Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #170. Thanks for stopping by to spend a few minutes with us. We hope you are healthy, blessed, and doing great considering all the crazy stuff taking place around the world. HFS appreciates you and your time. Enjoy your visit with us. Please let me know if you have questions. I would like to welcome the new PENL members who subscribed to HFS this week.
Ms. Lucy and I enjoyed a busy Independence Day weekend at home in East TN. We took care of outdoor work on a hot Saturday doing garden and yard work. We then enjoyed a Patriotic Church service on Sunday before enjoying a nice lunch with four HFS Patriots. It was an enjoyable day together. We then enjoyed our annual neighborhood fireworks display with several HFS Patriots Sunday evening. The long weekend was good and helped recover from a long June.
Through all the worldly events we must remember to be thankful. We received our first significant rain this week since mid-May. Have you ever stopped to listen to hear the birds sing during rainstorms? It is pretty uplifting to the soul. I won't say the birds are as happy as we are. While we felt like doing the happy dance, my buddy Wilson was hiding in the trees staying dry. We all see things from a different perspective I suppose and that is why I try to make the PENL different.
Okay, let us move along.
Thursday Zoom Rallies – The HFS Zoom Rally #90 was conducted July 7, 2022. This week's topic was on Christians obeying or disobeying government guidance when it appears they are operating outside the moral foundation of our founding fathers and Biblical scriptures direction of obedience. This included discussion on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence and scripture. Thanks to those who could attend.
HFS Zoom Special Event - It is with great honor and pleasure to have a brother in Christ and Patriot as a guest for a HFS Zoom Special Evening with Mr. John Dyslin, author of Nehemia Strong - Life-Sustaining Essentials for a Season of Trial.
You may remember HFS promoted this book in last week's PENL. I can't say enough great things about this book and the information it not only contains, but the effort it took putting it together. Wow. Thanks to our HFS Patriot sister in NC who linked John and I together. John's book, Nehemiah Strong has been endorsed by the likes of Steve Quale, Doug Hagmann, Dave Hodges, Coach Dave, Pastor Paul Begley, and more. This event will occur next Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 7:30 PM EST via Zoom platform. If you are not a regular attendee to HFS Zoom rallies but would like to attend this event, please email me at preparedness101@protonmail.com. I must hear from you NLT noon, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. You can purchase Nehemia Strong at www.johndyslin.com.
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Odysee - Hope for Survival (odysee.com)
Parler - Preparedness101
Check out two new HFS YouTube videos at the following links. The most recent post is titled Bag accessories and July Update, posted July 6, 2022. If you have not, please hit subscribe and support our efforts to get the preparedness message out. We would like to see growth on the YouTube Channel platform. Thanks. https://youtu.be/ybQblbkXBWA and https://youtu.be/uN28C9UFlMc
Connect and give me a shout. Share with family and friends.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books and HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents -: You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents - We just restocked the HFS Thumb drive and have them available now. Follow this link and you will see the add at the top of the page. Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week - Relax. Pull up a chair and let me share some thoughts with you about my amazing week. If you see a typo or lost comma, forgive me but I'm focused more on telling you the truth.
Have you noticed all the crazy stuff going on almost daily involving average citizens getting caught in the same place as a raving crazy person wishing to cause deathly bodily harm to innocent people? It may be a stranger, a friend, a neighbor, a family member, or even you who gets caught in the danger zone. Sadly, in many cases involving gun violence the shooter leaves markers and identifiers well in advance. School, social media, tells friends, buys lots of guns with support from a parent who may be afraid of the child or believes little Johnny would never hurt anyone. Some already went through some level of psychological counseling to include violent drawings and/or threats against others. Doctor/patient privilege often protects the threat and then it happens and it's too late. Yea, I know, poor Johnny had a rough childhood and his babysitter abused him by taking away his pop tarts or something horrible. All the sudden we must have sympathy for little Johnny because he is a graduate of feelings university. My question is what about the innocent victim in the shooting or violent event? That could be you or a loved one.
Do you take for granted each day that you leave your home and return home safely? Everything that happens is on the television screen, newspaper, or internet. You may be antigun or simply rely on local law enforcement or local security of the place you are visiting to handle the crazies roaming the street. Let's say you are unarmed by choice and I'm going to ask you, what if?
- You are at church and get up during the sermon to visit the bathroom. While in the bathroom you hear multiple gun shots going off. You run to the bathroom door and open it to find multiple gunmen blocking the entrance to the sanctuary. Your wife and children are inside, and you can't be with them to help them? Remember, you are unarmed and can't do nothing about it. Have you at least discussed a plan with your family to get on the floor and hug the ground?
- You decide to take your family out for dinner and midway through the dinner a gunman rushes through the door firing off multiple shots towards pedestrians at the outside tables and then inside tables. Everyone screams and panic ensues. People are rushing to get away while falling over one another and shot victims on the floor. You are unarmed again and don't know what to do. Did you consider flipping the table over to use as a shield? Did you pre identify the route to the back door through the kitchen? What if you had chosen a table where you could face the front glass and doorway and identified the shooter before the threat entered the front door? What if you had been armed? You could possibly have saved other lives to include your own family. You are anti-gun or opted to not be armed.
- You are at a stop-n-rob getting gas and your spouse ask you to run in and grab milk to avoid going to the grocery store. While in the store you notice two men standing by your car beating on the glass when suddenly the passenger window by your wife explodes throwing glass all over your wife. Your wife is screaming as one of the men attempts to drag her from the car as she is holding on to her purse. The man punches her in the face. You are standing in shock and unsure what to do. You are unarmed and suffer from brain freeze. Your wife is being physically beaten and you are paralyzed unable to respond. Imagine if you and your wife both took gun safety classes and then firearms training classes from an experienced trainer. Most gun owners are trained and carry a firearm to protect the life of family and others. You could have responded the same way had you been trained. Instead, you froze, and your wife had to withstand the beating until local police arrived on scene. Do you still feel the same about firearms now as you did before the event? Your choice.
- It's 3 AM and you and your wife are sound to sleep. You sleep well knowing your home has a security alarm system and you live in a safe neighborhood where nothing ever happens. You are so confident that you often fall asleep leaving a garage door up for your pet to run in and out to use the bathroom, so you don't have to get up. Nothing ever happens so why worry about it, right? Heck, no one driving through your neighborhood scoping out homes would never notice the door up, right? On this night, you are wrong and some rough necks across town decide to have a little fun. They walk right into your house and start destroying your property. One of the gents who probably does not qualify for citizen of the year carried a gas can from outside and starts dumping gasoline all over your new furniture. Your wife is screaming and the more she screams the more damage they do and louder they laugh. You don't own a firearm and are unsure what to do aside from wishing your little yapper dog would suddenly blossom in to a German Sheperd and attack the men. What if you had closed the garage door, tested your home security system for functionality, and had some form of home protection? Heck, what if you even went overboard and discussed a plan with your wife and family? You decide.
- What if you or your spouse is at work having a normal day when a fired coworker goes to their car and reenters the facility with a firearm and takes everyone hostage? The employer has unarmed security contractors and a no firearms policy in the facility. What should you or your spouse do at this point? Does the employer offer an active shooter training program? With or without training, have you considered what you would do or discussed with your spouse what to do?
I could go on and on and give you a "what if" situation for every excuse you provide as to why you shouldn't be trained and armed in the world today. It doesn't make you a bad citizen, it makes you a responsible citizen. At this point you have decided to rely on the system or another human to provide you with personal protection because you opt not to be responsible yourself. While you contemplate the statement I just made, think about how many citizens possess illegal firearms with the intent to harm innocent citizens. Changing the gun laws will not protect you any more than you take steps to protect yourself. Bad people do bad things. If not with guns, they will use another delivery method unless stopped by a system that seems to be missing its intent, or by law enforcement who is likely on scene after the fact, or an armed private citizen.
A commonality amongst active shooters in America, are almost all, if not all, using some form of prescribed psychotropic medication. You may ask why aren't all of these Indvidual's in some level of counseling? Current practice in the US is any individual prescribed one of several medicines in this category aren't always required to receive counseling. Why? When psychotropic medication is prescribed, psychiatrists typically provide a mental health diagnosis, while primary care physicians do not always do so. Since 2001 roughly 22 percent of Americans are prescribed and take one or more prescribed psychotropic drugs. That is about one in five adults taking one or more. Roughly 3% take more than one.
There should never ever be a point in any situation where an adversary can read you and predict your actions because of things they learned from your habits and trends. Learn to be a hard target in all that you do. A hard target mentally, physically, and historically. Staying safe is a personal choice. Bad people with bad intentions pick soft targets, no gun zones, and locations with weak and predictable security practices. Without a plan and the ability to protect yourself and your family you are setting yourself up to be a statistic.
I would strongly encourage you to read my book titled Hope for Survival - The Mindset to help better understand what I am making as my point above. You can purchase the book here on the website. I'm trying to help you stay safe. Remember, preparing is your insurance policy for what you prepared for. You buy life insurance to protect your family once you are gone. Why not build an insurance policy to keep you safe to be with your family now vs after you are gone?
Next ...
Would you agree it does no good complaining about the US government shipping our oil reserves to Europe? Go buy more gas at $100 per tank so we can help finance more aid to the rest of the world. Ever get the feeling we just do not matter to those elected who works for us? I guess most didn't hear about the reserve oil being shipped because all the media is talking about a nearly 80-year-old overweight man who lunged nearly 20 feet from his seat towards the steering wheel in his limo. Or was it his suburban? No one seems to know for sure.
I would imagine no one heard about the Chinese buying a large swath of land in North Dakota near our U.S. Air Force Base either. What? Who would buy land in North Dakota when you can't grow food six to eight months per year? If not for food, then why? Oh wait, they also purchased around 3,000 acres of land near a major US Air Force pilot training base in Texas. Must be a good plan to grow year-round food in partially drought stricken west Texas, right? Seems the US Air Force Base in North Dakota is not only a key drone base for US military but also a critical military base for worldwide military communications. Yet, Orange man lunging 20 feet for the steering wheel of his limo is more important than anything else. I digress. We never learn, do we?
Isn't it interesting that reports are now suggesting one law enforcement officer in Uvalde, Texas had a clear view and possible shot at the gunman as he ran towards to the school? The explanation given is the officer was under a stand down order. How about that. Sounds a lot like similarities from the Florida school shooting a few years ago, huh? The average citizen does not normally know or see specific details in a crime and what leads to the crime. Having years of law enforcement background experience, certain things stand out to raise red flags on all levels. The recent Highland Park, IL attack had immediate red flags. Why so many similarities. Speaking of which, why did the Colorado theater shooting investigation never answer the question as to who opened the theater emergency exit door to let the shooter inside? As an investigator to a crime, we want to always determine how many suspects are involved in the crime. Did anyone aid the shooter? Again, who opened the door, propped the door, and knew at what time to open the door?
While we are pounded daily by the government and media over civil rights a recent poll shows less than 3% of those polled is concerned over civil rights in America. Have you noticed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stands firm on the court and is being attacked at every opportunity? Wasn't he the same Clarence Thomas attacked around 1991 by then Senator Joe Biden?
While we realize things are getting worse and we realize we are a nation going through major changes, we hear crickets from the elected conservatives when one suggests our civil rights are being taken away. I know, I know, there is no way Washington, DC would do such a thing. I know this because the internet told me so and the internet never lies, right?
Next ...
Do you have pets? Are they part of your family? Have you considered building a preparedness plan for fluffy and Pluto to ensure they are covered and protected for disasters and unexpected events? Why not? You just said they are part of your family. Here's some tips to help you get started with a plan. This applies to all animals.
Remember, during a disaster what’s good for you is good for your pet, so get them ready today. If you leave your pets behind, they may be lost, injured – or worse. Never leave a pet chained outdoors. Plan options include:
Make a Plan
1. Create a buddy system in case you’re not home. Ask a trusted neighbor to check on your animals.
2. Identify shelters. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets.
3. Find pet friendly hotels, if possible, along your evacuation route and keep a list in your pet’s emergency kit.
4. Locate boarding facilities or animal hospitals near your evacuation shelter.
5. Consider an out-of-town friend or relative.
6. Locate a veterinarian or animal hospital in the area where you may be seeking temporary shelter, in case your pet needs medical care. Add the contact information to your emergency kit.
7. Some folks microchip a pet to make sure they have your address and phone number up to date, but that you also include contact info for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
8. Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information.
9. If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Find out where pet boarding facilities are located.
10. Most boarding kennels, veterinarians and animal shelters will need your pet's medical records to make sure all vaccinations are current.
11. If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger!
Tips for Large Animals
1. If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property be sure to prepare before a disaster.
2. Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
3. Evacuate animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
4. Make available vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. Also make available experienced handlers and drivers.
5. Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care and handling equipment.
6. If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them outside.
7. Take extra time to observe livestock, looking for early signs of disease and injury. Severe cold-weather injuries or death primarily occur in the very young or in animals that are already debilitated.
8. Animals suffering from frostbite don’t exhibit pain. It may be up to two weeks before the injury becomes evident as the damaged tissue starts to slough away. At that point, the injury should be treated as an open wound and a veterinarian should be consulted.
9. Make sure your livestock has the following to help prevent cold-weather problems. Plenty of dry bedding to insulate vulnerable udders, genitals, and legs from the frozen ground and frigid winds. Windbreaks to keep animals safe from frigid conditions. Plenty of food and water
Build a Kit
Most of the items can be kept in a backpack style bag, or a storage tub.
1. Food: You should have at least a three-day supply in an airtight, waterproof container.
2. Water: You should have at least three days of water specifically for your pets. Pay attention to them because they probably drink more than you would think.
3. Medicines and medical records.
4. Important documents: Registration information, adoption papers and vaccination documents. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database.
5. First aid kit: Cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Including a pet first aid reference book is a good idea too.
6. Collar or harness: ID tag, rabies tag and a leash.
7. Crate or pet carrier: Have a sturdy, safe crate or carrier in case you need to evacuate. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
8. Sanitation: Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.
9. A picture of you and your pet together: If you become separated, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you. Add species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics.
10. Familiar items: such as treats, toys and bedding can help reduce stress for your pet.
If you want to enlighten yourself about pets and disasters research the pet disaster that occurred during and after Hurricane Katrina. If you research, you will find FEMA did not provide suggested guidance for pets until after Hurricane Katrina. Take the time and build a plan for your pet(s). They matter.
Next...
I want to point out a preparedness trend I am noticing taking place as time moves forward. Many preparers who started preparing several years ago are becoming complacent in their routine and daily efforts. They are spending time focusing on preparedness measures they enjoy doing. This is good, isn't it? No, its not good if they are not spending time building plans and learning and practicing other preparedness needs such as medicinal, communications, security, food, water filtration, and other steps. Think about what you are strong in and then focus on other measures to broaden your skills, abilities, and capabilities.
And that's our thoughts for the week....
Preparedness News –
1. From Michael Snyder - Economic Collapse - We Are Witnessing A Stunning Breakdown Of Law And Order, And The Overwhelmed Police Seem Powerless To Stop It (theeconomiccollapseblog.com) - Can you say Jan 6 Hearings? Great starting point.
2. From Linda Loosli - Food Storage Moms - How to Store Salt Long-Term & 9 Rational Reasons You Should (foodstoragemoms.com) - I believe salt is one of the most overlooked items preparers think to stock in bulk.
3. From Bryan Lynch - Survival Cache - Are Pine Cones Edible? How to Cook and Eat Pine Cones, Pine Nuts, and Bark in the Wilderness - Survival Cache - Don't say never. I have been on an island where the people would give their first born to have some pine nuts or tree bark available.
4. From Greg Seebregts - Homesteading Hippy - Never Dehydrate These 13 Foods (thehomesteadinghippy.com) - Here is another good list to consider printing for your paper library.
5. From Miles Oliver - Survivopedia - How to Get Teens Interested in Prepping and Self Sustainability - Survivopedia - I hear this question often. "How can I get my young adults or teens involved in preparing?"
Other News -
1. From Ryan McMaken - Mises Institute - To Avoid Civil War, Learn to Tolerate Different Laws in Different States | Mises Wire - I have been recommending to HFS members for a year or more that understanding and tolerance to some level is going to be needed to get through what is ahead of us. It doesn't mean compromising your key principles but know what you are willing to negotiate with others. (Thanks Festus for this submission.)
2. Jonathan Turley - The Supreme Court Marshal Calls on States To Crackdown on Protesters – JONATHAN TURLEY - I guess we are about to see which state governor heeds the request to stop the protest at the homes of our Supreme Court Justices. (Thanks Festus for this submission)
3. From Ariel Zilber - New York Post - Chinese firm bought farm near US Air Force drone base: report (nypost.com) - China, Bill Gates, China, Bill Gates. What do they have in common? They both hate America. (Thaks Festus for this submission)
4. How Your WiFi is Bretraying You (Thanks Festus for this submission)
5. From Domesticated Ranger - Survival Blog - Self-Defense Planning: Decide now, what you are willing to do (survivalblog.com) - We have discussed this for several years and especially during HFS Zoom Calls. Have you thought through different evens and scenarios and decided what is your red line? (Thanks Festus for this submission)
Drum roll...........
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
Please pray for our HFS family. We have numerous prayer needs from state to state. I'm sure folks would appreciate it much.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community, and nation need us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on faith and hope. Remember we are a blessed nation, and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
