Danger Rane

If it makes you feel any better about your chance at getting the vaccine sooner than later, a lot of group 1 doesn’t want it. Our fire department conducted an anonymous poll yesterday to determine how many doses they needed to get. Only 6% of our department is willing to take it, and yes it is optional. Similarly my wife (nurse) had to participate in a similar survey today at her hospital and only 14% of those polled so far are willing to get it, and yes it’s optional for her as well. I’m a casual observer in a few first responder forums and FB pages, and this thought process is pretty common across the board. A few people had asked earlier in this thread why we wouldn’t want it, and someone had asserted that we were possibly in the wrong line of work if we weren’t willing to get it. To the former I would say that I deal with some form of physical risk ever single day at my job. We are well versed in identifying and mitigating risk when possible. The virus is a known risk, the vaccine is an unknown risk. One I can take precautions for, and even if I do get it my chances of recovery are extremely high. The other is completely unknown as to the short term and long term effects. Once it’s in your body that’s it, you aren’t sucking it out later. The vaccine requires two shots to be effective, and has to be re-administered every year. Other than being a bit overweight I am not in a high risk group for dying if I get the virus, if I was then I would factor that in and it might or might not tip my risk scale. My 22 years of working for federal, state, and local Govt has taught me to trust them 0%. It’s a keep your friends close and your enemies closer situation. There are plenty of good people that work for the Govt, but at every level where decisions are made their are people driven by greed and fear. For those driven by greed it is both in the financial and fame sense, they will do anything to achieve either or both. Those driven by fear just want to maintain the status quo and retire comfortably, and in most cases they are so afraid to make a wrong decision that they are almost frozen and can’t make any decision, or when they do, it is so risk averse that it is ineffective or misguided. There are also those in it for all the right reasons, but they typically won’t make it very high before being choked out by the other two. All that to say, if the Govt is pushing the vaccine so hard, to include some legislators wanting to tie the next stimulus check to you getting the vaccine, then I absolutely don’t trust anything about it. To the individual that thinks we are in the wrong line of work because we don’t want to take the vaccine, maybe we are, but I guess we’ll have to stick it out until you and your friends that have all the answers are willing to come take our place. For some reason there is a nationwide shortage of EMS personnel, so the sooner you can get your initial year of training knocked out to start at $12 an hour would be great. I hope you don’t have an aversion to smells because there is ALOT of vomit, poop, and piss involved. While I personally don’t trust or want the vaccine, I do 100% support your right to choose to get it if you want to. I respectfully request that you honor my right to choose for myself without disparaging me and my profession. I would’ve thought that in a 2A group we would all know first hand the frustration and danger of other people trying to choose for us what they think is best for us. Stay in your lane

I’d sell them both and get them a Glock 43x . If the option is only between those two I’d keep the Taurus since it’s the right color, and you can shoot multiple calibers, and it has a usable hammer.

If she already works there they cannot force her to get it, they can however make her life a nightmare with PPE requirements. If it’s a new place of employment that requires it before she can work there that’s possibly a different story. I only know because several friends have gone through this with their places of employment in regards to the flu vaccine. They were made to wear a mask before masks were cool, and had the equivalent of a scarlet letter placed on their ID badges.

You are correct. My Dad had GBS in 2018, and is finally mostly recovered. He cannot get the flu vaccine the rest of his life and has been advised not to take the COVID vaccine also.

I’m not familiar with NFO?

I don’t personally know any first responders that are willing to get the vaccine, and most of the hospital “front line” workers that I know don’t want it either. My circle is admittedly pretty small, maybe a hundred or so people, but it makes me wonder how many similar minded workers around the country will do the same. Undoubtedly some city’s and states will try to mandate it for their workers, similar to how they try to mandate the flu vaccine, but thankfully here we can’t be required to take it. Maybe that will free up some doses for those that it would theoretically benefit the most.

I went with a set of steel plates from AR500.com a few years ago and have been happy with them. I bought a 3rd plate to test for myself and the only thing I had pass through it was some AP .308 and eventually some 5.56green tip after I hit the same spot about 15 times. There are pros and cons to any type of armor. The only real con, in my opinion, to the steel plates are the weight. Mine are 7lbs per plate for a large, and that of course varies by which size plate you use. If you go steel, spend the extra money on the spall mitigation. The biggest pro to the steel plates is durability, followed closely by price. I had great ceramic plates in the military (expensive) but managed to break three plates in 7 years, and thankfully never got shot. Now is a great time to buy as AR500. Com does a big Black Friday sale every year, usually 15-20% off. It will probably take several weeks to get them. I don’t carry my armor with me everywhere at this point. Hopefully won’t ever feel the need to. But if I do have to strap it on my mindset would probably be that I’m going to do whatever I can to buy my family time to get somewhere safe. In my limited experience seeing guys get hit in their plates they were almost always hit other places also, and needed prompt medical attention on a scale that I will not have in any home defense or loan wolf situation. I absolutely think it’s a necessary tool in the toolbox, but no matter how little or a lot you spend on them they will not make you invincible. It’s important going into any type of fight to mentally brace yourself that “this is really going to hurt” to lessen some of the surprise when it happens.

@xsubsailor I have no idea how their rules are written in Florida, but in TN a DNR tattoo would not be recognized. The only acceptable DNR order here is an official document provided by your Dr. that you have both signed and dated. If a patient in a hospital or care facility has a legitimate DNR order it is clearly documented so that a mistake is not made. If they get transported by ambulance for something the DNR order (or verified copy) goes with the patient to the receiving facility. If the said patient passes at home the family needs to know where that DNR is and present it when EMS arrives or resuscitation attempts will have to be made if there is any chance. I say all this just to dispel any misconceptions about the process and in hopes that anyone who has that wish will know what the process is.

If she’s mainly going to use it around the house connected to WiFi you can save yourself some money and get the non cellular model. I bought a non cellular 10.2” with 32gb memory for right around $200 last year when Amazon had their Black Friday week sale going on. I’ve been very happy with it. Mainly use it for TGO, Netflix, and YouTube. Just recently figured out I can download some movies and shows on Netflix to the iPad so I can watch them while I fly/travel. This is the one I got. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XL7G4H6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Welcome to the group.

It was trick or treating as usual in our neck of the woods. I saw a couple of the older folks that were giving candy wearing masks, which I understand, other than that it was pretty normal. My son said that he thinks that they gave out better candy this year, as in a lot more chocolate and even some full size candy bars My in-laws covered down on candy dispensing duties while we were out, they said about 50-60 kids came by. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. I have family near Seattle and some in Northern California, they were not able to do it at all.

I wouldn’t be in the line of work I am if I felt the way that your comment implies. One can have a realistic view about a situation and still be saddened by it. An elderly person died in our town last night (unknown if COVID related), as they do several times per week. I can be saddened by their loss and the effects it has on their family and still objectively know that it’s going to keep happening.

Sounds like you are well stocked. You are probably already aware of it, but in case you are not you might look into an adapter that allows you to refill your 2lb propane tanks from your 40lb. I have about 10 of the 2lb bottles, and refill them whenever I get about 5 empty. There are a plethora of YouTube videos that show how to accomplish this safely. I think I bought the adapter off amazon for $16.

What do you consider a few sacrifices and what do you consider a short amount of time? The entire country did that when we were told to lock everything down for 15 days to flatten the curve. Then it was 21 days, then a month. There are still parts of the country that are as locked down as we here in TN were at the beginning. If you recall, the purpose of flattening the curve was so that we would not all overwhelm the healthcare system, as the “science” showed a couple million people dying within months. In reality, the healthcare system then laid off who knows how many nurses and staff across the country because no one would come near a hospital, clinic, or Doctor’s office unless they were actually dying. My wife was one of 130ish laid off at her hospital. She was fortunate enough to get to go back to work after a couple months but about 90 personnel (many who had been working at that hospital for 15-20 years and were some of the highest paid employees aside from the Doctors) did not get to go back to work. This same healthcare system is making money hand over fist from federal COVID funding. At the front lines of healthcare the majority of the Nurses and staff, and maybe even a few of the Doctors care about their patients. But a hospital is a business whose primary purpose is to make as much money as it can, and the administrators that run them care about the business first not the patients or the employees. When you wrap your head around that, and around the way most politicians on all sides are grappling for power and control, it not really that hard to see why COVID is still such a big scary thing, despite the actual data we now have saying otherwise. COVID is certainly real and certainly dangerous to certain demographics, I don’t think any sane person is suggesting otherwise. But I think people are waking up and starting to get pretty pissed about the lies and oppression being placed on them about a virus that is primarily effecting those that are already one foot in the grave. All that being said Links, I’m truly sorry and saddened about the loss of your family and friends.

I personally know 8 people (including my college age daughter) that have had confirmed cases of COVID and have all recovered. While 3 of them did feel pretty miserable for a week or so, non of the 8 were hospitalized, and most did not go to a Dr. other than for the COVID test. The oldest was 57, the youngest 18. One of the guys who had the hardest time is 36 and is extremely active and fit. One of the guys who had no symptoms other than loosing his sense of taste is 51 and obese. I don’t know that any of them are/were smokers. I work Fire/EMS at a medium sized city here in TN. I work a 24hr shift every third day. So I can speak to at least 33% of the medical calls that we have had since COVID started. As a department (across all 3 shifts) we have been averaging a COVID call about every 8 days, meaning a call with a confirmed COVID patient that is having symptoms that require them to be transported to the hospital. In every single one of those instances that I have taken part in, the patient had obvious previous conditions that put them in the highest risk category. To be clear, these are the same category of patients we work with every day that are having to be hospitalized for and are dying of their previous conditions. They were being hospitalized daily and some were dying weekly before COVID and they will still be doing that after COVID. What I can also tell you, is that our city has seen a noticeable increase in domestic violence, drug overdoses, and suicides during the COVID lockdowns. Those numbers are starting to go back closer to normal as more things have opened up and life returns to some normalcy. For me personally, I think the saddest trickle down effect that COVID has brought us is the isolation of our elderly population from their families. We go into the assisted living facilities daily for various medical calls. To be honest they are not the happiest of places at anytime, but the downward spiral of morale since the COVID lockdowns is palpable. Many of these people have not been able to physically see, touch, and hear their family members in months due to regulations meant to “keep them safe”. We have had several of these patients tell us that there’s no point in going on if they can’t see their family. These comments are not suicidal ideations, they are just stating the facts of life as they see it. We see everyday what it looks like when these elderly people loose the will to keep on living and trying. Very similar to switching off a light, their physical decline progresses, sometimes rapidly once that will to live is gone. The reality is that none of us will make it out of here alive. People young and old are dying ever day from a multitude of causes. It’s always been that way and it always will. We should all take reasonable precautions in life, but if we spend too much time worrying about everything along the way, we aren’t going to live a happy and full life. More than worrying about who’s wearing a mask or who’s not or how they are wearing it or which self serving politician was right about COVID and which was wrong, take some of that energy and make some memories with your family and friends. If you have elderly relatives please find some way to encourage them and love on them. Do it in whatever way makes you and them feel safe, but do it.

If I knew I was an asymptomatic carrier, meaning I had actually had a positive COVID test and wasn’t feeling any symptoms I would do what I consider to be the responsible thing and stay home. That’s the same thing I would do with the flu or a substantial cold. What’s being fear mongered onto us is far from reasonable or responsible, especially with the data we now have.

Sorry to hear about your friend getting hurt. Hopefully he heals up ok. If you are wanting to get your steal cut sooner than he’s able let me know, I’ve got a plasma cutter. We could possibly work out a trade, my labor for a small target or two.

I took the survey and found it interesting. At the end it shows you where your answers stack up. I guess it’s not really surprising that my answers matched up with the majority, especially considering that I was solidly in every majority demographic other than education (majority of respondents thus far have a Bachelors Degree and I only have some college). Majority of respondents so far are from TN. Hopefully a lot more people take the survey.

I’ve been talking about this with family friends and coworkers more lately in hopes they will better prepare. If Biden somehow wins I see it being a bit more of a slow burn on the fuse, maybe 2 years until enough see what direction things go and then civil war. If Trump wins I see it being almost instantaneous, with the far left reacting in widespread violent hysterics. Basically what we are already seeing in major cities but on steroids. I do think that Trump will feel a bit more emboldened to step in and handle it, which I am fine with if the local authorities won’t keep their people safe. Im not doing anything different. I think most of us on this forum have been ready for this for years. I would prefer this kickoff now while I’m still somewhat able to physically do something about it. I absolutely hate to think about the state of the country our children will be inheriting.

Welcome to the group.

Welcome to TGO. I am also a refugee from CA. I occasionally go back to visit family, the ones who haven’t escaped yet.

GOA, NSSF, and SAF

I completely disagree. The NRA is currently just as corrupt as most of the government. While we don’t have the option to withhold taxes until the government corrects itself, we do have the ability to financially starve out the NRA until they (at a minimum) oust LaPierre and some of the top brass. When you look at the NRA’s financial plummet, and the pending cases against them it becomes obvious that they are more concerned with maintaining access to their slush fund than they are about actually fighting for gun owners and protecting the 2A. If those in question actually cared then they would resign so that the flow of money would start back up, allowing the organization to regain legitimacy and get back into the fight. As to the OP’s question about the benefits, I’ve been a NRA life member for quite awhile (haven’t sent them a dime the last couple years) and I have never found their discounts particularly useful. It’s been awhile since I looked, but their rental car and moving truck discounts were usually the same or less than AAA or Military discounts. The range I go to used to require NRA membership to join, essentially to ensure its membership was doing their part to help the 2A cause, but they have since changed that to a GOA membership or one of a few other lesser known organizations that I can’t think of at the moment. I have also heard talk of trying to get away from the requirement that some ranges have of NRA certified instructors, as a way to further distance from and bleed out revenue for the organization. I haven’t heard what their alternative will be but it’s encouraging that all avenues are being looked at.

What does tik tok access on a users phone that Instagram, FB, and Snapchat don’t? Is the problem simply that the data on your phone is considered more accessible to a foreign government than the data on the other apps? If people are worried about Trojan backdoor entry from an app simply because it’s from China, they should probably look into where their phones are made (or the majority of their electronics and security systems for that matter). Do you truly believe there are not backdoors into any of it? I am not a blind Trump fanboy, I voted for him once and will again given the lack of options. That being said, if people can’t see the conflict of interest in Trump saying tiktok bad and threatening to ban it, which prompted the company to begin negotiations to sell to a US company (as American desperate housewives and their whorish daughters are the bulk users of the app) and then Trump swoops back in and says oh yeah, the treasury should get some of the money from this deal....really? I would think that before something gets “banned” by the government they would need to show some legitimate examples of how it is actually a threat to national security, particularly in comparison to other apps that the sheep use daily to give their personal information and intimate pictures to whomever wants to look.

Welcome to the group.