When you first get to ETS site you see a disclaimer from Doug that states and defines pretty clearly what he understands by the word survival. It is about preparadness and being ready when your plane ditches in the middle of the pacific or when you get lost when hiking or insert here scenario of your choice. But all of the above makes you a good kind of survivalist. Maybe a bit nutty since your jacket weights 15 lbs from all the stuff you carry but harmless. If weapons are part of your surivial kit that's all right. I'm not arguing against them since I own few of them. My main thing is that when public gets presented with a guy stuck with a loaded handgun (nevermind the hollow points), army ration and other survival equipment that automatically makes him a "michigan militia" type of the guy. And what did michigan militia called themselves? That's right surivivalists. The only difference is that they were trying to survive our gov't not a plane crash in Alaska. As far as Im concerned arrested guy might have been a member of this board. 90% of us have a gas mask, ham radio and military rations and doing a trip from one state to another in an old car we would pack them just in case. Maybe a good old 45 would make its way into the kit as well. But he will never be presented as a guy who was just prepared but broke a law due to his foolishnes. He will be presented as a bad guy who tried to do something. Dont get me wrong I wear my vest on the job and pray I won't get hit with anything piercing so I have no sympathy for him. Just my 2 cents. Like you said you are inncocent until proven guilty but in this case guy is projected by media as a militia type of the guy which already swings the public opinon against him.

Matt