imaginefj
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Hmm, I'm more realaxed when I carry a gun, knife, lighter and cell phone. All things that could save my or a loved ones life.
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Hiking with a rifle?
- Thread starter nickortizzle1035
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Hmm, I'm more realaxed when I carry a gun, knife, lighter and cell phone. All things that could save my or a loved ones life.
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You say that now. Of course, it is just emotional conjecture not based on a single fact...or experience, I am willing to bet.
My experience has shown state parks down here to lack any real reason to carry my firearms. Yea, that's anecdotal and I am ordinarily all for carrying my guns, but I just haven't seen anything in a state park that needs a good shootin...except maybe a car stereo when I am trying to enjoy the peace and quiet.
On second thought, I can only think of one "dangerous" animal I've ever come across in a state park and that was a rattlesnake, so I just walked on the other side of the trail and left it alone. My experience has shown, especially in the woods, that situational awareness negates a lot of need for weapon carry. However, if I could, I probably would once in a while, just because I believe a right not exercised is a right wasted and, as such, in jeopardy.
I, too, am generally more relaxed with them, but I'd like to think I can rely on brains to get out of most life-threatening situations. Not always the case, but my presence of mind is where the peace really comes from for me. I think many of us here feel that way.
imaginefj
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I am a Texas CHL instructor.
I don't know what everyone else should or should not do. My concern on the trail is not 4 legged creatures. It is 2 legged creatures. Having a gun gives me peace of mind. It is worth the weight.
"carrying a gun isn't supposed to be comfortable, it is supposed to be comforting"
I don't know what everyone else should or should not do. My concern on the trail is not 4 legged creatures. It is 2 legged creatures. Having a gun gives me peace of mind. It is worth the weight.
"carrying a gun isn't supposed to be comfortable, it is supposed to be comforting"
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See....I used to carry a pistol every day for work. So...that is the first thought that comes to my mind and it is far from relaxing to me. My pistol is a tool and, thus, an extension of me, my intellect, and my awareness.* I am just as comfortable, personally, with or without it. It works for me and with that in mind, I don't care if it works for everyone else because I am not charged with their well-being. No sense in discussing it really because experience trumps just about anything. I have been in situations where I am glad I had my pistol, no I won't share, but none of them happened in the woods. That being said, if I could legally open carry in the state parks, I would probably tote along a .22 or something just to have it for the odd...whatever.
*to be honest, it doesn't matter in this thread anyway, since the discussion is titled "Hiking with a rifle?"
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Out here? I haven't seen much of any sign of life. :sad:
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If VTguy is from Vermont, chances are he has as much carrying experience as any of us. Vermont is one of the two states in the union with unregulated carry laws. And considering the Judicial System in the state of Texas, serious consideration would be given in ANY circumstance where one carried and discharged a firearm in defense of their life.
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I didn't see any last time. I only drove by the enclosure thing, though. I didn't stay around very long.
Really? There have been instances of people firing off weapons in SD situations in areas where it is COMPLETELY illegal and getting off with a slap on the wrist (fine)? I haven't seen any. At least, not in a cursory internet search. I am talking about anywhere they are strictly forbidden. I don't mean to sound sarcastic, that is not my intent, but I just cannot find one instance of it at all.
As an aside: I am always amazed at the number of people from other states that are experts in a different state's law/courts/judiciary. Simply...astounding...
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Spent a lot of time in Texas and Vermont? One would assume so from your tone of expertise.--KV
VTguy17
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Just as IMAGINEFJ has said, it's not animals I worry about. All I'm saying is If you are allowed to carry in a park and for some reason you had to use it and you were completely justified in using it to save your life for whatever reason the last thing I would be worrying about is the no discharge in the park law. I'm not talking about plinking a rattlesnake in a park I'm talking about a life threatening situation. My guess is the no discharge law is there to keep people from hunting, poaching, and target shooting in the back country.
So when a self defense shooting happens in a waffle house, grocery store, or gas station it's not completely illegal to discharge a firearm in either of those places? It's just like your state park, you can carry at all those places but it's illegal to discharge a firearm there. They say that about the state park so people that are carrying aren't out there plinking away at things, it's a completely different situation if it's for justified self defense. I'm not an expert at Texas law and couldn't tell you what would happen if you discharged your pistol in the park to save yourself but I'm willing to bet if it was a proved justifiable shooting there not going to lock you up and throw away the key.
Almost all self defense shootings happen in places where it's illegal to discharge a firearm, city streets, stores, alley's, etc...
If a weapon is strictly forbidden like on school grounds then it's a different story and I agree with you, you are not walking away with a slap on the wrist. But your state park is not strictly forbidden like a school or post office.
Agreed 100% Dougo
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"Really? There have been instances of people firing off weapons in SD situations in areas where it is COMPLETELY illegal and getting off with a slap on the wrist (fine)? I haven't seen any. At least, not in a cursory internet search. I am talking about anywhere they are strictly forbidden. I don't mean to sound sarcastic, that is not my intent, but I just cannot find one instance of it at all."
Anytime a weapon is used there are potential consequenses. Those consequences can be physical, emotional, legal, or costly. As was noted, there are places where it is illegal to discharge a gun. Yet, I've read cases where shooters were not charged in self defense cases. It seems to depend, in many situations, on who is in charge at the time. The consequenses of discharging a firearm in a Texas state park are minor, IMO, compared to injury or death. The consequences of injuring or killing someone with a firearm in a self defense situation are much more serious, but it is a decision that is made in defending ones life.
It we are going to continue this discussion we might start a new thread as it seems we have hijacked the original one. My apologies to the OP.
Anytime a weapon is used there are potential consequenses. Those consequences can be physical, emotional, legal, or costly. As was noted, there are places where it is illegal to discharge a gun. Yet, I've read cases where shooters were not charged in self defense cases. It seems to depend, in many situations, on who is in charge at the time. The consequenses of discharging a firearm in a Texas state park are minor, IMO, compared to injury or death. The consequences of injuring or killing someone with a firearm in a self defense situation are much more serious, but it is a decision that is made in defending ones life.
It we are going to continue this discussion we might start a new thread as it seems we have hijacked the original one. My apologies to the OP.
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first let us clarify hiking a day hike in a state parks yes I carry a side arm concealed (i have a ccl). I cary for the same reason i wear a seat belt just in case, as that there was a kidnapping, torture and murder at a park near me (north Ga) last year it is not an unreasonable precaution.
on privet land I usually cary a 44 carbine instead of a side arm because wild bore are getting out of hand and the land owners usually ask use to put them down on site.
on privet land I usually cary a 44 carbine instead of a side arm because wild bore are getting out of hand and the land owners usually ask use to put them down on site.
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Ahemmm...There are three states with constitutional carry, not two. Alaska, Arizona, and Vermont.
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You sure as hell will if you end up in prison, bud. Think about it. I think I'd rather be in the ground than in a cage.
"I think I'd rather be in the ground than in a cage." DougO83
Doug, do you truly believe that? I'm not here to argue whether you should carry a handgun in a park or the woods, or not...that's a personal choice. But for anyone to try and "convince" someone that they should not seems a little arrogant to me. Maybe you do feel that being dead would be better than incarceration, but there are many who do not believe this way. If you're still alive, there's always hope. Not all of Texas is like Acevedo's Austin...and I, for one, am thankful for that!
Regards,
Ron
Doug, do you truly believe that? I'm not here to argue whether you should carry a handgun in a park or the woods, or not...that's a personal choice. But for anyone to try and "convince" someone that they should not seems a little arrogant to me. Maybe you do feel that being dead would be better than incarceration, but there are many who do not believe this way. If you're still alive, there's always hope. Not all of Texas is like Acevedo's Austin...and I, for one, am thankful for that!
Regards,
Ron
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Yes, I do.
So far, you are the only suggesting to convince someone of some other way. I said my preference. That's it.
And?
