In this week’s mailbag we cover…
How to store large quantities of water long term…
Ways to protect yourself if you have limited mobility…
Whether or not to keep a round in the chamber…
How much water to store per person per day…
Using lasers on your EDC…
And what to do with an unruly or unsafe neighbor.
Let’s dive in…
I know how to store food long term, but how do you store a large quantity of water?
– Phillip O
Answer: One of the most convenient ways to store water is with WaterBricks. These 3.5-gallon containers stack up to 4 feet high, so you can put them practically anywhere.
And, at just under 30 pounds, they’re easy to grab and go if you need to evacuate. Another option is to store water in 55-gallon drums or 7-gallon Aquatainers.
Once you have figured out how you want to store the water, remember to keep the containers in a cool, dry place. Finally, try to store the containers on a pallet or some other method to keep them from sitting directly on concrete.
My wife and I have limited mobility. What ways can we protect ourselves from violence?
– Keith S
Answer: These days, criminals are always looking for vulnerable people to take advantage of. Of course, having good situational awareness is critical, but you must also have some type of self-defense tool to defend yourself. My top choices would be a gun or a stun-gun flashlight or a tactical pen.
Do you keep a round in the chamber at all times?
– Ken W
Answer: This is a very common question from people who are new to concealed carry and the answer is absolutely. I always want the gun to be ready to go. Under stress, you may not remember to rack the slide to put a round in the chamber.
(This happened to a student of mine during a close call in a home invasion, when he realized he was walking around with no round in the chamber.) I would never, ever carry a gun if it wasn’t loaded.
I have a question for you regarding water storage. How much should you have per person, per day, at a minimum?
– Aaron W
Answer: At home, you want to make sure you’re storing a gallon per day, per person. This will cover cooking and drinking needs with a little left over for some basic hygiene.
Of course, be cautious how you use this water as it will go faster than you think. The gallon per a day is the bare minimum, so if possible, I would try to store a little extra, especially if you live in a warmer climate.
When it comes to lasers, do you have any articles on reasons you personally have/don’t have a laser on your EDC? I have the Sig P365 and am looking at the G3 deep concealment holster, but it matters what holster you get depending on if you have a laser or not (trigger clip vs magnet).
– TJ
Answer: The thing about lasers on guns is that people become overly dependent on them. What I mean is, lasers can be a great accessory that help you shoot accurately, however, lasers are battery operated, meaning they can easily fail.
The last thing you want is for the laser not to work when you are clearing your house in the middle of the night. So, I think lasers are great and go ahead and get one, but make sure you still practice using your iron sights.
I recently moved into a new house and I have a neighbor from hell. I know that he is making and selling meth. I went to the police, got laughed at, and sent on my way. What do I do?
– Thomas P
Answer: The best thing you can do is to document everything you see and continue to present it to the police department. Also, do you have cameras at your house?
While you should definitely have cameras for home security, you can also have cameras that “accidentally” point more in the direction of their house to catch on-going activity.
Lastly, and this is going to sound strange, get to know your neighbor and make friends with them. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer- you never know what they’ll reveal to you.
Dear Jason, Once again, Kudos on your efforts to inform the public especially in this current crisis. “Till we meet again”. Musketeer Lee