(ZeroHedge)—With police forces overwhelmed by the enormous scope of devastation in Los Angeles County, residents are starting to take matters into their own hands, defying mandatory evacuation orders to instead guard their homes and their neighbor’s property with firearms.
As we reported yesterday, losses from the wildfires in Los Angeles county are poised to reach $250 billion or more. Property isn’t only being destroyed — it’s also being stolen by brazen looters. The neighbor of one LA county resident gave a disturbing description of what was going on on their street: “There were like a hundred people that came up on scooters and were trying to get into any and all houses on this street.”
In response, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna has imposed a curfew, saying, “We’re not screwing around with this; we don’t want people taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized.” Of course, strong words are little defense against looters determined to prey on vulnerable innocents. Much as the bad guys ignore strong words, so too are plenty of good guys and gals who are opting to defy evacuation orders so they can secure their own property.
“I have no patience for any of [the police],” wealth-management firm president Ross Gerber told the Wall Street Journal. “After you survive this, you don’t care what they say.” Toting a firearm, Gerber has been sneaking into and out of the mandatory evacuation zone to check on his house. He says he’s also joined neighbors in walking the streets and questioning those they don’t recognize.
“I get that [police will] say this is ‘the rule,’ but it’s our land and our neighborhood and as much as I respect the authorities, we’re much more competent than them,” said Gerber, who said a neighborhood WhatsApp channel has proven to be an organizational resource that’s “better than any government.”
Others are staying put in their homes, ready to use gunpower to thwart looters. “I do have firearms and I’ve been calling my friends to make sure I know how to legally exist with them,” Altadena resident EveAnna Manley told KTLA 5. She has a slogan displayed on her Starlink satellite internet receiver: “If You Are Lootin’ We Are Shootin’.”
30 armed homeowners in Altadena defy evacuation orders to protect their homes from looters and flare ups. pic.twitter.com/ruVpbZEyiu
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) January 16, 2025
Manley said that, in addition to looters, the defiant residents — who call themselves “the stayers” — are also keeping their eyes out for fire flareups. Manley says she’s helping neighbors by letting them use her shower, doing laundry for them, and even cooking bacon and eggs for them.
The Stayers know that if they leave the neighborhood, they won’t be able to return, as police checkpoints are turning away anybody who tries to enter. For now, police are allowing supplies to come to the checkpoints, where stayers can receive the goods and return to their homes. Manley is grateful for the police barrier: “It’s a ‘hard no’ blockade and I’m glad for that. I want the ‘hard no’ because I don’t want anyone else up here.”
Another Altadena resident, Aaron Lubeley, tells the Journal that he’s been keeping vigil near what’s left of this fire-ravaged property. Sleeping in his SUV, a 9mm handgun by his side, he’s watching his neighborhood for criminals and resurgent fires, saying it “gives me a sense of value and purpose.” While touring his property, he swings from a voice choked with emotion to one filled with humor — as he refers to his burned home’s new “open floor plan.”
As many ZeroHedge readers know, Los Angeles history offers a legendary example of armed citizens banding together to safeguard their property from looting hordes. During the 1992 riots, Korean store owners took rooftop positions and nobly guarded their shops with rifles. Images of the “Rooftop Koreans” continue to serve as an enduring reminder of the power of citizens to safeguard their property when government police cannot or will not do so — and a reminder of why armed self-defense is a fundamental human right.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.