Legal Weapons and Overlanding
- Thread starter NorthStar96
- Start date
Advocate II
Your post made me think a little bit. So i'm not going to change my response, but add to it, because I believe you are correct.
If someone asks me "do you carry a gun" or "what do you do for self defense", then yall saw my answer. That's a short answer, but that's where I am.
If someone were to ask me "do you think I should carry a gun", then my answer would be right now, no, because you asked the question, which means you don't know anything or much about it.
I've carried for years. I've also taken classes, and I've treated carrying, shooting, and self defense as developable and maintainable skills. Not saying I'm an expert, I'm really not. But I know how to use my gun, I know the laws, and I'm comfortable with my preparedness. That said, the longer I've carried, the more i've noticed some trends in my own approach to self defense.
1) I'm less inclined to pull my gun than I was before (I've never pulled my gun, I'm simply referencing my mindset). If someone wanted my wallet, I'd probably give it to them. I'd much rather deal with getting replacement ID and cards than I would deal with the legal issues from having shot and killed someone. The longer I carry, the more I feel the weight of the decision to pull my gun, if I were ever to do so.
2) My gun makes me feel much less "invincible" than it used to. It's just a tool, only as useful or dangerous as the person holding it. It offers no guarantees, other than the fact that when pulled, we have officially escalated whatever is happening, and there's no turning back from that point.
3) I believe mindset is a MUCH more valuable tool than my gun is. I work hard to develop and maintain a safe, and aware mindset. I listen to talks and podcasts from a lot of military leaders who focus not so much on guns, but survival mindset, and how that approach touches leadership, and decision making. Every day that I spend managing people, I work to develop the skill of talking well with people, and de-escalating situations, and maintaining a consistent mindset, no matter the situation. The longer I carry a gun, the more I've realized mindset affects everything. Your ability to talk down someone confrontational is 100% a survival skill. Being able to assess the situation around you and get out of a bad situation, is also a valuable survival skill. I can do either or both of those things, whether or not I'm carrying a gun. I'm ALWAYS going to go for those skills first, before I decide to go with the deadly force approach.
All of this to say, you can ask questions about whether or not you should carry, but that's not really the right question. You should instead be handling firearms if you haven't before, and learning from professionals who KNOW experientially about survival and self defense. As I've learned those things, I have found my own approach that fits me, and my personality and strengths. Nobody can tell you where you fit into these questions, especially on an internet forum. So if you're asking the question, start learning and going slowly. Don't do what I did. I bought a .38 special, and carried it for a year before I ever even practiced shooting it. I was probably in more danger then than I was before I bought it, because I didn't know what I was doing.
I have been in 5 situations wherein I was thankful I had a firearm with me. In three of them the situation was deescalated and the firearm never entered the equation.
There were two instance in which I drew my weapon. The first one involved my wife. I was within my legal rights to use my sidearm in order to protect her - I didn't. Instead I held that person at gun point until the police arrived. In this instance the wife informed the 911 operator that I was armed so that the police were fully aware of it.
The point is - get training and know your local laws! If you live close to another state, and or travel to other states, know their laws as well.
There were two instance in which I drew my weapon. The first one involved my wife. I was within my legal rights to use my sidearm in order to protect her - I didn't. Instead I held that person at gun point until the police arrived. In this instance the wife informed the 911 operator that I was armed so that the police were fully aware of it.
The point is - get training and know your local laws! If you live close to another state, and or travel to other states, know their laws as well.
I typically carry open when fishing or outdoors. It’s way more comfortable and practical I feel. I tend to keep my revolver in a paddle holster, stays secure and is still close to my body. If I’m wearing a jacket or fishing shirt/flannel it just disappears anyways.
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Influencer I
- 2,358
- First Name
- Dillon
- Last Name
- Wilke
- Member #
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20298
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KJ7LVO/ WRQL275
- Service Branch
- USAF
I always carry my little SIG (P238). For the most part I dont leave WA, ID, or MT so Im good to go with a WA CPL. When Im out hiking or trail running I have a holster that attaches to my backpack strap ( Alien Gear Shapeshift backpack, puts it right about where an old school tanker holster would). I love it, its out of the way and easily accessible. Im far more worried about people than animals so the little 380 is good for me. I dont like making a spectacle of myself, so smaller is better for me.
Enthusiast II
I tend to always have one of my sidearms with me when camping, fishing, hiking or hunting. I have only had to draw my civilian weapon one time (involving a human being) and I did not have to utilize it. I have however had to use my weapon while fishing and hiking. I have had a stand off with a couple Mountain Lion and the occasional bear...especially on a hunting trip outside of Valdez, AK. I spent 7 years in the Army so carrying isn't an issue for me as far as whether I should or shouldn't. It is something I have done for many years and it has become second nature to me. To the point where I almost feel vulnerable without it but not for the sake of superiority but for the EDC feel. Where I live and have lived in the last 20 years aside from the Military, here in CA, I have seen plenty of violence, beatings, car jackings etc. and I would much rather be comfortable than always turning over my shoulder to see what is possibly there.
Each person carries for their own reason. If you have to ask questions then it either isn't right for you or you need training. It shouldn't be something that is a burden. It should just offer a slight piece of mind in the event of the necessity of severe protection should an unfortunate circumstance arise. One should always take the non violent path and try to deescalate the situation multiple times in various ways before ever resorting to deadly force. I am not the one who will tell anyone whether or not they should carry. That decision should come from your own mind after having spent some time seriously considering it and after doing some research in the possible outcome of what may happen should you ever need to use your weapon.
Please think smart, act smart, take some classes and training before considering it. After you have done so then if you are comfortable with the entire situation...make your decision.
Each person carries for their own reason. If you have to ask questions then it either isn't right for you or you need training. It shouldn't be something that is a burden. It should just offer a slight piece of mind in the event of the necessity of severe protection should an unfortunate circumstance arise. One should always take the non violent path and try to deescalate the situation multiple times in various ways before ever resorting to deadly force. I am not the one who will tell anyone whether or not they should carry. That decision should come from your own mind after having spent some time seriously considering it and after doing some research in the possible outcome of what may happen should you ever need to use your weapon.
Please think smart, act smart, take some classes and training before considering it. After you have done so then if you are comfortable with the entire situation...make your decision.
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Although deescalation and avoidance are my preferred methods of defense, I always conceal a pistol for dire emergency's.
Enthusiast III
I conceal daily and have for years. I open carry on my property, especially during hunting season when I patrol for hunters who are poaching my land. The firearm is indeed a last resort. I have drawn twice on human beings and I was fully prepared to fire and kill as needed in those situations. Thankfully the situations deescalated when the BG saw the weapon.
I always carry. Just make sure your legal. There are some apps that give all the state reciprocity privileges. I agree open would be so much easier. But, to many people get so bent out of shape at the mere sight of a weapon. It would be nice if common sense and civility were the norm.
I open carry. It's rare I have someone get bent out of shape over it, but when they do I find it rather amusing.
Off-Road Ranger I
Enthusiast III
Very well said. Sadly, there's so much bad advice and bad ideas out there regarding firearms. :(
open carry here. i never seem to get people that flip out over the sight of a firearm. more people curious and wanting to know where to start on their own journey to feeling comfortable carrying.
but overlanding/camping. i always have one on me.
but overlanding/camping. i always have one on me.
Influencer I
Open carry alot when I am in the woods or biking and hiking. When in my pickup. I have it moved to a holster in the truck. Open carry Not really cus its faster. Concealed is just as fast. Have come across a few situations where them seeing that on my hip made them drop what they were doing and slink off. I have a chl and conceal everywhere i am allowed too. The only time ive had any guff for open carrying in the woods. In 12 years was just after the Parkland shooting. Was snowshoeing and this lady and her husband were snowshoeing with their 12 y/o boy and she didnt say hi or anything like that. First word was omg dont let my son see your gun. I dont want to scare him. I was like how is that gonna work when its on my thigh ma'am? I walked off the trail so they could be pass me and covered it with my hat. She could of acted worse and totally get why she was concerned. The husband was like dont worry about it.. I complied but its no difference if they came across a LEO. I dont like concealing with a pack on cus the pack get in the way. But conceal 90% of the time. Other ten % is when ive got a pack on.
Advocate III
I would take that one step further and apply that standard to pretty much any information you are getting from the web.. We should always make sure we are considering the source, and if we don't know their qualifications to make teh recommendations, do our own due dilligence to independantly verify information before acting on it. I have heard of plenty of people causing irreparable harm to the vehicles, for example, by following bad advice found online.
I also try to remember to always throw in disclaimers when I give suggestions or advice, reminding people of the same. "This is what I do / think, but I'm not a *mechanic / doctor / lawyer / etc* so you should confirm before trying it."
Infact, I just did that very thing a couple of posts ago in another thread (see below)! :p
Influencer I
Do you mean that not everything you read on the inter web isnt creditable?
I agree with you. Heard a story one time on live radio.. Deer warning signs. This lady called in to tell
The Dj that someone needs to tell the deer that the deer cross walk signs need to be moved to a safer location.. That these deer are still getting hit. And he goes on to tell her. That those are just warning signs that they are in the area. Its a high traffic area for them. Tried to tell her that it warns you to be careful.
She still wasn’t convinced because of what she saw on the internet.
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Advocate III
Man, this kind of parenting is so scary to me.. Much more frightening than the thought of anyone openly carrying any firearm.. Heck, even bazookas! Shielding a child in that way only serves to handicap them in life, IMO. When those kids are no longer being 'protected' by momma burying their head under her wing, they don't know how to appropriately respond to adversity and otherwise 'uncomfortable' situations later in life.
I am of the opinion that this is of the reasons so many people today have an irrational fear of guns in the first place.
Among many problems with the snowflake generation, I guess...
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Advocate III
Haha.. I remember hearing about that.
Critical thinking, sadly, seems to be a dying art. Hell, thinking at all, in some cases, seems to be a dying art! :p
