survivalism, firearms, etc

[cpxmlm]

first of all, i'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum, it seems like a "practice" question.

second, this is my first post, but i've been reading the forums for a long time now. so, hello.

now, i'm curious, are there any leftists out there that practice survivalism and are seriously into firearms(ownership, actual shooting, etc)? i'd like to know because i think for anyone talking about revolution they are very important practices to keep up with. personally, i'm into maoism and would like to be prepared for peoples war, or more realistically some situation that could be an opening for revolution(peak oil? global economic collapse?)
i know in my parts it's a very right wing thing to be into(guns, survival and peak oil) and i'm definitely alone in my communist circle when it comes to this.

i also feel there are topics like peak oil/global economic collapse that could be very serious and could create very important revolutionary openings that seem to be continually ignored by the left.

i guess my main reason to bring this up is that it's a bit of a poll, but i'm also seeking out some more online resources on the subject from a leftist standpoint. i'm tired of having socialism bashed every time i read a gun or ammunition review.

and no, i'm not a cop. please don't assume i'm trying to get anyone to say anything about their illegal practices or starting guerilla warfare. i'm just trying to discuss very legal things that are openly discussed on every other right wing forum out there. so please don't stupidly incrimate yourself and then blame me --- i mention this because i've seen this accusation get thrown around a lot on other maoist discussion boards.

anyway, thanks for listening.
-r

[Jimmie Higgins]

I fully support people being able to have firearms and against bans although I'm pretty urban and have never been hunting.

As far as training for a people's war? I think that's the cart before the horse, I think our efforts as far as preparation are better served by organizing our fellow workers and building radicalism in unions.

The capitalists will always outgun us so it would be better to try and build movements and inroads to military dissenters so when it comes to it, we can win regular enlisted soldiers to our side.

I'm not a Maoist, so I believe that an armed resistance can hold back the capitalists, but it can't bring socialism and worker's power unless workers are organized to take over the factories and run society together on their own terms.

On a side note, it would be nice if there were some radical gun clubs just to cut against the stereotype of the right-wing gun nut. I don't know where you're from but maybe you could start an "Anti-Imperialist Wolverines" club or something (aren't they the ones in 'Red Dawn'?). You could draw a parallel to 'Red Dawn' and the US invasion of Iraq - aren't they insurgents fighting an occupation too. It would be cool BUT I DO NOT RECOMMEND a Black Panther based gun club. It would be cool but you would probably be killed by racists or the cops (is that redundant?). They only thing that will get a right-winger to jump in support of gun control is the idea of radical black folks arming themselves to patrol the police.

[JammyDodger]

Apart from farmers weapons (brit) ie shot guns and air rifles, ive never had much contact with guns, I feel for the revolution to stick and prosper into eternity the gun will play a minor part, atleast that is my hope.
Atleast also in Britain, after all in general guns are rare in the police, and our military along with this nations influence is in a steady notch by notch decline.
For here I believe numbers, organised action and plans and the power of worker from factory to port to field will win the day.

I mean if the workers of this country simply downed tools for a month or two , the capitalists would be crippled, this could still and most probably will result in misery in the short term.(though i dont count out victory via the ballot)
Victory by numbers of workers is our route.

I do understand though that certain countries will have harder struggles and guns may play there part but I do believe a Gandhi (one of my pantheon of human gods up there with Marx) approach in many nations would do the job.

In countries where life could seriously be at risk to comrades guns may be needed but my hope is that those nations that have easier(by no means easy) routes will pitch in and aid there comrades over seas and across borders.
There are no countries only one oppressed mass, we will get there together.

On survivalism im a huge fan of the subject, a big Ray Mears and Lofty Wiseman fan.
That is about being able to stand on ones feet and being able to make the very best of available resources though.
M
I have a lot I can tell you on these subjects, knowledge of plants, soil, biology and self reliance will be of great use in the future.

[Chambered Word]

Guns are just a tool of armed revolution, I don't support civilians run around with assault rifles.

Also, I dislike Maosim

[Pogue]

I've found most survivalists to be nerdy nationalist freaks.

[cpxmlm]

interesting responses. i appreciate them all.

i believe comrade lewis' comment "Guns are just a tool of armed revolution, I don't support civilians run around with assault rifles." is kind of the sentiment i was talking about in my original post, or at least meant to.
guns are great for symbolism and for calling the tool of armed revolution. but, as far as i can tell, no revolutionaries are actually prepared for anything close to revolution.

gravedigger, going the wolverines route is a great idea. i love red dawn and have compared anti-imperialist freedom fighters in iraq and elsewhere to wolverines. that would definitely piss off the right wing.

jammy, i haven't heard of those 2 authors. i'll check them out, thanks.
and yes, i agree that everything changes on a country-by-country basis. i certainly don't think just because it worked(sort of, so far) in nepal that the same approach would work here in the US right now. but like i said, i'm of the belief that some catastrophic event will occur before any purely revolutionary event. and we need to be prepared to jump into action and take the reigns to guide what comes down the road into becoming a revolutionary situation. if that makes sense.

and yes, haywood, that was my point as well. which is why i don't want to have to rely on them when the shit hits the fan.

[JammyDodger]

jammy, i haven't heard of those 2 authors. i'll check them out, thanks.
and yes, i agree that everything changes on a country-by-country basis. i certainly don't think just because it worked(sort of, so far) in nepal that the same approach would work here in the US right now. but like i said, i'm of the belief that some catastrophic event will occur before any purely revolutionary event. and we need to be prepared to jump into action and take the reigns to guide what comes down the road into becoming a revolutionary situation. if that makes sence

Sorry mate did not realise you were American, not sure of any American authors I can recommend.
Though my advice would be to research what the Native American know, when it comes to your land they are the experts, I cant name any authors off the top of my head but I know books are out there.

In America guns are so prolific on the street and in authority im glad im not there, America imho will kick hardest against revolution.
Though there is hope as I gather China is pulling the rug from under Americas feet at the moment with currency, not to mention the debt.

Hard to read how that will change things but America as it is now is the number one enemy to revolution.

Reduced circumstances may change this.
But with your highly strung right ie GOP, I do not hold much hope.

Your struggle for revolution in your land will be hardest of all imho.

Cheers JD.

[Rood]

Pff you don't need weapons for anything..
It will only bring problems and other people while use it to make you look bad the most people..

[cpxmlm]

Pff you don't need weapons for anything..
It will only bring problems and other people while use it to make you look bad the most people..

those other people already have weapons. the opposition in the US is armed to the teeth.

[FreeFocus]

Leftists in general don't seem to be very interested in being complete people, having mind and body. Sadly, too many leftists are skinny teenagers who would struggle to do five push-ups.

At the moment, I am not into firearms, but everyone should educate themselves on the matters.

[Marxist]

It´s not the push-ups , but the running!

[The Douche]

I own 8 or so guns, including an assault rifle, have a couple thousand rounds of ammo, and enough gear/the knowledge to survive rough. I have been hunting and I can prepare my own food which I have stalked and killed myself. I also have military training and military equipment. Do I consider myself a survivalist? Nah. Do I think I am preparing for revolution? Nah, I don't think I'll see the great insurrection in my life time.

But I have taught all of my leftist friends how to shoot and how handle firearms. And RAAN (my organization) also at one time had a project called "RAAN's RAAD" (radical anti-authoitarian defense) where a collective in the midwest taught lots of radicals how to shoot.


*all my weapons are legally owned.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Leftists in general don't seem to be very interested in being complete people, having mind and body. Sadly, too many leftists are skinny teenagers who would struggle to do five push-ups.

At the moment, I am not into firearms, but everyone should educate themselves on the matters.

I am a skinny teenager, but I can do more than 5 pushups I would think.
On the matter of firearms, I've only ever shot a handgun at a shooting range (.45 Glock), but I do support responsible gun ownership. Also, I'm into survivalism and TEOTWAKI stuff myself. :O

[FreeFocus]

It´s not the push-ups , but the running!

Granted, cardio is important, but if you're sitting in someone's guard, running won't help you lol.

[pastradamus]

Granted, cardio is important, but if you're sitting in someone's guard, running won't help you lol.

Most leftists I know can chew nails but obviously I cant speak for the US!

[Fictional]

I've shot pistols, rifles and use other various weapons, I've had basic military training and can survive on my own rough.
I love using weapons, it's such an adrenaline rush, although I'm not a killing person, I'll defend myself, friends, comrades and rights.

I've used Glocks, SA80's, .50 Cal's, M16, I've use Grenades and other explosives, I would fight for a revolution and I hope to see it in my time.

I own various military equipment, no weapons though.
But like someone once said, an AK47 is cheaper than a Playstation on the streets of Miami, it's stupidly easy to get weapons these days.

[The Douche]

But like someone once said, an AK47 is cheaper than a Playstation on the streets of Miami, it's stupidly easy to get weapons these days.

Thats a slight exaggeration.

Besides, revolutionaries owning illegal firearms is a bad idea, if the state is looking for a way to snatch you up, then you just gave it to them.

[Albert Wesker]

I never had much interest in firearms until last year. A guy I worked with, before I got laid off, offered to let me shoot his guns on some land he owns out in the country.

Got to shoot just about every model SIG pistol ever made, the P220 .45 is my favorite, along with a 12 gauge and an AR15. It turned me into an instant "gun nut".

It's been hard to find a steady job since then so all I've got is a 9mm SIG P6 I picked up for cheap back before the boss let everybody go.

For survival, I think some hunting and bushcraft skills would be more important than having a big arsenal of guns to lug around. A decent deer rifle and pistol would be all I'd want.

The thought of field dressing a deer or something makes my stomach turn but it would sure be a good thing to know how to do if things ever got bad enough that it meant living or dying.

BTW, cpxmlm, I know what you mean about being "alone" in the hobby. Anybody I ever talk to about guns is one of these teabagger, Palin supporter types. It's hard to relate to people like that.

[Fictional]

Thats a slight exaggeration.

Besides, revolutionaries owning illegal firearms is a bad idea, if the state is looking for a way to snatch you up, then you just gave it to them.

I never said I own any guns, you can legaly shoot certain weapons on firing ranges, besides - the day the state decides to 'snatch' me up will be the day the hire some decent officers, around here it's full of doughnut eating jack asses who close the police station at 5 PM.

Yeah, my area is so rough, they close the police station at 5 PM every night.

and in reply to your exaggeration? ever been to London?