I have watched the carry no carry thing here and on
rec.boats.cruising. What it comes to, is can you shoot someone
that is facing you staring you eye to eye. Have you ever shot
someone? Could you do it again? I have shot to kill  and I never
want to do it again. I was competitive shooter, both rifle and
pistol and following that, I got rid of all of my guns as I lost
my taste for shooting. I think that a panic button approach with
a relay that turns on the four way flashers and beeps the horn
with them. The button or buttons can be placed anywhere in the
coach. Possibly wired to the magnetic switch for the steps so
when the door is opened the alarm goes off. There are many
things that can be done as an alternative to carrying a pistol.

Leanne

Hear Hear. One of the more intelligent comments on guns and RVs I've seen in
this newsgroup in many a year.

I was tent camping in Colorado many years ago when some escaped convicts
went through the National Forest campground next down the road from the
one I was in--randomly shooting into tents and campers.  Several people
killed and more injured.  Made the TV news all the way down in central
Texas and almost drove my parents nuts until I called home (before the
days of cellular).  I didn't take a handgun because I was concerned
about being legal.  I vowed then that I would NEVER be caught again
without any way to defend myself from the crazies out there.

A few years later--still tent camping--I pulled into a roadside park on
my way through the panhandle of Texas--probably about midnight.  I was
about half asleep when I saw two cars pull in from opposite directions--
I could see people moving between the cars. My first thought was drug
related and I made sure my handgun was accessable.  Next thing all hell
broke loose with occupants of both cars firing at each other.  They both
finally took off--without leaving any bodies--and people started popping
out of parked cars and 18 wheelers.  My gun wasn't needed--but it could
easily have been if one of those blokes had been left behind and he/she
decided they needed another car.  Could I have used a shotgun--in the
car--highly unlikely.  I'll keep toting my handgun thankyou--only now I
do it with a CHL.

That won't work very well if you're in a trailer (pop-up, TT, or 5er) or in
a slide-in camper since the "perceived threat" will be between you and the
cab!

Cell phones have their good points - WHEN you can get a signal and WHEN law
enforcement can arrive quickly [less than 1/4 hour] enough to be of any
benefit.

The real key, as stated elsewhere, is whether or not the RVer is mentally
prepared to KILL another human being and suffer the consequences, if any, in
order to protect the RV, its occupants, and their possessions.

If not, then it's best to leave the guns at home or in the store lest the
"bad guy(s)" take them and use them themselves.

'After reading the gun toting posts,my advise is if you are that scared
to be on the road stay home.'

And let the Terrorists in America win ?!

'In order to effectively use a gun you must be wide awake,practice
regularly and be in pretty decent physical and mental health. '

I practice at the Indoor Shooting Range often and can hit a target with
the majority of shots fired,  the size of a half dollar from 15 feet
away. IVe also had professional instruction in a course that lasted the
entire weekend.

'I am more afraid of a fellow camper or rv'er shooting at a perceived
threat and putting a round into my rig or another innocent parties rig '

Then, STAY HOME !

'and you feel threatenened one of you go to the steeering wheel and hit
the horn button for all your worth. the other can try and defend the
home if practical. make noise,flash the lights,draw attention the bad
guy will leave.'

Im sure the attacker would get a kick out of this,  if you were deep in
the woods away from others.

'Your problems will not end by simply shooting someone. You will most
likely to detained,held,interviewed,charged with gun violations if no
permit. Then comes the court subpeonas,civil suits. your life will be
turned upside down. In other words make damn sure that carrying a weapon
is going to be worth it.'

At least ill be ABLE to go to court !

With the increased immorality and valueless people on the rise in
America...there is no better time than to get a FOID card , buy a Pistol
, practice often so you become very good with it, and dont ever forget
that the jerk who decides he wants your money even if it comes with your
life...might be making your acquaintance tomorrow.

What price tag do you put on life?

Ken B.

I agree with most of it.  Especially about knowing how to use a firearm.
Not just going into a store and buying a pretty hogleg, shooting up a box
of cartriages, reloading and then assuming that you are ready for all
comers.

Pistols are more deadly in the average shooters hands than for the
breaker-inner.  Even cops, in that instant of extreme excitement often
empty a whole cylinder at point blank range and miss every time.

A 12 gauge with number 9s is good.  Much less likely to go through the rig
next door and will still punch a big hole in a baddie inside your MH.
Plus, if you jack a round into the chamber in hearing of the invader AND
he doesn't beat feet instantly, then you know he is high on something and
it is time to shoot.  And the average state is much more forgiving of
possession of long gun than a handgun.

I am all for the shooting of criminals.  Line 'em up against the wall and
I will help you reload.  That being said, you need to think long and hard
about whether you want to actually pop the cap and kill someone when the
time comes. You need to think ahead of time about what you are going to
do, actually act out your actions that you will need to take, KNOW the
laws of the state you are in.  When you are actually pointing a gun at a
druggie busting down your front door is the wrong time to try to remember
if the safety should be flipped up - or down.?

I can speak from experience (in a house, not in a rig, and fortunately it
didn't come to actually pulling the trigger) that if the time DOES come,
it comes very fast, time for thinking is very short, and things will
happen without your actually being aware of thinking about it.

TW