Hand Guns

[Wolf3gang]

Does anyone carry a hand gun for security/protection while fulltiming, wife and I are contemplating, we really are not gun people, but living near Chicago, anymore it is like the old wild wild west, starting Fulltiming on May 27 TH 2013, we currently do not own a firearm, and would take safety classes and training, just would like to here your pros and cons, it would always be a desperate last resort to use the weapon, please respond thanks to all who respond.

[ken_burke]

Wolf3gang wrote:
Does anyone carry a hand gun for security/protection while fulltiming, wife and I are contemplating, we really are not gun people, but living near Chicago, anymore it is like the old wild wild west, starting Fulltiming on May 27 TH 2013, we currently do not own a firearm, and would take safety classes and training, just would like to here your pros and cons, it would always be a desperate last resort to use the weapon, please respond thanks to all who respond.

Good question. There are two issues here . . . . carrying a concealed handgun for protection , and haveing a hand gun (or shotgun) in the trailer for night-time protection.

I have several permits to carry a concealed handgun. However, I don't carry one, and don't think I really need one. Others are correct . . . if you want to carry a conceled weapon, you MUST learn how to use it in self protection. You should have a gun safety course, and practice shooting the gun.

As to protection in your trailer at night, I think that EVERYONE should have a handgun, or better yet, a short shotgun in their trailer or motorhome. You can buy a shotgun everywhere, don't need a permit. Sometimes just the shotgun action of putting a shell in the barrel is enough to scare the bad guns away.

If you shoot someone, the bad guy should be breaking into the trailer or in your trailer. You can't shoot someone to protect your car.

I have a handgun in my trailer for protection, but no shotgun. I won't shoot anyhone unless really necessary.

Get a handgun or shotgun and be ready to use it for your protection.

ken

[Bonefish]

Terryallan wrote:

cabanaman wrote:
Shotgun is my prefered home defence .

Only problem. a shotgun is pretty long, and sometimes hard to spin around in a RV, and to tell the truth. It would be pretty hard to grab, and point while laying in bed.

BTW. Sawed off shotguns are illegal, but would be good for a RV. However , should it go off pointed down the length of the RV. Would kill every one in the camper. They don't call them alley cleaners for nothing.

My 20 gauge double bbl Coach gun has 20 inch barrels (easy to manuver in a hall) and is legal in every state in the union. At 29 feet (I have patterned it on paper) it has a 15" pattern with number 6 shot. I would not even scratch the walls in the hall of the camper taking out a bandit. Getting the carpet clean might be an issue.

[doc_brown]

exioum wrote:

cabanaman wrote:
Shotgun is my prefered home defence .

"home defence" does not stand up when in a RV, especially going from state to state.

Considering if someone breaks in while you are inside, thus not there by invitation, and you can not retreat as some states require (amazing to me), in that situation you are allowed by law to defend yourself. Sounds like home defense in an RV to me.

[remoandiris]

exioum wrote:

cabanaman wrote:
Shotgun is my prefered home defence .

"home defence" does not stand up when in a RV, especially going from state to state.

Depends on the state. That is one reason it is vital to know the laws of the states you travel to.

[exioum]

cabanaman wrote:
Shotgun is my prefered home defence .

"home defence" does not stand up when in a RV, especially going from state to state.

[exioum]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Do not do it, and I mean do not get a handgun and do not full time if you are so afraid of what you might encounter you feel you need to carry a weapon that can end someone's life. In an RV you will have many more encounters with strangers, that is the nature of RVing. You will likely encounter some people who have been drinking at some point in time if you stay in RV parks. You will have a startling encounter with someone who just walks out of the woods if you are boondocking. You are going to hear strange noises, something or someone is going to bump into your rig at some point in time. Something uncomfortable has happened to every person who RVs, and yet we are all still here. Though these forums are full of tough talking gunslingers, the fact is none of them has ever shot and killed a human being while defending themselves while RVing. No one on these forums have drawn their handgun and dropped a bear charging them, because it less likely to occur than you winning the lottery.
The sidewalk lawyers here will tell you all about your rights to defend yourself, but if you shoot someone, be prepared to spend a long time in court, a long time in jail and be prepared to lose everything you own when the relatives of your victim sue you and win. Those "castle" laws that protect homeowners blur when you are talking about public places. If you are boondocking, you have absolutely no more right to the spot you are on than anyone else. And do you really want to risk prison time based on the advice from someone on these forums who tell you "no problem, your RV is legally considered your home" when their only experience with the legal system is paying a parking ticket?
The fact is gun laws vary from state to state, and from city to city. Get caught with a handgun in NYC and you are going to JAIL, not court, not a fine, JAIL. That is the law, and all your preaching about your 2nd amendment rights won't get you a better bunk at Riker's Island.
Getting a handgun solely out of fear is a prescription for something bad to happen. Don't do it.

I agree with you! I live within 60 miles of some of the toughest cities on the east coast. NYC, Philly, 20 miles from Trenton to the north and 20 miles from Camden to the south. I'm a Pro-Photographer for almost 35 years, always with expensive equipment in these areas. I've been RV'ing since 93,mostly alone, often stopping in remote areas, truck stops and parking areas. Never had a problem. It's all about knowing your area and the people around you. The "bad guy" is not going to warn you, they want the element of surprise, they have been watching and waiting for the right moment... Also, as someone pointed out, pulling a gun and being willing to use it are two different things... Enjoy yourself and your RV, keep out of areas where you should not be. If you feel your being watched, make eye concact. Let others know what You see. If alone, get out of the area.

Rich...
USMC Ret:

[1oldtruck]

Go get the classes and training then decide if you feel comfortable with one. Only you can decide if it's necessary.

[invstr55]

Choices, choices, choices. I am grateful that there are still many parts of this great country that we are still allowed to have choices.

[ventrman]

This is my Opinion. When fulltiming on the Road, I fully intend to carry a Firearm in case I need it for Protection. I would rather be convicted by 12 than be carried to my Grave by 6.

[2112]

Interesting to read different views on this subject.
I own several firearms and do not carry. never felt the need. That may be different if we were full timers though. I believe I would be more apt to keep the 1911 by the bed if FTing but not in the TV. My S&B defence weapon, only one kept loaded is a 5 round 410.
However, if you do wish to pursue this take the class first and decide from there.

[Komfort_23TS]

Most campgrounds are great but after saying in one for nine months we/ my wife ran into a bad camper when he found out that I was out of the campground. This guy went right after to verbally, at our trailer. If he had gotten worse she had an option. So you never know what can happen, we thought we were safe.

[Wolf3gang]

I would like to thank everyone for there response, all of you have opened our eyes to the responsibilty of gun ownership,we have never had a problem all the years we have camped, but the way things are now, it just made us wonder,should we, will contemplate deeply, happy trails to all. Wolf3gang

[tomthyme]

Oh! And don't forget to explore the virtues of pepper spray and mace. With some products offering a 20' range they are a great alternative to provide you a chance to disorient and get away...

[tomthyme]

MeanderMan wrote:
After four years of full timing (we're in our 8th now), I sold the handgun. Thirty years on active duty taught me that proficiency was mandatory when owning a weapon; 4 years of retirement taught me that I no longer cared to work on keeping proficient. I've never been in a situation in which I've felt threatened, and among all the full timers I've met volunteering these years, I've never heard of anyone being in a situation that required a weapon. You make the choice - have a weapon and have the responsibility of keeping proficient both physically and mentally, or don't and refuse to worry about it. You can "what if?" to death or relax and enjoy your travels.

I am with this gent. We definitely are not full timers but we often hike with our dogs and sometimes need protection. We both have licenses to cover the carry laws across most states we can reach from our DFW based residence...but we have no desire (or need) to carry day to day. I am at the range at least once a month with DW slightly less. Sometimes I feel better when I carry - usually hiking, I have never felt comfortable carrying in public. it just puts me on 'high alet'.

Please consider carefully and get the proper training.

Take care!
Tom

[Targa]

The decision to own a firearm is a wise one IMO. Like others have said, you need to familiarize yourselve's with firearm's safety before you responsibly own one. Take a CC class and you will be good to go, it is also something you and your wife can do together and you might really enjoy shooting and take it up as a hobby to share like so many other's have. My piece of advice to you would be that if you decide against a firearm don't let it be due to other's convincing you that a firearm is some dangerous monster that will jump out of a drawer and attack you, they are as safe as the operator/owner.