Ted Nugent, The Zimmerman/Martin Case, and SHTF

\”Are YOU Ready?\”

So I’ll admit, I hadn’t been playing very close heed to the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case, even though it conceivably could have a direct effect on certain firearms laws and how people view “Stand Your Ground” laws in the future. I believed that the case was an extreme example of media sensationalism and I really didn’t feed the need to pay much attention; hell, it felt like the media in general was trying to distract the public away from other things. But that’s neither here nor there at this point; things have somewhat run their course.

However, a friend sent me this article by Ted Nugent (that I read with a touch of salt, even though I generally like what the Nuge has to say). In it, (you should really read the article for the context of this post) he basically pulls for the Zimmerman side of the case, where he was on patrol, phoned the cops, followed Martin, was attacked, and had to fight for his life, which ended up with a single shot fired in the essence of self-defense. He, of course, runs with the racism card, which I won’t really speculate upon, as it has really no course in this post for you fine SHTFblog.com readers.

Yeah, the article was interesting, and it provided me with some background. However, it also got my wheels turning. Let’s transpose the basic premise (under the Nuge’s article – you haven’t read it yet?!? Cripes!) onto a SHTF scenario, shall we?

The scenario can be whatever you choose: Post-apocalyptic Mad-Max type, political-economic breakdown, EMP burst and a fried power grid, massive natural disaster, zombies. Pick your favorite and run its course a bit in your mind: You. Your family. Your stores that you’ve built up. Your property, your house, your generator. Your precious water supply. Your hard work that’s taken you years to accomplish. Your very peace of mind. Hopefully you’ve teamed with a few people you can trust, and you have a small community built up, with mutual support, protection, and knowledge. With enough people, and a treasured area that you utilize that needs defending, localized patrols will always be a good idea; to scrounge, find survivors, keep an eye out for looters, whether they be a single person or a band of aggressive people. With me so far?

According to the article, George Zimmerman was on a neighborhood watch patrol when he was attacked. This, to me, does not seem far-fetched once desperation sets in after a SHTF scenario has been catalyzed. People who need drugs, water, food, guns, alcohol – you name it – will go whatever lengths they have to to get what they need. Hell, they have nothing to lose! I personally believe that the sheer outrage and desperation of people in a post-SHTF world will be one of the very hardest things to deal with to the prepper – but I digress.

You are out on a patrol, keeping an eye out, looking for any items of interest in the local area and securing the locale. You see a straggler, and cautiously approach him. There are no police to call – they’re not coming. The National Guard won’t send the cavalry. Maybe you’re merely in your home, keeping an eye out the window when you see someone pumping out your rain barrel. You have the best of intentions when you approach this person, to help, give him directions or shelter, but you are blindsided and brutally attacked. What the hell do you do? Your attacker is in it to win it; he’s hit a gold mine. You are caught off-guard and on the wrong end of the proverbial sharp stick. How will you react?

How far will you go to protect what you have in a SHTF world?

We all want to hear what you have to say about all this; discussion encouraged in the comments below!

Stay safe!

-TRW