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

[down_home]

Walaby wrote:
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

There are some places like that, where there are cultures of crime. People should move out if you fear enough to go to the door armed, unless there is perp in the neighborhood,etc.

[kmbelt]

This is what i do.

1. Know my surroundings and do not put me or my family into questionable places.
2. Lock all doors.
3. Pack. Better option than insect spray.

Do not like my options, i'm sorry, but this is how I feel safe. Especially with my wife and 2 kids with me.

[ktmrfs]

My experience is that campers in general are friendly and trustworthy. In 70 plus years of camping in our family we have never ever had an issue with campers nor had anything disapear. Yes, we do pay attention and take reasonable precautions.

The few times we've stayed in RV parks that were really more mobile home parks with a few RV spots I felt less secure than in campgrounds.

We just use common sense. If it doesn' look safe, well drive away.

[toedtoes]

wanderingbob wrote:
The Panic button on your key fob is a pretty good enuff !

I actually wonder about that. Car alarms go off so often and it seems like the response is pretty minimal. It doesn't seem to attract attention by passerby or neighbors. And the person owning the car tends to just point their fob and shut off the noise without checking to see WHY the alarm went off.

We have an alarmed outside yard at my work and if the alarm goes off while we're inside, they just shut it off and don't even bother checking the yard to see WHY it went off. I do check because I believe an alarm should be assumed to be real and not a mistake - but I seem to be in the minority.

Perhaps alarms have become the proverbial "boy who cried wolf" and have no power anymore?

[wanderingbob]

The Panic button on your key fob is a pretty good enuff !

[ken56]

The reality is , you never know what is going to happen and when. From road rage to druggies in a Walmart parking lot, the chances of having a bad encounter is about as low as being struck by lightning, but lightning does strike. Whatever one chooses to be prepared with is their business and I will not judge them on their choices.

No. 1 on my list is situational awareness. What looks fine at 4pm may not be fine at 3am. Be prepared to move on at any time.
No.2 is I am prepared. Some can call it what they wish, but I assure you I am not paranoid nor do I live in fear.
No. 3 is I will pay for a campground also over staying in some parking lot if I have a choice. Had to Walmart it 1 time because of a break down on a Sunday. Wont do that again if I can help it.

I have never had a bad encounter. I believe in the ideal that most people are good and well intentioned. I try to be pleasent and cordial and respectful to everyone I meet and thus recieve the same in kind.

Thats how I do it.

[Walaby]

I think overall most people have a pretty good 'spidey sense' of their surroundings. If a place feels 'not quite right', then best to move on.

I don't plan (as of now) to stay at Wal Marts or Cracker Barrels etc.. That might change in the future, I don't know. But, for now, I plan my trip to stay at campgrounds along the way.

As pointed out, there are several products out there, available for use, if one doesn't feel comfortable carrying guns. I would rather those folks take advantage of these other products and make sure they have them available, just in case. Regardless of ones personal thoughts, you should be prepared, both mentally and physically, for the possibility of needing to defend yourself.

Trying to stay away from the deadly force, as requested by moderator. But, just be aware of your surroundings, be prepared in whatever manner you feel comfortable with, but most importantly, don't let real or perceived fear consume you.

Mike

[BizmarksMom]

I've overnighted in rest areas and Walmarts, as well as campgrounds and boondocking. I'm a single woman with 2 good sized dogs.

Mt criteria is pretty simple - if a place feels kind of sketchy I move on. That's the great thing about our motorized living spaces. It's a strategy I've used more than once - take a look around and move on down the road if it doesn't feel right.

[Dave_H_M]

I hope the OP has gained some insight here to all the minuses on the use of insect spray.

WHY, when there are less poisonous alternatives such as pepper spray. :h

[Moderator]

Folks, the OP did not bring up the topic of deadly force, i.e. firearms, etc! The mere mention of firearms always leads to controversial posts/flaming and is the reason we simply seldom go there at all. Please read the op's post and respond if you wish, but deadly force is NOT the topic. Thank you.

[DownTheAvenue]

naturist wrote:
I note that every state in the US requires that you be at risk of your life for a justified shooting.

This is not true. Texas, for example, allows the use of deadly force to protect your property in addition to your life. In addition, most states allow the use of deadly force to protect the life of oneself or that of another.

[mgirardo]

If I was a foreigner looking to visit the US, I would certainly steer clear if I came across this thread. Wow, I feel so sad that some of you have to live in an area where you need to bring a weapon with you to answer your door.

I am all about being situationally aware and being prepared, but good grief, if I have to bring a weapon with me to open my own door it is time to move.

-Michael

[DownTheAvenue]

Heapie wrote:
I stay away from any vehicles that might cause harm.

That is great advice! Now, if you could just tell us how you identify a vehicle that might cause harm. What does a vehicle like this look like? How would it be different from a vehicle that might NOT cause harm. We need more information.

[spoon059]

Interesting thread... I am a police officer, so I am one of the few people that is legally allowed to carry in every state and in most public and private locations. I also drove and parked a marked police cruiser in my driveway every day for 13 years before I was promoted to an unmarked car. If anyone is a target, it would be me and my family.

I prefer to employ situational awareness as my main source of personal protection. When I travel, I usually bring my off-duty gun with me. Rarely do I carry my pistol with my, as I have found over the years that I hate carrying guns.

Keeping an eye on your surroundings and being vigilant is your best bet. Most of these criminals want to find someone distracted, someone who won't be a good witness to the police. If you see a shady dude wandering around, it is amazing how powerful you can be by looking them right in the eye and loudly announcing, "Good morning" to them. Now you have demonstrated that you have clearly seen them and could possibly provide a good description of them, you have demonstrated that you aren't afraid and you have potentially drawn attention to yourself and the dude that's wandering around. When you prefer to operate in anonymity, you really don't like the attention.

I believe in the right for anyone (who isn't a convicted felon or mentally unstable) to own a firearm and I generally believe in the right to concealed carry. However I believe that with that right comes the responsibility to be competent in carrying and discharging that firearm. It is VERY easy to make poor decisions with a gun in your hand. You need to understand the legal ramifications as well as the psychological ramifications as well as the physical ramifications. Simply pulling out a gun and blasting away will rarely end well for at least somebody. That being said, the possibility of encountering an armed citizen is a great concern for criminals. You rarely see mass shootings in areas where the citizenry is allowed to carry a weapon too. They almost always happen in "gun free zones". Those of us that don't like to carry guns (myself included) are indebted to those that are willing to concealed carry and place a bit of doubt in the heart of any potential attacker.

Tasers, if legal in your state, are a wonderful self defense weapon. They still require training and require follow up tactics to disarm an offender. They can sometimes contribute to death though too, so again you need to understand the consequences and when you can use one. In some states the use of a Taser might be considered deadly force, the same type of force as a gun. You need to know the laws in the state in which you are visiting.

Pepper spray is a great tool as well. Small and easy to carry. I would suggest a foam as opposed to a spray. The foam comes out in a thicker stream and is less susceptible to wind (less... not totally). For 90+% of people getting hit with that stuff, they will be immediately temporarily incapacitated. A quality product will knock down a grown man or animal and extinguish their will to fight. A lot of these products will also include a dye that will mark your target and make it easier for police to identify him later.

Thankfully I have never felt in fear while camping. The worst thing that has happened to me is that one of my neighbors stole my L clips from my Equalizer hitch one time. We enjoy the ability to relax and unwind on vacation, to get away from the area that I patrol and away from the criminals that I interact with on a daily basis. I do everything I can to avoid the criminal element when I am out on the road with my family. So far, so good.

Stay safe everyone =)!