Storing food legal?

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I believe that I have heard somewhere that it might be illegal to store or hoard commodities. Is there anyone out there that can confirm or discredit this information?

-- Scott (svtrout@silverstar.com), October 04, 1998

Answers

Scott: The old "illegal to store or hoard food" story floats to the surface every two weeks somewhere within the y2k web. The genesis seems to be several Executive Orders that, if invoked in a national emergency (name your poison), give the federal government -- specifically, FEMA -- the power to control the distribution of food, fuel, electricity, and other vital goodies. A subset of this is the fear that the government can also force the involuntary surrender of precious metals, especially gold, the way Franklin Roosevelt's administration did in the early 1930s. First, there is nothing in current Executive Orders that gives the government power over *private* food stocks. Troops can't go door-to-door with a list from Waltonfeed's customer base demanding that you hand over your nitrogen-packed hard winter wheat. If conditions were to get that bad -- and I don't think they will -- it's likely that the folks at the door would be armed thugs collecting for the local warlord. An EO could be used to set up a foo/fuel/power rationing system, but again conditions would have to be pretty desperate for that to happen. As for precious metals, someone on another board pointed out that FDR called in gold because in those days the US dollar was still backed by gold. Paper money could be redeemed for silver at any bank -- dimes, quarters, and half-dollars *were* silver, and until a few years ago, you could still occasionally find those old "silver certificate" notes in general circulation, although they were/are no longer redeemable for silver. So, while past results are no guarantee of future performance, as things now stand there are no laws against squirreling away supplies for the future. Just remember, as someone has said previously, this year's stocking up may be next year's hoarding, so it might be wise to fill the larder today to avoid the name-calling tomorrow.

-- J.D. Clark (yankeejdc@aol.com), October 05, 1998.

If they try to take mine, I'm prepared to light a match to it. If I can't have it no one else will either.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 05, 1998.

You give me hope for the future, Bardou. Let's hope this spirit of resistance to oppression is broad and deep enough to guarantee a free and civil society, even when times are at their hardest.

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), October 05, 1998.


Generally, I believe, hoarding is not a crime until after an emergency has been declared.

I don't think torching your stash will solve anything if it comes to that. You'd probably be charged with arson in addition to any other charges.

-- Buddy Y. (Wash,DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), October 05, 1998.


Not to be rude, but if someone told you breathing was illegal, would that stop you from doing it?

At this point I couldn't care less (just like our President) whether something is "illegal" -- the only issues are, is it moral, and will I get caught.

-- Porter (some@where.com), October 05, 1998.



I would pour kerosene on my food - if I had time - rather than see it stolen, even if it were stolen in the name of the law. Not necessary to light it to spoil it; I'd probably burn my fingers off anyway! All I can say is that if police/military are made to become thugs in the name of "emergency" and do either house-to-house theft of private food or weapons stores, they had better reconsider their oath and their vocation; and if they proceed to trample the constitution, they had better kill me while they have the chance. What does this accomplish, Buddy? If enough people resist oppression, oppression can be successfully resisted, and we won't lose our right to life, liberty and property. If people don't resist oppression with single acts of defiance, oppression will flourish, and pretty soon we'll all be slaves. Maybe that's okay for you, but I just don't go in for that sort of thing.

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), October 05, 1998.


I cant believe someone would "TORCH' their food supply. I am more inclined to answer "please define illegal" as in the words of our dear pres. if he can word play so can we? At any rate, I never lived thru the depression or difficult times, but i cant forsee the gov. stepping in and going door to door, as it would no doubt cause a serious public uprising, and things will be bad enuf as it is. I would not suggest putting a match to anything, shame on you guys. p.s. i hope you were just kidding?

-- carrie (privacy@aol.com), October 05, 1998.

I'm not one to roll over and say "take me I'm yours." What right does a government or a civilian have to take from me what I have worked my butt off for? What have they done to deserve it? If you believe that you will just open the door and give all your food and guns to the authorities, then you are wasting your time and money. May as well wait for your neighbor to give up theirs so you can partake of what they worked their butts off for. Is that what some of you are made of?

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 06, 1998.

"They" can't take what they don't know about. At the time where you would be concerned about hoarding or storing ( same lady - different dress)things your world will have seriously been shaken, probably to the point where you won't really care much what "they" say. You can rest assured that NOTHING is beyond the realm of possibility if it involves your Uncle Sam. Short answer to the question: YES it will be declared illegal.

Carrie: I,like several others, have a tendency to fuzz up when someone tries to tell me that "what's mine is theirs" and I can go from lap cat to doberman in a short space of time. Will I resist to that point of burning the food? In a heartbeat and with no qualms at all. Other folks rights end where mine begin just as surely as mine end where theirs begin but I will not lay down for anyone. Actually you cannot imagine just how far I will go,and how fast I will get their to defend my rights. I will be defending your rights by defending mine. It's really not as radical as you would think. You too have " that line in the dirt" which people cross at their peril. Mine is just very close to my person.

S.O.B. (La)

-- sweetolebob(La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), October 06, 1998.


Yet another dangerous mindset and it's equally dangerous corrolary enters the Y2K discussion. I'm referring to the opposing attitudes of the "individualist" survivalists versus those convinced that only cooperation in a community setting can pull society through. In this and other fora, the voices propounding each viewpoint are getting increasingly strident. While I agree that all relevant issues surrounding Y2K are fair game for discussion, I am distressed by the vehemence and violent tone of the rhetoric. This does not bode well for recovery strategems should this crisis unfold as seriously as many foresee.

Hallyx

"We cannot all sit on the same side of the Council Fire. But we can all sit at the same fire."

-- Hallyx (Hallyx@aol.com), October 06, 1998.



Then why even discuss on this thread the best way to store food, water, or anything for that matter if you are just going to hand it over? I've seen first hand "community action" during disasters and it's not a pretty sight. During the hurricane in Florida people in a shelter were complaining about eating hot dogs and cornflakes. My mindset is you can't have what isn't yours and what you didn't work for. And I have the freedom and right to protect my home, family and personal property, what's violent about that?

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 06, 1998.

I'm with you Bardou. And I would be with you, Hallyx, if there was a council fire, instead of burning oil drum with heavily armed federales standing around it warming their mitts on the burning debris, as I expect there will be. The Federal Government walks softly and carries a big stick; it doesn't pass the talking stick around the council fire. State socialism is not tribalism. Tribal leaders are accountable. Statist leaders are invisible. The tribe demands that everyone contribute to the wealth of the tribe, or be ostracized. Statism claims the life and property of each individual as it's own, from the cradle to grave, as you or I might claim a farm animal - and resistance means death or imprisonment. We now have a pretence of democracy and freedom, but we've seen in the past what this reverts to, with little provocation. All I can say is get ready (SOB has the anwer: hide it well, so they can't take it). I'm not violent, or advocating violence. And I don't have a problem with community effort, provided it is strictly voluntary, and not coerced. Unfortunately, the latest Executive Orders for the Preservation of Critical Infrastructure, and the powers specifically granted to FEMA, are inconsistent with my opinion. They might shoot me for hoarding, and then draft you into a corpse-disposal team to bury me, among others. "So it is has been written, so let it be done" - no council fire needed.

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), October 06, 1998.


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