Opinion
In a recent piece published by The New York Times titled “Americans Are Preparing for When All Hell Breaks Loose,” national correspondent Thomas Gibbons-Neff paints a vivid picture of the growing “prepared citizen” movement. The article showcases civilians—many of them veterans, professionals, and family men and women—training in firearms, communications, and survival tactics in anticipation of emergencies. While the article attempts to maintain a neutral tone, it quietly echoes a familiar refrain: that Americans who prepare for worst-case scenarios are somehow fringe or fear-driven.
Let’s be clear—there is nothing fringe about being prepared.
For as long as this country has existed, readiness has been a defining trait of American citizens. From the colonial Minutemen to the modern-day rancher, trucker, or nurse who trains with an AR-15 on weekends, the principle remains the same: be ready when your country, your family, or your neighbor needs you.
Gibbons-Neff, a former Marine infantryman, subtly leans on his service record to appear credible on firearms policy. Yet his body of work at the New York Times often carries a clear anti-gun bias. His past reporting has consistently emphasized the risks of “ghost guns,” the prevalence of AR-style rifles in high-profile crimes, and the perceived dangers of civilian firearm ownership—rarely, if ever, giving space to the millions of law-abiding gun owners who defend themselves and others each year.
In this latest article, he once again places prepared citizens under a microscope, portraying them with a sense of unease—as if readiness for natural disasters, civil unrest, or foreign attack is somehow abnormal. The undertone is clear: if you’re training with firearms, studying radio communication, or stocking supplies, you’re not a responsible citizen—you’re a person to be watched.
That framing deserves a response.
The reality is that armed self-reliance is not only normal, it is essential. America’s gun culture is not about paranoia—it’s about preparedness. It’s about having the skills and the mindset to take care of yourself and your loved ones when government services fail, or worse, become hostile.
When disaster strikes—be it a hurricane, blackout, or civil unrest—it’s not the government that shows up first. In Florida, it’s not FEMA that gets to a flooded neighborhood first—it’s the “Cajun Navy’ with a lifted pickup, medical kits, and the manpower to help. That guy often has a firearm, not because he wants to use it, but because he refuses to be defenseless.
As Americans, we don’t wait to be saved. We prepare. We train. We build community.
Groups like Barrel & Hatchet in Florida, and outreach-focused teams like Protect Peace, don’t appear to be fringe militias—they’re the embodiment of American civic spirit. They don’t exist to start a war. They exist to be ready if one comes to their doorstep. They’re about service, not sedition.
If anything, Gibbons-Neff’s article unintentionally validates why preparedness is growing: Americans are seeing the cracks in the system. They’re noticing rising crime, social unrest, economic instability, and increasingly politicized law enforcement. They’re not waiting for Washington’s permission to protect themselves.
The New York Times may not understand that. But here at AmmoLand News, we do.
So if you’re reading this and wondering if it’s time to learn first aid, get your ham license, or get additional training with that AR-15—you’re not crazy. You’re an American.
Be prepared. Be responsible. Be free, and above all else be very Dangerouse.
Live Inventory Price Checker
| PSA PA-15 16" Nitride M4 Carbine 5.56 MOE EPT AR-15 Rifle, OD Green | Palmetto State Armory | $ 879.99 $ 499.99 | ||
 |
PSA PA-15 16" Nitride M4 Carbine 5.56 MOE EPT AR-15 Rifle, OD Green | Palmetto State Armory | $ 879.99 $ 499.99 | |
| PSA 16" Carbine-Length M4 5.56 NATO 1/7 Nitride MOE EPT Rifle Kit & Rear MBUS - 516447449 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 719.99 $ 439.99 | ||
 |
PSA 16" M4 5.56 NATO 1/7 Phosphate MOE EPT Rifle Kit w/ Rear MBUS - 5165502313 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 749.99 $ 399.99 |
Firearms & Use Of Force Policy For House Of Worship Armed Congregant Security Teams
Survival Radios: Understanding U.S. Radio Types, Licenses & Gear ~ Prepper Conversations
About Tred Law
Tred Law is your everyday patriot with a deep love for this country and a no-compromise approach to the Second Amendment. He does not write articles for Ammoland every week, but when he does write, it is usually about liberals Fing with his right to keep and bear arms.
from https://ift.tt/f3vDRps
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment