Camping with firearms

If you are off the beaten path or on a main trail, most people are freindly with or without firearms.
Criminals are to lazy to hike or camp.
I always carry concealed or open.
 
When I see fellow gunnies in California's countryside, I just wave in a friendly, low-key way. I'm packin, too. Growing up in the desert, I just assume everyone is armed. Usually a good bet.

Wee's all friendly like round here. Big city dwellers need to accept friendly rural waving (or else?!).
 
In several decades of hiking and backpacking, I think the only time I have seen a person carrying a firearm on the trail (outside of hunting season) was when I've been hiking in Alaska in areas where Brown Bears were prevelent. The dangers from wildlife in the lower 48 are greatly exagerated, IMO, and while I have no issue with open or concealed carry in the bush (as long as it is legal), I am more worried about other people than animals in my usual hiking areas.
 
In several decades of hiking and backpacking, I think the only time I have seen a person carrying a firearm on the trail (outside of hunting season) was when I've been hiking in Alaska in areas where Brown Bears were prevelent. The dangers from wildlife in the lower 48 are greatly exagerated, IMO, and while I have no issue with open or concealed carry in the bush (as long as it is legal), I am more worried about other people than animals in my usual hiking areas.

True IMO. However, since the feds reintroduced wolves here in Idaho - I don't plan to enter wolf country without a firearm. They seem to be more bold around humans than our black bears and mountain lions. The reality is that one of the most aggressive animals in our woods are moose. Just give them a wide berth, and you'll be fine. If a moose did charge me, I would feel a little underarmed with my glock in .40. Hmmm...maybe it's time for a .44 mag...
 
Especially with lawmen. Any time I run into a fish and game officer or police officer in the woods, I empty my gun (not the Glock on my hip, that's never empty :)) and lock back the slide or bolt (whatever the case may be).

Respecting the rights of others is essential to maintaining your own rights.

I guarantee you that it is very much appreciated too!
 
If you are off the beaten path or on a main trail, most people are freindly with or without firearms.
Criminals are to lazy to hike or camp.

With all do respect this is a very naive blanket statement. What most of us don't realize is there are three questions no one can ever answer for us and including ourselves - we can never answer them:


1. Who the threat might be?
2. When or where a threat might take place?
3. What it will take to stop a threat?

Unfortunately, the wilderness is a common hide for all sorts of Violent Criminal Actors (VCA's). Unfortunately many in this nation tend to become overconfident with modern non-contact to light contact "Party Karate" (aka the Belt Factory), taking a "CWP Gun Class - once", or a Polyanna "let's pretend real bad people don't go here" mindset and yet tend to be completely unprepared as was most likely the case of Ms. Emerson in the link below and regrettably she paid a terrible price.

Owning a firearm or having a black belt doesn't mean one is fully competent to deal with the harsh, unforgiving realities of a violent encounter with a motivated VCA! Neither is pretending bad people don't frequent a certain place. Just possessing or carrying a firearm or attending some non-to-minimal contact martial arts belt factory often provide us with a false sense of security.

Most of us are totally unprepared and oblivious to the realities of violence and the mindset of VCAs. It is as foreign to us as those who live in a totally different nation/culture/world. We tend to "think" ourselves into believing we're prepared or ready - but most of us unfortunately are not. Possession (of a firearm or a Martial Art) does not equate to competence!

Over 30 years ago, my third degree Karate instructor was so badly beaten in a fight in the parking lot with an untrained/uneducated semi-intoxicated VCA that I realized I was wasting my time playing Kung Fu and thinking I was prepared. I didn't stop training...it only emboldened me to train harder and more frequenty but I certainly changed my venue of instructors and whom and how I trained. I didn't advance in belts but I did in blood but that is more valuable than some belt.

Regarding "VCA's being too lazy to hike or camp".... RIP Ms Emerson...you were a trooper and a warrior!

Here is only one example:
http://crime.about.com/od/current/a/hilton.htm
 
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