COPYRIGHT (C) 1989 by Live Free, Inc., Chicago, IL. All rights reserved. Excerpts from DIRECTIONS: A MAGAZINE FOR THE SURVIVALIST. Feb. 1989 issue. If you enjoy the articles below, you'll LOVE DIRECTIONS: each issue has 12 pages of information on self- sufficiency and survival. For information on subscribing to this newsletter and/or becoming a member of Live Free, see notice at the end of this document. LIVE FREE'S TOP TEN DANGERS TO LIFE AND FREEDOM IN 1989 Those attending our National Leadership Conference last September were given an opportunity to rank the most immediate threats to human life and individual freedom in 1989. The results of the pole were put out as a news release on January 1, 1989. The "Top Ten Dangers" pole will now be an annual program and--in 1989--all members will have the opportunity to participate in determining what will be on the January 1, 1990 news release list. We welcome all comments and criticisms related to this listing. The list created for 1989 is not intended to scare or depress people; its purpose is to make them aware of the dangers and challenges that exist. We have ultimate faith that an aware, informed, prepared, and determined people can survive, protect their freedom, and prevail. The following "Top Ten" are listed in order of magnitude. 1. NUCLEAR WAR: In spite of some minor achievements in nuclear disarmament, there remain thousands of nuclear warheads ready for instant use. New nations are acquiring nuclear weapons every year. A miscalculation, an act of aggression, or accident could lead to a nuclear exchange at any time. 2. DRUGS: The use of drugs in all nations by all races is destroying the integrity and survivability of civilization and threatens to drag humanity backwards into a new dark age. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES: Buphaul, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island... The list of recent and large-scale environmental catastrophes is growing; whether it's an oil spill, a tank truck leak, or the degradation of the ozone layer, everyone will become victims of this growing menace. Mother nature has left town; the survival of the earth and everything on it is in our hands. 4. TERRORISM: Religious and political fanatics have dem- onstrated their ability to wage effective war on our very vulnerable civilization, but they have not scratched the surface of what is possible by making use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons (which terrorists no doubt will use in the future). 5. AIDS: All experts agree that this disease is going to be a major cause of death in the future and may reduce the human population by many millions. Unless the people take this threat seriously, panic and police-state solutions may lie in the future. 6. BIOLOGICAL ACCIDENTS. Experiments with cell mutation, biogenetics, and biological warfare agents present a constant hazard and may, in fact, already be responsible for some very mysterious outbreaks of disease. 7. NATIONAL CATASTROPHES: Earthquakes, floods, storms, and even meteors have, in the past and will in the future, bring havoc to earth and man. However, today's civilization, with its complex systems, concentrated population, chemicals, nuclear plants, etc., would make any large-scale natural catastrophe much more deadly. 8. GANGS AND CRIME: Drugs, unemployment, poor education, economic stagnation, and a lack of any clear ideological cohesion or natural objectives have resulted in a large part of the world's nonproductive values. If this trend continues, the low and middle class will become extinct or virtual slaves who earn money and build things only to have them stolen or destroyed by criminals; the upper class will live in fortified enclaves. 9. CONVENTIONAL WAR: The less danger there is of nuclear war, the more danger there will be of a so-called "conventional war." Modern technology and new weapons would make a potential wide-spread conventional war far more destructive than WWI and WWII combined and no place would be safe. 10. THE SPREAD OF TYRANNY: Nowhere on earth is there a people moving toward more real freedom. In spite of all rhetoric and revolution, it is tyranny that is the rule worldwide while freedom is becoming a very rare and endangered species. Even in "free countries" the trend continues toward regulation, taxation, confiscation, surveillance, control, and the growth of the power of the State. New technology gives governments the ability to violate individual rights and control lives in new, subtle, and effective ways. Time is running out for the people of the world to regain the initiative for freedom and prevent a millennium of global tyranny. Other dangers that could be "upgraded" in the near future include: climate changes, communist aggression, space weapons, racial unrest, unemployment, and an economic depression. LIVE FREE INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Live Free International announced the January 1, 1989 inauguration of "Dial-A-Survivalist", a new public information program. The first "Dial-A-Survivalist" service is in the Chicago (312) area code, but Live Free hopes to have similar services in operation throughout the United States within the year. All "Dial-A-Survivalist" services will include: public service safety and survival information, survivalist viewpoints, and sources for additional information. Message subjects may include: home survival, street survival, nuclear survival, outdoor survival, self protection, and economic survival. Special messages will be ready for times of local or national emergencies. These will be used for storms, earthquakes, blackouts, civil unrest, nuclear accident, chemical spills, and when an international crisis poses the potential for a nuclear war. The "Dial-A-Survivalist" number is (312) 821-LIVE (5483). PRODUCT REVIEW There are several firearms currently on the market that represent a lot of "bang for the bucks" in terms of quality and reliability. For those survivalists wishing to upgrade their weaponry or who want to add a "backup" to their inventory, these are certainly worth considering: HELWAN 9MM PISTOL Currently the guns are being imported into the US by Navy Arms and carry a low price tag. The Helwan was made in Egypt under a license from Beretta and is identical to Beretta's Model 52 (except for the Egyptian markings on the pistols). Like most Beretta designs, the Helwan works without a hitch with a wide range of ammunition and in the worst of conditions (as both the Israelis and Egyptians have proved since adopting this pistol). Unlike many of the new "Wonder Nines", the Helwan is single action and has a single column magazine. This makes the pistol grip rather flat and many will find it more comfortable to hold and carry than the high-capacity automatics. The safety of the Helwan is unconventional; it's a push bolt like that found on many hunting rifles. This cross-bolt safety is located to the top rear of the pistol grip and is easily operated once the shooter becomes accustomed to it. The Helwans currently being brought into the US are used but in excellent shape, most apparently being carried in holsters or stored away rather than being fired (all are inspected and refurbished if necessary before being sold). They have a lot of quality and shooting left in them coupled with a low price tag.--D. Long F.I.E.'s Maroccini "Over/Under" shotgun is available in 12 and 20 gauge. The real beauty of this gun is that it doesn't LOOK like a survival or defensive weapon. It's a sporter; this will be the last gun anyone takes from you because it looks too "military." (Even in countries like Great Britain and Russia with strict gun and--often--less freedom than one would hope for, many citizens are allowed to keep this type of shotgun.) Inside, the Over/Under is tough; it has chrome-lined barrels and the wood is oiled walnut. Both gauges can take 2-3/4 and 3-inch shells including magnum and steel shot giving a shooter a large selection of ammunition to use. While a double barrel lacks the firepower of many repeaters, the Over/Under has an automatic extractor making reloading quite quick. This gun carries a low price tag and is a good choice if you want a quality survival gun that "looks" like a sporter; as such, it's a wolf in sheep's clothing--D. Long RUGER P-85 is the new 9mm pistol offered by Sturm, Ruger & Company. Like other of the company's products, this gun is tough and simple and carries a low price tag due to the use of modern industrial techniques in manufacturing it. After carrying around one of the first production runs of the P-85 for about two years, I've been very impressed with it. It works flawlessly with a variety of ammunition, has a lot of firepower (due to a double row magazine), and gives a first shot with double-action pull of the trigger so that the manual safety can be left off (an internal hammer-block safety makes this a safe practice just as with a modern revolver). Ruger P-85s are a little hard to find; apparently their low price tag makes them get snatched up faster than the company can make them. The P-85s may become even harder to purchase; they're scheduled to be in the next round of tests for a US Military Pistol (possibly to replace the Beretta 92F). Many gun experts are expecting the P-85 to win out since it is considerably less expensive than any of the contenders while having as good or better quality. Sturm, Ruger & Company is getting new plants set up in Arizona to increase production. My advice: if you can find a P-85, consider purchasing it; it's a good buy.--D. Long F.I.E. PARA .22 LR is not currently being imported into the US. Therefore, if you can find one, it's one of those guns that can double as an investment since it has become a bit of a collector's item. ŠThe rifle is sold in an olive drab brief case into which the Para fits since its barrel unscrews from the front of the receiver for easy takedown. The gun's 11-round magazine is located in its skeleton stock. About the only criticism of the gun is its fat wooden grip; it may be a tad too boxy for smaller hands. Some may also find the Para slightly heavy and those using the gun in cold areas should consider wrapping the stock with material to keep it from freezing to the skin. These are all minor shortcomings, however and, on the plus side, the gun has a non-glare finish, a grooved receiver for scope use, and can be taken down for compact storage. You'll have to look around for one of these; but the Para is one of the few survival guns that can double as an investment.-- D. Long F.I.E.'s TZ-75 SERIES 88 is a new variation of the TZ-75 pistol (which is the Italian copy of the CZ-75). Unlike earlier copies of the gun offered by F.I.E. which have the safety on the slide, this gun has its safety on the pistol grip (similar to that of the Colt .45 Auto). This safety arrangement makes it possible to carry the pistol in one of several modes including with the hammer down and the safety on, the hammer back and the safety on (like a Browning HP or Colt .45), or with the hammer down and safety off (an internal safety makes this an OK practice). This makes it simple for those used to anything from a revolver to a Colt .45 to switch over to the TZ-75 88 without a change of ingrained habits. Like other guns mentioned in this section, the TZ-75 88 has a low price tag coupled with quality workmanship. Unlike many of the new 9mm pistols, all the TZ-75 pistols have a steel receiver. This adds a little weight while reducing felt recoil; coupled with the comfortable grip of the gun, the TZ-75s are some of the more pleasant 9mm guns to fire. Another big plus is the .41 AE chambering that should soon be available for the TZ-75 88 guns (both as a kit as well as a second chambering). The .41 AE comes close to the ballistics of the .357 Magnum or even the .41 Magnum; those concerned with the power of the 9mm Luger may finally have a high capacity auto! If these features interest you, check out a TZ-75 88.--D. Long RUGER 77/22 STAINLESS .22 LR. As most shooters know, the 77/22 is possibly one of the best .22 bolt actions around. Now Sturm, Ruger & Company has out done itself and introduced a stainless steel version of the rifle WITH a composite stock. This gives Šthose shooters with a bolt-action leaning the perfect .22 survival gun. This gun comes with the same rotary magazine used on the 10/22 and will also accept the aftermarket banana magazines of 20-, 30-, and 50-round capacities. (While firepower isn't too important a consideration, it is nice to be able to carry a whole box of ammunition loaded and ready to go in one magazine in your pocket.) The gun has black sights which are easier than stainless sights to use (thank you Mr. Ruger) and comes with 1-inch rings that fit into the cuts in the 77/22's receiver. (The accuracy of the rifle merits a one-inch scope and the one inch rings are a nice touch.) The Stainless 77/22 is an attractive gun that is tough as nails and nearly impervious to the environment making it an important contender for those looking for such a rifle.--D. Long WALLY'S ORIGINAL GUN WIPE & CONDITIONER. A dealer friend asked me to try out Wally's Original Gun Wipe & Conditioner. It's a lubricated cloth, packed in a small zip-lock bag. I found it to be as advertised in GUNS & AMMO: very handy and effective. It will last a good long time and works in hot or cold weather. I like it because it can be carried in a pocket and I can wipe a gun after use before putting it back into the car. (Currently, it's available from The Gun Cage, 2525 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, KY 40205 for $6 plus $1 shipping and handling. The Gun Cage is also a source of quality targets in many sizes and varieties, including large "Ayotolla Komeni" targets and various bulls eyes printed in red or black. A sample pack and list of targets is also available for $3 including shipping.)--R.C. Watts CLASSIFIED AD RATES: 20 cents per word; $5 minimum. No billing. DISPLAY AD RATES: full page ads: $150; |-page, $75; 2/3 page, $100; 1/3 page, $50; 1/6 page, $25; and 1/12, $12. Ads run in two consecutive editions will get third ad free. Advertisers who give 10% discounts to Live Free members will receive 10% discount on ads. DIRECTIONS reserves the right to refuse advertising that is inappropriate. CLASSIFIED SECTION: NEW BOOK CATALOG!--50 pages describes over 300 titles. New books published every two months. Get the best books on weaponry, revenge and dozens of other subjects! Send $1.00 to: Paladin Press, P. O. Box 1307-LF, Boulder, CO 80306 (303) 443-7250. LOW-COST SHELTERS and simple comforts easily improvised Šanywhere: city, farm, mountains, traveling. Photocopies plans 10 cents and up or 95 pages on microfiche, $1 postpaid. Send SASE for catalog. Light Living Library, POB 190-DR, Philomath, OR 97370. SURVIVAL COMMUNICATIONS and ENERGY INDEPENDENCE newsletter: Our purpose is to teach both of these fields to survivalists. We review and advertise equipment, give many hands-on tips, review books, have a Q&A column an a classified ads section. EMP up dates as well as special feature articles on radios, accessories, solar panels, wind and hydrosources, batteries, and the whole 12-volt life style are covered. Special emphasis on ham radio and the latest energy equipment available. SAMPLE issues are $3; a subscription is $18. Cash or money order preferred. The Light Spectrum, Box 215-Ds, Kootenai, ID 83840. SOLAR MODULES for 12-volt battery charging: SOVONICS #P-201 is a 23-watt module, charging at 1.4 amp/hours. Portable, unbreakable design, $170 + 6 UPS each. ARCO #M-75 is a 47-watt module, charging at 3 amp/hours. Good for fixed arrays, large or small, $315 + 8 UPS. Money orders or bank checks only, quantity discounts and other 12 volt equipment available. Full info packet $3 cash. Include phone number if you have detailed questions. LIGHT SPECTRUM, Box 215-Ds, Kootenai, ID 83840. AUSTRALASIAN SURVIVOR--Australia's own survival magazine. Six issues per year, 48+ pages: $18.00. US Sea Mail. AUSTRALASIAN SURVIVOR, P. O. Box 11, Dickson A.C.T. 2602 AUSTRALIA. NUCLEAR WAR SURVIVAL SKILLS, second edition, by Cresson Kearny. The best book available on making and living in expedited fallout/blast shelters with related information. $8.50 post paid to Live Free, c/o K. Sarabok, P. O. Box 33399, Dayton, OH 45433-0399. FREE CATALOG--Survival books, concealed weapons, shoulder bags. Send #10 SASE to: All Source Systems, P. O. Box 596--DD, Morton WA 98356. [I had to think twice about printing this one since there are some ideas here that could be considered down-right unneighbor- ly. One must keep in mind that such elaborate systems are a humanitarian effort to avoid killing while avoiding being killed. The NICE thing about deadly force is that its existence or even possible existence is very often enough to makes its use unnecessary. Once the deadly force option is out of the formula, things get complicated and more dangerous.--J. C. Jones] THOUGHTS ABOUT DOWN UNDER A Commentary on the views expressed by Carl Turney in the Nov. 1988 issue of DIRECTIONS entitled "Non-Lethal Defense of a Family Shelter During Sustained Anarchy." BY "CROCODILE" SMYTHE I am not familiar with Australian laws regarding firearms, self-defense in the face of deadly force, etc., but, from the article, it appears that no firearms are allowed for the civilian population. Also, it appears that you essentially can not defend yourself with any greater force than is used (i.e., if the opponent has a baseball bat, then you must use something similar). (Let me digress a moment and address the population of US survivalists, hunters, shooters, gun buffs, etc., who at this time do not belong to any national pro-gun organization--there are literally millions of you. If you do not want to end up like Australia and lose your second amendment RIGHTS--not priv- ileges--you had better join some organization and help. Likewise, help preserve the laws on deadly force. The "enslavers" of the USA want to take away your firearms and your privilege to defend yourself. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.) In the article noted above, anarchy rules, the police/military can not help, shortages are creating riot mobs and looters. In general, the same things that will rule after a sustained nuclear attack. Now, let's look at the five questions the article posed: Number 1: You have 5 adults and 4 children in the home. About 15 people are at the front door, screaming and hollering and pounding at the walls. What do you do? Answer: If you believe that the riot crowd intends to break into the house and will eventually do so (and maim or kill all inside and take all the material they want--probably even fighting among themselves), you must disperse them in order to have time to make your next move, even if it is running. Some ways of dispersal include those noted in the text of the original article PLUS: A) Use a water cannon or high pressure water system. This is a low-level approach if you are of that persuasion (I am not). You should already have in place a system of sprayers (plastic pipe being better than metal due to the chemicals recommended later). The system should include a method to select what location is ON and OFF. Also a pressure system that can be directed to that sector and a way to introduce water or chemicals. B) If water fails, you can go to skin and eye irritants such as ammonia, household bleach (sodium hypochlorite 5.25%), lye, etc. The amount of damage can be controlled by the dilution with water. (Incidentally, a regular plastic squeeze bottle for nose spray is a good personal defense item to carry. After it is empty of its original contents, wash well and put one of the above solutions Šinto it. In close-in fighting--again with no firearms--it will put an end to the fight once it gets into the mercenary's eyes. It will not attract a lot of law enforcement attention with the original label marking it as a "nose spray." Just be sure you have a mark on it so no one sprays their own nose with it!!!) Once your mob is saturated and their eyes burning and skin itching (low-level chemical warfare), you can then announce on your public address system (PA) that if they get to the buckets of antidote in your fenced-in enclosure at the fence line, in five minutes, they will not be permanently blinded. They will probably quit their fight and head for the buckets in your enclosure! I believe in a double fence (as in prison camps) and you can close off a small section (with a ceiling, too) and have remote-controlled rolling gates on both the inside and outside of the fence. Open the inside gate and let the rioters in, then close it. You can let them out via the outside gate if you want. Detention would be based on what tactics you want to use next. A double fence is not cheap but it has a great advantage in letting you have some time between notice of first breech of the outside fence (due to your alarm system) and breech of the second or inside fence (like maybe letting attack dogs loose in the fenced area). C) If they need help in retreating, you can have remote- ly-controlled gates (belt transmitter operated similar to those in a remote garage door opener) which will open the attack dog cages. D) If this does not work, then you will have to escalate a little. This time load the spray system with gasoline (petrol) and spray the mercenaries. Once saturated, you can advise them that if they have firearms, they had better not use them as the flash will ignite them. If you feel safe, you can go outside with a long pole with a gasoline-soaked rag on it (on fire) and offer them the choice of going to the enclosure and buckets of antidote or being ignited. It is you or them--if you feel inclined to let it be you, just put down the fire brand--they'll do the rest! (Side note: all of the situations posed note small numbers of people. It is almost impossible for a small group to defend a fixed fortress. Small numbers--down to a few--can work best in guerrilla operations. You might even have to rove about if your shelter is over run. You can also have a group that is too large; you need enough to fill all the basic skills needed. You will have a lot of small kids and infirm/old/ill people, too, so it is no small consideration. As an example in these scenarios, the menace always seems to be a surprise. With the small numbers Šin your group, this is to be expected. With sufficient people, you could have round the clock perimeter patrols, with radios, so you would get not surprises and might even drive the intruders off before they get to the shelter.) No. 2: You have 4 adults, one teenager, and one child in the home (I assume shelter, home, etc., refers to the same place and not necessarily a nuclear shelter). A mob of 30 people are throwing rocks at the house and 6 have just climbed the fence. Answer: You might stop the fence climbing if you had an electric fence. A double fence would also help. This is really similar to case one except you caught them before they got to the house. You could warn them over the PA system that you have special defenses that can incapacitate or kill them and that they should disperse or take the consequences. Then let them approach the house and use whichever means in answer Number 1 fits the situation. Number 3: Your wife and teenage son are one hour late from a half-hour errand. You have one other adult and three children in the home. Answer: Once again, this is a problem of lack of people. We don't know how they traveled or what the terrain was (if by car, a simple flat tire could be the delay). With only the listed personnel and the conditions of anarchy, I would have sent the other person along since things are more dangerous away from the shelter; it is always best to travel with at least 3 people (if not bunched up, as in a car, one can usually get back to advise on the problem while two remain to help each other). Of course, I would not send anyone on an errand without a radio for contact; I would maintain close contact (coded with frequency changed according to a secret plan). The purpose of taking your wife and son hostage may be to draw you away from the shelter. I know it gets tough when the people are your wife and son. The only real solution is to have more people and to be armed. Number 4: When confronting 3 people at the front gate with another adult partner, you discover 4 more men have sneaked in over the back fence and are now between you and the (open) front door. One gun-shy adult and two children in the house. Answer: First, you don't get surprised like that. With a double fence and warning system, the can get in but not as a surprise. Secondly, don't confront anyone at the front gate; you're much safer in the house than at the gate. You could again have a belt-mounted radio remote control for releasing the attack dogs and get some immediate help. Once the dogs get the intruders down, you might want to assist the dogs with your "nose spray" (you still have the other three to worry about if the should start through the fence, but the attack dogs may discourage them). Handcuff the intruders with 5-cent "handcuffs" (these are made directly from the plastic straps used to bind cables, tubes, etc., available at electrical supply stores--no conversion needed). These plastic handcuffs have no key and can be removed by cutting but are strong enough to keep the person wearing them bound. I would suggest that you run the strap through a belt or belt loop and then around the wrists with the hands at the back. Escort your prisoners to the storage fence at the front and retain or release them on the basis of your next tactic (fight or flight?). If you can get back into the house before the other 3 come over the fence, then give them the treatment of question Number 1. (You might go straight to the gasoline and skip the earlier more humane treatment--judgment call.) Train all members of your group so that there is never an open front door, back door, window, or any other entry point when there is an emergency. (I am not sure what the gun-shy comment meant. Maybe there is a gun in the house--I hope so! Or maybe the person is afraid of guns that the back fence intruders possess?) Number 5: The armed police have arrived to confiscate your recently used tear gas kit and search your house for "illegal" food and radiation meters. There are ten of you. Answer: First, how do you know they are police? Uniforms and badges are easy to come by. And it sounds like you had some "illegal" tear gas--well hurrah for you. I don't know why the food and radiation meters would be illegal except if they were stolen. USA survivalists do not agree that food, etc., that they stored when there was plenty is hoarding--and neither should you. The irritants we noted in Number 1 are household items (at least in the USA) and are not illegal or even suspect. Your choice of action here is really not dependent upon the numbers of survivalists and of armed police. The decision is one you need to make long before it comes that and involves whether there is a government and law of the land or anarchy. You have to decide on the "fight or flight" plan. If the situation is a no-win one, then you need to capture the invaders and lock them up in your fence room (handcuffing them as well). It will take time before backup help arrives and by then you can be gone. If you leave, burn all that you can not take with you as the Soviets did in WWII when the German Army invaded them. It is hard for aggressors to survive in burned out houses, food stores, Šetc., during any "scorched earth" policy--big or small. Do take the police officers' weapons as you have elected to be governed by the law of survival rather than by bureaucratic policies. If you thought it was bad up to now, your troubles are only beginning as you and family members (ill, young, and old) try to operate as guerrillas (because that is what you have elected to do!). If you find a place that is sparsely settled (the outback?) which has food, water, etc., and maybe you have help from the aborigines (you'll need skills to do this), you might make it. No one said survival was going to be a rose garden! SURVIVAL ON A BUDGET: SURVIVING A RECESSION AND PROFITING FROM IT Most experts are agreeing that there will be a recession in 1989. After eight years of boom, some people will bust. A lot of yuppies are up to their ears with debt and will lose it all. The moral: Don't be a yuppie. Don't use charge cards; save them only for emergencies. Paying off your debts now can only help you, even if the recession doesn't come. Don't buy a new car or house or expensive "grown up toys" like a boat or an airplane. If you really want them, wait. They'll be cheaper during the recession since during a recession, prices come down. That is the time to buy. Remember: cash will be king. Save it now; spend it when it will be worth a lot more. DIRECTIONS is published by Live Free, Inc., 11123 St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL 60628. Live Free is a nonprofit, tax-deductible corporation. All general correspondence and subscription information should be directed to: Live Free, P. O. Box 1743, Harvey, IL 60426. LIVE FREE DUES are $15 for an annual individual membership ($20 Šfor annual overseas) and $80 for a life individual membership. MEMBERSHIP MAILING LISTS are held COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL and are NOT made available to anyone at any time for any price. CONTRIBUTIONS of manuscripts and photographs are made at the contributor's risk; manuscripts should include a return envelope with sufficient postage. Manuscripts should be typed and double spaced (no xerox copies, please). Photos should have captions. Contributors' names will be pub- lished unless otherwise requested. All material accepted for publication is subject to revision as necessary to meet editorial requirements. MANUSCRIPTS and other material for publication should be mailed to: Live Free, Attn: Duncan Long, Managing Editor, 11123 St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL 60628 Back issues as available at $1 per copy or $10 per 12 issues. DIRECTIONS STAFF executive editor JAMES C. JONES managing editor DUNCAN LONG production and mailing MARIE JONES