It’s January in Illinois and most of us have it pretty good.  We can turn up the thermostat when our home gets chilly, we can take a nice warm shower anytime we want to, we can pay with our plastic card for groceries, we can fill our gas tanks and gripe about the cold weather, but we are alright.  What if your credit cards didn’t work, the banks were closed, gas stations didn’t have any fuel, grocery stores were empty, there was no running water or electricity, no water to drink,  no police, no medical, no phones, no nothing - what then?  You say it can’t happen here because this is the United States?  Well, it can and did happen in Puerto Rico, which is a United States Common Wealth.  Yes, they are deeply in debt and have been mismanaged but, my fellow Illinoisans, we should not be pointing fingers.  There is that saying that talks about people who live in glass houses; which just may apply to us.
 
Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, packing winds up to 207 miles an hour.  The electrical grid was smashed.  Some 80% of the cell phone towers went down and those who were left running on emergency generators soon ran out of fuel.  There was no way to call the police; even if there was, they weren’t coming.  Desperation and fear set in, and soon looting, robberies and murder began. Helicopters with food and other basics arrived as soon as possible. Helicopters also had to deliver cash to people.  What good are government checks if there are no banks?
 
I have a friend who lives there.  He and his immediate family are gun rights activists in Puerto Rico.  Some of his extended family is not, or perhaps I should say were not, big on the Second Amendment. When the house down the street was being broken into, some of his extended family suddenly appeared at his door wanting firearms and ammunition.  Fortunately, he was well stocked. He did discuss their anti-gun point of view along with lessons of safety and shooting.
 
My friend was out of power from the 16^th of September until January 10^th.  During that time, he carried a sidearm and had an AR15 with him at all times.  Everyone in his family made it through, but was a little worse for the wear.  His anti-gun relatives are new converts to the cause.  Not everyone in Puerto Rico was so prepared and lucky.
 
Last week, much the same thing happened in Venezuela.  Mobs came out of the cities and attacked two cattle ranches, killing and eating the cattle.  Those ranchers had no way to defend themselves and are most probably wiped out, if not murdered.
 
Let’s think about what we would do, or could do, if such a calamity were to happen to us.  Most people don’t even have a first aid kit or a five gallon bucket to draw water while there is water, or enough sense or know-how to use them.  Whenever something happens anywhere, the grocery stores are the first to go.  Do you have at least a week’s supply of food on hand?  What if you are ok and live near the catastrophe, but not affected directly?  When people are desperate, they are going to take whatever someone else has, if they can.  Remember the ranchers in Venezuela?  Do you know others that you can partner with to make it through all of this?
 
After WWII there were air raid shelters stocked with supplies.  In the basements of buildings in Chicago, as well as other towns and cities, there were sealed barrels of drinking water, rations, bedding, medical supplies and other necessities stockpiled.  No more.  Every once in a while there is an ad on television with a guy saying, “You might not be a prepper now, but you will be.”  Maybe he is right.
 
Thanks for being a member.
 
Upcoming events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
 
Saturday, January 20, 2018
ISRA Range Safety Officer Course (ISRA Range members only)
 
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
ISRA Wednesday Night Air Gun League
ISRA 10 Meter International Air Pistol League
 
Saturday, January 27, 2018
AR15 Instructional Class
 
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Women’s Only Basic Pistol Class
 

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