Hand Guns

Two years now full-timing,on the way down and on the way up we overnight at a Flying J,never once felt the need to be armed,read all the previous posts and see how many other seasoned full-timers have never needed to be armed,if your going to park your rig at some low-life bar or boon-dock in some ghetto and go looking for trouble you will find it but this thing we do doesn't bring my rig anywhere near anyplace that I need to worry about,we travel from gated rv resort to another gated rv resort! If some bandito stops me at a traffic light pointing a gun to my head and wants my truck and fiver I say take it then I'll call the cops then my insurance agent the and get a new truck and fiver.

Take a class, get a pistol, practice. Different states have different laws and honor different states. For example New York states honors no other states, Florida honors almost every state. I don't go to campgrounds that don t honor hand guns, I don't ask. I have one in the truck and one in the trailer. My wife is an excellent shot. Make sure you know the laws of self defence.

If you are considering carrying a weapon (of any kind) then you should take some classes on that weapon. Guns, especially right now, are a very taboo subject but don't that the stop you from protecting yourself and your family. Each state has different laws regarding the carrying of a gun on your person and in your vehicle, and it is your responsibility to know them before entering each state.

Shotgun is great "home" protection as it requires less skill to operate and be effective with. Handgun is great "personal" protection because you can easily bring it outside your home and keep it on your body. You should decide which area of your life you are trying to protect before making any purchase.

I have a CC license and I carry my gun every single waking hour of every single day. I use it to protect myself and my family and I will even protect your family if required, just as any of the millions of CC Permit holders in American would do as well.

Have I had to draw my guns in self defense? Yes, twice. I drew a shotgun to protect myself in my home back in 2004... perp fled. Drew my handgun to protect against someone breaking into my trailer in 2010 while I was in it... perp fled. In neither case have I had to fire my weapon which is the statistical norm (92% of self defense draws end in no shooting at all).

With that said, I feel a millions times safer in my RV traveling on the road then then inside a city. Both of my instances happened within a large city. I do not feel a gun is a necessity in an RV (but a valid option)... much like a spare tire or road-plan is not necessity... yet many/most have those to protect their RVs.

Lastly, violent crime in America is down significantly over the past 10 years so while the media hype's up all these crimes, you are actually safer today then you were in 1993 anyway. Maybe you do not really need a gun at all? That is for YOU to decide, not anyone else.

Shotgun is my prefered home defence .

I received my permit just to travel. While traveling you are not aware which exits are good to fuel up and which ones are not. We have found ourselves in areas with bars on the windows and rather ruff looking people around and now we have to find our way to turn around to get back on the freeway. We have had panhandlers get aggressive like grabbing my arm or jumping up into the face of my wife. We have had aggressive drivers that think that it is their job to teach us to drive over the speed limit in the slow lane and when driving an RV it is a little hard to get away.
All in all we have never had problems and I have never drawn my weapon but the best weapon you can have is "situational awareness". Stay alert, know what is going on around you. Remember that while on the road you are rubbing elbows with all types of people, many of which you would walk to the other side of the street just to avoid and now they have a 2 ton weapon in their hands and the means to escape fast.

Never assume a gun is 100% safe to handle or be around. There are a lot of dead gun handlers that thought their weapon was secured and 100% safe to handle.

Far as I know having a gun is a good idea if you are fully trained in safety and familiar with the weapon. And I mean to the point you could be 100% safe to yourself and anyone else you don't want harmed in any way. I also think you should be this in control of the weapon and it's functions to the point you will be the same in total darkness as well as in the light of day. In other word take it out and shoot it practice safety and make it a part of you. Next be prepared to use it. This is another thing all together. Make sure you will not lose in when the moment really comes. Only you can know if you can kill another person if needed. But don't give an unarmed burglar a chance to get your gun.

YnotTurbo wrote:
Never hurts to be proficient with a pistol. Practice and training is a good insurance policy. Guess you know this Chiefs response.

This one too!

One of the best things about the C C class. Is you get a booklet telling you where you can and cannot conceal carry. You are also advised NOT to open carry, even though it is legal in NC, and you don't need a permit to do it. You only need a permit to hide your gun.

Have I ever needed a gun? Well one night about 10;30 we were sitting in the living room with the front door open, and a man we didn't know came to the door. Kind of scared us with the open door, and all. I grabbed the Fronteer Scout, pulled it from the holster, Stood beside the door with the gun behind the entertainment center, so he couldn't see it. He was so very nice, ask if we minded if he got some chairs we had set out to the road, We said go ahead, after all he was Sooooo Nice. Then after he wakled off, I looked down, and realized, I had the holster in the other hand. The hand that was NOT hidden. Did that help him be nice. I don't know. But IF you see a holster in one hand, and can't see the other hand. You could guess what is in it. I'd be nice.

Again. I equate having a weapon, with sway control. Pray you NEVER need it. But if you do. It's too late to go get it. Better to already have it.

The best part about this post is that we all have an opinion and we all can agree to disagree. Just some of us will be armed when a real bad situation arises. Lets just hope it does not happen to any of us RV'ers,,, armed or not.