Social Chaos or Civil War?

Social Chaos or Civil War?

There has been a question in the news lately as to whether our politics has become so uncivil that we may fall into some sort of social chaos or even civil war.  (Don’t worry, I’m not going to go “full semi-political” here.)  😊   According to several polls, a surprising number of people believe that a civil war is likely.  I tend to believe that something we don’t expect will go wrong, rather than the problem folks are anticipating, but I’d like to explore the alternatives for protecting yourself, and your loved ones, if we do have a social breakdown or civil war.

Social Chaos or Civil War are problems that can definitely occur, so they at least make it to the level of Low Probability Events.  The US had a civil war, albeit more than 150 years ago.  Rioting in major cities does occur from time to time, with the line between “protests” and riots becoming ever more blurred.  I indicated in my post on Prepper Fiction that I did not foresee organized crime developing, as is typical in many Prepper novels, but I did think crime would increase.

Disorganized, somewhat spontaneous, rioting is another matter.  However, social chaos or civil war is unlikely to take you by surprise like an EMP could.  Riots in other locations are likely to provide you some warning that social chaos is likely to increase in your area.  While I am not going to try to discuss defending against military onslaughts, you can improve your security against rioting and rampant crime.

Locations, Location, Location

For simplification, I have decided to think about your, and your family’s, protection in three locations:  home, place of business, and out and about, whether commuting, shopping, or whatever.  Fortunately, most of the steps you would take to protect yourself will be helpful in the event of ordinary crime.

Home

Your home is probably the place you can best protect yourself, because you are there more than anywhere else, you can harden it in advance, make plans to defend it, etc.  In addition, even in the bluest of blue states, it is legal to keep firearms in your home.

In most cases, you are more likely to be the target of a simple home invasion than social chaos, but much of what you do to protect your home from home invasion will help to protect you in the case of Social Chaos.  Hardening doors and windows goes a long way.  A steel door, that can’t be easily kicked in, means you’ll have warning before the bad guy is in the room with you.  Lowering fire risk is a good thing to do, but doing so will improve your odds during a social disruption as well.

If you’ve been reading my posts over the past year, you’ll also know that I am a fan of placing material against outside walls, as typical home walls will not protect against bullets, radiation, or much of anything beyond prying eyes.  If you are building your own home, you can use stronger materials during construction, including rock walls, or walls made of other materials that will keep bad stuff out.  Using 2 by 6 studs will make the home stronger and less prone to collapse in a variety of scenarios.  The thicker walls can be filled with material.

Place of Business

If you own your own business, you can harden the building and arm yourself, similar to what you can do at home.  The most well-known defense of businesses were the Korean shop owners who armed themselves during the LA riots.  A couple people with rifles on the roof is a serious deterrent to a break in, although a better plan would be to locate your business in a better neighborhood.

If you are an employee, as most of us are, you are limited by your employer’s policies.  For instance, if your employer has a “No Guns” policy, you can either not carry while at work, or find another job.  Since most of us are not business owners, the simple answer is if your place of employment is in an urban center and there is any likelihood that today your city will self-immolate, call in sick.   😊

If a location is not safe, don’t go there, or evacuate if you already are there.  Assuming you commute to work by car, your preparation for your work environment won’t be much better than what you can stick in a desk drawer or in the trunk of your car.  One extremely nice development is the trend toward telecommuting.  If you can work from home, then you again have control over your surroundings.

While Out

If Murphy is really unkind, you may find yourself out and about when things get sticky.  Cars are actually pretty secure if you keep moving.  Over time cars have been steadily improved to protect you during a crash.  The trend toward SUVs is also helpful, as a heavier vehicle intended to take a bit of abuse is much better than a Prius in an accident.

If you care to beef up your vehicle, I would start with a good “Bambi Basher”.  Would you want to step in front of a Suburban with a beefy looking Grille Guard, an NRA sticker on the window, and one fender in primer?  😊  These “upgrades” are cheap and available for most SUVs.  Run-flat tires are available, and I would expect them to become more mainstream over time.  In general, if an accessory is available for off-roading, you might want to consider it.

If it is legal for you to carry a firearm, do so.  A rioter who wants to drag you from your car or truck will think twice when he notices the occupants are armed.  However, the best defense is to stay home.  One of the good things about prepping generally, will be to reduce your need to go out for supplies, or for any other reason, so if you have any inkling of problems, you can choose to just not go.  Worst case, a truck is the terrorist’s weapon of choice lately, so you are armed with that.  If you get caught in a riot, do not stop.  It is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

Social Chaos or Civil War? – Summary

The rules for protecting yourself from social chaos are simple.  First, avoid places that might experience problems.  Be someplace else.  Next, a little bit of hardening goes a long way.  If someone could kick in your door, perhaps a stronger door is in order.  Finally, if you live in an area where it is legal to arm yourself, take advantage of that opportunity.