Guide to Bugging Out by Keith Norris

Guide to Bugging Out

Chapter 6: Firearms

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Handguns

This is not a decision that can be left until the time comes. It must be a decision that is made in a calm environment. Take some time, at least thirty minutes (or as much time as it takes) to sit down by yourself, with no interruptions or distractions, and ask yourself if you can shoot somebody in

When we discussed actual bugout bags we started small and worked up to large.We will start here with small guns—handguns, often called pistols.These are the most easily carried and concealed.

self defense.Ask yourself if you are prepared to be arrested

From a ballistics standpoint, compared to rifles and shotguns they

afterwards. Ask yourself if you are prepared to go through

are also the least effective in terms of stopping an attacker. But

a trial that will be expensive and emotionally devastating

because handguns are easy to carry and conceal, they are the

even if you are found not guilty. Not everybody can commit

most likely type of gun to be available almost instantly in a violent,

to that, but on the other hand, being murdered, raped, or

unexpected confrontation. In other words, handguns are quick

otherwise scarred for life isn’t a good proposition either. If

to get into action, or they should be, if a person has the correct

you must use a gun for self defense, do it to save your life

mindset and is trained to use them safely and efficiently.

or that of a loved one. Don’t do it to protect your stuff— your valuables. You can always get more stuff. Be honest with yourself. It’s one of the most important decisions you might ever make.

The first rule of gunfighting is have a gun. A pistol carried in a holster satisfies this rule. Let’s begin with carrying a gun for survival. If we plan to travel through wilderness areas and avoid towns, then perhaps we can use a handgun to shoot small to medium size game for food.

For bugout purposes, firearms fall into two categories: guns for self defense and guns for survival as in hunting for food. Before we decide what guns to include in our bugout kit, we must know how we intend to bug out, where we intend to go, the distance we must travel, the time we expect to be traveling before we reach a safe destination, our mode of transportation, the liabilities involved, (such as contact with dangerous bad guys or traveling through areas where firearms are prohibited and will be

Hunting (assuming that we are successful) means that perhaps we can carry less food with us. (Let’s not forget that some fishing line and hooks, even a short, takedown fishing pole, might also offer the chance of some fresh food.) Either a revolver or a semi-auto pistol chambered in the popular .22 Long Rifle cartridge, with a barrel length of around 4-6 inches, is a fine choice for rabbits and squirrels. The ammunition

confiscated) and how firearms fit in with our plans for how much

is cheap compared to larger calibers, and it’s easy to carry a brick

we can carry.

of 500 rounds. People have certainly shot larger animals with a