pro pistola

PRO PISTOLA

*
note: OG in NM, thank you for the extra generous snail mail donation ( and the nice letter ).  Happy Festivus!
*

Almost two months ago I wrote an article, “pistola”, making my case that after the apocalypse you really, honest injun, didn’t need a pistol.  I haven’t totally changed my mind, but I thought I needed to play Devil’s Advocate and attempt to make a case for rather than against.  I had said that after the collapse you should always have your rifle with you, negating the need for a sidearm.  You should also be a true light infantryman, mobility and stealth and stamina far more important than carrying everything up to and including the kitchen sink just because “just in case”.

*

Allow me to detour for a second.  The infantryman’s kit is a strategic consideration, not a tactical one.  I would wager that this has been true for almost all official nation states militaries throughout history.  And we all know that the majority of military leaders are politicians rather than strategists.  The exceptions are very rare.  You might know a few scattered WWII Generals names, mostly because they ended up as Presidents or more likely a future base or weapon was named for them, but I’ll bet that one name that is intuitive to everyone is Erwin Rommel.  He was so good, no amount of tireless anti-Nazi propaganda could ever smear him ( Speer played up his pencil playing to save himself, throwing everyone else under the bus )( Patton I have issues with, starting with his role in the veterans peace march massacre ).

*

Just because the military decrees that an item of equipment is mission vital certainly does not make that true.  Keep in mind that it is usually Mission Vital that you die gloriously as cannon fodder, following nonsensical orders from incompetents.  And that starts with overloading the fighters.  My entire point is of course that if one stuck to the tactics that made sense, and the logistics, they would more likely than not NOT come anywhere close to mirroring those of the military.

*

Not being post-collapse, yes, a pistol is nice for concealed carry since we are in a perpetual state of low intensity conflict ( which, obviously, goes a long way towards explaining LEO behavior.  Those militia porn sites like Western Rifleman seem to miss this as they flail about insisting on our illusive freedoms ) in this country.  And so, yes, most likely all of us have a sidearm anyway and it isn’t even going to be an extra expense.  The investment was already made.  So, my argument was largely directed at newbies, extreme Po Boys and also those delusional about their ability to carry a huge combat load ( even at age 18, let alone 48 ). 

*

I made yet another plea for bayonet carry, as a back-up for emergencies.  No, it does no good it you just dumped your last mag and need to do a quick pistol draw and fire ( although I would argue if there were that may that close, you are humped anyway ).  But after all my writing and all the comments and comment replies, I had missed one consideration.  You might need a pistol after all.  You might need to put a bullet in your own head.  If you need to self-administer a coup de grace,  a bayonet or knife simply is not going to cut it ( pun initially unintentional, but pretty cool, eh? ).

*

Two things are going to be very different very soon.  Either in the coming civil war, guerrilla war or tribal conflict, you can bet on the return of two miserable conditions.  Torture, and lack of medical care.  I know you all go Full Retard on playing combat surgeon planner, discussing endlessly emergency trauma care and alternate medicines, staying up late at night comparing your first aid kit supplies, but all that nonsense is akin to semi-auto rifle talk.  It is good for the die-off phase and that is about it. 

*

No one seems to get that our entire existence and infrastructure is Oil Age based.  And that means that you are comparing the energy given off by a burning piece of wood to the energy given off by a stick of dynamite.  EVERY HUMPING THING you see or do or think about has that exponential energy embedded into it.  And there is simply no way on Baby Jesus’ green Earth that you can come anywhere close to duplicating that later on.  Trauma medicine is so advanced that the military sends their people to train at a hospital serving the ghetto.  All their months of schooling are inadequate.  And you think you can come close to any of that training?

*

Antibiotics are another high tech, high energy item that I find problematic to duplicate.  There are alternatives that certainly help.  But when you take a hundred bucks and buy all the “necessary” fish medicines, you are ONLY buying lottery scratch off tickets.  Professional long trained doctors ( I shan’t start in on the quality of their training-I’ll just say they rival generals in most fields except trauma or specialized surgury ) can’t always correctly diagnose and prescribe the right antibiotics.  And you will?  It is a placebo.  Like all that crap you carted into combat, winded at the first hundred yards and then trying to be all ninja stealthy afterwards.

*

After a very short time when all the supplies are used up, you are going to face a choice of suffering for a very long time and most likely still dieing from a lot of different injuries, or having the grace and good sense to bust a cap in your own ass.  Yes, you could in theory just use your rifle.  But you want a clean shot, through the roof of your mouth into your brain.  Any shot “off” could just screw you up really bad but keep you alive to suffer even more.  Make sure your rifle can be used for this, and always keep a spare round safe and ready. 

*

But you could be so injured that you can’t maneuver that long ass rifle into place.  The rifle could be damaged, and then you are left with only a knife.  And if you are gut shot and can only count on hours of pain, or if you are surrounded by enemies known to torture their prisoners for very long periods of time, you want something that will painlessly and expediently end your suffering, or prevent it.  You are dead anyway.  It isn’t suicide as much as a mercy killing.  These two possible-very probably-events give me pause about NOT carrying a pistol.

*

Not some big mamba jamba twenty shot extruded plastic pistol carried by John Wayne disciples thinking it is a good combat weapon ( there was a reason combat troops were trying to carry M1 Carbines rather than 45’s or Tommy or Grease guns ).  A small and lightweight pistol.  Not so small it is impractical to find or anemic to use like a Saturday Night Special pot metal 25, and not so big it weighs you down.  I’d feel okay with a 22 revolver if it was light enough.  The revolvers can be very cheap.  So can a 380.  $100 to $150 is by no means unaffordable to almost every single one of us.  Or, a small double shot in larger caliber.  Do I recall correctly seeing one you could carry around your neck?

*

I can tell you that I don’t think I could dispatch myself by knife or bayonet.  I wouldn’t have the strength or courage to hari-kari.  Putting a gun in my mouth and pulling the trigger?  No problem.  If needs be, obviously.  Something to think about, either the tucked away cartridge or the tucked away very small sidearm. 

END ( today's related link http://amzn.to/2AX8jrM )

 

Please support Bison by buying through the Amazon ad graphics at the top of the page. ***You can make donations or book purchases through PayPal ( www.paypal.me/jimd303 )

*** Unless you are in extreme poverty, spend a buck a month here, by the above donation methods or buy a book. If you don't do Kindle, send me a buck and I'll e-mail it to you in a PDF file.  If you donated, you may request books no charge.   My e-mail is: jimd303@reagan.com  My address is: James M Dakin, 181 W Bullion Rd #12, Elko NV 89801-4184

*** Pay your author-no one works for free.  I’m nice enough to publish for barely above Mere Book Money, so do your part.***   Land In Elko*  Lord Bison* my bio & biblio*   my web site is www.bisonprepper.com *** Wal-Mart wheat***Amazon Author Page
* By the by, all my writing is copyrighted. For the obtuse out there