When you were able to make it to town, the shelves of the small grocery stores were not empty. People in town also had extra on hand in case of a storm. People had a supply on hand at home to hold them over if there was a disruption in life as normal. We never made the news. It was just part of life for the area we lived. It was not a survivalist attitude but rather I need to have an adequate supply on hand for our family and for my neighbor in case they need some help. I wish this perspective, foresight and responsibility was something all Americans took seriously.

Sounds familiar growing up poor in the country. We had a huge supply of canned food in the root cellar, because that was how we got our fruit and vegetables in the winter. Canned in Mason jars from our garden, of course. Stockpile of meat in the deep freeze, because much of it came from hunting or buying half a cow. Everything needed for the standard two or three days without power that usually came up.

I will say one thing on the politics. I don't think either one is going to significantly hurt my gun ownership rights. But I'm now middle class due to my wife and I working our asses off. I'm going back to school for a second degree in engineering, while still working, to try to maybe be "upper" middle class. One of the candidates is about entirely giving the finger to the middle class with his proposed tax policies. Romney doesn't give a damn about guns at all. Maybe if it were Mccain you'd have an argument, but all Romney gives a **** about is the fact that he's rich and has rich friends.