Traveling with firearms for security

[LeeRevell]

These days I personally would avoid Mexico, for their overly zealous LE and the drug cartels. But I do understand ghose folks who have no problem going there. I always have a gun in my vehicle.

 

[anm]

These days I personally would avoid Mexico, for their overly zealous LE and the drug cartels.  But I do understand ghose folks who have no problem going there.  I always have a gun in my vehicle.

That's also how I feel...

 

[barefootrebel]

I'm tossing around the idea of a crossbow. Less paperwork, and in the face of ammo shortages bolts are reusable.

 

[bullfrog]

I hate to have to be the one to tell you this as I have enjoyed owning and shooting guns and pistols for years. It has been proven and in my experience been shown not to make you less likely to have serious problems. In fact you are more likely to be injured if a firearm is present. When confronted which I have been I feel better and have gotten better results with fewer injuries when firearms are not present. The atmosphere and attitudes of people change when firearms are present and usually not for the better. I have had a veteran police officer hand me their weapon because they knew the persons they were about to confront were unarmed and the only way they stood to be shot was with their own pistol. I guess movies like “No country for old men” make the point this country has plenty of weapons available and usually the other guy has a much more capable weapon but little or no training on how and when to use it safely. I would highly recommend you learn how to deal with situations and stay out of them with the attitude you will probably regret involvement, but if necessary learn how to deal with situations without a gun using other less dangerous weapons and methods. This is just the opinion of an old man that has dealt with several situations he didn’t want to get involved with. The easier a weapon is to access and use the more likely you will and your attitude will change to one of over confidence. You ever been shot with a bolt or arrow? You ever see what hunting blades can do? Serious injuries can occur just handling them. Believe me it isn’t a good experience.

 

[barefootrebel]

Thank you for your insights. In my former biker chick life I did gain a good understanding of how to avoid dangerous situations.
My viewpoint is absolutely do not pull unless you absolutely are fixing to get dead.
I've had weapons in my face twice. I would like to avoid that ever happening again. At 57, I'm too old for that, and a lot smarter than I was then.

 

[user 423]

You'd have to make that one shot count...!

 

[peteg59]

A disciplined, well trained person, male or female can handle high stress life or death situations with calm and cool reaction with a firearm.

Training, practice, muscle memory, and knowing the full ramifications of what using the tool can cause and do.
There are no "do overs" once that bullet leaves the barrel...

 

[barefootrebel]

I hope I did not give the impression that I fall in the latter category. I have the utmost respect for firearms, or any weapon. The unknown variable is the person holding it.

 

[CoyoteG]

A disciplined, well trained person, male or female can handle high stress life or death situations with calm and cool reaction with a firearm.

Training, practice, muscle memory, and knowing the full ramifications of what using the tool can cause and do.
There are no "do overs" once that bullet leaves the barrel...

I’ve been saying exactly that for years.

 

[user 16179]

I'm tossing around the idea of a crossbow. Less paperwork, and in the face of ammo shortages bolts are reusable.

For short range defense I think a can of Wasp & Hornet spray would be faster to deploy and equally effective in stopping the aggressor. It will shoot a broad stream 20' so there is no need to be nose to nose or have pin point accuracy. Remember: You are allergic to insect stings and need it close by to prevent trips to the hospital. ;-)

 

[user 423]

^ Do some checking. It's not that effective and it's also illegal:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=is+using+wasp+spray+for+self+defense+illegal?

You would probably lose a lawsuit brought by anyone you used it on.

And a fake excuse that you are allergic to stings could be easily disproved.

 

[rruff]

The atmosphere and attitudes of people change when firearms are present and usually not for the better.

That's why I don't carry... mostly for the sake of *my* attitude. For it to be effective, you need to be preemptive; looking for threats and have the gun in your hand ready to go. Otherwise the bad guys will get the drop on you... and you never know who they might be. Apparently I'm not alone in my reasoning, because I've had guns pointed at me several times while in the boonies.

I'd rather be friendly, defenseless, and non-threatening... no matter how the other party is behaving. De-escalate.

 

[LargeMarge]

re -- the 'bug-spray to deter a rabid skunk or starving bear' theory
.
I have zero experience with that.
How about enlisting a friend to spray you so you can verify the deterrence factor.
Let us know your results... and no fair being civilized.
For the test to be valid, you need to go full-throttle whack-job.
.
Video, or it did not happen.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Thank you for your insights. In my former biker chick life I did gain a good understanding of how to avoid dangerous situations.
My viewpoint is absolutely do not pull unless you absolutely are fixing to get dead.
I've had weapons in my face twice. I would like to avoid that ever happening again. At 57, I'm too old for that, and a lot smarter than I was then.

You had me at 'biker chick'....

 

[KarlH]

How about enlisting a friend to spray you so you can verify the deterrence factor.
Let us know your results...

Serioisly though, be careful with insecticides! Some of them are in the same chemical group as VX and Sarin nerve agents.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organophosphate#Pesticides)

 

[Morgana]

Question (not rhetorical): Why would you use pesticide rather than, say, pepper spray, which is made for this purpose? Is it because you can squirt it farther? (There's no pepper spray that can do that?) Or is it because it would do permanent harm to the person rather than just enable you to escape?

Other question: Can pepper spray (or pesticide) (or other aerosols) explode in a hot car? I was thinking of getting some pepper spray, just for visiting the bathroom late at night, but I was wondering about this. That would make for some distracted driving.

 

[bullfrog]

I believe you will find even pepper spray as a defensive weapon is regulated in some states and there are areas where you are not allowed to carry it. Bug spray not so much.

 

[KarlH]

My favorite for that is a really bright LED flashlight - legal to carry almost anywhere and can blind anyone within 100' of you. It also won't blow back in your face like pepper spray.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

First if you are ever attacked, use whatever is at hand legal or not to protect yourself. Worry about legality when you are safe. "Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6".

But it is foolish to plan your defense around something that is illegal and/or ineffective. There have been a number of posts on here about the illegality and ineffectiveness of wasp/hornet spray.

My defenses (plural!) are planned around keeping an aggressor from getting to within arms length of me. I never want them close enough for a knife, bat, or hatchet, et.al. to be effective.

I'm tossing around the idea of a crossbow.

A couple of thoughts on crossbows as defensive weapon:
- They are about as hard to store and maneuver as a shotgun.
- I wouldn't trust one 'cocked and locked' in a van.
- Takes too much time to load.
- They are a lethal but not 'knock down' weapon. I have seen deer run 100+ yards after taking a hit in the heart and lungs.

 

[barefootrebel]

Excellent point about loading time. That's why it's always good to run an idea past many minds.