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PACnAP BENSONAvival Retreat:tical5The Sur-classic survivalist's tome,Total Plan for Retreat Defense, providedprac-information for people preparing for a possible foreign invasion or thechaotic aftermath of a nuclear war. Butsince that book's publicationnewmust defend against ain1in lighthave occurredof shocking events that983, Ragnar has comebut equally formidableto the conclusion that retreatersenemy— our owngovernment.The deadly actions at Ruby Ridge and Waco are but two of the more blatantexamples of government use of overwhelming force against American citizens.Today people must also contend with a host of regulators, bureaucrats, and otherofficials who want to micromanage how we work, play, interact, and simply live.Butyoumake nowillmistake about it— if you attempt to defy these authoritiesbe taken down, often at the point of a gun. Youand you couldInlose yourinthe open,THEyour freedom,life.newthe face of thisand using awill losethreat,Ragnargorevisits the factors thatintoplanningsurvival retreat today. Besides discussing such nuts-and-bolts items aspicking a retreat locationand stockingit,he provides provocative answerstoMODERNsuchvital issues as: Identifying thethreat to yourenemy— Identifying whichfreedomisorganization or agencyisthe single most important preparation for thethe realmodernretreater. Recognizingretreat SURVIVALiftripwire events— It doesn't help to have ayou don't know whentooccupyitbeforeFinding like-minded retreaters— Traditional andit'sfullytoostocked operationallate.new approachesA New andto this trickyproblem.ApproachRETREAT Whattoexpect when the government goes hardcore againstreveals the surveillance hardware, the relentless public relationstheweaponsoffellow retreatersAoutretreatismass destruction.a place.and atothat willhost ofgo andlive,be broughtnew waystohow you can maximize your chancesyou— RagnarRe at T ieoi campaign, andbear on you and yourto foil these threats.of survivalina retreatand 'Practiceand die. Findand live to enjoynot a place to be corneredina free world.Jelly PDF Version{VitalJJ-FiifI11 1

Also by Ragnar Benson:Acquiring New IDBreath of the Dragon; Homehuill Flameihrow'crsBuirs-Eyc: Crossbow'sDo-It-Yourself MedicineBating CheapGunrunning for Fun andContentsProfitHardcore PoachingHome-Built Claymore Mines: A Blueprint for SurvivalHomemade C-4: A Recipe for SurvivalHomemade Grenade Launchers: Constructing the Ultimate Hobby WeaponLive Off the Land in the City and CountryMantrappingModern Weapons CachingRagnar's Action Encyclopedias. Volumesand 2Ragnar’s Big Book of Homemade Weapons:Ragnar’s Guide to Home and Recreational Use of High ExplosivesRagnar's Ten Best TrapsAnd a Few Others That Are Damn Good. Too1.Survival PoachingSurvivalist'sMedicine ChestRetreat: A I'otal Plan for Retreat DefenseSwitchblade; The Ace of BladesThe SurvivalINTRODUCTIONThe Modern Survival Retreat:A New and Vital Approach to Retreat Theoiw andby Ragnar BensonCopyright 1998 by Ragnar BensonPracticeChapter11IDENTIFYING THEENEMY7Chapter 2WHAT IS A RETREAT?17Chapter 3PICKING A PHYSICAL RETREAT LOCATION21Chapter 4WHAT TO STOCK AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.33Chapter 5TRANSPORTATION AND TRIP WIRES47Chapter 6FINDING LIKE-MINDED RETREATERS59Chapter 7HOW THEY FIND YOU67V

VITHE MODERN SURVIVAL RETREATChapter 8WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR GOVERNMENTWHEN IT GOES HARD CORE AGAINST YOUWarning77Chapter 9GOVERNMENT WEAPONSOP MASS DESTRUCTIONCONCLUSION91103Someof the information in thisillegal in certain jurisdictions.butisnot limitedweapons andto,book may be consideredThis information encompasses,such topics as the possession and use ofexplosives, self-defense, taxes,andidentity doc-uments. It is the reader's responsibility to research and comply with all local, state, and federal laws. This book is offered foracademic study only.VII

Preface"A pnidoit manforsccs eviland hideshimself; the simple passon and are punished."Proverbs 27:12Obviously, the image of the rugged, well-prepared,reliant survivor stickingicinvader as proposedboth thumbsinin theself-eyes of a despot-my 1983 book The Survival Retreat: Awas notentirely accurate. Thatabout nuclear war, foreign invasion, and theanarchy that's created by those situations. As it turned out,preparing for those eventualities entailed preparing to resistthe wrong enemy and to engage in the wrong type of warfarenot an uncommon occurrence given the fact that mostarmies throughout history have done exactly the same thing.Total Plan for Retreat Defensebook was,in part,—Management guruwhohas studied suchthings, points out that the most important measure for a country that would like to win any new war quickly and with minimum casualties would be to immediately shoot their ownold, crusty, hidebound, traditional officers. But hold your fire!1amwillingTheenemylastand ablePeter Drucker,to revisemyanalysis.15 years have dramatically illustrated that the greatof self-sufficient peopleand self-righteously demandsisathatIXgovernmentitsthat rigorouslycitizens eitherremain or

THE MODERN SURVIVAL RETREATXbecome mindless dependents. Sadtheworld seems willingcitizens, aswasto say,but no governmenttrue in the formative days of the United States,in spite of the fact that these are the very citizensmostinto tolerate self-sufficient, self-confidentanywhocon-economic advancement.Some readers will charge, "You should have kncrwn!What, after all, is the Second Amendment about?" Uponsuperficial observation, it only seems to guarantee the right tokeep and bear arms. But historic research undertaken bygroups ranging from fhe National Rifle Associafion to Jews forthe Preservation of Firearms Ownership have conclusivelyproved that, in the eyes of our counfry's founders, keepingarms was the same as keeping one's independence from government. They guaranteed our freedom to possess guns so wecould shoot back and not become government thralls!Not all Americans want to remain independent. Life in thecage can be pretty cushy if one does not value the ability totributetosociety'screate, travel, achieve,—andsuffer.This book—andallof thoseabout and for those who do wish to make theirown decisions, who will not accept life as someone's ward.But assuming a criminally intrusive government is theultimate enemy and that I fatally erred in '83 is overly simplistic. It's more than that.Who, for instance, could have predicted the huge loss ofbasic, day-to-day freedoms in the United States in the ensuing15 years? Taken completely alone, the tremendous increasedburden of bureaucratic rules and regulations has changed thecalculus tremendcrusly for fhose interested in retreating.To a great extent, we now have a great number of graphic, often tragic, examples, both foreign and domesfic, ofretreat strategies that don't work. Unfortunately, conceptsthat do work, which have been tested in places like Beirut,1writeisBaghdad, and Brava, are often swept under the rug, so theirare not immediately available to survivors.Government officials emphasize only their success in repressing citizens. Doing otherwise would blunt their image as thelessonsgreat caretakers of sociefy.PREFACEXIAlthough retreaters who have succeeded have done sobecause no one knew about them, future retreaters mustunderstand that it is vitally important that we learn how tonurture public opinion. We must reflect on what we havelearned about how we will be treated and how we can effectively portray ourselves to others. On the other hand, we cannot afford to engage in wild fantasies about great conspiracies,the real role of governmenf, or our abilities as survivors.Like it or not, it is also important to accept the reality thatthe lure of government guarantees, no matter how phony orimpossible, has dramatically thinned our ranks. Accept itthere just ain't as many of us as fhere once were, willing to putblood, sweat, and tears into retreating successfully.Butalso, as is true inmy owncase, the rest of ushavebecome older and wiser. By 1983 I had seen a fremendousamount of conflict throughout the world, including government measure and countermeasure against those who simplywanted to live free. This led me to believe I had seen most ifnotofallit.But obviouslyIhadn't, especially in terms ofincreased government control ofifsowncitizens.Several nineteenth-century philosophers referred to peo-who emerged fromplehiding after a national emergency asThe remnant's role, these philosophers felt,provide intellectual horsepower for nafional recon-"the remnant."wastostruefion.Myfervent desire, as alwaysthere will eventually besocietyformed on theliberfy as outlined in theTothis end, thiswhenIwrite,isthatenough Individuals to start a new, freeold time-proven model of individualbookUnited States Constitutiern.isdedicated.

IntroductionFear of an imminent Armageddon-type event. Run-inswith the IRS, ATF, DEA, ERA, EDA, FHA, UN, or whatever.It doesn't matter. The modern truth with which we must allcontend is the fact that government policies are increasingly creating new classes of people who are great candidatesfor retreats. Stories abound regarding hapless citizens whobuilt birdhouses in the wrong place on their own property,possessed once-legal firearms, or smiled inappropriately ata female co-worker and are now facing hard time and largefines. This morning's paper, for insfance, carried the story ofa developer who secured all necessary permits to build onhis property, only to have the authorities suddenly changethe rules.lar fineHe nowfaces five years injailbecause he flooded marshlandanda million-dol-to create apondinhis subdivision.This fellow, likeknowAitmany others,isone ofus.He just may notyet.fine line divides those interested in the field ofidentitynew—especially the international kind — and retreaters.Rather than retreat or drop out, some may elect to changetheir identity and pull up stakes for greener pastures overseas. For most people, however, retreating within the United States is an easier and more practical solution than1