Some Washington big shots like others around the country are readying for the potential further outbreak of the coronavirus by stocking up on “prepper” goods, including pistols, rifles, and ammunition, and reaching out to camps where they can hide out.
“We’ve had a huge surge in interest from the virus,” said Drew Miller, who runs the Fortitude Ranch camp in West Virginia. Miller said his “survival community” in Colorado has filled up, and he is close to selling out memberships in West Virginia as concerns about the virus increase.
Stores that sell freeze-dried food and bullets have also seen a surge in sales.
Justin Anderson, the marketing director for Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the nation’s largest, said ammunition is the top seller. “I’ve seen a notable spike in the purchase of bulk ammo, which is usually a barometer of people’s fear in these types of situations,” he said, adding, “The person with the most ammo wins.”
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Miller started warning about the virus last month and sent members suggestions on how to prepare, including stocking up on AR-15 ammunition, flashlights, and fresh gasoline.
“We have always been prepared for a pandemic,” he told us, explaining that his camps keep families apart so an infection won’t spread but are behind a wall for defense. “Lots of spread out buildings and shallow shelters (we have NO deep underground shelters) lets our members grab weapons and get to their assigned defensive position on the outer wall in a minute,” he said.
Miller has recently sent out two notices to members that set out what they should do to prepare if chaos unfolds. From one email:
Members will get direct email/text alerts if this turns into a U.S. pandemic. At this time we agree with the Center for Disease Control that there is little immediate risk. Nonetheless, a pandemic here is quite possible and we recommend the following preparations:
- If you are a FR member or have a bug out location, keep your car tank near full and keep gas tanks you safely store on your property ready to use (you can rotate this gas into your car every 3 months, it stays usable well beyond this).
- Do NOT go to gas stations or supermarkets if this pandemic does erupt and there is panic buying — you want to stay out of public to avoid the virus and to avoid possible looting/marauding which can happen immediately.
- If you don’t have big stocks of ammunition (.223 and 12 gauge best for FR members), buy now before more people start to think of this and stock up.
- Check your bug out bags and prepper materials, stock up. LED flashlights are best — if you’ve got old bulbs, consider getting LED. Even if you are a FR member and have supplies stored at your FR base camp, best to bring everything you can fit in your car of survival value.
- At this time there is no need to avoid public places, but as this virus spreads, you may want to both limit your time in mass public places/events, and consider doing what you often see in big Asian cities — where a viral face mask when out in public.
- Avoid touching anything in public places (on a subway, I always practice never touch anything), and wash your hands often.
