FYI- BAJA NORTE VIOLENCE.

bmw635

Observer
Not to Hijack this thread or steer the conversation elsewhere but can anyone point me to reputable websites or blogs (or even within this forum) that can provide real world, on the ground info, about safety in the Baja? More specifically, purchasing a retirement home and not necessarily overlanding. We are looking at San Jose and La Paz.
Bajatalk.com , bajanomad.com
 

rruff

Explorer
Meet people with a open hand and a smile.
Best weapon there is...

I don't know about the rest of you... but when somebody with a gun wants my stuff... they can have it. I'll let you defend the honor of your material possessions, or your pride, or maybe just your imagination. :unsure:

I decided a long time ago that my trusty .357 wasn't going to do me much good, unless... I carried it all the time and pulled it out at the first sign of a potential threat and pointed it at that threat. In other words I'd need to escalate every encounter to a potentially lethal gunfight. Otherwise I'm going to be late to the party, and that's a really stupid time to pull out a gun.

Ya, I know you are all super intuitive (ie paranoid) and can smell the baddies from a mile off, and would never draw on an "innocent" person... but I know from personal experience that ain't so.
 

rruff

Explorer
I often thought how could I defend myself in a situation. I found simple smoke bombs, and a $300 rechargeable flamethrower, fairly small and easy to handle that shot out 35 feet of intense flame. Now, I may be foolish, but one single handgun will do little to protect me.
I used to ride bikes with a guy who made mortars in his basement, and fired them at an IRS headquarters somewhere north of LA. I think he did it on two separate occasions but they didn't catch him in the act. However, they did eventually apprehend him at his basement lair...

With the cartel folks, maybe you could ask them for a job? On second thought, they probably only hire illegals and the pay and benefits suck.
 

Ozarker

Well-known member
Well, that flamethrower is claimed to shoot 25 feet, not 35', and that's probably at full charge lasting a few seconds. Looks like you might make one using the ignitor off a butane torch and a fire extinguisher, but I'd add some Dawn dish soap to my fuel mix just to give it some "stickey".

I refuse to go into a discussion about gun play with some bad guy(s) if I am unarmed or armed for two reasons; 1. I'd sound like Rambo and 007 put together and 2. I'd end up arguing with idiots.

If anyone needs me in December, I'll be in Hawaii, armed only with a beer bottle.
 
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rruff

Explorer
^^^ Advises camping in a campground... sad.

It's also damn sad that the US has helped turn Mexico into a country that is mostly ruled by drug cartels.
 

DirtWhiskey

Western Dirt Rat
We've spent a bunch of time recently in Oaxaca because of our connection to the Mezcal industry, and it's nothing short of magical on multiple levels. Not overland thus far. Spent a bunch of time in PV and Jalisco and have a deep desire to get into the areas of Mexico's unbelievable backcountry. Copper Canyon et al.

Nonsense above aside, was planning on taking the wife on our first Baja trip to visit a friend who just settled down there. We won't be going. I value our lives too much. Huge bummer because we love Mexico and we love bringing our cash down there and helping the local economy. We won't stop going to Mexico just removed Baja off the list. Another huge bummer because it's actually practical to get there for overlanding style travel.

I'll just leave this HERE. Harrowing stuff. Unsolvable by us plebes. The problems have roots that are unchangeable forever. More and more of Mexico is sliding into chaos. Enjoy the places you can right now because it's only going to get worse. This is going to sound like hyperbole but civil war is possible and it's really bad for all of us. We're all joined at the hip with our tragic Mexican family.

I find the joking horseplay nature of a lot of these conversation to be childish and stupid. Dead serious subject with loss of life. Please for the love of God, stop joking around about this stuff. It's burning my eyes and I hope the mods (if there are any mods any more here) put a stop to it.
 

gator70

Well-known member
I suppose boondocking in Baha would be much safer in groups of three vehicles. Theses criminals look for weaker targets. Three vehicles in groups represent unknown resistance to theses small criminals. They would chose a weaker simpler target. I don't believe this criminal activity is organized by bigger groups, at least in rural Baha. As the gain for larger organized criminal cartel's is not there.

For those like me that still want to boondock in Baha, we should get together in groups of three vehicles, traveling at the same time and same route. Not that difficult to do.

Any suggestions?
 
I suppose boondocking in Baha would be much safer in groups of three vehicles. Theses criminals look for weaker targets. Three vehicles in groups represent unknown resistance to theses small criminals. They would chose a weaker simpler target. I don't believe this criminal activity is organized by bigger groups, at least in rural Baha. As the gain for larger organized criminal cartel's is not there.

For those like me that still want to boondock in Baha, we should get together in groups of three vehicles, traveling at the same time and same route. Not that difficult to do.

Any suggestions?
Check out FB groups Baja Overland and talkbaja road conditions, they often are people looking to travel together I spend a bunch of time in Baja, mostly solo and alone. I still will.
 

rruff

Explorer
When someone points a gun at you, assuming all they want is your stuff is poor thinking.
So far in the 9? times it's happened they didn't want anything at all... they were just being "careful". Or if they were thinking to rob me, they changed their minds. I've noticed when people are trying to act scary, and I'm friendly and unafraid it seems to confuse them.

I bet there is a 99% chance that they would want to rob me or less... mostly less. I'm not going to run around and threaten people with a loaded gun just so I can maybe get the drop on that 1%.

It's a probability game. I make what I think are reasonable preparations and then don't worry about it. Being unarmed works for me.
 

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