"Why A Handgun Should Be Your First SHTF Weapon Purchase For Self Defense"

An article by M.D. Creekmore at The Survivalist Blog.

It would seem many survivalist have been influenced by Hollywood or writers of fiction and can’t separate reality from fantasy. Leave make-believe to the armchair commandos and teenage boys.

Points to consider

• You won’t be engaging constant combat after a disaster.
• Those wanting to do you harm will not announce the fact.
• Anyone wanting to rob or steal from you will attack when you’re most vulnerable.
• If you’re attacked it will be up close, quick and violent.

After a collapse, violent crime will increase to levels never thought possible, theft, robbery, kidnappings and home invasion will be the norm. You’ll need to be armed at all times. Not following this rule will almost guarantee that you will be abused, robbed, raped, tortured and killed at some point.

Keeping a rifle or shotgun on your person at all times is impossible. Working the garden, feeding the chickens, cutting firewood, setting traps etc. And don’t forget barter markets where going armed will likely be forbidden. Criminals will know this and will wait to attack when you leave the market area.

It’s been said before; the first rule of winning a fight is to have a gun, in this regard a handgun makes the most sense. I know many of you look to be attacked from a distance, you see yourself returning fire from 300 or more yards away.

It could happen – but it’s not likely. In war yes; but not in a SHTF situation – most survivalist confuse the two. You’re more likely to need to defend yourself at arm’s length than from a distance of several hundred yards, if you’re attacked it will be fast, brutal and in your face close-up.

Something I've said before. The point isn't that you should not invest in rifles and shotguns, but that the handgun should be your priority.