I moderate for the goals of ETS, Not Chris Kavanaugh's. Yes, firearms and their discussion is a valid aspect of 'survival.' Writing hypothetical updates of Mel Tappen is not, and it scares away many new guests allready wary of the 'survivalist' image. I am acquainted with Jan Libourel, well known firearms writer and editor. We both agree in most situations a gun is the LAST thing on our wish list. We are also bemused at people who buy a firearm for security and then parade the piece like a newborn son. I subscribe to Elmer Fudd- be wery,wery quiet about it. Ballistic discussions remind me of nervous youths rechecking their 'credentials' at public urinals against the competition. We can laugh at ourselves, I've seen people examining an entire store's stock of compasses to make sure they all point north. My nieghbor had so much stuff in his old chevy stationwagon the local homeboys invited him to a lowrider cruise <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> One ex G/F still talks to her therapist about my snowshoe collection <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. This is at worse funny, and the general audience can handle it <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> along with BOB,TEOTWAWKI,PSK etc. But firearm minutae is best taken to the many wonderfull firearm forums or discussed through PMS and emails once a common interest as been established. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />