The People's Republic of Maryland

I live here, and if you are a gunner, the state blows dead bear. For instance, every gun must have a bullet and brass delivered to the state so they can track the ballistics in case your gun is used in a crime. (The actual implementation of that program is quite the joke in Maryland shooter circles.)

But I have to admit, the State takes the Federal position on Antique firearms and black powder reproductions, a position I endorse. (Though I'd prefer a genuine 2A interpretation, but that is another issue...)

Maryland has always made it virtually impossible to get a carry permit, and today they were told to suck it.

Here's the story.

Let's see how Annapolis responds.

Kerodin
III

III Radio

Hey folks - our spot on the Alex Jones show (3 spots per day for a month) on WSVG 790 AM / WAMM 1230 AM begin this afternoon. These stations cover the entire Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and we are live before they go to the polls tomorrow!

The folks at the radio station have been very professional.

If you get those stations and can provide some feedback, let me know. I think they internet broadcast, but don't hold me to it. I'm going to their site to find out later this afternoon.

This is why we sell mugs and t-shirts and patches, because we get to use the proceeds to build the III Brand for Liberty.

And you are responsible. Well done, Patriots.

Here's the link to the station. And if anyone has heard the spot in Denver/Fort Collins live on the air, give us some feedback.

Kerodin
III

Criminal, on so many levels...

Speculators have a very long history and many cultures put them on a par with lawyers and politicians.

The ties that bind are on display, as our Political Class is about to bail out (give your money) to housing speculators who drove up (inflated the bubble) the housing market before it crashed. Since those poor speculators lost money, the Government will give them your money to make their owies go away.

This is just more criminal behavior. Those giving away the money and those taking it are wrong. Remember that when it is time.

Here's the story.

Kerodin
III

Camouflage and Concealment 101

I like Tiger Stripe patterns...but not for blending in. I simply find them aesthetically appealing. When I choose to wear them it is never more than pants, I wear a solid mock shirt or a "tactical dress" shirt with tiger pants, and it is never for concealment. It is a telegraph, a deliberate message designed to broadcast. Thus, I never wear this outfit. I have it in my Go Bag, just in case. Sure, the pants would offer a bit of concealment, along with a black top if I am up to something at night...but, again, that's not the point.

the real cammies in my Go Bag are blue jeans, a button down dress shirt that is big enough to hang loosely, and sneakers. I also have a button down shirt with an embroidered logo for a blue collar company. I also have a cap. With such an outfit I can go anywhere in the city or 'burbs without drawing attention. If I throw a tool pouch over my shoulder I can walk into any office or restaurant without a glance, and have access to the entire building.

I know it works. Try it sometime. Make it one of your Team exercises to access places that would otherwise be off limits to you.

Urban and suburban camo is a skillset you need to master. One of the keys is confidence. You'll be surprised how many other places in life that confidence will be useful.

John Mosby discusses camo in his post tonight, here.

Remember, no matter where you are, camo is simply the practice of blending in with your surroundings. Tiger Stripes in the 'burbs is not camo - it is a billboard.

Kerodin
III

III Gear Update

OK Folks: Every remaining order I have on the books is going to the Post Office tomorrow morning. That means you should have your order, whatever it is and whenever I sent it, by no later than Thursday of this week. (The III Patriot in Alaska, I can't promise yours will be on the same timeline, but it is in the mail).

I have 3 of you who I owe Tactical Caps - we ran out. Sorry. I already had a replacement shipment coming from Condor, so I went ahead and filled the rest of your order, whatever you ordered, and included a note that we still owe you a cap. As soon as my new shipment arrives, I'll get them back out the door to you. If everything goes our way, you'll get your caps by Fri/Sat this week.

If we screwed anything up, let me know. If we put the wrong size shirt in your package, or we slipped in the wrong stickers, just shoot me an email or yell at me through the blog. DO NOT go back to PayPal and pay twice! Some of you have hearts that are simply too big for your own good. Just let me know how we messed up, and we'll fix it. ;)

Of course, this does not include III Flags. I do not expect them in my shop until early next week.

By the way: Michael, your books are in the same outbound shipment, you should have them in a few days.

Thank you all for the support, folks. This is how we are able to pay for radio ads and do the other work that is building the Liberty message.

Kerodin
III

Guns & Knife Fights

Most of you know some of my CQB credentials. Quick thumbnail: I have always been lippy, I have always been physically smaller than most people I get lippy with, and I have trained with some of the most capable Warriors in the world to help keep my heart beating despite the intense efforts of my mouth to get me killed.

I know you train with your rifle and pistol. I suspect you do a lot of drills at the standard 21 feet in low-light circumstances against multiple targets that are moving in different directions and closing in on you...don't you?

I offer you this simple statement of fact, not to impugn your skills or brag about mine, but to articulate a point: In a very high percentage of circumstances were I to be engaged in mortal combat, beginning at 21 feet, with a man who is armed with a pistol and I had only a knife, I'd kill him. Yes, I'd probably get shot, and maybe even die from the wound(s). But that hardly helps the gunner as he bleeds out.

Most grown men who are motivated to kill you can cover 30 feet in 3 seconds or fewer.

How good are you with that rifle, carbine or pistol, really? How fast can you clear leather and accurately doubletap a moving target? Add the adrenaline dump. Add the fact that the guy rushing you is armed with a serious battle knife. Add the fact that he is not coming straight at you without cover. And for the sake of this exercise, consider he is alone. (If you really want a shiver, consider three of his hombres moving at you at the same time, in the same manner, with the same weapons, from three different compass points).

Once I close the gap I can almost always render your firearm useless, simply by deflecting the muzzle off my centerline and controlling yourarms or torso. Since I am a well-trained fighter, and I am well trained with the combat knife in my hand, you will get cut. If I do my job, I'll cut you with three mortal wounds in about 1.5 seconds and you will lose the physical ability to fend me off.

Even if you manage to put a bullet in me as I advance, here is a very simple bit of truth: If you do not blow a hole in my braincase, my spine, or my femur, I will probably still be on you with enough fight left in me to cut you to death.

Here is another simple truth that I have told you many times in the past, and I will say it again many times in the future: In the real world, in every single real fight, both fighters are going to take hits, take damage, and in a lot of cases, if it is a fight to the death, both will die. I do not care how many Hollywood stars you've seen handle 6 Bad People without even messing up their hair...that is just not reality, folks. And that pistol of yours will be used as a brick relatively often if our world really goes to sh*t.

Don't misunderstand me: I am not telling you to drop your gun and become a knife fighter. Hell, I've told you that my favorite weapon is a Chevy driving at high speed into the Bad Guy. But you'd better understand that your rifle and/or pistol is not a magic Win Stick.

If you are standing in Condition Red and armed with a Glock that has all 16 rounds ready to go against 4 men with knives who start at 30 feet and come at you from each compass point, you are going to have to kill at least two of them buckle to buckle.

Do you know to kill 2 men armed with knives who manage to get into your personal space, when you can't get the muzzle of your weapon on them?

You'd better think about it, you'd better train, and most importantly, you'd better do everything you can think of to avoid such a situation, because I am telling you from serious, real-world experience, no matter how good your knife skills or hand-to-hand skills may be, you will probably die in that situation.

And, what if you are in Condition Orange or Yellow instead of Red?

Fail.

Most of you, if you are honest with yourself, are not interested in testing your mettle against a man who is armed with a battle knife at buckle-to-buckle range. Nor should you look for such situations to test your skills. I have spent tens-of-thousands of hours in serious dojos across the country, training often in full-contact, many hours with live blades, and I am comfortable at such close ranges (in fact I prefer it), but I have ZERO desire to meet a man with a knife who wants to kill me at that range. As good as I am (and I am good) I will probably die with him.

If you consider your firearms to be the answer to most of your future violent confrontations, you will lose. Bad Guys can get close and render your pistol or rifle useless very quickly. You can run empty and not have time to reload.

You'd better be working on knife skills and hand-to-hand skills.

You'd better become comfortable getting close to one or more men who are trying to take your life, because in the real world it will happen. You will probably end up on the ground in a hand-to-hand fight, even when the festivities begin at 30 feet with a handgun in your paw.

Personally, there are a great many circumtances in which I would be better armed and suited to accomplishing an ugly task by carrying my Cold Steel than a firearm. I am comfortable up close with dangerous people because of my training and life experiences. A knife is silent. A knife atack can be lightning fast. A single well-placed slash or plunge can be as effective as a .50BMG to the head.

Give your skillset an honest assessment, and get to work on the weak spots.

Kerodin
III

AttackWatchIII

Coming to a theatre near you. See all your III fav's in the mud pit!

Here's the link.

Kerodin
III

Open Letter to LEO

From Bonnie Blue, here.

And consider this from Brock.

Kerodin
III

#EFAD Update

Here are WRSA.

Hit the twitter button on this post, folks - it will help the Op.

Kerodin
III

When Presidents Attack

President Obama has attacked, by name, Americans for Progress several times.

AFP is the Koch organization.

Consider what it means when a sitting American President, from his office, begins attacking private citizens.

How long before minions and mobs show up at the home or business of the accused and begin to attack?

We have been saying it for quite a while now: 2012 will be the most dangerous year in American history since the hot days of RevWarI and RevWarII.

If you have had your panties in a wad over the war of words in the community over the last few days, you'd better stay home this year, because you are not prepared for the reality of meeting such people in the street and defending Liberty in the real world, where people get more than just a case of butt-hurt.

Here's the story.

Kerodin
III

Good night, folks.

I am tired.

Stay safe, Patriots.

Go to Kenny's place and get some eye candy, here.

Kerodin
III

Forward: TL's PATCOM

April 27th in Western Pennsylvania.

Here's the link.

Kerodin
III

III: Consider

How many people in America do you think there are who are III, even if they are not aware of it yet?

I think there are many. They are in Alex Jones' audience. They are in the audiences of Rush, Levin, Savage, the Judge, and even Hannity. We are talking about original Tea Party folks who got shoved out of the way by the Establishment when the RINO's took over.

They are the quiet guys at the gun shop. They are the guys who don't say much at a town hall meeting - but they watch everyone, and they know who is trying to ruin their lives.

These people are III. These people are the same sort who met John Parker on the Green when it was time. You don't think everyone at Lexington agreed on everything, do you? What they had in common was simple: They were willing to kill the British who were ruining their lives.

When folks today look around for people who think as do they, for people who are fed up and understand that 2A is an ugly but legitimate political remedy, they have a hard time finding us. We are few, to be sure. Also, part of that is the fault of some people in our recognized III community.

I am moving away from the Mike discussion here, folks. But here is a fact: There are many examples of people who tag themselves as III going into the "NRA-type" gun community and applying purity tests, ridiculing NRA-types for their positions, and generally isolating the III, rather than finding the common ground that we share with such people and shutting our mouths about the details about which we disagree.

There are a LOT of burned bridges out there.

If you and I do not fix that, who will? If you and I do not reach out on radio and via other means to find those people who agree with 80% of our goals and find a way to work together, we will never become a real political force. If we permit our obnoxious past to define us today, we will forever be an impotent group of guys and gals circle-jerking like Nero.

Many of you were in the military. I do not think you can deny feeling pride when you earned a tab for marksmanship, or for any other demonstration of a new skill. That helped form bonds among you and your fellow Warriors. It is called cohesion and morale.

We are trying to do the same thing. I want people to be proud to wear a III patch. I want people to see a III patch on cap across a gun show and know that he has serious shared common ground with that other person. That is the value of the patches, caps, shirts, stickers, flags.

But we have to be a group of people who are worthy of the trust and efforts of other Americans who want Liberty in their lives. We have to be a group of people who look at a typical NRA gunner and be able to say: I do not agree with everything you say, but dammit, we know who the real enemy is and we'll stand together to defeat his intent.

Not every NRA type is compatible with the III. Many are happy to deny you X or Y so long as they get their Z. But I am willing to bet that the 80% rule applies pretty well: We can probably find 80% of that group with whom we agree on 80% of the important goals before us.

Let's work together to raise the public image of the III. Let's make a III patch or cap something that many Liberty-loving Americans covet on their gear.

There are some very serious Patriots who read our blogs (or run their own blogs) who have dropped their III tags over the last year or so because of the image we have as a group. I am going to do my damndest to make them proud once again to call themselves III. That will not happen if we simply ask them to start wearing III Gear.

We have to earn it.

We have to earn it for those closest to us, and we have to earn it from those who we find at gun shops, gun shows, on the radio, and wherever we happen to meet an American who is serious about Liberty.

In my mind, we took a serious step in that direction today when serious thinkers in our community did a 'Hard Thing' and imposed discipline within the group. (For the record, AP had the balls to include me in reprimand, and I know I deserved a portion of it. When I choose to respond to antagonism, I tend to respond in a nuclear fashion. Standing up to your enemies should be easy. Standing up to your friends is harder, and AP did that. Good on him.)

Let's earn the respect of serious Americans, and make them proud to stand in the history books and call themselves members of we modern III Patriots.

Kerodin
III

Throw-Over Holster

Just rec'd this Throw-Over Holster from CSMGear.com for the SHTF Project. Sorry, the OD doesn't show up very clear on the Tiger Stripe.

First assessment: It is excellently made, it lays perfectly across the chest and can be cinched snugly.

We'll do a full review for the SHTF Project. In the meantime, take a peek at CSMGear.com. Tell 'em where you came from and we'll be spreading the III Brand.



Kerodin
III

The III will never die

Folks, you don't like what you see? Welcome to the party.

Tom Baugh lived it before I did.

I've been living it for almost 2 years.

Now you see that Mike Vanderboegh is even willing to unleash hideous venom on two people in this community who are, I think we can all agree, beyond reproach. I watched CA fight this same fight more than a year ago in private email and he fought on principle, and lost a long and dear friend over it. I have watched him do it again, and if you think I don't feel sick about it, you are a f'n idiot. I watched AP wade into this with the same good intention as have several others in the last 2 years. And I watched him get attacked by Mike...savagely. I watched him try several times to convince Mike, to appeal to reason, and I watched Mike treat him like dirt.

Any single one of you who look to AP or CA and want to lay any blame for this mess at their feet, you are a f'n idiot. Those two guys are two of the most principled and reasonable and caring men I have ever known - and I have known a few men who will be invited to God's dinner table. Mike attacked, attacked and attacked with ever increasing bile on those two guys (and others in the thread), and they tried far more than I ever would, to find a reasonable solution.

Then, as you all know, Mike cherry-picked from a long email train and posted on his site to paint a picture that impugned the character of AP, CA, and others.

If you can not find the intellectual honesty to digest and process the truth that is before your eyes, you are a f'n idiot.

Is your world shattered because Mike is not what you thought he was? Get over it.

Is your world shattered because I have somehow failed you? Get over it.

I have a firm policy of never taking an unnecessary ass-whippin'. You don't like the way I defend myself? Get over it. I do not believe in proportional response.

There are a few simple facts I would suggest all of you examine once you get over your hurt feelings. You are alone. Mike, me, AP, CA...none of us are going to be able to cover your back when SHTF. This is on you, only you, and it has always been that way.

Am I speaking too harshly for you? Man the f'k up. This is not an internet game.

Mike, me, AP, CA...none of us are capable of "winning" the war for Liberty on anyone's behalf. We never had a chance. That's on you. I can cover the ground beneath my feet, I know AP and CA can cover the ground beneath their feet. Your patch of ground is yours to defend, or not.

Rhodes pointed me to that graphic above. I have said as much a dozen times in the last 2 years in my columns. I've even told you that you'd better trust but verify everyone in your Tribe and in your home.

If you think I spend hours every day on this blog, on my Kerodin.com site, on designing, acquiring, shipping III Gear (all for ZERO f'n income), on participating in writing books about the III and Liberty, on scripting radio ads and negotiating ad rates, on traveling around Virginia to give out copies of our book (FREE), and planning a PatCom almost a thousand miles from my home just because I want to prove that I have a longer wee-wee than Mike Vanderboegh, you are a f'n idiot.

I walked into this community because I know I have valuable life experiences and skills and knowledge that may help a few of you live through what is coming our way. I am also learning just as much as I offer from many of you.

I am staying.

I will keep the III Brand alive and growing.

I hope Tom Baugh will begin writing publicly in this community once again. He has as much space on this blog as he may ever request.

When the history books are written, the III will have at least a chapter, and that's even if we lose. Win, lose or draw, we will rip OpFor a new ass.

We are on the precipice of a democide unlike any in human history. If you are getting your panties twisted over me and Mike, you're probably already dead.

In my opinion, Mike Vanderboegh is a negative to the goals of the III.

The next time you think of what Bill Nye has written about Mike, ask yourself a simple question, now that you have new information: Just where was Bill wrong? Good luck, because he wasn't.

You don't like that? You don't like me? Get over it and move on.

When SHTF I will not be on your mind, nor will Mike. You'll be too busy trying to keep yourself alive, your wife and daughters from being mattresses for OpFor and FSA, and other matters of real survival.

And when it gets really f'n tough and you need a bit of insipration, maybe, just maybe, you'll have the sack to remember that CA and AP had the balls to stand on principle during these days and challenge the Emperor when the Emperor was wrong.

Forward.

Kerodin
III

III Bloggers & Readers

Some of you are, properly, disgusted by recent events. Some of you had no idea what was beneath the surface. I dare say, some of you have had your worldview shaken in some of the people of this community in whom you placed trust and value.

If you are thinking about closing your blog, I would counsel you to consider those who come to read your work. They should not suffer or be deprived your perspective.

Do not let me, or Mike, or anyone else knock you from your path of working toward Liberty.

In the fight that is coming our way, many people will fall aside.

Your value is not determined by anyone but you.

If you do not like the way I have behaved, the things I say, the positions I take: Stop coming here. But do not let anything I may say or do stop you from contributing to the cause of Liberty that drew you to blog in the first place.

I'm not that important.

Nor is anyone else.

But the people who come to your site and read what you offer, they do matter. They do rely on you.

Forward.

Kerodin
III

"I am the punishment of God...If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”

That is a quote from Ghengis Khan.

I do not believe in the concept of Proportional Response in existential matters.

If you threaten me, I'm coming at you with everything I've got. That is especially true if we have had a truce (or more than one) and you continue to break them for your own personal gain.

I have been calling this a "Community" for quite a while now. It was pointed out that I should challenge that preconception recently, and I have done so. The person who challenged my paradigm was correct. We are not a community, and not simply because certain people work diligently to destroy cohesion.

Of all the people who read III blogs and columns, how many will you be able to stand with, shoulder-to-shoulder, when SHTF? The few thousand of us are spread far and wide. Yes, a few are close enough that they may be able to cover one another's backs. And a very small minority has taken the time and effort to meet at PatComs. But even then, many of the folks in attendance had to travel significant distances just to meet their fellow Patriots.

When SHTF you are going to be alone, except for perhaps, a few people who live in your home or immediate AO. How many is that in your case? Probably, not enough.

I will continue to use the word "community", but only as a tool of language for convenience.

We are alone, folks. Most of us have only the people in our homes for support when it gets real. You may be able to cobble a makeshift Tribe with a few of your neighbors in an emergency, but do not expect them to be trained, or armed, or even stocked with food.

I do have something for you to consider as you digest the above truth. It comes from a lifetime of study in the arts of violence.

When it is you or him...make sure it is him.

When it is you or them...do anything you have to do to make certain it is them.

When someone intends to kill you or deprive you of your innate Natural Rights...

...when you are wronged and the person who wrongs you simply will not permit you the ability to walk away, when he won't quit, I offer you another quote from one of the world's most successful conquerors: “The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters.”

There is a time and a place to be ruthless. No Just God will condemn you, and the Laws of Nature will not care who wins, either way.

It is up to you to recognize when you must set aside the facade of civility and win.

And, you will not have the luxury of a "community".

You will be alone.

I hope to meet you in Alabama in October.

Kerodin
III

III Gear: oops

Folks, if you have not rec'd your order it is probably in this box of stuff that we just found sitting in the corner of the shop. There are about 30 items in there, packaged and ready to go, but the box never made it to the post office. We had 4 boxes that were supposed to go Monday - it looks like only 3 made it.

Sorry. They'll be at the post office in the morning.

K

Radio: Russ from DumpDC

Folks, Russ from DumpDC just sent over the radio spot he cut for us.

Firstly: It is f'n awesome.

Second: Russ, thank you, sir. This is a serious contribution to Liberty.

Third: Folks, if you believe in what we are doing, drop by Russ's Place and tell him Thank You.

I have already submitted the contract for this spot and it will run 3 times each day during the Alex Jones show in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, for one month. I am going to email it to the station tonight, and I'll let you know when they add it to the rotation. If we get lucky, it'll run a few times before Virginians go to the polls and pull a lever for either Mitt or Ron Paul.

I really can't explain the excitement and pride I am feeling right now. Thank you, Russ and thank you to every single Patriot who has donated and purchased III Gear, which is how we can afford this effort. And do not forget that we are still on in the Denver/Fort Collins area (that spot may reach as far north as Cheyenne).

If you and I do not fight for Liberty, who will?

Here's the spot. Feel free to download it and spread it far and wide.

And to everyone who was on the recent email thread begun by AP today, thank you.

Kerodin
III

#EFAD is Live

Details here.

Kerodin
III