Do you feel the need to have a weapon when camping

[Bult4mud]

YES..
Remington 870 P Max with Hogue short stock. I keep Buck/ Slugs/ and Brenikee slugs with me for 2 and or 4 legged critters

COLT M4 60 Grain Hornaday TAPS, Aimpoint M3 surefire light

Glock 21 or 19

I always carry these when im in the back county I HOPE i never have to use them however I have them in teh event i do

Roy

 

[Fireman78]

You are correct. I was referring to the mind as not only a weapon, but a muscle too. :elkgrin:

 

[Cody1771]

lots of good points in here i was expecting some harsh words but didnt see any, glad to see people can still have a non heated discussion on firearms. i have never felt a "need" to carry a gun camping. thats not to say i dont carry one with me.

 

[Wyowanderer]

I prefer to be self sufficient in every area that I can, including self defense. When seconds count, help (the police, a fellow camper) is usually minutes away. I won't leave the responsibility to protect myself to ANYONE else. I want it done right, just like my vehicle maintenance. To that end I spend two or three afternoons a month practicing. I've also been through a couple self defense classes. Funny how many bad habits you find during them.

Whatever your preference, please be proficient in using the weapon of your choice if you decide to take one along while camping. I prefer to take a sidearm, a S&W 629 in stainless, and a cheap pump Mossberg 500. Both are perfectly useful for self defense, and I'm pretty useful in using them. It's not a macho thing, it's a self sufficient thing. I'd prefer that all the folks I camp with are similarly armed. Remember, the police aren't constitutionally charged with protecting you. If they fail to come, you can sue, but you'll lose.

I find it interesting that we worry about guns in the hands of youngsters (rightfully, I might add) but we still allow teens to take an automobile onto public roads. I'm too lazy to look up the (lies, damnned lies and) statistics about teen auto deaths, but I'll bet it's not a small number. Seems to me that people driving automobiles kill more people than guns, but very few people are clamoring for more intrusion into those rights.

OK, OK, I'll stop. I appreciate all who have an opinion, and I'm glad we live in a place where we can still have opinions and firearms. Thanks for letting me share mine.

Peace to you all.
Frank

 

[Steve Curren]

I guess as some have said there is a need for a weapon while camping or off the beaten track. I agree that we need to provide protection for ourselves and others from whatever may threaten us. I also agree that if one is to carry a weapon that they should be trained in the proper use of a weapon. I enjoy camping and taking my Jeep off road and into places that are far from the civilized world and I feel safe if I have a means to protect myself and others from those who would do bad to people. I spent working years amongst the bad or negative part of the population and after being retired for 11 years I still have issues with some people.
Sorry if I seem out of place or have offended some but I felt I needed to express myself.

 

[wyorover]

firarms

i alwas cary a .45 on my side,a willson tac 12ga, a15 ,a remington 700 in .308
and at least 1 .22.

thats just for my average day trip .

 

[john101477]

i alwas cary a .45 on my side,a willson tac 12ga, a15 ,a remington 700 in .308
and at least 1 .22.

thats just for my average day trip .

Haha yeah but not all of that is for protection lol. You like to shoot

 

[ECVMatt]

I pretty much always camp with a firearm. Once you leave the pavement you are obliged to take care of yourself. A firearms allows you to do this. I tend to camp way off the beaten path and have had two very serious problems with folks trying to rob us (both were near Victorville, CA and no I don't go there any more). The police simply can't get there in time to help. You have to be prepared to help yourself.

I consider a firearm like a spare tire or extra water. They are great when you need them and you are generally screwed if you don't have them.

 

[Harald Hansen]

I guess you guys are mostly talking about camping in the US. If you go north or south of the border, I guess you will not be able to take firearms when camping. Will that impact the enjoyment of your trip? Or is a non-armed camping trip not even on the table?

What prompts me to ask is my own experience after running around armed in the Balkans in the 90s on the taxpayer's dime. Today the area is calm and safe, but I really can't get comfortable with the idea of going camping there. I think I would be edgy most of the time, even though I didn't really experience anything traumatic while serving there. Just the habit of being armed and alert while there, I guess. (Going next door to Rumania, especially Transylvania, is more tempting.)

 

[john101477]

I guess you guys are mostly talking about camping in the US. If you go north or south of the border, I guess you will not be able to take firearms when camping. Will that impact the enjoyment of your trip? Or is a non-armed camping trip not even on the table?

What prompts me to ask is my own experience after running around armed in the Balkans in the 90s on the taxpayer's dime. Today the area is calm and safe, but I really can't get comfortable with the idea of going camping there. I think I would be edgy most of the time, even though I didn't really experience anything traumatic while serving there. Just the habit of being armed and alert while there, I guess. (Going next door to Rumania, especially Transylvania, is more tempting.)

Who says you can't take a firearm north or south. I have legally hunted mexico and canada with very little paperwork. Might not be able to take pistols but rifles are more my cup of tea anyways

 

[alexfm]

Living within sight range of the US Mexico border, and now especially with the drug war going on, I feel much more secure with a firearm somewhere in the camp. My dad usually has a .357 in his car, and everyone has got a knife or three.

 

[huntoon]

I would feel better down in Baja if I were legally allowed to have a handgun down there. There are some real horror stories... main recommendation: don't drive at night.

Is it crazy to think that if every body was allowed to have weapons down in Baja that it would be safer?

 

[john101477]

Is it crazy to think that if every body was allowed to have weapons down in Baja that it would be safer?

Not at all. if honest citizens were allowed to excursive their constitutional rights the country as a whole would be much safer. A strong showing of arms through out a community will always trump a criminals desire to commit the crime. but when all the honest citizens have laid down their firearms only the criminals will have guns.

 

[Firetacoma]

After reading all 46 pages of this thread I thought I would just add my 2 pennies. I am a gun owner (target shooting only) who doesn't carry a weapon while camping unless there is going to be shooting as part of the trip.

I've been camping/canoeing since I was born. My parents were for most of their lives before that. Never had an instance where a gun would have been necessary. I know that doesn't mean it COULDN'T happen, but I'll take my chances.

 

[goodtimes]

I would feel better down in Baja if I were legally allowed to have a handgun down there. There are some real horror stories... main recommendation: don't drive at night.

Driving at night in Baja is best avoided regardless of having a weapon or not.

Also, traveling in a group, not flashing money around, and all of the other standard-issue travel precautions increase your safety.

Personally, I feel no need to carry a weapon in Mexico. If I spent lots of time around the border cities, maybe I would feel different, but I usually don't stop until I am 50+ miles south of the border.