They used to call it right-wing extremism. But now it’s a trend, and it’s attracting some very wealthy figures.
Record numbers of Americans are buying up the latest tools to survive what they believe might be an impending national security crisis.
The trend reaches well beyond guns and food.
For instance, billionaires are investing in upgraded bunkers, according to a recent New Yorker report.
Quantum bunkers can be installed virtually anywhere and are capable of providing all the convenience one could hope for, given the otherwise turbulent circumstances.
For less extreme situations, there has been an uptick in sales of personal surveillance systems.
As concerns grow about hate crimes, vandalism, online threats, and even riots, so do measures to document what occurs in residential and commercial areas.
Another interest is in personal evasion techniques. The primary means of being traced, monitored, and doxxed is through one’s smartphone. This reality has caused a surge of interest in copper enclosures – essentially portable Faraday cages.
Intelligent protesters have known about this for a while, as police have used “Stringrays” to scoop their smartphone data and track their location.
But times have changed. Now many ordinary hackers can scoop the data from your smarthphone, remotely monitor your activity, and even leak your data online. They can target police, business owners, journalists, organizers, or anyone else they deem an enemy to their political worldview.
For moments when push comes to shove, there has been a rise in the sale of new forms of body armor.
Advanced forms of “dragon skin” and liquid body armor – yes you heard that correctly, liquid – are being studied and invested in by the uber rich for their potential to be even stronger than traditional body armor.
Newer and more efficient medical kits are also making the rounds. Despite their small appearance, they are marketed as having up to 70 of the most essential supplies.
The times are interesting for sure, and it seems as though preparation is no longer relegated to fringe groups.
“A lot of people are worried that not only will it fail but that it will fail spectacularly to the point that we are going to end up on in one or more critical situations that we are just not prepared for,” says Jeff, 36, who is part of a new and growing prepper group.