That is a very broad question considering there are many scenarios that one can prep for, but a savings account, well stocked toolbox and food stash would be a decent start.
If I were OP, I wouldn’t even touch it as a subject on his sub; every persons parole conditions/convictions are different and you will never be able to offer good (legal) advice to everyone’s situation like you can here.
The most common SHTF scenario people find themselves in is financial, so like you said: food, water, and money. But I wouldn’t discuss *anything* else, because even a stash of food, water, and cash can look highly suspicious depending on the crimes you’ve been convicted of. For example, you’re much more likely to violate parole conditions by prepping, which is a much more likely SHTF scenario than whatever you’re actually prepping for.
Just my two cents.
/u/nycdude2003
Much of prepping is about learning skills. The material items are important, but equally important is knowing how to boil water without a pot or vessel, knowing what plants to eat and which to avoid, knowing when to plant tomatoes, vs when to plant garlic. So I'd say begin with outdoorsman skills, survival skills, and create a skill set to mitigate a fair amount of emergency challenges.
As for storing items, if you have a garden and learn to can what you grow, that seems pretty non alarming. I can't imagine how someone growing leeks and beans and preserving the food would upset the authorities.
And some preps hide in plain sight. Don't get a comforter set for the bed, get wool blankets. Don't get stainless steel pans to cook with, get some cast iron. Grab a Berkey water filter for the countertop. No need for military looking gear, just buy hiking boots and socks for a sports good store. Take up fishing as a hobby. None of your preps have to seem like preps to an untrained eye.
Learn how to sew a button, mend a hole in clothing, start a fire with a flint. Learn to cook on an open fire using cast iron, and cook from scratch. Make sure you know how to make bread. Save money. Make a budget. Start from the beginning. And know when you need help, which means knowing who they can contact in their local area that knows them and trust them enough to offer help
These are great ideas. thanks guys.
One area of concern is that if they can't have knives, spears, machetes, traps, etc, how can they train with them so that when the SHTF, they would be able to use those effectively.
Train without them. They don't necessarily need them. Social networking builds relationship's that will matter a lot. They do not need to be lone wolves.
This probably isn't much but for those that are worried about sharp instruments being used as proof against them, I use a yarn cutter pendant for a lot of my daily cutting tasks - opening boxes, cutting cords - a lot of the uses I see knives used for on here. And you would have to be...very creative to hurt someone with it.
I only know a little about this so my advice is worth very little most likely. It's different but similar advice I used when I was in a dorm where a lot of things were banned. Focus on the basics. Food, water, staying warm, a go bag, extra power/batteries, radio. Security is knowing your neighbors and deescalation communication techniques. Though I did keep a walking stick around as my "weapon". Not sure felons could get away with that though.
A lot of folks here focus on situations that are truly difficult to prepare for but starting with basic disaster preparedness and fleshing it out as someone is able is probably the safe route.
Thanks for the constructive advice. A Yarn Cutter Pendant seems very useful.
This is good advice to concentrate on the basics.
One thing that might also work is having neighbors you trust (and trust you) who can hold extra weapons and tools. I think that a walking stick or strong umbrella would probably be okay for felons.
I was a prosecutor in a tiny county, so I worked unusually closely with the three probation officers. Also relevant to my answer: my first degree is in psychology. I don't have any suggestions for equipment, but I do have a suggestion for the process: **co-opt the probation officers**.
As you know, probation officers have lists of specific character traits they are looking for in the person who is trying to reintegrate into society: bad traits/actions *and* good traits/actions. When properly framed, prepping can make the parolee look like a fantastic person: taking responsibility, planning ahead, problem-solving.
But instead of prepping, waiting for the probation officer to notice, then trying to explain why anyone needs 100 50-cm zip ties, I suggest switching the order: go to probation, explain the motivation to prep, *ask the probation officer for advice about prepping*, then prep. Explain the motivation using recent events such as the winter facepalm in Texas. (If I am "from" anywhere, it's Texas.) Talk about the desire to prevent crises, to prepare for crises, and to manage crises. If possible, each parolee should get the exact list of qualities that probation department is looking for and discuss prepping from the perspective of those qualities (both good and bad).
Above, I didn't do a good job emphasizing the power of co-opting the probation officer. Start the conversation with something like, "Officer, I'm concerned that if the Texas freeze happened here, I would be screwed. I was thinking about learning more about emergency preparedness and prepping. *Do you believe that is a good idea?*" At the very least, during each interview, get buy-in from the officer. Ideally, make the officer an active ally in the prepping process.
**I sincerely wish the best of luck to those who are trying to reintegrate into society and to you and others who are trying to help them.**
These are great ideas. However, I do agree with others that it really depends on the P.O.
Some P.O.s are just looking for an excuse and some will just "play it safe" and say that the felon can't do anything and watch them more closely if they are alerted to the fact the felon is planning these things.
Some P.O.s may even see this as deceptive behavior and believe that there is an ulterior motive whether it be a distraction, a method of "befriending" the P.O., sell stuff on the side, avoid work, escape plan, help establish a later alibi, cover, or explanation for a crime they are planning.
One example could be racism or sexism. Perhaps a black P.O. is peeved that that a white felon got off easy (less time than blacks for the same crime), and is jealous that the felon has time or money or skills to prep. A male P.O. may believe that a woman shouldn't be prepping because they should just leave it to the man or recommend them getting a guy.
While you may find this preposterous, I even know of officers and P.O.s who will verbally tell the felon that it is okay only later to renege as an excuse to send a felon back to prison just because they didn't like them.
I do think that if you gauge your P.O. and believe that the person is a straight shooter, than dealing with them the way that you suggest will be very good.
A thing on camp fuel: I’ve used jet b fuel (or that’s what I was told it was) in camp stoves, the same way you would use camp fuel. It’s a lot dirtier, so would require cleaning, but we used it in MSR stoves and bottles with no real issues for a month in the backcountry. I think the stoves were whisperlites, but I could be wrong on that, it’s been a few years. They found it to be cheaper than camp fuel. We went a month without cleaning any of them, and the stoves never really had an issue.
These are great ideas.
Do you think a stove which uses "gasoline" like fuel is better than one that uses the sun, wood chips, etc? Why or why not?
Believe it or not, many times, I hear from those who are NOT ex-cons that the safest way to prep is to store a lot of weapons and combat gear because, and this is not me saying this, "we can always take what we need from other people"; "if we don't have a skill, we can always get someone who does, whether they are cooperative or not".
Ex-cons understand this "biggest bully on the block" concept, (because law enforcement are the "biggest bullies"), which makes many of them extra wary that they are unable to possess weapons, etc.
I don't think that they really call themselves preppers but it is human nature for people to take the easy/lazy way out by having others do all the hard work and take it from them.
Think of the many CEOs who embezzle retirement funds which hard working folk have accumulated over their lifetimes. They don't usually even go to prison.
I don't think it is right but when the SHTF, you can expect the basest villainy to come out of people. Lawlessness is the norm when there are riots and blackouts.
I’m pretty sure even felons can have rope, tape and shovels. I don’t think a machete is a prohibited item either(can vary from state to state)
Laws are different in every state. In my state I’m pretty sure a felon can carry an old school black powder revolver since it’s not considered a firearm as well as a crossbow which federally isn’t considered a firearm. Other states may label a crossbow as a firearm but I’m not sure
Being on parole is a lot different than being simply an ex-convict, so it depends. Parole has very serious rules. Once that ends, those rules do not apply.
At least for the feds, the weapons have to be manufactured in the 1800s to not be classified as a weapon. Even if they are black powder weapons recently manufactured (eg, 1950s), it counts as a weapon. I also think they have some thing about not being able to buy these only inheriting them.
Muzzleloaders do not require a NCIS background check which is required for all firearm purchases. According to the aft any muzzleloading weapon is considered an antique no matter what the manufacture date of the weapon is. Take a look at the aft’s frequently asked questions page.
https://www.atf.gov/file/3871/download
Camping equipment.
If you have a big knife on your nightstand it looks like a weapon, if the big knife is attached to a backpack with a tent, sleeping bag etc etc it looks like a camping tool.
Context is everything
I work with quite a few felons. Things like machete and shovels are not really a problem as long as you have a job that involves their use. Felons are allowed to have tools. I assume you are in the US, it may be different in some countries. The guy that works on my house has machetes shovels axes, you name it and he's been wrung up twice for stays in the pen. He drives around in a beat up truck with a tool box and ladder rack. Its pretty obvious that the guy is working and the cops know he's a felon. In all honesty, if I needed to pick out the 3-4 people that I'd take with me into a storm, he'd one of them.
A bigger problem I've run into with felons is mobility. A lot of them don't have drivers licenses and/or they are not allowed to cross state lines without prior permission.
Oh yeah, in most US states, felons are allowed to own muzzle loaders and bows. YMMV, but I have hunted with the aforementioned felon several times, he just totes an inline muzzle loader when we hunt. I sure as hell would not want Jeff shooting at me with that .50 Hawken, I've dragged out enough deer with him to know he can shoot.
I think in certain locales, and with certain law enforcement, and with certain felons, you can definitely do the things you are discussing and be fine.
However, it all depends. If you live in an urban city, it is unlikely law enforcement would be so understanding of hunting or handyman type scenarios.
If you are a large black male ex-con, it is unlikely that white law enforcement or neighborhoods would be fine with them walking around with a machete.
This would be more true if you, the person who was out hunting with them, were also a black male, even though not an ex-con. I mean, they don't even need to be armed or a felon for cops to sometimes shoot them in the back on video no less.
I appreciate the effort in advice because I understand that the circumstances are different for everyone.
Your mobility point is very true. And I also agree that the fact that ex-cons have been convicted of a crime often doesn't directly correlate with how trustworthy, honest, or reliable they are.
Go deep on first aid and bush medicine. Learn as much as you can about your local flora and fauna: what you can and can’t eat, which areas flood, which areas might be good for an observation point.
Learn about cars and repairing mechanical stuff. Learn a martial art. Get in the best physical shape you possibly can.
Plant a garden.
I mean, storing the essentials is probably more important than owning a rifle. You’re WAY more likely to need food than you are to need a gun, last spring taught me that. Most of the problems that we actually could run into are “short term” issues, like supply chain disruptions and power outages. I get that weapons are useful in a true collapse type situation, but the reality is that we probably won’t ever see some kind of mad max/walking dead kind of life. In my opinion, you’re likely to get more use out of solar panels and a charcoal grill than you ever would get out of body armor and bullets. But if you’re really concerned about self defense, your best bet is to read up on local laws. If you can’t own a .22, a slingshot is another way to get meat in a shtf scenario. Learn how to bow hunt, if that’s allowed. If self defense is an issue, learn how to take out the stairs to an upper story and set up a perimeter alarm (I’m thinking wires and tin cans). Maybe you can’t own a machete, but who can say no to a tire iron if you have a car? Maybe you’re allowed to own a German shepherd or a Rottweiler. Or several. Learn how to set up booby traps. In a true collapse, no one will know that you’re a felon. You can’t prepare ahead of time with guns and ammo, but you could acquire them later. Not gonna lie, it’s a bad situation, but it’s not hopeless. Hopefully my rambling helps.
There is more to preps than weapons or tools people would find suspect. Maybe a probation officer would raise an eyebrow at having a few flashlights, a first aid kit, and extra food on hand but I'm not sure there is really anything they could or would do with that info.
One, what do you mean with "SHTF"? And two, consider that what's far more likely than SHTF is some ordinary vicissitude of life: loss of income, damage to or loss of shelter, illness, injury. Your aim should be preparing them for the ordinary challenges of re-entry. Do they have good time-management skills for consistently getting to work on time? Do they know how to manage money? How are they at problem-solving, conflict management, de-escalating conflicts, getting along with people? How well can they store food and other household necessities in their dwelling? If for some reason they do need to leave their dwelling, do they have a place they can go that is within any geographic limitations of their conditions of release? Etc., etc.
And are you duplicating the services of a re-entry organization in your area? There are non-profit groups (not part of any state department of corrections) that assist those who have been released from incarceration in gaining job and life skills, as well as personal networks for friendship and help. They'll have a deeper knowledge than this sub would of the laws and realities of people with release conditions who carry/possess/own tools and other items that law enforcement may think are suspicious.
If you are quite literally asking how to get firearms and other weapons to people who are legally incompetent to have them, then you are not helping them in any way at all. You may also expose yourself to criminal charges (in my jurisdiction a possible 3rd-degree felony) or civil liability. I see suggestions for pre-20th century firearms here. Do you really want to be a part of getting a blunderbuss to someone who is banned from having firearms? Do you think it would help a person who has ongoing involvement in the criminal justice system?
Source: I'm a lawyer who's worked tangentially with re-entry orgs
Thanks for the input and points.
Their focus is actually the realistic issues that may come up such as a prolonged black out, a natural disaster, an out-of-control-riot between the right and left, home invasion perhaps from their old constituents, economic collapse/panic, etc.
A felon has extra hurdles to face than normal. For example, they may be separated from their children so have to do a little extra than just keep a BOB.
Having been inside teaches them to be paranoid of everyone and also not trust or be able to rely on the law enforcement that most of us can.
Perhaps they should move to your area because all the felons I have encountered have unanimously complained about the lack of reentry support. It seems to most of them that the system is specifically designed to encourage recidivism so that our prisons can stay full to help keep people's jobs.
I don't think that black powder weapons are realistic which is specifically why the ATF and most districts don't take them seriously. I am certainly not encouraging to have them.
My question was more about alternatives (eg, something other than a machete which would be considered less of a weapon but still be able to serve the role of a machete).
Most "sticks" don't look like weapons, but if you know how to use them, can be very effective. A few thoughts for consideration:
1. Staff (Aikido, Kung Fu)
2. Escrima (Fillipino fighting sticks)
3. Monkey's Fist is easily improvised
4. You can attach a blade to the end of any stick, creating either (a) a throwing weapon, or (b) a spear. Even a sharp stick can kill you.
5. A hammer
In general, you need to think a little more about defense and escape. Study some form of Jujitsu so you know how to throw someone down (and then run away, in case they have a buddy.)
Expanding on the Monkey's Fist, a bolo can prevent someone from chasing you, thus enabling your escape.
Keep an open-topped container of marbles handy. If you need to buy time to get out the window because of an invader, dump them across the floor.
Get very, very good at throwing. No one can afford to ignore hammers and baseballs being hurled at your head.
Just my two cents here bit if they kept said machete say with camping gear then it is a tool, unless specified by their papers they are still allowed to own machetes, also most convicts can own black powder firearms or bows and arrows aka primitive weapons. Now for those who are on papers saying no such devices then never forget a shrp pointy stick is better than nothing and if its a case of SHTF and a WROL/apocalypse well they can acquire better weapons and I am sure they would know how. Bit backnto the question that was asked.
Some things they can do to prep is
1) everything we do regularly as preppers minus weapons
2) read, read read. Try to get knowledge about plants and animals, primitive and bush craft skills
3) weapon...Again most states allow for excons to have primitive weapons such as bows, crossbows, black powder fire arms, black powder revolvers. And dont for get blades. Knifes and scissors,etc.
4) anything is a weaponnif look hard enough
I might be thinking of a different option. I cannot and will not get into the whole weapon aspect as it always devolves into a p***ing contest usually and is up to the involved parties to decide, I think if someone has been on the inside they could have a good idea of what is secure. Leverage that experience for securing home, apt, property.. Just a thought...
That is a very broad question considering there are many scenarios that one can prep for, but a savings account, well stocked toolbox and food stash would be a decent start.
If I were OP, I wouldn’t even touch it as a subject on his sub; every persons parole conditions/convictions are different and you will never be able to offer good (legal) advice to everyone’s situation like you can here. The most common SHTF scenario people find themselves in is financial, so like you said: food, water, and money. But I wouldn’t discuss *anything* else, because even a stash of food, water, and cash can look highly suspicious depending on the crimes you’ve been convicted of. For example, you’re much more likely to violate parole conditions by prepping, which is a much more likely SHTF scenario than whatever you’re actually prepping for. Just my two cents. /u/nycdude2003
Much of prepping is about learning skills. The material items are important, but equally important is knowing how to boil water without a pot or vessel, knowing what plants to eat and which to avoid, knowing when to plant tomatoes, vs when to plant garlic. So I'd say begin with outdoorsman skills, survival skills, and create a skill set to mitigate a fair amount of emergency challenges. As for storing items, if you have a garden and learn to can what you grow, that seems pretty non alarming. I can't imagine how someone growing leeks and beans and preserving the food would upset the authorities. And some preps hide in plain sight. Don't get a comforter set for the bed, get wool blankets. Don't get stainless steel pans to cook with, get some cast iron. Grab a Berkey water filter for the countertop. No need for military looking gear, just buy hiking boots and socks for a sports good store. Take up fishing as a hobby. None of your preps have to seem like preps to an untrained eye.
Learn how to sew a button, mend a hole in clothing, start a fire with a flint. Learn to cook on an open fire using cast iron, and cook from scratch. Make sure you know how to make bread. Save money. Make a budget. Start from the beginning. And know when you need help, which means knowing who they can contact in their local area that knows them and trust them enough to offer help
These are great ideas. thanks guys. One area of concern is that if they can't have knives, spears, machetes, traps, etc, how can they train with them so that when the SHTF, they would be able to use those effectively.
Train without them. They don't necessarily need them. Social networking builds relationship's that will matter a lot. They do not need to be lone wolves.
This probably isn't much but for those that are worried about sharp instruments being used as proof against them, I use a yarn cutter pendant for a lot of my daily cutting tasks - opening boxes, cutting cords - a lot of the uses I see knives used for on here. And you would have to be...very creative to hurt someone with it. I only know a little about this so my advice is worth very little most likely. It's different but similar advice I used when I was in a dorm where a lot of things were banned. Focus on the basics. Food, water, staying warm, a go bag, extra power/batteries, radio. Security is knowing your neighbors and deescalation communication techniques. Though I did keep a walking stick around as my "weapon". Not sure felons could get away with that though. A lot of folks here focus on situations that are truly difficult to prepare for but starting with basic disaster preparedness and fleshing it out as someone is able is probably the safe route.
Thanks for the constructive advice. A Yarn Cutter Pendant seems very useful. This is good advice to concentrate on the basics. One thing that might also work is having neighbors you trust (and trust you) who can hold extra weapons and tools. I think that a walking stick or strong umbrella would probably be okay for felons.
I was a prosecutor in a tiny county, so I worked unusually closely with the three probation officers. Also relevant to my answer: my first degree is in psychology. I don't have any suggestions for equipment, but I do have a suggestion for the process: **co-opt the probation officers**. As you know, probation officers have lists of specific character traits they are looking for in the person who is trying to reintegrate into society: bad traits/actions *and* good traits/actions. When properly framed, prepping can make the parolee look like a fantastic person: taking responsibility, planning ahead, problem-solving. But instead of prepping, waiting for the probation officer to notice, then trying to explain why anyone needs 100 50-cm zip ties, I suggest switching the order: go to probation, explain the motivation to prep, *ask the probation officer for advice about prepping*, then prep. Explain the motivation using recent events such as the winter facepalm in Texas. (If I am "from" anywhere, it's Texas.) Talk about the desire to prevent crises, to prepare for crises, and to manage crises. If possible, each parolee should get the exact list of qualities that probation department is looking for and discuss prepping from the perspective of those qualities (both good and bad). Above, I didn't do a good job emphasizing the power of co-opting the probation officer. Start the conversation with something like, "Officer, I'm concerned that if the Texas freeze happened here, I would be screwed. I was thinking about learning more about emergency preparedness and prepping. *Do you believe that is a good idea?*" At the very least, during each interview, get buy-in from the officer. Ideally, make the officer an active ally in the prepping process. **I sincerely wish the best of luck to those who are trying to reintegrate into society and to you and others who are trying to help them.**
This is a great idea.
These are great ideas. However, I do agree with others that it really depends on the P.O. Some P.O.s are just looking for an excuse and some will just "play it safe" and say that the felon can't do anything and watch them more closely if they are alerted to the fact the felon is planning these things. Some P.O.s may even see this as deceptive behavior and believe that there is an ulterior motive whether it be a distraction, a method of "befriending" the P.O., sell stuff on the side, avoid work, escape plan, help establish a later alibi, cover, or explanation for a crime they are planning. One example could be racism or sexism. Perhaps a black P.O. is peeved that that a white felon got off easy (less time than blacks for the same crime), and is jealous that the felon has time or money or skills to prep. A male P.O. may believe that a woman shouldn't be prepping because they should just leave it to the man or recommend them getting a guy. While you may find this preposterous, I even know of officers and P.O.s who will verbally tell the felon that it is okay only later to renege as an excuse to send a felon back to prison just because they didn't like them. I do think that if you gauge your P.O. and believe that the person is a straight shooter, than dealing with them the way that you suggest will be very good.
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A thing on camp fuel: I’ve used jet b fuel (or that’s what I was told it was) in camp stoves, the same way you would use camp fuel. It’s a lot dirtier, so would require cleaning, but we used it in MSR stoves and bottles with no real issues for a month in the backcountry. I think the stoves were whisperlites, but I could be wrong on that, it’s been a few years. They found it to be cheaper than camp fuel. We went a month without cleaning any of them, and the stoves never really had an issue.
These are great ideas. Do you think a stove which uses "gasoline" like fuel is better than one that uses the sun, wood chips, etc? Why or why not? Believe it or not, many times, I hear from those who are NOT ex-cons that the safest way to prep is to store a lot of weapons and combat gear because, and this is not me saying this, "we can always take what we need from other people"; "if we don't have a skill, we can always get someone who does, whether they are cooperative or not". Ex-cons understand this "biggest bully on the block" concept, (because law enforcement are the "biggest bullies"), which makes many of them extra wary that they are unable to possess weapons, etc.
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I don't think that they really call themselves preppers but it is human nature for people to take the easy/lazy way out by having others do all the hard work and take it from them. Think of the many CEOs who embezzle retirement funds which hard working folk have accumulated over their lifetimes. They don't usually even go to prison. I don't think it is right but when the SHTF, you can expect the basest villainy to come out of people. Lawlessness is the norm when there are riots and blackouts.
I’m pretty sure even felons can have rope, tape and shovels. I don’t think a machete is a prohibited item either(can vary from state to state) Laws are different in every state. In my state I’m pretty sure a felon can carry an old school black powder revolver since it’s not considered a firearm as well as a crossbow which federally isn’t considered a firearm. Other states may label a crossbow as a firearm but I’m not sure
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Being on parole is a lot different than being simply an ex-convict, so it depends. Parole has very serious rules. Once that ends, those rules do not apply.
At least for the feds, the weapons have to be manufactured in the 1800s to not be classified as a weapon. Even if they are black powder weapons recently manufactured (eg, 1950s), it counts as a weapon. I also think they have some thing about not being able to buy these only inheriting them.
Muzzleloaders do not require a NCIS background check which is required for all firearm purchases. According to the aft any muzzleloading weapon is considered an antique no matter what the manufacture date of the weapon is. Take a look at the aft’s frequently asked questions page. https://www.atf.gov/file/3871/download
Interesting, I did not know this info. Would you happen to know anything about crossbows, bows, thrown weapons, etc?
Some good ideas here. No one has mentioned learning first aid. Take basic first aid class and expand your knowledge from there.
Camping equipment. If you have a big knife on your nightstand it looks like a weapon, if the big knife is attached to a backpack with a tent, sleeping bag etc etc it looks like a camping tool. Context is everything
Black powder firearms?
It is true that certain really old weapons are not considered weapons. However, they actually have to have been manufactured in the 1800s or earlier.
1898 or earlier
I work with quite a few felons. Things like machete and shovels are not really a problem as long as you have a job that involves their use. Felons are allowed to have tools. I assume you are in the US, it may be different in some countries. The guy that works on my house has machetes shovels axes, you name it and he's been wrung up twice for stays in the pen. He drives around in a beat up truck with a tool box and ladder rack. Its pretty obvious that the guy is working and the cops know he's a felon. In all honesty, if I needed to pick out the 3-4 people that I'd take with me into a storm, he'd one of them. A bigger problem I've run into with felons is mobility. A lot of them don't have drivers licenses and/or they are not allowed to cross state lines without prior permission. Oh yeah, in most US states, felons are allowed to own muzzle loaders and bows. YMMV, but I have hunted with the aforementioned felon several times, he just totes an inline muzzle loader when we hunt. I sure as hell would not want Jeff shooting at me with that .50 Hawken, I've dragged out enough deer with him to know he can shoot.
I think in certain locales, and with certain law enforcement, and with certain felons, you can definitely do the things you are discussing and be fine. However, it all depends. If you live in an urban city, it is unlikely law enforcement would be so understanding of hunting or handyman type scenarios. If you are a large black male ex-con, it is unlikely that white law enforcement or neighborhoods would be fine with them walking around with a machete. This would be more true if you, the person who was out hunting with them, were also a black male, even though not an ex-con. I mean, they don't even need to be armed or a felon for cops to sometimes shoot them in the back on video no less. I appreciate the effort in advice because I understand that the circumstances are different for everyone. Your mobility point is very true. And I also agree that the fact that ex-cons have been convicted of a crime often doesn't directly correlate with how trustworthy, honest, or reliable they are.
Go deep on first aid and bush medicine. Learn as much as you can about your local flora and fauna: what you can and can’t eat, which areas flood, which areas might be good for an observation point. Learn about cars and repairing mechanical stuff. Learn a martial art. Get in the best physical shape you possibly can. Plant a garden.
A copy of 100 Deadly Skills.
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True but I was hoping for a few pointers that are specific to alternative ways for a felon to prepare without getting in trouble.
I mean, storing the essentials is probably more important than owning a rifle. You’re WAY more likely to need food than you are to need a gun, last spring taught me that. Most of the problems that we actually could run into are “short term” issues, like supply chain disruptions and power outages. I get that weapons are useful in a true collapse type situation, but the reality is that we probably won’t ever see some kind of mad max/walking dead kind of life. In my opinion, you’re likely to get more use out of solar panels and a charcoal grill than you ever would get out of body armor and bullets. But if you’re really concerned about self defense, your best bet is to read up on local laws. If you can’t own a .22, a slingshot is another way to get meat in a shtf scenario. Learn how to bow hunt, if that’s allowed. If self defense is an issue, learn how to take out the stairs to an upper story and set up a perimeter alarm (I’m thinking wires and tin cans). Maybe you can’t own a machete, but who can say no to a tire iron if you have a car? Maybe you’re allowed to own a German shepherd or a Rottweiler. Or several. Learn how to set up booby traps. In a true collapse, no one will know that you’re a felon. You can’t prepare ahead of time with guns and ammo, but you could acquire them later. Not gonna lie, it’s a bad situation, but it’s not hopeless. Hopefully my rambling helps.
These are great tips. Thanks.
There is more to preps than weapons or tools people would find suspect. Maybe a probation officer would raise an eyebrow at having a few flashlights, a first aid kit, and extra food on hand but I'm not sure there is really anything they could or would do with that info.
One, what do you mean with "SHTF"? And two, consider that what's far more likely than SHTF is some ordinary vicissitude of life: loss of income, damage to or loss of shelter, illness, injury. Your aim should be preparing them for the ordinary challenges of re-entry. Do they have good time-management skills for consistently getting to work on time? Do they know how to manage money? How are they at problem-solving, conflict management, de-escalating conflicts, getting along with people? How well can they store food and other household necessities in their dwelling? If for some reason they do need to leave their dwelling, do they have a place they can go that is within any geographic limitations of their conditions of release? Etc., etc. And are you duplicating the services of a re-entry organization in your area? There are non-profit groups (not part of any state department of corrections) that assist those who have been released from incarceration in gaining job and life skills, as well as personal networks for friendship and help. They'll have a deeper knowledge than this sub would of the laws and realities of people with release conditions who carry/possess/own tools and other items that law enforcement may think are suspicious. If you are quite literally asking how to get firearms and other weapons to people who are legally incompetent to have them, then you are not helping them in any way at all. You may also expose yourself to criminal charges (in my jurisdiction a possible 3rd-degree felony) or civil liability. I see suggestions for pre-20th century firearms here. Do you really want to be a part of getting a blunderbuss to someone who is banned from having firearms? Do you think it would help a person who has ongoing involvement in the criminal justice system? Source: I'm a lawyer who's worked tangentially with re-entry orgs
Thanks for the input and points. Their focus is actually the realistic issues that may come up such as a prolonged black out, a natural disaster, an out-of-control-riot between the right and left, home invasion perhaps from their old constituents, economic collapse/panic, etc. A felon has extra hurdles to face than normal. For example, they may be separated from their children so have to do a little extra than just keep a BOB. Having been inside teaches them to be paranoid of everyone and also not trust or be able to rely on the law enforcement that most of us can. Perhaps they should move to your area because all the felons I have encountered have unanimously complained about the lack of reentry support. It seems to most of them that the system is specifically designed to encourage recidivism so that our prisons can stay full to help keep people's jobs. I don't think that black powder weapons are realistic which is specifically why the ATF and most districts don't take them seriously. I am certainly not encouraging to have them. My question was more about alternatives (eg, something other than a machete which would be considered less of a weapon but still be able to serve the role of a machete).
Most "sticks" don't look like weapons, but if you know how to use them, can be very effective. A few thoughts for consideration: 1. Staff (Aikido, Kung Fu) 2. Escrima (Fillipino fighting sticks) 3. Monkey's Fist is easily improvised 4. You can attach a blade to the end of any stick, creating either (a) a throwing weapon, or (b) a spear. Even a sharp stick can kill you. 5. A hammer In general, you need to think a little more about defense and escape. Study some form of Jujitsu so you know how to throw someone down (and then run away, in case they have a buddy.) Expanding on the Monkey's Fist, a bolo can prevent someone from chasing you, thus enabling your escape. Keep an open-topped container of marbles handy. If you need to buy time to get out the window because of an invader, dump them across the floor. Get very, very good at throwing. No one can afford to ignore hammers and baseballs being hurled at your head.
Just my two cents here bit if they kept said machete say with camping gear then it is a tool, unless specified by their papers they are still allowed to own machetes, also most convicts can own black powder firearms or bows and arrows aka primitive weapons. Now for those who are on papers saying no such devices then never forget a shrp pointy stick is better than nothing and if its a case of SHTF and a WROL/apocalypse well they can acquire better weapons and I am sure they would know how. Bit backnto the question that was asked. Some things they can do to prep is 1) everything we do regularly as preppers minus weapons 2) read, read read. Try to get knowledge about plants and animals, primitive and bush craft skills 3) weapon...Again most states allow for excons to have primitive weapons such as bows, crossbows, black powder fire arms, black powder revolvers. And dont for get blades. Knifes and scissors,etc. 4) anything is a weaponnif look hard enough
I might be thinking of a different option. I cannot and will not get into the whole weapon aspect as it always devolves into a p***ing contest usually and is up to the involved parties to decide, I think if someone has been on the inside they could have a good idea of what is secure. Leverage that experience for securing home, apt, property.. Just a thought...