“You Light Up My Life” Series-My EDC Light

“You Light Up My Life” Series-My EDC Light

Over the course of a few decades, I’ve used A LOT of different lights. My first “Tactical” light, after a G.I 2 “D” cell “Anglehead” I had as a kid, was a Pelican “Sabrelite”. It was an OD colored, 3 “C” cell diving light. At the time, it was considered “Top of the line” in the military community.

I started carrying a light in my “Every Day Carry” gear back in 2003. I bought a Surefire “E2 Executive” (that model is no longer available) and made it part of my EDC gear. It was a 2 CR123 battery light, and worked well, but it was expensive and battery life sucked. Fast forward to 2015, and my Wife gets me a “Stocking Stuffer” that year that was a 1-AA led flashlight with a pocket clip. What’s not to love about a light that uses one, commonly available, battery, is easy to use one handed, whether turning it on, or focusing the beam?

I’ve been carrying that light for almost 5 years now and have yet to see an issue with it. It fits perfectly in the knife pocket on my Tru-Spec 24-7 pants. I liked it so much, four years ago, I bought nine more to add to various things like survival kits, shoulder rigs and the like. Focusing the beam is a simple matter of pulling out or pushing in on the head of the light. The beam output is 190 lumens, and that AA battery lasts a long time.

Galco “Classic Lite” shoulder rig with my Springfield XDs 45, a CRKT “Sting” a reload and my Coast HP1 flashlight.

An $8 light that is small, durable, power efficient, bright and works when called upon. What more could you ask for in a piece of EDC gear? I actually plan on buying some more soon, simply because they would make trade goods during a SHTF scenario. Check it out, you;ll be glad you did.

JCD

"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.

 

A Paramilitary Threat We Could Face

A Paramilitary Threat We Could Face

Should you take something, like what this video shows, seriously?

If so, why or why not? This was a list of questions and comments I came up with when a friend asked what I thought of how to defend against that kind of threat.

  • Do you know how to effectively disable the vehicles in this video so you put those goons on foot?
  • Do you know how to set up effective vehicle barricades?
  • Do you know how to set up a “Defense” for your neighborhood or block?
  • Like most Gang bangers, I’d say most of these guys would perform poorly if you separated them from their support vehicles. Then you demoralize them even more by destroying those vehicles so they know they don’t have a ride home.

Things to note about the personnel and their gear:

  • Many of them are overweight.
  • Many don’t appear to know how to wear or use their gear.
  • Their weapons’ logistics suck, probably half and half AR’s and AK’s for their “Dismounts”. They should all have one or the other, and if they have the money to upgrade their vehicles like that, they have the funds to have the same rifles. Looked like one M2 .50cal., three Barrett M82 .50 cal. rifles,  ten mounted 30 cal. belt feds and those consisted of some M60’s, I think I saw a PKM and two 1919A4’s (one was just the barrel sticking out) as well as at least one RPD.

Things to note on the 19 trucks I observed:

  • Only two of the trucks, that appeared armored, had brush guards for pushing through barriers with only minimal damage. In addition, only two other “Technicals” had brush guards. An oversight?
  • Only six trucks appeared to be armored. This can be a disadvantage because of the extra weight and you can use that against them.
  • Many appear to have some improvised armor, but who knows how effective it is.
  • Very few have much in the way of ground clearance, which means they need to break through barriers, or dismount outside the protective perimeter of the target and walk through.

Note the difference in clearance between the “Up-Armored” Humvee in this pic, and the ASV pic below. 

As a dismount, I’ve used both the “Up-Armored” Humvee and the M1117 ASV in combat operations, and I can tell you that having ground clearance can be a game changer. One of the biggest disadvantages of the ASV over the Humvee was weight.

The 4 1/4 tons of the Up-Armored Humvee beat the 15 ton ASV in certain soft ground or small bridge areas, but the ASV would do 70 MPH and go over most things that would easily stop a Humvee and it had an M2 .50 cal. and a MK19 40mm belt-fed grenade launcher in the turret, and an M240 .30 cal. up on top. The Humvee had an M240 in the turret.

 

The point of the vehicle info I’ve given you from my experience, is there are plenty of ways to deny or destroy heavy vehicles. Their vehicles might appear “Bad Ass” but if that armor is real, there are a lot of disadvantages to it as well. As to the mounted belt-fed weapons, ask an OIF or OEF Infantry vet how you deal with them with your deer rifle.

Last but not least, is the personnel. They look like a number of social media profile pics I’ve seen of the “Budweiser Militia” around our Country and are probably just as inept. Smart, squared away militia don’t advertise themselves on social media.

Here’s the bottom line.

If you learn how to properly set up a defense against vehicles and their dismounts, and if you have a solid core of people who are serious, loyal and available when the time comes. You can beat the threat posed by the people in this video or the one with the NFACers in Stone Mountain GA.

Training and organization is key. Go forth and GET YOU SOME!

 

JCD

"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.
The Reprieve Is Over

The Reprieve Is Over

 

Airborne 373

When I first joined the military in 1988, Communists were considered the primary threat/enemy, specifically, the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic. To a lesser extent, the Communist Chinese were also a threat, but after Nixon “made friends”, they weren’t really considered an “Issue”…..right?

SOF01

Fast forward to today, and we are now experiencing a Communist insurgency in our own country being waged by multiple entities. We understand that all of them, no matter the overt, publicly stated ideology, are striving towards the same ends. I grew up reading Soldier of Fortune magazine in the late 70’s and 80’s. One of the main topics of articles there was Communist Insurgency. More specifically, Communist insurgencies in places like Central and South America and Africa.

To make a long story short, many of the activities we are seeing and experiencing are following the playbook that, as a child, I watched play out in many of the aforementioned localities. We were told back then it was coming here. Well, IT’S HERE! Two examples would be Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM). They are Communist entities aimed at destroying our Nation’s traditions, history and ultimately our freedoms.

Antifa

A couple Antifa Communists sporting their “Anti Fascist kit”.

Anyone who believes BLM is an outgrowth of a racial equality movement has not done their due diligence. This concerns the stated intent of its leadership and those supporting that group. Let’s take convicted terrorist, Susan Rosenberg as an example. She is part of a non profit in the fundraising arm of BLM.

She was a member of the May 19th Communist Organization (an offshoot of the Weather Underground) which supported the Black Liberation Army, and was convicted of bombing, among other things, the US Capital Building and the US Naval War Collage. She did 16 years on a 58 year sentence, the majority of which was commuted by Bill Clinton on his last day in office.

Susan Rosenburg

American Terrorist and BLM associate, Susan Rosenberg

The above is just one of the members for the “fundraising apparatus” for BLM. One of BLM’s Co-Founders, Patrisse Cullors, describes herself as “A trained Marxist”. That is all we need to know, to make some logical conclusions about what their end state goal is. This is what Marxists do. They attach themselves to causes which appear “Noble”, then encourage suppression of any person or entity that counters their argument by publicly “shaming” or accusing that opposition of being “haters”, racists”, sexists or any of the other applicable “ists” out there.

I’m not even going to mention why Antifa is an enemy of the American people and our way of life. If you do not know by now why they have been declared “Domestic Terrorists” by President Trump, you are living under a rock, or you are drowning in the “River of Denial”.

Antifa Commies

Antifa’s “finest”….

I wrote in late 2016 about the “Brief Reprieve” we’d been given by having Donald J Trump as our next President. That “reprieve” might shortly come to an end. I believe the next election, if it takes place, will be an event surrounded by an unprecedented level of violence. Considering some of the videos I’ve seen of late involving groups expressing their intent to commit violence towards White Citizens, or the taking and annexing of American soil for their new “Black Nation”, I don’t see how an event culminating with a fight along a number of fractured lines, doesn’t happen.

Although the though of that event taking place fills me with dread, I believe it has to take place before anything can even have a glimmer of hope to get better. One of the reasons I dread that taking place, is thinking about the safety of my family members. Although my oldest two Children are adults, my youngest Son is eight months old and unable to even try to defend himself. But alas, the line, “Wars are not just fought by childless men.” from the movie, “The Patriot” comes to mind. But here’s the deal, my priorities are God, Family, Country, and in that order. Even before my Country, my first priority and responsibility is towards protecting my Family.

Another reason for my dread is expressed in a quote from General Robert E Lee. “It is good that war is so terrible, lest we become too fond of it.”. Anyone who is an actual combat veteran understands what this means. Some of the best men I’ve ever known, fought along side of me. Some of the best (and funniest) experiences I’ve ever had, were with those men in some of the worst situations.

OIF01

The last reason I will dread that situation taking place is that regardless of how it plays out, our United States of America will never be the same again, and will probably stay a fractured, balkanized conglomeration of States (if that) for the rest of existence. Is this bad? Maybe, maybe not.

From an overall International defensive status, it would probably be bad, depending on where you live. From a freedom to live as you would like, it would probably be better in many aspects, because some jackass 1,500 miles away isn’t making rules and regs for where you live and work.

If we don’t end up in a shooting war before President Trump’s 2020 election win (see what I did there) we probably will be as soon as that win is announced. I believe when groups like Antifa, BLM and NFAC (Not Fucking Around Coalition-No, I’m not kidding, they are that crass and full of ignorance) to name a few, blow their wad and open the “Pandora’s Box” of their hatred of America and White people specifically, it will be “Weapons Free” for those who have been patient and tolerated their abuse. At that point, I believe they will get their asses handed to them.

NFAC01

NFACer trying to intimidate a visitor to Stone Mountain on July 4th, 2020

At that point, I believe President Trump will have to make a choice. He will have to purge the Federal Government of the Communists and their supporters who have been undermining him his whole first term, while simultaneously rallying his base to physically fight off (good Ol’ Second Amendment territory) the threat that has manifest itself in our country. His other choice is to ignore what is going on and probably lose the Country if he exercises that level of ignorance.

I believe that, regardless, it will be a bloodbath not unlike those we’ve seen in “real time” across the world in places like Bosnia and Rwanda (a good friend saw this in person and his stories are just….DAMN!). Any person that want’s a “Black Nation” (or anything else based on skin color as the prerequisite for citizenship) is the antithesis to what this Nation was founded on and obviously has not done their historical “Due diligence”, regarding how that will obviously turn out.

No, you’re not gonna make a “Wakanda”, you realize that’s “fiction”, right? Don’t give me some BS about the Founders being a bunch of racists. You and your BS won’t even get published in the comment stream. “Reparations”? Kiss my ass. I can actually prove none of my ancestry ever had a slave (not that I need to), can you prove yours were slaves in this country?

These groups are using “Racism” as their stated purpose because that is a method historically used by Communists to tear down a nation internally. Tearing down statues and destroying that Nation’s history is another Communist tactic. Understand, in the end, Communists don’t give two Damns about your perceived racial equality or inequality or how you are treated. You and your “Cause” are just a means to an end for them.

Prepare yourself for what’s to come. I don’t believe it will be pleasant. Organize your friends, family and neighborhood to defend itself against events like we’ve seen acted out recently in placed like Minneapolis and Atlanta. Defense, First Aid, Shelter, Water and Food are your “Order of Priorities” list in these situations. If it starts at the time of the election, we’ll be fighting in the Winter. Are you prepared to fight in cold weather?

Make sure you are keeping a eye on who is supporting whom and who the sell outs and shills are. This will be important info when things start to pop. As an example I’ve seen recently, the last thing you want is to be associated with a so called “Constitutional” militia leader who has ties and affiliations with groups like “The John Brown Gun Club” (they roll with Antifa). Someone like that is a snake in your midst and will screw you when it’s convenient for his well being or bottom line.

It’s come to the time to choose a side. Today’s “Going along to get along” and “Tolerance” are tag-lines used by those who are cowards and and afraid to speak their mind about what is right and fair. We’ve all been guilty of it, but you can only take so much before you tell a blathering, idiot activist to go pound sand with his convenient “facts” all the while waiting for him to call you a “Racist” or one of the other “ists” we’re being accused of these days.

JCD

"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.