[Sourdough]

1. If you stockpile goods, and lack the tools and training to protect them, you're only gathering for someone else.

A good & solid point. My response is if the true goal is prepping (ultimately for survival of yourself and loved ones) Why is habitat environment and building structure not of equal or greater importance....??? I say, there is excessive obsession with firearms, relative to residing inside a stick built, and combustible structure. Have firearms, but also consider the (non-bullet proof) structure, location, neighborhood, social environment, etc. also..??

Firearms are fine. But the goal is to be one of the survivors. And that will be determined by "MAKY" facts other than the firearm.

 

[Kauboy]

A good & solid point. My response is if the true goal is prepping (ultimately for survival of yourself and loved ones) Why is habitat environment and building structure not of equal or greater importance....??? I say, there is excessive obsession with firearms, relative to residing inside a stick built, and combustible structure. Have firearms, but also consider the (non-bullet proof) structure, location, neighborhood, social environment, etc. also..??

Firearms are fine. But the goal is to be one of the survivors. And that will be determined by "MAKY" facts other than the firearm.

Any, yes any, fortification can be overrun and conquered with proper planning and tactics.
"No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy" is a truism because the enemy is sending bullets back during the execution of the plan.
It's not the walls that keep one safe. They only delay. There is no such thing as a perfect defense. When seeking to protect one's life and property indefinitely, one must employ "offensive defense" in the way of making the invader's plans far more dangerous than they originally planned for by sending ordnance their way.

In the end, it is the bullet that stops the aggressor, not the wall.

 

[Sourdough]

If the "REAL GOAL" is survival, then if studied honestly, there are many higher priority things to be "OBSESSIED" with then firearms.

Firearms are cheap and easy labor to procure, true enhanced survival probability requires harder physical labor, intelligence, study, devotion, and sacrifice of current desires.

 

[Spenser]

Firearms are cheap and easy labor to procure, true enhanced survival probability requires harder physical labor, intelligence, study, devotion, and sacrifice of current desires.

Even I will admit that there is a need for means to defend oneself. I kind of disagree that they are cheap in price, and easy labor to procure in a SHTF scenario, if that is what you are indicating.

I agree with the intelligence mention, and I get your meaning of "study" in that context, the rest kind of seems like random thoughts. Harder physical labor for example seems like you are pulling a rabbit out of your hat. An intelligent, 'studied' (educated) man could lift a couple of thousand pounds by himself with the help of science, pullies, rope, counter weights, and levers for leveraging. I know as I have done this while working for my grandfather's moving business

your "True enhanced survival probability" actually requires a combination of Luck, intelligence, skill, perseverance, sacrifice, but those are useless w/o the willingness to achieve your goal no matter what/how. & there lies the true question. Can you do what is needed to survive no matter what?

Don't bother answering that last question, as truth be told, you won't know that answer until the situation is thrown at you. Based on my own past, I tend to be in that category of doing whatever it takes to, many years have past.. Am I that same person as I was back then. I can only assume I could, but in reality, there is no way of knowing if that is still the case until it happens to be knocking at my front door.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

Because it is their Constitutional right to bear arms. Because it makes them feel immortal, like a bad @$$. They are under the illusion that simply having a lot of guns makes them Rambo, and that with guns they can perform military like scenarios.

Fact is like a majority of people with guns if they had bullets flying over their head would crap themselves.

Protecting one's self requires training. An untrained guy with a gun vs. a trained bowman, cross bow, knive/axe thrower, sling shot or what have you, I prefer to hang with the guy that is trained, and practices daily.

...

The only part of this which rings true is the first sentence. The rest is merely an opinion based on assumption.

 

[NotTooProudToHide]

Another point to consider is there are a great number of preppers that think they are going to go into the woods and live off small game like rabbits or squirrels and become the next Jeremiah Johnson Esq figure when in reality the woods are going to be full of people with the same idea. Additionally there have been are and will continue to be times when you call 911 and they are so overrun they don't answer your call or do and there is no help to send. Firearms are important but so are good non perishable food supplies or better yet a sustainible food supply, basic fire fighting equipment, basic medical equipment, adequate over the counter medications, tools to remove debris, tools to shut off utilities, solid doors/windows with locks on them, and a million other things that I am forgetting.

 

[Chipper]

Firearms are also a great investment, always have been. If you buy the right firearm you can use it and make a great profit when sold.

Would rather have firearms/ammo then money in a bank. Especially now with things going down hill. Even better then a shiny bar of metal.

 

[ItsJustMe]

Well, I think one needs to define "obsession". The OP's question of " 'WHY' are PREPPERS so obsessed with firearms?', I would counter with "WHY" are MEN so obsessed with sex? Same kind of question.

I just happen to really like shooting. It's a challenge that I dare myself to do. There are two that are my very favorites, just the way they feel in my hand, the way they "handle", the cold steel and the heft, the smell of the powder after a shot, the gun oil and process of cleaning. I love sorting through the ammunition, shove my hand into one of those ammo boxes and let the shells drip through my fingers. The cute little ones and the big scary ones. Sigh. Obsessed? Of course not. I just REALLY LIKE THEM! So there.

 

[mmikeclass06]

If the "REAL GOAL" is survival, then if studied honestly, there are many higher priority things to be "OBSESSIED" with then firearms.

Firearms are cheap and easy labor to procure, true enhanced survival probability requires harder physical labor, intelligence, study, devotion, and sacrifice of current desires.

alot pf people can only obtain firearms, the reason they go for them. get what you can hope for the rest

 

[AndyFrank]

I now think firearms are a way to deal with the bullsht "Survivalist" which is just a fancy word for unskilled wild marauder/pirate/merc at best.
They have incomplete personalities and are obsessed with their training and skills vs others weakness. When they are the weak one. So you need firearms if you are a dad and just need to cancel some poor dumb pirate expert.
(Its my bias. I live in the woods. Somebody says survivalist and i think "grow up and get a wife or die of booze or lead poisoning". Its been a long time since i was 15)

 

[bigwheel]

Why do you think this is....??? All forums that are primarily prepping focused, have a strange obsession with firearms.

Good question. I got drawn into these type of places cause I like guns. I aint much of a prepper other than being a highly trained old boy scout who tries to follow the motto of Be Prepared. lol. I am also a strong Bible Beliveing Christian. I went through the program before the **** pedophile leaders started showing up. Thankfully.

 

[charito]

Why do you think this is....??? All forums that are primarily prepping focused, have a strange obsession with firearms.

You'll need to defend yourself and your own.
If you can't, there's a big possibility that your prepping will have been for nothing.

 

[Sourdough]

You'll need to defend yourself and your own.
If you can't, there's a big possibility that your prepping will have been for nothing.

If one totally believed that. Would it not be in a Preppers best interest, to move to a location more rural or remote..???

Edited: for clarification.

 

[Kauboy]

Would (if one totally believed that) it not be in a Preppers best interest, to move to a location more remote..???

Everyone walks the line between what they want to do, and what they can actually do.

 

[Usernameforyou]

Different arms for different targets. Or you could know blacksmithing and make bullets. Reload your brass. It could essentially go on forever. Or do I have to tell you about battlefield pickup or making your own powder?

 

[Maine-Marine]

The majority of posts on this forum are not about firearms.
Perception is not reality.

That said, I'll make two points...
1. If you stockpile goods, and lack the tools and training to protect them, you're only gathering for someone else.
2. I like guns. It's not your business why.

>>>>>>>>>>1. If you stockpile goods, and lack the tools and training to protect them, you're only gathering for someone else.<<<<<<<<<<<

Water
Food
Shelter
Security
Medical

you NEED security

 

[paraquack]

The proper tool for every job. If you really have to ask why...

 

[Tango2X]

White lives--
Your perception of a survivalist is waaaay off base.
Survivalists were preppers before the term prepper ever came about.
Survivalists plan to be prepared for whatever comes.
Preppers tend to plan for some specific occurance(s)

 

[Back Pack Hack]

....Survivalists plan to be prepared for whatever comes.
Preppers tend to plan for some specific occurance(s)

I'd say you've got those two mixed up. IMHO.

 

[NMPRN]

Q: what the difference between a violin and a viola?
A: nothing, violinist just have bigger heads

It's just my opinion (if we're still allowed to have those) but...
A survivalist is just a prepper who's too embarrassed to admit he's a prepper.