Why you should ALWAYS bring a gun camping

dmccormack said:
... There ain't no 911 out here...
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Certainly, there is an increased need to be self-sufficient.

Part of being self-sufficient is having the ability to accurately evaluate your risks, weigh them, prioritize them, and equip yourself appropriately. It is to your disadvantage to walk into a significant risk naively, unprepared, just as it is to your disadvantage to over-dramatize a risk, and over-prepare for it, to be the guy who brings a gun to a dehydration fight.

Everything you carry with you is taking the place of something else you choose to leave behind, like more water, more food, better shelter, medical, maps, tools, gps ...

About 300 people die every year trying to walk from Mexico into the US. They die from exposure, hypothermia, dehydration, heat stroke. Compare that to the 4 or 5 who die from bear attacks while actually outdoors.

You can't shoot the sun, or shoot water from the ground, or shoot your way out of a snow bank, or shoot your way out of the cold. You can shoot giardia, but they've got superior numbers.
-harry
 
ScottM said:
How many people who are camping are really out in the middle of nowhere? Most of them are at campsite that are public or privately run and have many amenities. I LMAO when I see some of the stuff people bring camping. It is like they brought their house.
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Been there done that. Both ways of "camping". While it is true I carry 24/7, I fear danger from the bears in the woods LESS that I fear danger from the two legged polecats in urban areas. More important, What will you do in the 45 minutes it takes the police to respond to your 911 call? DaveR
 
One Short said:
My experience was: Loaded gun on back seat. Not in a Case. Enthusiatic dog hopping around in the back seat managed to step just right on the trigger and shot the guy through the back of the front seat and took out his spine. Stupid tragic accident.
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Stupid yes, tragic no.
 
ScottM said:
How many people who are camping are really out in the middle of nowhere? Most of them are at campsite that are public or privately run and have many amenities.
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There aren't many of us based on the last few weeks of absolute nowhere boondocking in the motorhome deep in a national forest. My tire tracks were the only ones there the entire time. Zero people.

I don't think most people know what, or where, the middle of nowhere is. IMO, the concept of nowhere boondocking frightens people for some reason. What no one realizes is that no one will bother you if you go just 1/4 mile or so off a major road away from cities.

I LMAO when I see some of the stuff people bring camping. It is like they brought their house.
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I find it absolutely hilarious. I'm a fulltimer and I don't carry a quarter of what the one weekend a year types bring along. They have to rough a weekend with satellite dishes, paved sites, full hookups, etc. I ease it through everything mother nature throws at me regardless of season and/or environment.
 
When "camping" I either backpack or canoe to places that are extemely remote. In addition to some good knives and other essentials, a firearm is a must. Less need for one in unpopulated ares probably, but it allows me to sleep better. Its the two legged critters you need to look out for.
 
steingar said:
All those hoodlums are such outdoors men.
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My girlfriend is a nervous camper. She'll read a story about a serial killer preying on a solo female camper alone in the woods, and remember it for years. I have to remind her that we live in a city with one of the highest murder rates in the country, and that in all our travels, the most dangerous part of every trip has been when we're leaving and walking from the front door to the car.
-harry
 
mantakos said:
My girlfriend is a nervous camper. She'll read a story about a serial killer preying on a solo female camper alone in the woods, and remember it for years
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A good friend of mine had people tell her that too and other horrific stories. I've heard them as well. She's been fulltiming for about 9 years now everywhere from deep in cities to the middle of absolute nowhere. No need for a gun, knife, beat-um-up-stick or cellphone so far. (whether she carries or not is not for public discussion just to keep everyone guessing) It's safer than living in a house. You just have to be aware of your surroundings where you stay just like anywhere else. It's like the classic lawyer discussion, a hundredth of a percent of the group makes the rest look like trouble.

Most hooligans are looking for targets they can do a hit and run with a profit. A camper in the woods is likely low profit and high risk at best. They also don't drive 100+ miles each way into out of the way places to look for targets that probably aren't there to start with. A hooligan has plenty of good opportunities within 10 minutes of home in the city.
 
Another reason to stay armed when outdoors in the country.

A teenage boy drove his date to a dark and deserted Lovers' Lane for a make-out session. After turning on the radio for mood music, he leaned over and began kissing the girl.


A short while later, the music suddenly stopped and an announcer's voice came on, warning in an urgent tone that a convicted murderer had just escaped from the state insane asylum — which happened to be located not far from Lovers' Lane — and that anyone who noticed a strange man lurking about with a hook in place of his right hand should immediately report his whereabouts to the police.


The girl became frightened and asked to be taken home. The boy, feeling bold, locked all the doors instead and, assuring his date they would be safe, attempted to kiss her again. She became frantic and pushed him away, insisting that they leave. Relenting, the boy peevishly jerked the car into gear and spun its wheels as he pulled out of the parking space.
When they arrived at the girl's house she got out of the car, and, reaching to close the door, began to scream uncontrollably. The boy ran to her side to see what was wrong and there, dangling from the door handle, was a bloody hook.



Too close!!!!
 
steingar said:
All those hoodlums are such outdoors men.
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There have been murders on the Appalachian Trail in remote areas I have backpacked. Being armed is an insurance policy. My house probably won't burn down either, but I have homeowners insurance just the same.

Do what you want but don't make fun of me because I am exercising my right to protect myself and family.
 
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Anthony said:
There have been murders on the Appalachian Trail in remote areas I have backpacked. Being armed is an insurance policy. My house probably won't burn down either, but I have homeowners insurance just the same.

Do what you want but don't make fun of me because I am exercising my right to protect myself and family.
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It is my love of the ironic that makes me point out what I feel to be logical fallacies, please forgive me. Absolutely no disrespect intended.

There are orders of magnitude more murders in your city. Think about it. Two hikers get lost and its national news for a week. It just doesn't happen that often. You are not perfectly safe anywhere, perfect safety doesn't exist. But you are less likely to suffer human predation in a remote area than in a populated one simply because there are fewer people.

But once again, if you wish to pack a firearm in your kit, please fell free (respecting local and state ordinances of course). You are entitled to be a poor backpacker. It is your right, and believe me, I've seen people pack much dumber things to go camping.
 
Anthony said:
My house probably won't burn down either, but I have homeowners insurance just the same.
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Your chances of having a house fire this year are 1 in 290. The chances an AT hiker faces of being murdered this year are about 1 in 10M.

The Baltimore City murder rate is 5000 times the Appalachian Trail murder rate.
Do what you want but don't make fun of me because I am exercising my right to protect myself and family.
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I would certainly not make fun of anybody for exercising that right, but I might poke fun at a common human frailty of gauging risk through use of our imagination. We consistently fear, and prepare for, less probable risks while leaping head-first into far more probable risks.
-harry
 
fgcason said:
..I don't think most people know what, or where, the middle of nowhere is. IMO, the concept of nowhere boondocking frightens people for some reason. What no one realizes is that no one will bother you if you go just 1/4 mile or so off a major road away from cities.
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Haha!! That is SO true. That's about how far from the marina I used to take my 30 foot sailboat. I'd hang out on the lagoon for days without anything I didn't bring. If you wanted me you had to get your own damn boat and go get me.
 
D
Do what you want but don't make fun of me because I am exercising my right to protect myself and family.
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+1. Talk (or typing) in this case is easy. People often change their minds later and to say "oh I was wrong back then" or some such. It doesn't matter much if bear attacks are very rare if you are the one being attacked. I can't remember the guys name now, but there was a guy from CA who spent summers in Alaska with grizzlies. He said they weren't dangerous, etc., etc., etc. The searchers just found a few bones of his and his girlfriend's after the bear had his dinner. I won't ask you to carry my gun for me, but I am definitely bringing it. You do what you want, I won't bother you, just let me do the same.
 
somorris said:
... It doesn't matter much if bear attacks are very rare if you are the one being attacked...
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In 2009, a North Dakota woman was killed by a falling Taco Bell sign:

I still go to Taco Bell. Is that reckless? I understand that falling Taco Bell signs are rare, but that doesn't matter much if you're the one it fell on. Better stay away from Taco Bell.
I can't remember the guys name now, but there was a guy from CA who spent summers in Alaska with grizzlies. He said they weren't dangerous, etc., etc., etc.
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Timothy Treadwell, and I suspect that this is putting words in his mouth.

But are we comparing the risk of living _among_ grizzlies and interacting with them, to the risk of bear attack at some random campground or hiking trail in the lower 48?
You do what you want, I won't bother you, just let me do the same.
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I won't bother you, either, nor attempt to do anything to prevent you from doing so, but I will recommend you bring some sunscreen along, too, because there are some real dangers out there.
-harry
 
We're simply pointing out that taking firearms to a campsite is a bit on the overkill side. No one has suggested making it illegal, or any sort of gun control. The closest anyone has come to that is the suggestion that you obey local ordinances. Just pointing out that it isn't the thing you're most likely to use on the trail. That's all. Pages and pages worth. Again, I'm wondering why I bother.
 
Just pointing out that it isn't the thing you're most likely to use on the trail. That's all.
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I agree with that. Much ado about nothing, huh?
 
somorris said:
D

He said they weren't dangerous, etc., etc., etc. The searchers just found a few bones of his and his girlfriend's after the bear had his dinner.
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Yes, Treadwell neglected to pack a firearm. Treadwell also neglected to pack Prozac.

Which one would have done him more good?

By the way Chris McCandless packed a rifle. Lot of good it did him :goofy:
 
steingar said:
We're simply pointing out that taking firearms to a campsite is a bit on the overkill side. No one has suggested making it illegal, or any sort of gun control. The closest anyone has come to that is the suggestion that you obey local ordinances. Just pointing out that it isn't the thing you're most likely to use on the trail. That's all. Pages and pages worth. Again, I'm wondering why I bother.
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I don't think it's so much an issue the likeliness that you'll need a gun so much as it's an issue of the fact that you're out there on your own and you're your own help. It's a bit like an oxygen system on a plane. Chances are, you'll never use it, bit in case you do, you'd be ƒűcked without it.
 
Did anyone see the Moose Attacks show last night?

Moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression. In terms of raw numbers, they attack more people than bears and wolves combined,
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http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=1.15451.26104.0.0

What type of handgun is going to stop a moose?


Probably even Harry could not stop one with this famous handgun

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"Go ahead Moose, make my day" :thumbsup::thumbsup:
 

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wabower said:
TX CHL requires that whatever you're packing must be totally concealed. Tough to get one sawed off that short.
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Separate barrel from stock. Good to go. "Tough" in this context is only a measure of lack of motivation and initiative.
 
alaskaflyer said:
Yes, Treadwell neglected to pack a firearm. Treadwell also neglected to pack Prozac.

Which one would have done him more good?

By the way Chris McCandless packed a rifle. Lot of good it did him :goofy:
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McCandless carrying a rifle is like Abby Sunderland leaving port on the most seaworthy of vessels...does no good if you don't know what you're doing. In either case, the individual's desire was not enough to ensure safety or even survival. What's the quote about no bounds on stupidity?
 
Personally I prefer the Baretta 96. I think it will kill just about anything you want ,if you take the time to place the shot. I had to give up the Baretta and carry the Sig for the last five years on the PD, and it was like shooting a 2X4. The Baretta is betta.:thumbsup:
 
I figured I should stay out of this since I always have a gun :D. Guess I'm a little partial to 1911's...
 
dmccormack said:
Harry's .457 Magnum probably would slow some moose.
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Harry's what?

I know what you're thinking — "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But, being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?
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Go to Blockbuser, do not pass go, collect Dirty Harry (1971) and watch one of the best non-Western Eastwood movie!! :cornut::cornut:
 
ScottM said:
Harry's what?

Go to Blockbuser, do not pass go, collect Dirty Harry (1971) and watch one of the best non-Western Eastwood movie!! :cornut::cornut:
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Oh yeah.. ".44 Magnum" -- one of those OLD "most powerful handguns."

:rolleyes2:

I just got up from a nap. 9.1 logged since Saturday AM and 4 hours sleep a night on a thermarest at Mom's house.

:crazy:
 
flyersfan31 said:
This thread is still going???!!!!!
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Well it is summer. Prime skin cancer season. Besides that we saw another failure of CCW to stop a mass killing in Albuquerque this week. I am sure it was because there was either some draconian rule about guns in the work place and not that the whole thing happened so quickly that no one had time to react.
 
ScottM said:
Well it is summer. Prime skin cancer season. Besides that we saw another failure of CCW to stop a mass killing in Albuquerque this week. I am sure it was because there was either some draconian rule about guns in the work place and not that the whole thing happened so quickly that no one had time to react.
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Failed to stop is a hell of a reach Scott. Law enforcement also failed to stop it too. I guess law enforcement is a failure and isn't necessary. Better off to get rid of them too and just purchase more sun screen.
 
jesse said:
Failed to stop is a hell of a reach Scott. Law enforcement also failed to stop it too. I guess law enforcement is a failure and isn't necessary. Better off to get rid of them too and just purchase more sun screen.
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I thought we already established law enforcement was a failure at stopping crime and that is why we needed a well armed society?

The real question is when will this girl,

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be charged with crimes against humanity for all the skin cancer that she caused directly and indirectly??
 

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ScottM said:
... The real question is when will this girl ... be charged with her crimes against humanity for all the skin cancer that she caused directly and indirectly??
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And when will that dog be placed on the list of registered sex offenders? Age of consent ain't measured in dog years, poochie!
-harry
 
No collar - no dog license - no rabies vaccination tag - running free on the beach - that dog is a one pup crime wave!!
 
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