How safe are you when boondocking

[exhaustipated]

My wife and I have never boondocked before, nor have we ever spent the night in a Walmart parking lot. We have always stayed in campgrounds or RV parks where we know we will be safe. We our considering taking a cross country trip next year and was wondering just how safe it is to boondock in case we stumble onto a remote area that we would like to spend some time at. Do you folks out there carry a handgun with you when you boondock for protection and security reasons if and when you feel threatened? I would like some feedback on this before we head out.

[Desertboy]

That's it! Im ordering a truckload of bear traps to bury around my camper, and a bottle of chloroform and mounting a cherry picker up top so I can haul the booger to the Hooscow! No just kidding, its to each his own. But for me its bear spray and a bat, and a machete , and lots of duck tape , They mess with me and ill hog tie them, No just playing folks good night, Had a great time.

[Desertboy]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I prefer depleted uranium shot for my muzzle loading howitzer. I tow it behind my class C at all times. Boy do I ever get great service at gas stations!

SWD wrote:
Yuup......never can be too sure nowadays with all those wacos around. I always have a pistol, shotgun and rifel on hand.....just in case.

lol

[Bedlam]

I look at lethal force as insurance. You hope you never have to use it, but it is something you may pay dearly for if you do not have it available.

I avoid risky behavior and locations as my first line of defense. Next I secure items or keep temptation out of view to avoid opportunity. Third I make my environment uninviting for a potential crime. The idea is make yourself a hardened target that is not worth the effort or risk and the criminal element will look for an easier return.

If human safety is ever threatened, appropriate response will be administered without hesitation to neutralize the threat. You will notice that I am not advocating lethal response, but it will be sufficient to take control of the situation.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I prefer depleted uranium shot for my muzzle loading howitzer. I tow it behind my class C at all times. Boy do I ever get great service at gas stations!

SWD wrote:
Yuup......never can be too sure nowadays with all those wacos around. I always have a pistol, shotgun and rifel on hand.....just in case.

[tonyandkaren]

exhaustipated - If you read all of the posts you probably noticed that no one ever used or needed to use their guns. I always read the gun topics out of curiosity and although there have been times when a forum member has thought that they were in some danger and had their gun ready, nothing has ever come of it.

As far as our experiences, with twenty years of boondocking on public lands and staying overnight in Walmarts, casino lots, etc. we've never felt that we were in any danger. We don't carry weapons.

[homefor2]

As a Canadian I can't legally carry in the US without a lot of hassle if at all. I do carry bear spray mostly for peace of mind but really doubt if I will ever need it. I'm more concerned about being in a city especially a large US city with a high crime rate. Maybe I've seen too many TV shows (Cops).

[monicarick01]

Joe Biden says shot gun! I have traveled a many of mile in my RV's and I truly only feel safe at camp grounds surrounded by many other campers or truck stops surrounded by truckers. The nights I have "slept" in a parking lots have always been very restless ones. I think it truly depends on the persons personality on how comfortable one feels in a parking lot. I have seen and have talked with many people that think walmart and Costco are great destinations for a quick over night. But for me, even being armed, have never felt safe. So reguardless of how many guns you have or how big your dog is, it simply comes down to how do you personally feel. I myself never feel safe. Which I feel is a tragedy for that is how I see the world, unsafe.

[Reddog1]

Photomike wrote:
First let me say that I am anti firearms for so many reasons. Yes I can shoot and shoot very well. I can pick you off before you see me and from distances that would amaze. Would this help me if some guy hid behind a tree and blew me away to get my truck when I was making supper? Not at all. If you are carrying a gun you better have it with you 24/7/365 and have someone watching your back at all times because if someone wants your stuff they will get it if you have a gun or not!!! Why attack you when you are in the vehicle close to a weapon wait till you step outside and are not close to your gun then attack!

There is being careful and prepared (not meaning carrying a gun)and there is paranoid. If you are paranoid stay home so the rest of us do not have to worry about you accidentally shooting us because enough people are accidentally shot each year.

Being prepared means following your gut feelings, keeping valuables out of site, don't flash your cash, don't look like a victim and camp where you feel safe. If you do that you do not need a gun. Add to that the fact that inside a RV there are a number of weapons (knives, fire extinguisher, bear spray, hair spray, screw drivers, etc, etc.) and you are already well armed. I see very few reports about people being attacked inside an RV, I see a lot more about people being attacked walking down what was thought to be a safe street close to their homes.

I think this is well stated. In my opinion, if you really think you need a gun, make it a shotgun. You should be able to hit your door with it, without killing people that are not trying to cause you harm.

I worked in the prison system for over twenty years. I never met an inmate that was incarcerated for causing harm to a camper. I met one inmate that claimed he was in prison for defending himself while camping. He proudly stated he always "packed" especially when camping. He said he shot and killed someone he thought was threatening him. He supposedly shot the guy outside of his TC. I think he was in for life. Are you interested in joining him?

Wayne

[sleepy]

RFCN2 wrote:
I can tell you I feel a lot less safe after reading this thread. I have been camping regularly since 1980. I have never had one time where something was stolen or anyone gave me any reason to be alarmed. I am frankly shocked by the amount of paranoid posters. Where the heck are you boondocking /camping, Watts, the S side of Chicago??? If you absolutely have to have a gun to feel safe take a hunting weapon. And make sure you train yourself how to use it. Or better go to the hardware store and buy some hornet spray or bear spray. There are also all kinds of web sites that will sell you tasers, mace, clubs, brass knuckles, knives and so on.

It is not a little thing to loose a loved one to a handgun. My oldest daughter was murdered with one. But that was in her home in the city and not out camping. The dangerous places are where there are lots of people not in the wilderness.

X2

[bighatnohorse]

exhaustipated wrote:
My wife and I have never boondocked before, nor have we ever spent the night in a Walmart parking lot. We have always stayed in campgrounds or RV parks where we know we will be safe. We our considering taking a cross country trip next year and was wondering just how safe it is to boondock in case we stumble onto a remote area that we would like to spend some time at. Do you folks out there carry a handgun with you when you boondock for protection and security reasons if and when you feel threatened? I would like some feedback on this before we head out.

Aside from the gun debate. . .
Use your head. . .don't stay at a remote spot that is littered with spent shotgun shells, bullet shells and broken glass.

Remote spots within a few miles of an urban area can be party spot on the weekend.
A remote spot 30+ miles from an urban area will be more likely to be quiet.

[Desertboy]

RFCN2 wrote:
I can tell you I feel a lot less safe after reading this thread. I have been camping regularly since 1980. I have never had one time where something was stolen or anyone gave me any reason to be alarmed. I am frankly shocked by the amount of paranoid posters. Where the heck are you boondocking /camping, Watts, the S side of Chicago??? If you absolutely have to have a gun to feel safe take a hunting weapon. And make sure you train yourself how to use it. Or better go to the hardware store and buy some hornet spray or bear spray. There are also all kinds of web sites that will sell you tasers, mace, clubs, brass knuckles, knives and so on.

It is not a little thing to loose a loved one to a handgun. My oldest daughter was murdered with one. But that was in her home in the city and not out camping. The dangerous places are where there are lots of people not in the wilderness.

agreed

[mustangglp]

I take a few guns with me when I go boondocking because I enjoy target shooting and there is no one around so its the perfect spot. I would feel more in danger in San Francisco but it would be not be legal for me to carry there!

[RFCN2]

I can tell you I feel a lot less safe after reading this thread. I have been camping regularly since 1980. I have never had one time where something was stolen or anyone gave me any reason to be alarmed. I am frankly shocked by the amount of paranoid posters. Where the heck are you boondocking /camping, Watts, the S side of Chicago??? If you absolutely have to have a gun to feel safe take a hunting weapon. And make sure you train yourself how to use it. Or better go to the hardware store and buy some hornet spray or bear spray. There are also all kinds of web sites that will sell you tasers, mace, clubs, brass knuckles, knives and so on.

It is not a little thing to loose a loved one to a handgun. My oldest daughter was murdered with one. But that was in her home in the city and not out camping. The dangerous places are where there are lots of people not in the wilderness.

[Tom_Barb]

I would never shoot any over property, But I will protect my life and my loved one lives.

Laser sights make a quick impression any perp.

[TexasShadow]

we overnight at flying j truck stops, walmarts and interstate rest stops regularly when we're en route to our destination.
we don't get out and wander around at night at any of these places.
most walmarts have a security guy driving around.
yes, we carry a gun, but have never had reason to get it out.
we use our instincts to judge a place safe or not safe. if you feel uncomfortable about a place, don't stay there. you won't rest well if you're uneasy.