Safety

Anyone keeping the tally of the "I don't carry and have never needed one" just remember- those who didn't carry and DID need one...aren't around to speak up :E

Personally, I think it is sad the effect propaganda has had on causing paranoia and fear against those who carry a gun for safety reasons.

For those who have never carried, it is 99% more likely for you to be "concerned, fearful, paranoid, etc" and for you to be obsessed with the firearm in the picture than the person who carries regularly.

For those who carry regularly, it's just like putting a pen knife in your pocket, or clipping a cell phone on your belt. Safe and responsibly habits make for safe and responsible Citizens.

It's really not a big deal. People often fear what they don't understand.

A bit less propaganda-fueled-fear and a lot more personal thought and reasoning would really help people realize that.

I also appreciate everyone's approach to this subject, courtesy in allowing room for disagreement. It really is a subject that many of us consider while camping. It's healthy to discuss it in this manner ;)

By the logic applied by some here I should rethink my reasons for carrying some of the items I carry every day.

1. A flashlight... Now I understand I must be scared of the dark.
2. A pair of glasses... I'm afraid of being blind?
3. A lighter... Again, fear of the dark...
4. A knife/seatbelt cutter... Bogey men no doubt.
5. A pen knife with scissors, file and screwdriver... Fear of pens?

The recurring notion that people who carry guns live in fear is quite preposterous.

The notion that most people who carry guns are untrained yahoo's with fewer IQ points than teeth is also laughable. I haven't bothered to do an actual count but my impression is that most of the people who have responded in favor of guns have also been LEO's or ex-military.

In my case I spent 10 years at the very pointy bit of the spear, (Airborne). I have walked the streets of Northern Ireland surrounded by civilians and in some cases terrorists for over a year with a chambered 7.62x51mm round in my rifle and 19 more in the magazine in uniform or with a 9mm round chambered in a concealed pistol in plain clothes. On one single occasion I raised the rifle, took aim and took off the safety catch. Before I pulled the trigger I took one last look at my intended target only to realize that it was not a terrorist with a gun but rather a member of the security forces in a uniform he should not have been wearing. Thus, even under stress and with the authority to use deadly force I am capable of rational decision making.

Those of you that think that people like myself and the other pro-carry responders here are going to flash the gun to defuse a situation have been watching too much TV. Indicating that I am, in fact, armed is my final response. When you learn I am armed it will be fully drawn and you'll be looking right down the barrel. If you ignore my command to stop and retreat then you'll need to accept the consequences of your decision.

The notion that those of us who do carry do so out of fear or that we are louts looking to "bust some caps" is, frankly, insulting since those making such statements do not know me or any of the other pro-carry responders here.

cmcdar wrote:
23446 days without gun violence in my life or the life of anyone I know. Oh, that is a lie. My cousin committed suicide with a shotgun.

It is a sad time in US history that men can't go to a restaurant or have a campout with their family without being afraid for their lives.

YET - Millions of people go about their day to day living never giving it a thought.

It is a shame that so many people are so afraid.

23446 days without a fire in my life or the life of anyone I know. Oh, that is a lie. We had a fire extinguisher pin get kicked out of an extinguisher in a vehicle and it went off in the vehicle creating a huge mess.

It is a sad time in US history that men can't go to a restaurant or have a campout with their family without being afraid for their lives.

YET - Millions of people go about their day to day living never giving it a thought.

It is a shame that so many people are so afraid.

csamayfield55 wrote:
It is a proven fact that an armed society it a civilized society.

Well, definitions of civilized vary (I wonder if you mean civil rather than civilized) but many armed societies were predatory, violent and existed in a state of almost constant war. I'm not very cool with the civilization of the Scythians, Spartans, Mongols and Comanches.

jfkmk wrote:
Why on earth do you feel you might have to carry a gun??? I have no problem with gun ownership, but folk who think they need th defend themselves at camp grounds with a gun are either dilusional or staying at some pretty bad campgrounds.

That's just a rediculous statement. A campground is no different than anywhere else. I was a Boy Scout and our motto was " Be Prepared",I am.
As to the OP, you got some good advice,in an earlier post.If you decide to get a gun, take firearms training and know when and where you can carry.

Here in Montana, open carry has always been legal. Yup, from the days of the Montana Territory until now. I am not currently a member of the NRA or any other gun organization.
In fact, it is codified in the State Constitution, Article II, section 12.
I find it quite amusing that all people can see is the possibility of having to pull a weapon on another human. In the back country campgrounds around here, I am much more concerned about rabid wild animals. No, on second thought, forget the "rabid". Healthy wild animals are bad enough!
No, I have seldom encountered any, and when it did happen I did not have to shoot anything.
But, as others have said, I have never needed a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit or an axe, bucket, and shovel or a spare tire, lug wrench and jack or a lot of other things that some say "are just good insurance".
"Good Insurance" can apply to many things. A firearm qualifies, IMO.
If you meet me in a campground somewhere in Montana, will I have a firearm? Maybe, maybe not. I will not tell you, because you do not have a "need to know".
In many places in this state, the tag line in my sig. would have to be changed to "help is hours away". Cell service is spotty at best, CB radio is practically useless, and Ham radio is only marginally better (You might make contact with somebody in South Florida, though). In such areas, it is best to be able to take care of yourself.
Good luck.

I, for one, do NOT understand how open-carry without license or permit EVER got to be lawful. And, YES, I AM a member of NRA.

I started camping/fishing with family/friends in the mid'40s just after WW II.
Married in '61.....new bride and I started camping. Back then there were very few campgrounds but in this part of the state we had several large COE lakes and lots of rivers to blaze out a spot to camp.
We've camped in the mountain states/southern plain states.....from primitive areas on up to rv parks but never felt the need to carry a gun when camping.
Yeah I have pistols/rifles and shotguns and have hunted since the '40s but they stay home in the gun safe when we camp.

fj12ryder wrote:
Several have commented on group shootings where if someone had a gun it could have shortened or stopped the attack/s. For all anyone knows there were people in the crowd who had guns and simply panicked and didn't use them. Having a CCL doesn't mean you're trained, it simply means you can carry a gun legally, that's all. In the heat of the moment, no one can tell what they would do unless they've had actual experience.

Problem with your logic is that ALL of those places were gun free zones. EVERY ONE! Every state is different, but one thing is for certain you never see a mass shooting at a gun store or a gun swap meet or at the SHOT Show! It is a proven fact that an armed society it a civilized society.

It makes me laugh to listen to people who still believe everyone who carries thinks they are a Texas Ranger! These are tools people choose to carry just like a pocket knife or a wrench but they are for protection against the one who would like to do evil! I have NEVER had to use this tool and I pray every day I never do but that does not stop me from having it

As far as cops go, they may be highly trained but more often than not they are not better at using their firearm than the civilian enthusiast!! Both my FIL and BIL are ex LEO's and I can outshoot both of them all day long in unstressed and stressed circumstances! They carried them as tools and never shoot except to qual where I shoot all the time reload my own ammo and enjoy both long range and handgun shooting

Chris

fj12ryder wrote:
Several have commented on group shootings where if someone had a gun it could have shortened or stopped the attack/s. For all anyone knows there were people in the crowd who had guns and simply panicked and didn't use them. Having a CCL doesn't mean you're trained, it simply means you can carry a gun legally, that's all. In the heat of the moment, no one can tell what they would do unless they've had actual experience.

Yup, makes sense! Even if carrying, if your life, family member, friends life is not being threatened, it is much easier to flee, than shoot/kill an innocent bystander, or live with killing another human/bad guy. Many could not shoot/kill another human, even when their life is threatened. I think I could, but like most, only can hope I never have to find out.

Jerry