I'm surprised (not) of the apocalyptic picture the "survivalists" have been selling since the 1980's... that's when I personally became aware of "survivalism".
I am sure, however, that survivalism existed since the 1950's one way or another.
What strikes me is the aggressiveness of the US scenario vs. the European scenario.
Considering that the last time a city in the US was war-torn (this definitely excludes 9/11 and other terrorist attacks), we have to look back to the Civil War.
Europe, on the other hand, only has to look back to... 1945?
Wrong.
Look at Kosovo and Bosnia, we
still have EU Peace Keeping troops there (NATO pulled out years ago).
I can assure you that big cities WILL riot and become the Hell for the living, but small rural town and villages should be able to carry on as usual.
Sure, there will be less fuel for pickups, so what ? Ride a motorcycle, ride a bicycle, ride a horse... WALK !
Save gas for generators, farm tractors and more important items.
As for shooting at whomever steals tyour apples, well, we have a tradition (here in the Mediterranean Basin) to save on precious lead.
Lead is traceable and much too important for hunting.
We shoot rock salt or bacon rind.
They are both good only at little more than point blank range, won't kill anybody, but burn the bejeezers out of you AND, what's best,
you can't see bacon rind in an XRay !!!