Learning From The Coronavirus Situation

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • TexasBob

    Another day in Paradise
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 25, 2012
    2,485
    Space Coast
    I was sitting having a my morning cup of coffee reading posts and news about people across America are buying all the ammo and firearms they can get their hands on, when it came to me in a few months, a year or as long as it takes for people to calm down. People are going to get buyer remorse need money and be willing to part with those paper weights they can’t eat. There’s going to be a lot of Ammo and Firearms for sale very cheap and most of them will have never been fired. I do feel sorry for the schmucks that buy ammo at double the retail price and will only get less then half what they paid for it. :sad20:
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    My wife and I were just talking about this today, and we're each making a list of things that made us uncomfortable either not having or not knowing. We have virtually no concern with respect to food, water, and shelter. Good on ammo.

    We did find that we wanted cash on hand, and between the two of us, had less than $200. The past few days I've been hitting an ATM to build that ups, and today, took a walk to the bank and pulled a chunk out of my business savings account. We also decided we should have guns she's comfortable using. She's never fired my handguns or rifle, so once things settle down we're going to get her to the range (and if she doesn't like the guns we have, we'll get her one(s) she does like.) We also live a block from a gas station (and we are within 10 blocks of several) - today the close gas station was out of gas. Normally we'll run cars down to a 50 mile range, but I think we're going to fill up more frequently now.

    We also hit CVS and picked up a little extra cold medicine, Mucinex, nyquil, stuff like that, in case there's a run on it if/when people catch the virus.

    Really don't need THAT much cash on you (sounds like you are pulling out thousands, but maybe I misunderstand).

    If things get so bad that, say, FDIC is irrelevant, that cash you have has zero value. To anyone.

    Changes I've made. Wife didn't like, but acceded to body armor in the house (I've had hard armor in my beer, gun and hunting room for a couple of years, but I wanted/needed soft armor that can be worn under loose clothing, kept under the bed or handed to my wife).

    Also one of my handguns now lives in a handgun vault in my bedside dresser instead of in the basement in the safe. She asked me to do that.

    I have a couple of loaded BX25s for my 10/22 in the safe as that's the only gun my wife has ever shot. She isn't comfortable with it, but more so than any other gun. So I can hand that to her and the two mags and she has something.

    I've loaded up a few more PMAGs in the safe for my AR instead of the two that normally live on the door. I ordered more defensive ammo for my G17 as what I had on hand I have trouble finding (golden saber) and all I've got on hand are the two loaded mags and about half a box. I've got 6 boxes of Ranger T +p on the way. Enough to be comfortable that it runs, load a few mags and have enough spare I can run a mag through once a year for a few years before I run low. Also common enough I should be able to score a few more boxes to stock up if I find it DOES work well in my G17.

    Things I want to improve for the future.

    I have a generator and plenty of gas, but I've been wanting a larger one that is dual fuel for awhile. I am hoping I can still take care of that. Belt and suspenders on power.

    Good on food and water and medical supplies. Only thing I found out we didn't have much of was flour. Only 12lbs or so.

    Good on ammo, though I just bought a new handgun, so finding ammo for it was a bit of a pain. Some has shown up, some hasn't shipped yet. I have enough for the moment. Some day I'll pile it higher and deeper.

    I do also want to get a 22 handgun for my wife. She is extremely gun shy. I think I can get her to the range to shoot a 22 handgun a bit so she can be minimally comfortable with it. As she puts it, my 38sp 6" revolver is "that loud gun". So you can tell what her comfort level is (she was fine with the 10/22). I'd like her to be able to have something in her night stand. Even if 10 rounds of minimags in a Mark IV or something isn't the bees knees, its a hell of a lot better than nothing.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    I was sitting having a my morning cup of coffee reading posts and news about people across America are buying all the ammo and firearms they can get their hands on, when it came to me in a few months, a year or as long as it takes for people to calm down. People are going to get buyer remorse need money and be willing to part with those paper weights they can’t eat. There’s going to be a lot of Ammo and Firearms for sale very cheap and most of them will have never been fired. I do feel sorry for the schmucks that buy ammo at double the retail price and will only get less then half what they paid for it. :sad20:

    Very true.

    Also likely a lot of estate sales the next year or two. That's not quite so happy a thought.
     

    Alea Jacta Est

    Extinguished member
    MDS Supporter
    Really don't need THAT much cash on you (sounds like you are pulling out thousands, but maybe I misunderstand).

    If things get so bad that, say, FDIC is irrelevant, that cash you have has zero value. To anyone.

    Changes I've made. Wife didn't like, but acceded to body armor in the house (I've had hard armor in my beer, gun and hunting room for a couple of years, but I wanted/needed soft armor that can be worn under loose clothing, kept under the bed or handed to my wife).

    Also one of my handguns now lives in a handgun vault in my bedside dresser instead of in the basement in the safe. She asked me to do that.

    I have a couple of loaded BX25s for my 10/22 in the safe as that's the only gun my wife has ever shot. She isn't comfortable with it, but more so than any other gun. So I can hand that to her and the two mags and she has something.

    I've loaded up a few more PMAGs in the safe for my AR instead of the two that normally live on the door. I ordered more defensive ammo for my G17 as what I had on hand I have trouble finding (golden saber) and all I've got on hand are the two loaded mags and about half a box. I've got 6 boxes of Ranger T +p on the way. Enough to be comfortable that it runs, load a few mags and have enough spare I can run a mag through once a year for a few years before I run low. Also common enough I should be able to score a few more boxes to stock up if I find it DOES work well in my G17.

    Things I want to improve for the future.

    I have a generator and plenty of gas, but I've been wanting a larger one that is dual fuel for awhile. I am hoping I can still take care of that. Belt and suspenders on power.

    Good on food and water and medical supplies. Only thing I found out we didn't have much of was flour. Only 12lbs or so.

    Good on ammo, though I just bought a new handgun, so finding ammo for it was a bit of a pain. Some has shown up, some hasn't shipped yet. I have enough for the moment. Some day I'll pile it higher and deeper.

    I do also want to get a 22 handgun for my wife. She is extremely gun shy. I think I can get her to the range to shoot a 22 handgun a bit so she can be minimally comfortable with it. As she puts it, my 38sp 6" revolver is "that loud gun". So you can tell what her comfort level is (she was fine with the 10/22). I'd like her to be able to have something in her night stand. Even if 10 rounds of minimags in a Mark IV or something isn't the bees knees, its a hell of a lot better than nothing.
    “...cash you have has zero value...”

    I propose you are not the survivalist you might one day be.

    Grade A arse wipe and not bad for starting a fire.

    Let’s hope it don’t come to that.
     

    outrider58

    Eats Bacon Raw
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 29, 2014
    49,818
    Really don't need THAT much cash on you (sounds like you are pulling out thousands, but maybe I misunderstand)...

    Maybe not in a full blown 'end of the world' scenario, but there is plenty of need for cash before things reach that point, IMHO.

    Point is, never count anything out.
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    I always keep a good supply of cash in the safe.... agree in a full grid down, the zombies are charging, type scenario, it isn't worth much, but there are plenty of situations on the short- to mid-term disaster scale, where it still is something you want on hand.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,159
    During an emergency if the grid is down cash will work when plastic won't.

    Sometimes people will sell something cheap when they need cash. Might be a gun if they have no ammunition for it.

    More than one refugee has bought a boat ride with cash.

    Bribes often work better in easily concealed cash rather than bulky rolls of TP.
     

    onedash

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 24, 2016
    1,026
    Calvert County
    Well I somehow got low on rice, and picked up a bag after this started. I had plenty TP, don't use hand sanitizer, bullets a plenty. Can't store internet, frowny face.
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    I had some supplies stored up, but honestly didn't expect a run on toilet paper. Food wise, I had reserves, but the wife still hit the stores and asked me to do the same. Guns and ammo, I am fine, medical supplies I was ok, but still got more as I could find it. My biggest lesson was, I didn't expect it spiral downward as quickly as it did. I thought it would be a slower descent, not an almost immediate panic. I also wished I had pulled SOME money out of my stocks before they tanked so far, so I had some reserve cash in case I get laid off, and not spent so much before. I have perfect hindsight.

    Also, since the kids have been home alone this week, and I have been in and out sporadically, I showed my daughter where her 15-22 was, and the loaded mags. Our neighbors are section 8 crackheads, so if it gets REALLY bad, I definitely feel they are a threat.

    My wife works at a bank. Since last week, people have been flocking to the bank to pull their money. Some a few thousand, others want their whole savings out. It's been crazy, people come in sick coughing at her, rude, angry, taking it out on her and the other staff. They have a bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter and she said someone tried to steal it. The bank has limits on how much cash a person can take out before they have to order more cash, and over a certain amount they have to order the cash, and it comes in a week later. Imagine most customers coming in all week long, pulling thousands of dollars in cash out, then at the end of the week workers come in to cash their paychecks. Reminiscent of 1929. People don't care their money is insured by FDIC, still a run on the banks. So, always have some cash on standby, as it will be useful at the beginning of the SHTF. After that, evidently toilet paper is gold.
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,337
    The run on TP and paper towels surprised me as well. Never in my 20 or so years in Maryland did I witness something like this, even with the past blizzards.

    One thing that I have witnessed is that the liquor stores seem to hold up to any event.

    Out of all of the stores I have been surveying for the past several days, Costco seems to be the most resilient, organized and reliable grocer to continue supplying food and other consumables as needed.
     

    ToolAA

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 17, 2016
    10,500
    God's Country
    I always keep a good supply of cash in the safe.... agree in a full grid down, the zombies are charging, type scenario, it isn't worth much, but there are plenty of situations on the short- to mid-term disaster scale, where it still is something you want on hand.


    In general I agree with this but if the Govt starts printing cash over the next 6-12 months be careful.

    I’m just not sure of any other option at this point.
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    Also never realized how being off under a stressful situation would make the kids want to go back to school, if just to see their friends. Make sure you have plenty of medication. My son has anxiety issues, and we have been fighting with his counseling office and the insurance company about his medication. He ran out last week, and the counseling office then was unresponsive, and this week seem to be out, and can't even function via phone or email. My son is a little anxious about the whole situation, but my daughter seems to be keeping him somewhat calm. I called CVS today to try to talk to someone in the pharmacy and was on hold for a half an hour, no joke.

    This is definitely a learning experience that I hope we come out stronger from.
     

    6-Pack

    NRA Life Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 17, 2013
    5,647
    Carroll Co.
    The run on TP and paper towels surprised me as well. Never in my 20 or so years in Maryland did I witness something like this, even with the past blizzards.

    One thing that I have witnessed is that the liquor stores seem to hold up to any event.

    Out of all of the stores I have been surveying for the past several days, Costco seems to be the most resilient, organized and reliable grocer to continue supplying food and other consumables as needed.

    It’s not just Maryland. It’s everywhere in every state, urban and rural areas.
     

    fidelity

    piled higher and deeper
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 15, 2012
    22,400
    Frederick County
    Also never realized how being off under a stressful situation would make the kids want to go back to school, if just to see their friends. Make sure you have plenty of medication. My son has anxiety issues, and we have been fighting with his counseling office and the insurance company about his medication. He ran out last week, and the counseling office then was unresponsive, and this week seem to be out, and can't even function via phone or email. My son is a little anxious about the whole situation, but my daughter seems to be keeping him somewhat calm. I called CVS today to try to talk to someone in the pharmacy and was on hold for a half an hour, no joke.

    This is definitely a learning experience that I hope we come out stronger from.


    I'm also concerned about the long-term mental health of some after we get this virus under control (maybe with an assist from the seasonal change).

    First, we have stock market crashes and eventual layoffs that affect people's financial wellbeing which feeds into their stress.

    Second, in our lifetime, the only collective event that was maybe comparable is 9/11. We all will remember this one and be affected by it. Moreover people are being forced to isolate themselves from others. Interacting with other humans on a daily basis can be frustrating at times but it's also stabilizing for many. Some might have social media or a web forum as an escape, but being at home other than for walks, and interacting less with society may create issues for some (combined with the whole stress of whether one might get infected, what the outcome will be, etc). There are videos folks in Italy made, pretending they time traveled and could talk to themselves 14 days earlier, to warn them what to expect. They were grim in what they told their earlier selves. You could see the toll on their faces.

    I appreciate that the President has simultaneously sought to motivate people to action (and obviously direct the federal response) while trying to calm people and present some optimism. I think this is important.

    Circling back, I hope you're able to get the proper medication for your son. The additional anxiety that he's feeling is unfortunate/sucks. Your daughter helping out is great.

    May/June can't come soon enough (I'd expect some return to normalcy, or a new normalcy then), and irrespective if the disease and spread gets worse in fall, I think many kids of age that understand what's going on this month will forever be a part of the COVID-19 generation. Interestingly, they say the survivors of the 1918 pandemic rarely talked about the disease in later years. They wanted to blot it from memory.
     

    welder516

    Deplorable Welder
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    27,307
    Underground Bunker
    Stable food stuffs for us , been hitting up stores almost daily picking up 2 or 6 items . I also think our sterilization and cleaning supplies are very limited , peroxide and alcohol along with Purel is on our list as well as mask . I will also add to our money or cash on hand
     

    Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,856
    I'm learning more and more about the power of the mob psychology that occurs in situations like this.

    I mean, the power is on, the trucks are running, we have Netflix, Amazon Prime and ice cream.....and people are getting "the look".

    Further, watching the word "need" starting to get thrown around more, as in you don't "need" that thousand dollar stimulus check - you should be glad that it does to someone who "needs" it.

    Next step is a determination of the need for how much food you have, how big a house you have based on the number of people living there, your need for a certain vehicle.

    This all scares me more than any disaster, because regardless of my level of self-preparedness, it is clear that the mob will be perfectly happy taking it from me.
     

    welder516

    Deplorable Welder
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    27,307
    Underground Bunker
    I'm learning more and more about the power of the mob psychology that occurs in situations like this.

    I mean, the power is on, the trucks are running, we have Netflix, Amazon Prime and ice cream.....and people are getting "the look".

    Further, watching the word "need" starting to get thrown around more, as in you don't "need" that thousand dollar stimulus check - you should be glad that it does to someone who "needs" it.

    Next step is a determination of the need for how much food you have, how big a house you have based on the number of people living there, your need for a certain vehicle.

    This all scares me more than any disaster, because regardless of my level of self-preparedness, it is clear that the mob will be perfectly happy taking it from me.

    I doubt anyone will take it from you unless you would give it to someone , because you did think down the road .
    Lots of us were thinking down the road and made some level of care to take care of our families .
    But you are right Human Behavior is weird and troubling to watch , with this hiccup it is challenging and it is not a level 10 problem just think if it was a level 10 issue .
     

    Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,856
    I doubt anyone will take it from you unless you would give it to someone , because you did think down the road .
    Lots of us were thinking down the road and made some level of care to take care of our families .
    But you are right Human Behavior is weird and troubling to watch , with this hiccup it is challenging and it is not a level 10 problem just think if it was a level 10 issue .

    I'm heading out every single day and shopping for both our house and my parents, because they are simply under estimating the supply chain economics of all of this. Their normalcy bias is pretty high.
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,928
    Messages
    7,259,393
    Members
    33,349
    Latest member
    christian04

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom