Conspiracy theorists hoarding food/ammo

[SardonicSmile]

This is a rising concern for me. I am a member of a few communities where conspiracy theories are an almost constant topic. There's an unbelievable number of people already hoarding for 2012 or some type of "shit hitting the fan" scenario.

Anyway, I strongly believe that this will cause a large food shortage in the month/s leading up to December 21st, 2012..

What can we all do to prepare for this without adding to the food shortages? What do you think about these theories in general?

[pagan]

I was a member on another forum that was geared toward post oil and I got tired of the people posting "Get your preps in order. THE END IS HERE!!!" every time something happened. An earthquake, political upheaval, it didn't matter because anything out of the norm constituted the beginning of the end for them. They were always arguing about getting land in the woods, amassing weapons and preparing to defend yourself and your property from the inevitable government seizures. Members were also wound up pretty tightly about the chip implantation and other forms of "Big Brother" surveillance. I just got tired of the whole thing, and I'm actually much happier not viewing that forum.

Incidentally the guy who started the forum had links to buy survival supplies, especially the freeze dried food, and this should come as no surprise...he gets a percentage of sales made through his website. Naturally he was always pushing people to buy supplies from his site.

I don't know if people will hoard enough food to make that much of an impact on food supplies. Rather I'm more concerned with China and India adopting a western diet. Another 3 billion people eating like Europeans and Americans would seriously impact food supplies.

[peternap]

I have a little different idea of the end than some others (Big Surprise)

I was raised in the country and preparation was a way of life. You prepared for winter in the summer and no matter what happened, you could eat and keep warm.
So generally speaking, I'm in a constant state of preparation. Just not to the extent of some.

I think and have always thought (Correctly at times) that you are far more likely to be faced with unemployment or disability, than sun flares that will destroy the magnetic cohesion of the earth.

I also don't believe in the massive stores of arms and ammunition. This sounds odd from me but there is a lot of difference between being a "Gun Nut" as some here have tagged me, who enjoys hunting, shooting and reloading, and building an arsenal to defend the world from maureding killer mutants and the Government.

Basic equipment, a 12ga shotgun and a few boxes of shells.

IMO, it's far better to learn skills like auto repair, carpentry, electrical, etc...so you can fix what you have yourself, than dedicate all your spare time in learning to fight with a Fairburn Commando Knife.

If you want to put together a small stash, do a search here. The members here discussed it at length and this site has some of the most level headed people around.

Growing a small garden and canning isn't a bad idea and well within the relm of NORMAL people.

[ScottA]

My grandmother always belived in keeping a 6 months supply of everything just in case. We keep about a months supply of food in the house at all times. If you think about it if it gets so bad you need a years supply of food horded it's unlikely you'll be able to keep it without shooting alot of people.

[pagan]

I guess it all depends on what you're preparing for. If it's a minor disruption brought about through some natural disaster, flood, blizzard, etc., then food supplies for a month or two will be enough food to see you through. Likewise if you're planning on homesteading and growing all your own food for the winter then you want to have enough on hand to get through to early summer, not to mention having extra for the potentiality of a bad growing season or major crop loss.

If, on the other hand, you're planning on the complete and total break down of civil society and loss of any law enforcement, local, state, and federal, then you'll most likely want at least a years worth of food, along with the almost obligatory arsenal for protecting your stash. And like the people I mentioned from the other forum, you'll also want your "bug out" place that is well hidden and secure. Protecting yourself against a small gang is possible with proper preparation of your defensive site, however, taking on the government is foolish. Oh, you might get a few of them in the beginning but in then end they'll just drop a bomb on you, and then you're toast.

[MushCreek]

I'm kind of in the middle on that stuff. Living in FL, we keep a pretty good supply of non-perishable food on hand in the event of a hurricane, and we have a decent generator. In our county, if we ever got hit by a Cat 5, very nearly all of the infrastructure and stores would be destroyed by flood water. We live on a rare piece of high ground, so we'd be OK unless the wind took the roof off, but travel and supplies would be dicey. Our county is essentially an island, and the bridges close well in advance of a storm, so we would be stuck here with nearly a million other people, the vast majority of whom would be homeless. I do have a Boston Whaler, so if I could get it to the water somehow, we could leave. I also keep several propane tanks, and a lot of charcoal on hand during hurricane season.

When we move to our rural property in SC, I'll still keep supplies, because the area is prone to ice storms, and I plan to raise as much of our food as possible, but that is more a reaction to the quality of food available today.

[SardonicSmile]

I'm kind of in the middle on that stuff. Living in FL, we keep a pretty good supply of non-perishable food on hand in the event of a hurricane, and we have a decent generator. In our county, if we ever got hit by a Cat 5, very nearly all of the infrastructure and stores would be destroyed by flood water. We live on a rare piece of high ground, so we'd be OK unless the wind took the roof off, but travel and supplies would be dicey. Our county is essentially an island, and the bridges close well in advance of a storm, so we would be stuck here with nearly a million other people, the vast majority of whom would be homeless. I do have a Boston Whaler, so if I could get it to the water somehow, we could leave. I also keep several propane tanks, and a lot of charcoal on hand during hurricane season.

When we move to our rural property in SC, I'll still keep supplies, because the area is prone to ice storms, and I plan to raise as much of our food as possible, but that is more a reaction to the quality of food available today.

South Carolina? Ice storms?? You must live near Walhalla? I'm in the upstate.

Anyway.. I'm all for being prepared, but some of these guys are storing 10,000 rounds of .223, 5 AR-15's, and 4 year supplies of food.. I guess I would rather live without worry for 5 years than be paranoid for 15.

[MushCreek]

Travelers Rest, out past Greenville.

[Txcowrancher]

The vast majority of subdivision and city people have about no supplies. We were living near houston when hurricane rita hit just after katrina. there was no gas, food or even water or other liquids avbl to buy. the roads were impassable. It was then we got our concealed handgun licenses. we have since moved to north texas and switched hurricanes for possible ice storms. we have a diesel generator and fuel to provide electricity. We do stockpile weapons,ammo, and food, water. with out the weapons you will not have the food or water. its just not that hard to store dry foods, for example, we have about 400 pounds of rice in mylar sealed bags in 5 gallon buckets. probably only cost about $200 for the rice. ammo can always be traded for other food, could be more valuable than gold, you cant eat gold. I really dont get anyone that thinks that everything will just be the way it used to be, driving to jobs, pushing paper, getting loans. most people do not produce anything at all, once america reaches its credit card limit, how does it not collapse?? it is a house of cards built on illusions. being prepared at least somewhat is cheap insurance. once everyone knows they need things. It is too late, empty store shelves look very wierd I can tell you.
Tom   

[eddiescabin]

Wait, you mean the Chemtrails won't melt me?  9/11 wasn't planned by Bush who snuck in at night with thermite? Sorry, I hafta laugh at morons fearing 2012 from a) the movie  and b) the mayan calandar...hell imagine if they dug up the calandar on my wall in 100 years, suppose they would be freaking about the world ending on 12/31/10???  Oil will never "run out"...please, it IS a renewable resource, things from the past are converting continuously. As for the global warmists, 1 volcano pours more gasses into the atmosphere than every auto on the planet, Glaciers gouged the Yosemite valley, the last of which retreated 30,000 years ago, I suppose the cavemans autos caused this warming??  No, the climate changes on the order of 100,000 year cycles (very conservative number), we know this from the amount and types of gasses trapped in glacier ice.  People, do not be so flippin' simple, your education (or lack of) is showing! MOST of you here have a firm grasp at the threats of civil unrest, natural disaster etc.... sure keep some supplies for a relatively short time you may not be able to get them.  Keep a firearm/ammo for personal protection...you will not be able to dispatch a gang/army, no matter the amount of ammo you have, 1 rpg will take you and the ammo out! 

[glenn kangiser]

I think a year or so for us, friends and family who would work the garden if necessary are sufficient.  I feel there is nothing wrong with being ready for any type of special occasion, but I don't see that we are excessively prepared.  

It's just that if government is in charge of our well being, you can bet they will screw it up sooner or later or the politicians  figure out a way to rip it off for their own benefit, so we need to look out for ourselves.

I feel that what is stored sensibly now while the economy and market can spare it is just that much that won't be bought in panic buying when the market does not have it to give.  You will be helping everyone if you store some sensibly now.

[SardonicSmile]

I think a year or so for us, friends and family who would work the garden if necessary are sufficient.  I feel there is nothing wrong with being ready for any type of special occasion, but I don't see that we are excessively prepared.  

It's just that if government is in charge of our well being, you can bet they will screw it up sooner or later or the politicians  figure out a way to rip it off for their own benefit, so we need to look out for ourselves.

I feel that what is stored sensibly now while the economy and market can spare it is just that much that won't be bought in panic buying when the market does not have it to give.  You will be helping everyone if you store some sensibly now.

Well, I'm planning to store around early next year. Two bricks of .22, 2 boxes of 9mm, and a 4 month supply of food will do me fine. ; )

[glenn kangiser]

You don't even have to wait.  

Building a little slowly - even a few bucks a month adds to your cushion in case anything unexpected happens and lightens the load on the market when others who waited too long realize their mistake and begin their panic buying.

It is much more expensive  and hard to buy after it has left the shelves of the open market.

[Pox Eclipse]

How are ammo prices and availability now, anyway?  Last year, there was a run that cleared shelves and drove up prices; has that changed at all?

[glenn kangiser]

I haven't paid a lot of attention lately, but I will check it out a bit when I am around it a bit.

I have a friend who owns a hardware store and he still advocates stocking up a bit

What I do see is regulation now in place to soon stop mail order purchases here and limits to 50 bullets per month.  I think Wal - Mart has quit carrying bullets in some areas.  I'll check it out and try to purchase some more.

[SardonicSmile]

How are ammo prices and availability now, anyway?  Last year, there was a run that cleared shelves and drove up prices; has that changed at all?

Prices are still bad, availability is still bad but slightly better.

[peternap]

How are ammo prices and availability now, anyway?  Last year, there was a run that cleared shelves and drove up prices; has that changed at all?

I think ammo is slowly returning except 380 and 45acp.

I don't check it very often because I don't buy ammo often. When I run low on bullets, I fire up the melting pot. When I run short of loaded ammunition, I load what I need. I have enough primers to last a few years even shooting 500 rounds a month and enough powder for at least a year.

I may never have to buy another case unless I get a new caliber.

[eddiescabin]

I like Peternap's stockpile...a years worth of powder...NO SMOKING IN THE SHED!  (and he means it!!)