vital vitamins and minerals. 

Products such as freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, rice, and fortified cereals play a crucial role in maintaining health during periods of hardship.

Convenience

The convenience factor of 30-year shelf life foods cannot be overstated. 

Most of these foods require little to no preparation. In some cases, all that’s needed is the addition of hot water, and within minutes, a hot and nourishing meal can be served.

This ease of preparation becomes particularly important in situations where resources such as fuel for cooking and clean water for washing dishes are scarce.

This feature not only saves time but also precious resources, making long shelf-life foods an essential part of disaster readiness.

Common Examples of 30-Year Shelf Life Food

The range of foods that can last 30 years might surprise you. With proper processing and storage techniques, everything from grains to dairy products can be made to last, providing a balanced diet even in the most challenging circumstances.

Here’s a closer look at some categories:

Grains and Pastas

Staple foods such as wheat, rice, and pasta are renowned for their long shelf lives. They can even last forever depending on how you handle them. When sealed in airtight containers and kept in cool, dark conditions, these foods can last up to 30 years or more. 

Grains and Pastas

They form the backbone of many long-lasting food supplies due to their versatility in cooking and their high caloric content, which is crucial in survival scenarios.

Dried or Freeze-Dried Foods

Drying is one of the oldest food preservation methods, and it continues to play a significant role in creating 30-year shelf life food.

Fruits, vegetables, and meats can be freeze-dried or dehydrated to eliminate moisture, effectively arresting the decay process and preserving the food’s nutritional content. 

Moreover, these foods often rehydrate well, so they’re easy to cook with or consume directly after adding water.

Dairy Products

It might seem unusual, but certain dairy products can indeed last for 30 years. Powdered milk, for example, when stored in airtight cans, can retain its nutritional value for decades. 

Similarly, hard cheeses encased in wax can last for a similar duration. They provide essential proteins and fats that can complement other shelf-stable foods.

Sugars and Sweeteners

Sugars and sweeteners are unique in that they can last indefinitely when stored correctly.

Honey, sugar, and other sweeteners do not spoil due to their low moisture content and high acidity or sugar content, creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria and mold. 

While they might not constitute a meal on their own, they can be used to enhance the taste of other survival foods and provide a quick source of energy.

How to Store 30-Year Shelf Life Food

Keeping your long-life food edible and safe is a matter of keeping it properly stored. Even food that’s designed to last 30 years can spoil in a few weeks if not stored properly. 

Here are some tips to help you maintain the quality and longevity of your long-life food:

Cool, Dry, and Dark

The conditions in which you store your food are crucial to its longevity. High temperatures can hasten the deterioration of food, while moisture can lead to mold growth.

Similarly, exposure to light, particularly sunlight, can degrade the food and its packaging over time.

Aim to keep your long-life food in a storage space that is consistently cool (below 70 °F (21.11 °C) is ideal), dry (lower than 15% humidity if possible), and away from direct sunlight.

Basements, cellars, store shelves, or dedicated pantry spaces often fulfill these conditions.

Seal It Up

The way you package your food plays a significant role in preserving its shelf life. Exposure to air can introduce moisture and oxygen, which can hasten spoilage and oxidation. Pests, too, can infiltrate improperly sealed food. 

To prevent these issues, consider sealing your food in vacuum-sealed food bunker storage bags, which remove air from the packaging.

Food-grade buckets with airtight lids are another viable option for larger quantities of food. Alternatively, #10 cans (the large, commercial-sized cans) provide a durable and airtight storage solution. 

Regardless of the container type, ensure that it is sealed tight and regularly check for any signs of damage or pest infestation.

Properly Rotate Supplies

Another essential aspect of storing long-life food is rotation. 

Properly Rotate Supplies

Even though these foods are designed to last for decades, it’s still a good practice to rotate your stock. This process ensures that your oldest supplies are used first and helps prevent any food from going to waste. 

By marking the purchase or packaging date on your containers, you can easily keep track of their ages and use them in order of their dates.

Store a Variety

Having a variety of foods stored can make your long-term storage more enjoyable and nutritionally balanced. Try to store different types of food, like grains, beans, dehydrated or freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, meats, and dairy products. 

A variety will also reduce food fatigue – the weariness of eating the same foods repeatedly.

How to Use 30-Year Shelf Life Food

Using long-life foods in your meals can be a straightforward process, though it does depend on the type of food you’re working with.

The preparation methods might differ from your typical fresh ingredients, but with a little knowledge and creativity, you can still enjoy tasty meals. 

Here’s how you can use your 30-year shelf life food:

Rehydrating Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Foods

Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods have had their water content removed, making them lightweight and long-lasting. However, before you can eat them, you’ll typically need to rehydrate them by adding water.

The exact amount of water will depend on the specific food, so it’s best to follow the instructions on the packaging.

Rehydrating Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Foods
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In general, though, you’ll add warm or hot water to the food and then let it sit for a specified amount of time until the food has absorbed the water and rehydrated.

Cooking with Grains and Pastas

Long-lasting staples like grains and pastas are cooked much like their fresh counterparts. You’ll need to add water and cook them over a heat source until they’re tender. 

Remember to take into account that older grains and pastas might take a bit longer to cook than fresh ones. Be patient and adjust your cooking times as needed.

Using Dairy Products

Powdered dairy products, such as milk, need to be mixed with water before use. The ratio of powder to water will depend on the specific product, so follow the instructions on the packaging. 

Once reconstituted, you can use the milk as you would normally in your recipes. Hard cheeses encased in wax can be eaten as is. Just cut off a portion and save the rest for later.

Incorporating Sugars and Sweeteners

Sugars and sweeteners, like honey or granulated sugar, can last indefinitely and are easy to use in your food. You can add them directly to your recipes as needed to provide sweetness. 

Remember that these ingredients can add a lot of calories without adding much nutritional value, so use them sparingly.

Creating Balanced Meals

A key part of using your long-life foods effectively is to create balanced meals. Try to include a variety of food groups in each meal to get a range of nutrients.

This might include grains for carbohydrates, freeze-dried or dehydrated fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals, and dairy or freeze-dried meats for protein. 

By combining different types of long-life foods, you can create meals that are not only satisfying but also nutritionally balanced.

DIY 30-Year Shelf Life Food

While buying ready-made, long-life food is convenient, there’s also the option to create your own at home.

With some investment in equipment and a bit of learning, you can take control of your food supply and turn your favorite meals into foods that can last for decades.

Here’s how to get started:

Investing in Equipment

The first step in creating DIY long-life food is to invest in the right equipment. 

Investing in Equipment

A home freeze dryer is an essential tool that can extend the shelf life of a wide variety of foods. Unlike dehydration, freeze-drying preserves flavor and nutritional content more effectively. 

It’s a significant investment, but for those committed to long-term food storage, it could be a worthwhile one.

Preparing Food for Freeze Drying

Freeze drying works best with certain types of food. High-water content foods like fruits, vegetables, and meats tend to freeze dry well. 

You can also create full meals, freeze dry them, and rehydrate them later. Prior to freeze drying, you should clean and slice your food into small, even pieces to ensure it dries evenly.

The Freeze Drying Process

The process of freeze drying food involves freezing the food, then reducing the surrounding pressure and adding heat to allow the frozen water in the food to evaporate directly from the solid phase to the gas phase. 

This process can take anywhere from 20 to 40 hours, depending on the type of food and the freeze dryer model.

Packaging and Storing Your Freeze-Dried Food

Once the food is freeze-dried, it needs to be stored correctly to last for years.

It’s important to package freeze-dried foods in airtight containers or bags with oxygen absorbers to prevent oxidation. Light and heat can degrade freeze-dried foods, so store them in a cool, dark place.

Rehydrating Your Food

When you’re ready to eat your freeze-dried foods, you’ll typically need to rehydrate them by adding water. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the food. 

The end result should be very similar to the original pre-freeze dried food, in taste and nutrition.

Remember, DIY freeze-drying is a considerable investment of time and money. Be sure you’re committed to the process and ready to handle the tasks involved, from preparation to packaging.

It’s a fascinating and rewarding project if you’re passionate about long-term food storage and self-sufficiency.

The Last Bite: Summing It Up

The Last Bite: Summing It Up

Understanding and investing in 30-year shelf life food can be a lifesaver, literally. Whether you’re preparing for an uncertain future or seeking convenient and long-lasting meals for adventures, these foods offer a practical solution. 

With the right information and resources, you’ll be well-prepared for whatever the future holds. Happy prepping!

How Stupid Have Americans Become?

Yes, we are ALL ignorant of that which we had yet not studied to learn about – however, we’re talking those who PREFER DELUSION – self-imposed state of STUPIDITY!

Seriously, I am indeed HONESTLY begging the Answer to the Question: How Stupid (or dumbed-down, or indoctrinated) Have Americans Become? We will have our Answer following the Tuesday November 5th 2024 Elections!!  I will incorporate some previous pieces of mine you may have missed, or forgotten, as part of pointing out the #ENEMEdia trying to shape opinion (to aid/abet #FASCICRATS) rather than cover News (and engage in push-polls) and the Nations true beliefs!

“Never before in the course of Human history [via online sources] has humanity had such easy access to facts and truth readily available at their finger-tips. Sadly, too, conversely, never before prolific access to falsehoods they can engage in confirmation-bias to feed delusions and preferred narratives. Many preferring lies.”

How many Commercials do you see on TV engaging in what is obvious to you and me in claims peddling the “you gotta buy now” to play to moronic FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) Emotional Hysterics and Suckers buy many things they do not need, nor necessarily really wanted but easily manipulated into it as a “Keeping up with the Jone’s” Consumerism. Now, having said that, I am a Free Markets guy and indeed Consumption of Goods/Services keep the GDP growing and others employed, but I think you all know what I am saying here – people with little needing save for rainy day draining their Bank Accounts and running up their Credit Cards because we do not teach Economics, Accounting, nor even basic Math, as we should; but that is mainly due to Cultural-Marxism of The Left wanting DUMB PEOPLE easily Suckered come Election time. Then, do not get me started on all the Warning Labels for morons of things that are Common-Sense; but, yes, too, I recognize this is also in large part to Lawfare and our litigious Society and Companies covering their hind-side.

NO Leftist Liars – J. D. Vance did not say ACCEPT these as “Fact of Life” but called out under Democrats Gun-Free-Slaughter-Zones seems A FACT OF LIFE but there is, and must, be something DONE ABOUT IT (to NOT any longer continue to accept what failed Fascicrats policy (we all saw this coming) created) — as you seen me say days before Vance kinda/sorta said and calling for same as I did beginning of last month via social-media!!!

VIDEO (3m 51s): Alice Cooper – Lost In America (Official Alice Cooper YouTUBE channel): [Lyric(s) from Song, All Rights Reserved to/by “Official channel” linked above — “Lost in America, Lost in America, Lost!”]

You, of course, have seen endless accounts here on TheLibertyBeacon of countless numbers of Jan-6 Prisoners held on trumped up or distorted beyond all credulity Laws without bond/bail, many without even officially charged yet, in Prisons and often held in Solitary-confinement. They are Political Prisoners. And, indeed, happening all across Western supposed “Constitutional Rights” protected Nations.

Stand Against Tyranny (everywhere)…
[ Sep 14 2024 – 1,100 words, 2 images, 1 videos – in conjunction w/ CTP S2E65 ] 

I had a recent discussion with Derek Reimer of Calgary Alberta Canada area prompting this piece (and the related CTP S2E65 episode will be that interview/discussion). Some may not know the extent of all of Western Culture Nations and erosion of Freedom/Rights and targeting of folks on The Right everywhere (trumped up charges, duplicity, double-standards, and hypocrisy, abounds in Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, virtually any and every “supposed” Constitutionally limited Republics around the Globe).…

You likely know folks out there caught in the dichotomy of those stuck in Bread and Circus vs those that were paying attention and imprisoned now (or Censored on social-media) for actually stepping-up, standing-up, speaking-out, taking-part, in things that try to awaken so many Classical-Liberals (as Dennis Prager correctly says and I cover in my CTP2 book (there are big differences in/between Classical-Liberals and hardened Leftards (like those Red-Pilled like: Brandon Straka, Candace Owens, Leo Terrell, Tammy Bruce, etc.))) being fooled and stuck and useful-idiots to/for The Hard-Left WOKE loons (via Lies, like endless lies we’re seeing now on/in #ENEMEdia and in #kamELE (Extinction Level Event if she gets elected) Print/Radio/TV Ads. We can, but must be careful how, we RED-PILL Classical-Liberals to no longer be The Left’s useful-idiots to gain and maintain Power/Control.

VIDEO (4m 01s): Five Finger Death Punch – I Apologize (Lyric Video) (Official Five Finger Death Punch YouTUBE channel) – [Lyric(s) from Song, All Rights Reserved to/by “Official channel” linked above — “All these times I simply stepped aside, I watched but never really listened, as the whole world passed me by, All this time I watched from the outside, never understood what was wrong or what was right, I APOLOGIZE”]

The Coming Global Famine (The signs of the times are all around us.)

Sometime around 4,000 years ago, the Pharaoh of Egypt summoned an imprisoned slave named Joseph. Two dreams bothered Pharaoh, and none of his magicians or wise men could interpret them (Genesis 41:1-8). In his first dream, Pharaoh saw seven fat, healthy cows grazing by the Nile. Then seven thin cows appeared and ate the seven fat ones. In his second dream, Pharaoh saw seven large, beautiful heads of grain. Then seven shriveled heads of grain appeared and swallowed up the first seven.

Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret the dreams. “I don’t have the power to do this,” Joseph told him. “But God does, and He can tell you what it means.” Joseph went on to tell Pharaoh the meaning of the dreams. He said seven years of famine will follow seven years of plenty.

In response, Pharaoh made Joseph the second most powerful man in Egypt (Genesis 41:40). He put him in charge of the land, and Joseph collected one-fifth of the food produced for the next seven years. He stored up massive amounts. When the famine came, it hit neighboring nations hard. People from the lands all around Egypt came to buy grain from Joseph (Genesis 41:57).

Eventually, the people ran out of money. They had nothing to buy food. So they gave Joseph their livestock in exchange for food (Genesis 47:17). When their livestock was gone, they offered their land and themselves (Genesis 47:19). Before long, Pharaoh owned all the land in Egypt (Genesis 47:20). The people became his slaves, and Pharaoh’s power multiplied.

Like many stories in the Bible, the story of Joseph and Pharaoh is also a symbolic prophecy. It foreshadows a coming time of great famine when, like Pharaoh, one man will gather immense power over the known world.

The seven lean years of Pharaoh’s dream mirror the seven year period known as the Tribulation. Like the seven lean years, the Tribulation will begin with widespread famine. And in an effort to survive, people throughout the world will willingly give their power and wealth to one man – just as they gave their power and wealth to Pharaoh four thousand years ago. Do we have any reason to believe such a famine is on the horizon? Unfortunately, we do.

Rising Food Prices

The political push to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, coupled with the supply/demand distortions caused by the COVID shutdowns, has resulted in much higher energy prices. This is particularly true in Europe where the accelerated push for green energy has led to a surging energy crisis. What does this have to do with rising food prices?

As a popular site points out in this article:

“You can’t make fertilizer without urea and natural gas. As the price of either of these goes higher (both are), it significantly impacts the price of fertilizer. The price of fertilizer impacts in turn the price of food. This is because fertilizer is the second largest cost component of most agricultural production. The first being…you guessed it, diesel.”

The rising cost to grow food then impacts the feed cost for cattle, hogs, chickens, and other animals. This means higher costs for meat producers. Throw in increased costs for transportation, a global shortage of workers, and pandemic-induced supply chain problems, and the rising cost of food doesn’t show any signs of slowing down soon.

Supply Chain Issues

Global supply chain issues are another reason we see rising food prices, but the broken supply chain is the primary reason many grocery store shelves have gone bare. While increased demand due to COVID lockdowns and hoarding play a factor, the majority of these shortages are due to problems rippling through the global supply chain.

In some cases, a lack of key inputs such as aluminum, cardboard, or artificial sweeteners means manufacturers can’t produce or package certain items at the scale they used to (if at all). This results in fewer available products, and thus, empty shelves.

Supply chain problems have also resulted in a global shortage of urea. Not only is urea a key component in fertilizer, it’s also a key ingredient in the diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue. AdBlue is used in cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for reducing emissions. All the diesel vehicles in South Korea and Australia use AdBlue, and China supplies 97% of South Korea’s AdBlue and 80% of Australia’s. Due to the rising cost of fertilizer (and the need to feed more than a billion people), China recently banned the export of urea. This has taken a heavy toll on AdBlue inventories in those countries and the dwindling supplies threaten to wreak havoc on their economies, which are currently the 10th and 13th largest in the world.

Even worse, if Australia and South Korea can’t source new supplies of urea, and they run out of existing inventory, all their trucking will come to a standstill. If trucking stops, their grocery store shelves go bare, and the real prospect of a famine in these advanced economies will become a reality. Given the severity of the situation, we really need to wonder, why would China take such a drastic measure?

China Is Hoarding Grain

With such a large population, it makes sense for China to be concerned about rising fertilizer and food prices. Hungry populations revolt, and China’s government fears a revolution. From that standpoint, a ban on the export of urea makes sense as it’s a critical component in growing food. But China’s recent actions go beyond the urea export ban.

According to Nikkei Asia, China is also hoarding massive amounts of grain. In an article titled “China Hoards Over Half the World’s Grain, Pushing Up Global Prices,” they point out China (which has only 20% of the world’s population, is expected to have “69% of the globe’s maize reserves in the first half of crop year 2022, 60% of its rice and 51% of its wheat.” The article speculates one of the reasons for China’s food stockpile is to offset “food uncertainties due to factors such as its deteriorating relations with the U.S. and Australia, which could drastically alter the import environment.” In other words, since China doesn’t produce enough food domestically to feed itself, it needs to stockpile enough food in case imports from the U.S. and Australia go away. The question is, why would they go away?

Rumors Of War

“Rumors of war” have been common since the end of World War II, but the current situation is different. Rarely have we seen the prospect of several high profile conflicts erupting at the same time. China threatens to invade Taiwan on an almost daily basis. If China does invade, the United States claims it will defend Taiwan. This means two major nuclear powers could potentially go to war. Could that be why China is hoarding food? Even if an invasion of Taiwan doesn’t result in a U.S. military response, it would almost certainly lead to major economic sanctions from the U.S. and Australia. Is this an indication China is preparing for an invasion?

The probability rises every day, especially due to U.S. involvement in the current Russia-NATO dispute over Ukraine. If Russia invades Ukraine, and the U.S. does nothing after saying it would defend Ukraine, then China may feel emboldened to invade Taiwan. And if the U.S. does defend Ukraine, China may believe the U.S. is too distracted to defend Taiwan and seize the moment to invade.

Meanwhile, Iran and Israel continue to generate their own rumors of war. If any of these areas erupt into war, the result will be a disaster for the global economy. Oil prices will go much higher. Global trade will contract. Supply chains will break down even further, and food prices will skyrocket. Worse than that, a major conflict could lead to food shortages throughout the world. Is this what China is preparing for?

The Coming Famine

While these events may or may not plunge the world into a worldwide famine in the near future, the Bible is clear – a global famine will strike the world during the Tribulation. This famine will follow a global war (Revelation 6:4). In the aftermath of this war, destruction will be widespread. People will be scattered. The global supply chain will be in ruins.

The Bible describes this famine in detail (Revelation 6:5-6). Riding on a black horse and holding a pair of scales, Revelation 6 says a voice calls out, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.” This indicates a global famine.

The rider’s scales suggest a need to carefully measure and ration the food supply. We know because the voice that calls out indicates a scarcity of food. Three loaves of barley are about one pint. Many believe this is the minimum amount of food needed to survive. Yet this verse is telling us a time is coming when an entire day’s wages will only buy enough food to survive.

When this happens, it’s possible the Genesis story of Joseph and Pharaoh will play out a second time. Desperate for food, most of the world will willingly give their wealth and power to anyone who can feed them. Just as in ancient Egypt, when the dust finally settles, one man will control everything.

The signs of the times are all around us. Jesus is coming.

How to Prepare For A Potential Civil War

America is more polarized than ever. According to a recent poll 34% of Americans believe civil war is “likely” and 13% believe it is “very likely.” Luxury bunker sales are up with customers citing concerns of “civil unrest”. (DiMella, 2024) Could we be headed toward civil war? If so, how can we prepare for it?

When Societies Fracture

From studying and interviewing survivors of civil war, coups and unrest from different countries, all shared one thing in common. When societies fracture, they do so along political, geopolitical, religious, ethnic, tribal, racial or economic lines. People group up along these lines and those who are not in control (usually, but not always the minority), suffer terribly at the hands of those in control (usually, but not always the majority.) People group up and most of them avoid going outside. If you are in an area controlled by the opposing group, I strongly suggest getting to someplace that is controlled by your people before the checkpoints go up.

Those who fail to get to an area controlled by their people before checkpoints go up typically suffer. Their options for survival are often not good. If they want to survive, they often have to find someone who is not an enemy of those in power who is willing to hide them, or E&E to friendly lines, and the latter is extremely difficult to do in occupied cities. Those who do get out usually do so on foot, through rough terrain, with only what they can carry.

Ivory Coast

Some good friends of ours emigrated from Ivory Coast. Both of them came from well-to-do land owning, families that own farming and livestock concerns. Ivory Coast has experienced two civil wars, the first began in 2002 as the result of a military rebellion and ended in 2007. The second Ivorian Civil War began in 2010, ended in 2011 and was fought over election results. Thousand died in each war. 750K civilians were displaced by the fighting. (Wikipedia, 2024)

The husband told me that during the war, around 30 people took shelter in his home. That is a lot of mouths feed! Imagine cramming 30 people in your home.

The wife told me that she “got fat” because she was unable to go outside. Her home was also packed with people, but they had plenty of food because they own a mango large plantation that grows tons of fruits and vegetables all year round and her father ranches hundreds of head of cattle, as well as goats, sheep, chickens, and has other livestock.

The farmers had to be protected, or the people would starve, so they did what they could to help others. Unfortunately, very few American families own farms anymore, even hobby farms.

Civil War I vs Civil War II

Our last civil war killed 2.5 percent of the population of our nation or around 750,000 people. If the same percentage of people die in our next civil war, 7 million Americans will lose our lives. (Staff, 2016) That would be like losing the entire state of Arizona. However, it is possible that many more could die due to urbanization, globalization, the number of weapons in the hands of the people, the efficacy of modern weapons, and the next level zeal with which the hardcore radical left hates conservatives.

During my lifetime, we have gone from being able to sit down at the same table and share meal to liberals disowning family members they suspect might be conservative, openly calling for the death of conservative politicians, chanting “Death to America” (by Americans, in America!), and now the assassination attempt on former President Trump. (Sarah Rahal, 2024) It could be argued that the first shots have already been fired because the assassination attempt was clearly inspired by the incendiary rhetoric of extremists within the political left.

On some level, these events and this behavior are just incomprehensible to me because it’s so far outside the accepted norms of polite society. On another level, it’s not surprising at all to students of history, nature, and survival. We see it over and over. Cruelty, violence, and hatred resulting from incendiary rhetoric and propaganda. It must not be so hard to use these tools to get a certain type of people whipped up into a frenzy because it happens over and over.

How Does One Prepare for a Civil War?

We cannot know, of course, with any certainty, if or when Civil War II will happen. Mankind has a dismal track record when it comes to attempting to predict the future. Therefore, I’ll leave that to the realm of soothsayers, crystal balls, economics and other pseudoscience.

Sometimes Survival is About What You Don’t Do

So, how do we prepare if we can’t predict the future? The answer is to attain a state of general readiness and antifragility. Get ready for volatility and disruption by figuring our where you are fragile, work to become more resilient in those areas, and then don’t do anything stupid. It’s good to do the work and get prepared, but survival isn’t only about what you do. It’s also what you don’t do.

In a civil war, some of us will have to decide whether join up and fight for our side. Volunteering to go fight in a war may not increase your chances of survival, but sometimes the greater good trumps individual safety.

Another decision we may have to make is whether to shelter in place or bugout. One will improve your chances of survival and the other will diminish it.

Be Ready to Shelter in Place or Bug Out as the Situation Demands

The two main survival strategies are the same for a Civil War as they are for nearly everything else. Either you shelter in place or you bugout. Either one could be the only way to survive a particular threat, so the survivalist must be prepared to do both!

How do you know which to do? When society fractures, you will find yourself in the majority or the minority. Either way, you need to get to someplace your people are in control of. We can’t know precisely what we will be facing until it happens, but we know the general lines upon which societies break up and realign themselves, which I identified at the beginning of the article.

You may be able to see it coming or you may be living someplace where you are already a minority on virtually all counts. You are already in the political, economic, racial, ethic, and religious minority. Or you live someplace and it’s just obvious that the place will go to go sideways the moment the SHTF. If any of these are the case, I suggest relocating now. However difficult it is for you to move now; it will probably be easier than moving post-SHTF.

25 years ago, I lived in Arizona in the Phoenix-Metro area. There was no place for the populace of the Valley of the Sun to evacuate to because there was no place with the infrastructure to support millions of people that could be reached on one tank of gas. Emergency planners understood this, so they didn’t bother working on an evacuation plan. There simply wasn’t one and there may never be one.

Phoenix is low on water and has way more people than it can support. It’s basically an island surrounded by desert. Trying to get out would be like a scene from Mad Max. Staying could be worse. Either way, people would have to compete with each other for water and food in the Mecca of competitive shooting. It would be a bloodbath.

Understanding how easily things could all fall apart, I moved to a smaller community in dairy country in the Intermountain West that should be more stable and self-sufficient. Here, I am no longer in the political or religious minority. It should be more somewhat more stable in volatile times as the valley exports food, there is plenty of water (an anomaly in the West, water flows into Cache Valley from three sides), we are not downwind of any nuclear targets or reactors, and my family is part of the institution. In short, I relocated to a good homesteading location in the hope that it is less likely that I will have to bugout, but I have plans for that just in case.

Bugout

Many civilians are displaced during civil war. Entire towns empty ahead of or during fighting. So, be ready to move.

Being prepared to bugout requires more than a bugout bag.

One of the most important factors in a bugout is to bugout before everyone else does. To achieve that obviously takes a certain amount of preparation, planning, and practice. It also requires having predefined triggers. “If such and such happens, then we pack the truck, grab our gear, and leave.”

Another important factor is having someplace to go. “I’m grabbing my pack and my rifle and heading to the mountains.” Is not a bugout plan. You need a specific destination, and during a war, you may not know which direction you will be able to flee, so you should have multiple bugout destinations and routes in all directions, like the Apache had. They resisted the US Army for over 90 years, which makes their guerrilla campaign a good case study, in my opinion.

As a destination, a lifeboat property or retreat is ideal, but that’s not what most people do. That’s what the wealthy do, but of the cases I have studied, I have found that most people cannot afford that. Instead, they go and stay with family or friends. Those who are unable to do this, often become displaced persons, refugees. If possible, this should be avoided.

You might be more welcome when you arrive at your family member’s house if you show up towing a trailer full of food and medicine. It might also go more smoothly if the two of you had a mutual assistance agreement in place before the disruption.

Shelter in Place

I have read accounts of Ukrainians who left the relative safety of their homes to charge a cellphone, only to never return. The point of sheltering in place during a war is to not give anyone any reason to come into your home and hope that they do not. To do that you’ll need to stockpile supplies so you can stay inside.

Caching

My Viking ancestors prepared for battle by hiding their wealth, burying their hacksilver in the ground. Today people assume they did this as a practical consideration so their enemy wouldn’t capture their wealth if they battle didn’t go their way. They could go dig it up afterwards if they escaped or were ransomed.

After studying their religious beliefs and treasure hoards buried in Gotland, I think there is more to it than that. I think they also buried it to take it with them to the next life. The did the same thing on their farms. The father would bury a hoard, but the son wouldn’t dig it up, instead he buried his own, and this sometimes carried on for generations.

I agree that caching wealth and supplies in case of capture is a good idea.