Self defense while traveling

[suprz]

My wife and I were discussing a small handgun for defense while traveling. I was doing some research and it seems the only way to transport a handgun is unloaded and in a locked container.... Just a few problems with that, 1- rarely do criminals or people that mean to do you harm let you go and unlock your gun case, get your gun, and then wait while you load it..., 2- with all these darn rules that make a mockery of our 2nd amendment rights, why bother???..... I will just keep that great big butcher knife close by I guess.....

[toedtoes]

romore wrote:

owenssailor wrote:
Is it that dangerous to travel in the US?

My first question too. We have traveled in the U.S. and never felt the need to pack a weapon but I suppose there is a first time for everything. Judging by the number of gun threads on these forums paranoia seems to be common.

No, it isn't that dangerous to travel in the US. Many Americans have the "I'm going to get them before they get me" mentality which results in wanting a gun for the rare chance that something could possibly happen at some point in their lives and they need to be prepared for that chance no matter how unlikely it is.

(I'm not being political or mean, but this IS the basic underlying reason why most Americans indicate they want a gun.)

[Fishinghat]

Don't take a handgun since possession laws can land you in jail. Instead, take a 12 gauge pump shotgun. You don't need a license. Everyone, especially a potential crook, knows what a pump shotgun sounds like when a round is loaded. So, the sound will scare him away and you won't have to expose yourself or fire a "warning shot". That way, you won't have to explain anything to the police and you'll be safe.

In over 20 years of RVing, we've only been "approached" once and he moved on once we told him we didn't have what he wanted. (I think he wanted a sandwich, or something like that.) I spoke thru the windows, and not at the front door. I kept out of sight. This was in the parking lot of a closed Wal-Mart. We've never had any other incidents. (This may sound cruel, but he didn't appear to be interested in getting a sandwich, but rather in casing our precautions. It was around midnight or a little later.)

[hotpepperkid]

Its always better to have and not need than to need and not have. It only takes once and luckly that once will never come. You read every day some good guy with a gun kills some bad guy with a gun. Im just saying

[romore]

owenssailor wrote:
Is it that dangerous to travel in the US?

My first question too. We have traveled in the U.S. and never felt the need to pack a weapon but I suppose there is a first time for everything. Judging by the number of gun threads on these forums paranoia seems to be common.

[twyand]

Best place I have found for self defense products - www.innercirclepersonalsafety.net

[Trackrig]

If you don't use a gun a regular basis, you're a lot better off with the bear spray.

Bill

[mikim]

Knock on Wood!!! We have never been in an unsafe situation while rv, ing. That being said, we do alot of hiking and I think it is time to buy a couple of cans of bear spray that could have the same type of protection without the hazards of a handgun.

[owenssailor]

Is it that dangerous to travel in the US?