7 ms·
Either we know different Americans, or have different expectations of what their response is likely to be. I have heard from several friends and from family abo
by chao- 7y ago
Either we know different Americans, or have different expectations of what their response is likely to be. I have heard from several friends and from family about their acquisition of significant quantities of non-perishable food, boxes of face masks, and ammo. Definitely don't have their heads in the sand.
I'm somewhat closer to "head in the sand" myself. I am watching the news closely, but don't feel anything I can do in my immediate daily life is consequential to the situation.
- nl 7y agoand ammo Yeah those type of people always think civilisation is about to collapse. And lots of them are looking forward to it.
- remarkEon 7y agoWell, a lot of the folks I know who stockpile ammo are cops or veterans (or both) and as such would very much not be looking forward to any collapse, since they've very likely experienced a taste of what that would actually be like.
- prepend 7y agoThe measure of interest isn’t that those people exist, it’s whether there are more and how much ammo is bought. That change is of interest to me.
- SlowRobotAhead 7y agoI just bought 5k of 9mm... virus unrelated. Season is coming up and I’m out of practice. After these, I’ll have fresh brass and reload. Last year I ran about 15k, this year I bet 8k tops. Just too busy.
- prepend 7y agoWhat season require 9mm?
- SlowRobotAhead 7y agoUSPSA, IDPA, 3Gun, and teaching/training.
- chao- 7y agoWell, none of them are the weirdo doomsday prepper types who (as you say) seem to almost look forward to societal collapse in a creepy, power-fantasy way. For these friends and family, it is just a commonly-assumed, shared ethos. They do the same every time a hurricane draws near their part of the gulf coast, and are the first to try and help neighbors, friends or even strangers who need it if those folks are in need. Stocking up in advance of $WIDELY_REPORTED_THREAT is not something you really question, because it is what you, and everyone you know, has always done for as long as you can remember. Sometimes it has even come in handy and helped people.
- nl 7y agoStocking up on ammo seems very weird for someone outside the US.
- FortCollinsDev 7y agoIt seems very weird for someone inside the US.
- nitrogen 7y agoIt seems a little weird for someone from the semi-rural US, because you probably already had ammo on hand.
- LyndsySimon 7y agoI admit I “panic bought” some ammo. It’s for a practical reason, though - my preferred manufacturer for .300 AAC is Australian, and I figure there is at least a chance that the economic disruptions will impact its availability. If so, I picked up as much as I’d normally expect to shoot in the next six months.
- distances 7y agoIs owning guns and ammo "for shooting" a hobby throughout the country or just in the more rural areas? I'm wondering what facilities are there for something like that in urban environments.
- drKarl 7y agoWell, having ammo at hand would be useful if the virus mutated into a zombie virus...
- sciinfo 7y agoSocial distancing, avoiding crowds and certain events, washing hands routinely and before meals, wearing masks when ill would help reduce the spread speed a lot. Wearing masks also helps set a new social norm. It is now common in Taiwan subways and trains--basically everyone wears a mask.
- chao- 7y agoI have lived in Asia, so I am familiar with the model. Currently I am in a medium-sized city that isn't a major transit hub. I would take my own personal medical precautions, to be sure, if anyone within 2-3 counties away were a suspected case. That is the reason for my keeping an eye on the news. I don't have money to stockpile, much less concern myself with market-related shenanigans.
- yodsanklai 7y ago> It is now common in Taiwan subways and trains--basically everyone wears a mask. Not clear if it's useful to wear a mask if not displaying any symptoms. I didn't see any official recommendations for doing so. I've been traveling quite a bit in Asia these last few weeks, and I'd say 80% in planes wear masks. However, most of them don't use them properly. They take them on and off, reuse them, adjust them, touch their faces. Sometimes they don't even wear masks, but piece of clothes.
- CaptainZapp 7y agoI get food and masks But for what on earth do they need to stock up on ammo? For an European that's beyond strange
- spectramax 7y agoAs a european just look inwards at our neighbor - Switzerland.
- tonfa 7y agoSwitzerland has fairly strict gun possession laws, people have a military issue rifle at home, but do not possess ammunition. They also aren't allowed to carry/transport it except very specific situations (eg going from/to shooting range for training). So yes not comparable.
- cmdshiftf4 7y agoThe argument is essentially that if there comes a time of great shortage, whatever you've stashed for your own survival can be taken from you on a whim if you haven't the resources to defend that stash from those who would seek to take it from you for themselves.
- ALittleLight 7y agoSuppose someone else wants your stockpile of food and masks? Or that riots happen. Or that emergency services are overwhelmed and crime is a problem. Ammunition is relatively cheap and extremely high value if it's needed, and more likely to be needed in an emergency.
- qiqitori 7y agoPerhaps because those people who "want your stockpile" might have guns too.
- briandear 7y agoDuring Hurricane Sandy in the New York area, I was flooded in Jersey City and there was no power — there were roving gangs stealing throughout the neighborhoods. The police response was impossible. So yes, in the event of a serious catastrophe, you aren’t going to be able to depend on police to protect you. During Katrina, there was widespread looting but also violent gang rapes and other assaults. People, especially in inner cities, are easily victims of violence and theft.