"The Survivalist Pledge:
To help all that can be helped,
To defend all that can be defended,
To save all that can be saved,
To free all that seek freedom,
To stay alive as long as I can and stay free as long as I live.
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 poll
were put out as a news release on January 1, 1989.
The "Top Ten Dangers" poll 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 demonstrated 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. The 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
[I had to think twice about printing this one since there are some ideas here
that could be considered down-right unneighborly. 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]
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