Message from the President: Have you developed a NEST?

The National African American Gun Association is advocating for its members and chapter presidents  to develop a NEST (NAAGA Emergency Support Team). It’s a local, organized group of of members who work as a “unit” to support and assist each other during an extended crisis or pandemic. Collectively being prepared for the unexpected is a good mindset in 2020.

It is my belief is that every member should belong to a NEST in an emergency situation. It can be a group consisting of your family, friends, neighbors, exclusively NAAGA members, or a combination. The objective of the NEST is to work together to solve problems that one or more members has to deal with. The NEST can assist with physical needs, emotional, verbal, food, supplies, computer, guns, and security. The NEST helps in a variety of ways.

You might need water and/or food at a certain time. A few days later you might need toilet paper and batteries for your emergency light. You may even need a reassuring phone call from a NEST member or the entire team. It just depends. Please remember that Individuals by themselves are said to have a 20 percent chance of survival, compared to individuals in a group.

In long-term survival the most important part of the group is protection and security. That translates that you need enough bullets and guns for everyone in the group and an organized security plan with individuals who know how to shoot a firearm.

This last point is important. Six people is said to be the ideal number that allows for the best chance to survive or accomplish group tasks. These include movement, self-sustainment off natural resources, and security. (Firearms, and more importantly the skills to use them, are critical to the success of the NEST because if you cannot protect yourself, the group will not survive.)

KEY Components of Your NEST

• CONTACTS: List the phone number and address of each NEST member
  
• MEETING: Schedule a meeting with your entire NEST team to make sure everyone understands their role and to discuss recent updates
  
• COMMUNICATION: Frequent communication is essential during a crisis–daily, weekly, or monthly
  
• TECHNOLOGY: Use it to connect–mobile phone, Skype, GoToMeeting, Zoom, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, GroupMe, etc.
  
• FOOD: Make sure someone in the group has food or access to food
• FIREARMS: Every NEST member should have at least one firearm 
  
• SIZE: Try to have six members in your NEST to increase your chance of survival