Off to Kill Zombies

Andy we have a fair amount of arms to defend the house, like you, stashed away in strategic places. Our "bump in the night" plan tho has been revised due to an incident last summer. About 3am we heard a window breaking in our livingroom, followed by our ADT alarm blaring "GLASS BREAK ALARM, GLASS BREAK ALARM, GLASS BREAK ALARM."

Holy cow, that will wake you up! We jumped from bed, my wife hands me the wrong Glock, she grabs a .357 wheelgun, then the phone rings with 911 on the other end. Of course the phone was illuminating us for the bad guy. I press my laser and paint it on the livingroom wall thru the bedroom door and yell out" Next mother##$%$#@^%$ thru the door eats lead!" Probably a bad idea.

We spent the next 2 minute flagging each other and doing everything wrong. Local cop showed up and began clearing rooms - found that a pan had fallen off the counter on to a tile floor, and sounding so much like a broken window that it even fooled our glass break alarms.

Check your SHTF plan, it may not wok as well when adrenalin is coursing thru your veins. :-)

That'll get the blood pumping eh Tim..?! B)

I know what you mean about the adrenalin too. I've been in a situation or two in my life. Hard to prepare for that type of adrenalin as a non-professional.

Although, military experience, & even..... yes, hear me out.... I believe even experience roofing helps. As ridiculous as that might sound to some, the experience of being in life threatening situations, either by choice, or accident, & learning how to remain calm, & act appropriately, IS life saving. I believe those experiences, can & do transfer over to other facets of life as well.

People that are accustomed to walking trusses, walking steep slope roofs, dealing with all the potential risks, etc that come from our profession, are the type of people that usually are level headed when all hell breaks loose. I'd even go so far as to say, white collar roofers too. Most of em KNOW how to deal with stress. Which is really what those type of situations are.

I would much rather have a roofer on my side in a SHTF scenario, than your average car salesman, or office jockey from some data firm. Especially, an experienced one, or someone who's survived this industry for some time. Regardless of what facet of the roofing business you or anyone resides in...... you've learned to deal with stress, more than likely in large doses.

I say all of that, without even taking into consideration, what level of proficiency, or marksmanship one has. Im well aware our industry has plenty of hot heads, & guys with poor decision making skills but, you don't find a lot of sissies in the roofing industry.

I agree Andy.

One "skill" that roofing has given me that I didn't recognize until recently is that, we as roofers are all pretty good at tolerating pain and discomfort. We have to brave the cold and the hot, cuts, bruises, broken bones - it's all just part of being a roofer.

So we get to a shooting range for a class awhile back and it's about 25 degrees out. Nearly everyone there is virtually unfunctionable in that cold, and I'm thinking "Well yeah, I'd rather it be 75, but it is what it is."

Experienced roofer = nerves of steel

Like you say about all the day to day risk scenarios we all experience it translates into not being phased by loud noises or sudden moves.

Only thing to shake my nerves the past few years was when I was moving some furniture in my pickup truck and when I was in the process of unloading it, I was standing at the side of the truck box and lifted a solid headboard up over the edge of the truck box. It was quite heavy and as I lifted it over my head so the legs would clear, there staring straight at me was this grizzeled old man with a strained look on his face. I nearly crapped my pants in shock until I realized I was looking at myself in the dresser mirror facing me. I laugh about it now but my legs were shaking from the adrenaline rush I had.

My dad is a walking encyclobedia of guns pre 1960's. He had a gun shop when I was a kid. There was always a guns standing in the corners of the house. There was always a pistol under the seat.

I have never owned a gun probably never will. The only way I will buy a gun is if the government outlaws them. That is when I know that I need one.

While owning many, I hope I never need one.

Mike H Said: While owning many, I hope I never need one.

Agreed. I've always liked, & believe the catch phrase..... Better to have one & not need it than, need one & not have it.

Lefty Said: I have never owned a gun probably never will. The only way I will buy a gun is if the government outlaws them. That is when I know that I need one.

Seems like when the Gooberm$nt makes a confiscation threat sales of guns & ammo spike.

If you have kids, you've probably heard of the cup song.

Here it is w/ guns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QtM7X0xYN8

Karate = Guns.

Or that's the way it seems to me. I used to tell my students: Right now you think about fighting people and you wonder what your skills can do if you need them, but if you become a black belt you will be far less likely to fight than other people are - because you won't feel you have anything to prove, and because the way you carry yourself in your daily life tells thugs you aren't an easy target.

I don't want to shoot anyone - stats say that even after a justified shooting, you will spend $100k defending the civil suit from the bad guy's family. I don't want that, but the fact that there is a Glock 19 under my shirt with 15 rounds of JHP means I don't have to walk around fearful, either. Regular training adds to that as I know I can likely outshoot 95 out of 100 of the thugs who might want to shoot me. Having the appearance of being capable of defending oneself, reduces the chance you'll have to.

Twill, I've rode out those ammo spike prices more than once. I reload my own 9mm and have accumulated enough to not be affected by any spikes, or zombies. :-) I'd tell you guys how much I have accumulated, but then I'd have to kill you all and you seem like a really swell bunch of guys. :-)

Well said Tim.

I am at the office, and now you have me wanting to drive home 40 miles to take a pick of my shizat. This may be my favorite thread in this forum EVER.

I'm beating myself up. I rarely sell a gun! But recently I traded a really cool FN PS90 for an ACOG scope. The value was the same, but I gave up a gun for a scope????

Roofguy Said: Im beating myself up. I rarely sell a gun! But recently I traded a really cool FN PS90 for an ACOG scope. The value was the same, but I gave up a gun for a scope????

If I were to guess, I would bet your, SHTF plan isn't going to suffer....lol. If anything, it probably improved B)

RoofDude Said:

Roofguy Said: Im beating myself up. I rarely sell a gun! But recently I traded a really cool FN PS90 for an ACOG scope. The value was the same, but I gave up a gun for a scope????

If I were to guess, I would bet your, SHTF plan isnt going to suffer....lol. If anything, it probably improved B)

Probably right, but I have to admit that I just think ACOGs are sexy. That probably had something to do with it.

I like having access to the opinion of a SEAL with combat experience in Mosul. It help to separate the real world advice from that of internet wannabe commandos, like James Yeager. :-) Incidentally, Yeager and I have had it out several times on the internet. The last time he sent me an email wanting to know where we could meet and fight. I told him my usual charge for private lessons was $45/hr, but I'd discount him to ten dollars since it probably wouldn't take long. :-) Here is a video parody of that nutjob (CAUTION LANGUAGE!!!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LXOMNnJQ3A