Safety in camping in public areas.

[Heapie]

Hi folks,

Every so often, I like to discuss ideas on what we can do to stay safe in public areas. I mean any place except camping grounds, especially Walmart type places.

What I do.
1. Make sure the doors are locked. I will periodically check by going outside and making sure all the doors and windows are locked. Also check to see that your curtains are doing their job.

2. I carry one of the new flash lights that will blind anybody who wants to make trouble. Remember they might have one too.

3. I have heard that hornet spray in the eyes will stop a person in their tracks. It is said it will not permently damage.

4. When parking in a parking lot for the night, I will park under the lights near other campers and trucks. I stay away from any vehicles that might cause harm. It is called SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Very important.

What do you think?

Heapie

[Lantley]

I'll go totally against the grain here and suggest one way to ensure safety is to stay at a CG vs. a public place. I have Wal- Marted and Cracker Barrelled
more than once, however one the reasons I will choose CG over a Wal Mart is security.
Before I get too caught up with stun guns, pepper spray, bee spray or hand guns. I'll pay for the additional security and peace of mind of a CG.
If security is truly a concern consider staying at CG and adjust your travel schedule accordingly.
Otherwise there is an additional security exposure that comes with staying in a public place. Avoiding the public over-nighting environment altogether is the safest way to avoid trouble.
I prefer the security of a CG vs. arming myself for conflict.

[FLY_4_FUN]

I feel sorry for those camping in areas where being armed is deemed by them to be necessary. The closest to defending myself has been to carry legal bear spray in areas of our national parks where it is required due to the size of your party or recommended by parks staff as a precaution for bears.

[doxiemom11]

We have never stayed where we felt unsafe, and happily I can say that in almost 6 years full-time we have only had 1 place we didn't like and that was a campground! We do not stay at Walmarts in larger cities. We have felt completely safe in the smaller towns and it's quiet and peaceful. There is no security and the stores usually close at night.

[Walaby]

I don't answer my door armed, and I don't believe very many, if any really do.

Again, just because one is prepared while on the road, or at home, does not mean they are entering the saloon with their gun on their hip.

Mike

[GordonThree]

I have family living in LA, DC, Florida and Texas. None of them answer the door "prepared" for armed confrontation.

Having personal defense at home is being prepared. Expecting to engage in a deadly confrontation every time there's a knock at the door is paranoid. Living in constant fear leads to thoughts that being prepared includes deadly confrontations.

I'm prepared with a first aid kit, water, blankets, long shelf life batteries, flashlight and yes, a few firearms locked up.

[Walaby]

It always amazes me when folks translate being prepared to 'living with constant fear'. Seems like some people can't see the in between.

There is nothing wrong with being prepared, and just because Im fulIly prepared, does not mean Im living in fear or Im paranoid.

Mike

[path1]

GordonThree wrote:
They say ignorance is bliss, that applies to me. I'm glad to be naive enough to not live with such constant fear. I rarely lock my door, let alone answer it with a gun in hand.

Don't worry its coming to you if you like it or not. You'll have to start taking your car keys with you. If you have any irrigation equipment or any metal laying around, it will grow legs. If your running any cattle have to check more often etc. Trend is not in right direction IMO.

[doc_brown]

GordonThree wrote:
They say ignorance is bliss, that applies to me. I'm glad to be naive enough to not live with such constant fear. I rarely lock my door, let alone answer it with a gun in hand.

Live in Los Angeles area or any big city, you might have a different perspective.

[toedtoes]

GordonThree wrote:
They say ignorance is bliss, that applies to me. I'm glad to be naive enough to not live with such constant fear. I rarely lock my door, let alone answer it with a gun in hand.

I don't think it's a matter of ignorance or naivety. I don't consider myself naive or ignorant, nor do most people who know me. Rather, I am capable of thinking clearly and logically. My safety precautions are an end result of research, analysis, and evaluation - not fearmongering and false bravado. If I fear what is on the other side of my door that much, then something's wrong with me.

[GordonThree]

They say ignorance is bliss, that applies to me. I'm glad to be naive enough to not live with such constant fear. I rarely lock my door, let alone answer it with a gun in hand.

[cmeade]

I am impressed by the performance of tasers for personal defense. They are plastic so no rust, light, and barring a freak of nature are relatively safe. Sometimes they have no effect on perps high on drugs. They are much more effective than pepper spray and mace but not as lethal as a .40 S&W bullet. Kind of a happy medium. Range is about 20 ft. They are legal in most states unless you are a felon and a good one costs about $800. JMHO

[EsoxLucius]

Pepper spray? What if you aren't just facing a menacing figure but also a 20 mph wind?

[path1]

My thoughts...

Class B type RV are the best for blending in as far as RV's go. You can slip into places many can't.

-If something doesn't look right don't park there.
-Most newer RV's you can use your key chain fob and set off warning lights and horn. And you can get a kit and put one in if your RV doesn't have them.

(your choice if right or wrong)
We know a elderly lady that travels by herself. She bought a well used and old holster at a pawn shop and leaves it on her dash board.

If possible she parks facing other RV's with big windshields and puts a note on her windshield that says...
Jim, I'm in neighbors RV. They have camera set up and will be set of if you stand here couple min or just call me. Sharon

As for us...Only time I've ever been awakened and startled was when our RV started bouncing up and down at an old forest campground middle of nowhere. I peaked out of every window with my heart beating probably double. Barely able to see, so early in the morning. Wife was scared to death. Then looked out of side window and just then a big cows head meet me eye to eye thru the window. Startled both of us. Cow was scratching its neck on the spare tire.
Couple hours later I asked campground host why were there cattle in the campground. Campground was also at a lake. She said...Every year in the late summer the range cattle manage to get in. We call the owner and he says we'll get them out. And every year he does get them out after about a month. Or about when rain starts to fall again. And every year he knows exactly where to fix the fence where the cattle get in at. (IE free water and feed. But we still love that campground, cattle and all:)

You'll have more problems with crazy drivers than anything else IMO

[3oaks]

midnightsadie wrote:
just how meny of the people that have a permit to carry, would shoot some body standing six feet in front of them? you can say you will but I doubt it. but you,d use pepper spray and not blink a eye over it.use commen sense where you park and move if its questionable.just because you carry a gun doesn,t make you safe.

😉

You got it. Too many people behind a computer with a macho image.

[midnightsadie]

just how meny of the people that have a permit to carry, would shoot some body standing six feet in front of them? you can say you will but I doubt it. but you,d use pepper spray and not blink a eye over it.use commen sense where you park and move if its questionable.just because you carry a gun doesn,t make you safe.