Do you need it?

[Wmnmy]

This question is like whipping a dead horse. I don't have to justify why I have a CPL, several weapons, and carry whenever/wherever I can. Don't try to do evil on me or mine and you will never know I'm armed. Try to do evil and your life is subject to termination.

Ditto like American express never leave home without it I have come across lots of undesirables ......My family s too precious,

 

[Grey Ghost]

I still feel it is your option to carry a weapon. I served and know how and when to use it. Hope never to have to use it again! As for carrying in California, I would rather go to jail than be carried by six anytime. California is one state you really need to carry!

 

[JanAndBill]

I carry in the hopes that I never need to use it, and have no intention of being without it the one time I do need it. If that makes me a criminal then so be it.

 

[alex00]

I still feel it is your option to carry a weapon. I served and know how and when to use it. Hope never to have to use it again! As for carrying in California, I would rather go to jail than be carried by six anytime. California is one state you really need to carry!

The good news is that the Courts are starting to take up the issue of California's ban on open carry coupled with restrictive (impossible in some areas) CCW as a violation of the Second Amendment. Although the ability to carry on your person is limited (legally) in California, you can still, for the most part, travel with the firearm in a locked case. Contrary to popular belief, the loaded magazine may be in the same locked container. Is your container still locked if 3 of the 4 pushbuttons are activated?

Remember, as a general rule of thumb, if your slides are out, and your steps are down, you are 'camping' and your trailer loses the Vehicle exception to the Fourth Amendment. It also means that for California purposes, it is your home, and you can carry loaded and concealed all you want inside your home.

*disclaimer, please research California laws before importing, possessing or controlling a firearm in California. Many of our gun laws are misdemeanors, but some are felonies. Just remember, if it is black, plastic, holds more than ten rounds or looks neat it is probably illegal. If it is blued, wood, single shot or looks old it is probably ok.

 

[donr827]

LYNN1130 explained it perfectly...

X2 and I do carry when necessary
Don

 

[Bob&Patty]

I do carry at all times when camping. The OP made a statement about camping in nice areas. To answer that....the bad guys are not going to rob people in a bad area, cause there is nothing worth stealing. They will go to an area where people DO WORK for a living have have stuff worth stealing.

 

[alex00]

People that know I carry would often ask, why do you carry at the grocery store? Or why the movies? My response used to be that I had to get to those places somehow and anything could happen between the relative safety of my home or the mall. Now I just ask them where the last mass shootings have occurred. Schools, theaters and stores are not the same anymore.

It's the same about camping in good or bad areas. It's naive to think the affluence of an area will determine the likelihood of victimization.

I do carry at all times when camping. The OP made a statement about camping in nice areas. To answer that....the bad guys are not going to rob people in a bad area, cause there is nothing worth stealing. They will go to an area where people DO WORK for a living have have stuff worth stealing.

 

[GlenStMary]

I totally agree with your response. In this day and age, no place is immune to violence anymore, including ones own home. You only need to read the papers to see the facts. And now, with the economy in shambles and cities and towns scraping by on less and less money, things don't look to be getting better anytime soon.

 

[lindaw]

I do carry at all times when camping. The OP made a statement about camping in nice areas. To answer that....the bad guys are not going to rob people in a bad area, cause there is nothing worth stealing. They will go to an area where people DO WORK for a living have have stuff worth stealing.

If we don't carry a gun then only the criminals will have one and that gives them an advantage over us I don,t plan to give them.
LindaW

 

[GrumpyOneandTwo]

Yes
.......

 

[Ultraclassic]

Under the 2nd ammendment which I believe in strongly, yes it is our right to bear arms. I spent 20 years defending this nation to keep that right and it was my pleasure to do so, it's the greatest nation in the world; it's the land of the free. Bearing arms is just one way of keeping the bad folks in check, my family deserves piece and safety and so does everyone else's. And yes we had one incident when rving it happened about 1:00am in a rest stop in New Mexico. That night or early morning we parked and jumped in the rv to catch some sleep, as soon as we laid down someone outside walked by the rv and slapped the side of it with their hand. Needless to say I was cocked and locked and out the door, what I saw appeared to be a homeless person or hitch hiker walking away from our rv about 30 yrs away and that was it! My guess was the individual may have been drinking I don't know, what I do know is that I was ready if necassary to protect my family and property! It has to be a sinking feeling not to have a way to defend yourself from the bad guys. Conceled carry, never leave home without it!

 

[GOTTOYS]

Not only do you need a weapon, you need to carry a couple of backups, preferably one in your boot. You will also need laser sights, hollow point ammo, lessons in low light shooting, and camo clothing. You never know when you might need to engage in a firefight in a Wal-Mart parking lot someday...Or you can just keep your trusty old 12 gauge in the closet...Don

 

[SGMilkman]

I agree, at least with the comment about the 12 Ga. In fact, I'd rather think the guy in the rig next to me was not sleeping with a pistol under his pillow, since a modern handgun round will penetrate several RV walls before coming to rest. The shotgun will lose much of it's punch in the first few yards.

I have a CCL, and own a handgun, but the first thing I would reach for in the RV is the shotgun.

 

[Borntowade]

I agree, at least with the comment about the 12 Ga. In fact, I'd rather think the guy in the rig next to me was not sleeping with a pistol under his pillow, since a modern handgun round will penetrate several RV walls before coming to rest. The shotgun will lose much of it's punch in the first few yards.

I have a CCL, and own a handgun, but the first thing I would reach for in the RV is the shotgun.

I also reach for my shotgun, sort of. I travel with my Taurus Raging Judge. I get to choose, .410 round or .454. So many decisions. BTW I think you overestimate the penetration of a hollow point. A 10 mm perhaps, not the Casul.

 

[Autumnspell]

You bet one should have carry permit. While the vast majority of RVers are kind and decent common sense tells me that isn't 100 per cent. And, problems come up that might leave me, or you, stranded in a strange place.

It is better to be prepared rather than being caught flat footed. Just use good sense and take a class and get a conceal carry permit. And, stay current on state laws in areas on the visit list. F o r example, Colorado recognizes the State of Utah's conceal carry permit, but only for legal residents of Utah. That could be a problem for a person who holds a non-resident carry permit from Utah. I got a CCP not because I want to carry in public but just in case the unthinkable does occur.

I couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I failed to protect my family to the best of my ability.

So, do you NEED a gun? There are plenty of arguements for or against. It comes down to personal choice.

We camp in nicer areas most of the time. I have never felt as though I NEEDED my gun(s) while at a campground. Just like everyone here, every camper/campground we've encountered have been nice, generous, polite, and friendly. Just the sort of people we enjoy meeting and hanging out with.

BUT...

Here's the biggest reason I carry, all of the time, not just while camping. I'm towing a 35' travel trailer with my Suburban. In the truck with me are my wife, my two kids and a dog that just gets all whipped up and whiny when we travel. While I try to pay full attention to my job of getting us there, things happen. Maybe you drift out of your lane a bit. maybe you blow a tire and some rubber hits the car next to you. Maybe a bike falls off the rear bike rack (this happened to me one time) and nearly hits a vehicle. On, and on, right? We've all been there, we all know things happen.

Now what if the guy next to/behind you decides he doesn't like what happened, and he's gonna show you! He follows you to your exit, or to the campground, or wherever. We all have seen road rage at least once before, right? So we have my wife, and children present, and a guy who is angry for whatever reason. In this scenario, which seems perfectly realistic, I CHOOSE to be armed and ready.

Maybe you break down on the side of the road in your nice big truck with your nice big camper. Maybe someone decides that you must be loaded$ if you can afford those toys, and decides to try and lighten that load. In my opinion, this scenario seems perfectly realistic, and I CHOOSE to be armed.

There's more to consider than a guy with a ski mask at the campground.

 

[donr827]

We were staying at a KOA outside of New Orleans several years ago. I had placed the BBQ on the pad and had my bicycle off the carrier. The manager came by later in the day and advised me to not leave anything outside or lock it up because they were having problems with walk throughs stealing items from camp sites. Glad I had my Glock 19 in the trailer.
Don

 

[Birchwood]

I will call 911(that's what we do in Canada) as I don't want to point a gun at anyone.Been around guns all my life but not for defense purposes.

 

[JohnD]

I don't own any guns . . .

But have been thinking about getting one!

No so much for protection against people . . .

But bears, mountain lions, coyotes, wolves and more that roam the mountain campgrounds where we like to camp!

Although after watching reruns of 'Criminal Minds' makes me wonder . . .

Here are some shots I took a few years back in Woodland Park, Colorado while camping:

 

[whp4262]

I don't own any guns . . .

But have been thinking about getting one!

No so much for protection against people . . .

But bears, mountain lions, coyotes, wolves and more that roam the mountain campgrounds where we like to camp!

Although after watching reruns of 'Criminal Minds' makes me wonder . . .

Here are some shots I took a few years back in Woodland Park, Colorado while camping:

View attachment 28897 View attachment 28898 View attachment 28899

The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.

 

[danemayer]

wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking

I think the bears refer to those as dinner bells.