Advice on Road trip Self-Defense

[POLICESTATE]

So, amusing after-action report on the trip. First, never needed any firearms (but that is more a story of beating the odds, as it were) and spent much time in Lassen and Rainier National Parks, both of which had lots of visible signage prohibiting firearms. So, good there. However, on the "staying with friends who hate guns," I got it all wrong. Notwithstanding that my wife's friends are all Adventists, both homes were virtual arsenals. Mind you, we were talking mostly bb guns and air soft weapons, but the "arsenals" served at least a few good purposes:


JS

I was going to say, I never heard that the SDA's were against guns. I know they don't like booze but that's about it. I like booze though

[JPShinn]

Yes, I saw Cabelas somewhere right along Ft. Lewis, if memory serves. Nice store although I've only been in the one outside Reno. The gun library alone is drool worthy...

[olhunter]

...both homes were virtual arsenals....

...my wife (Who is this person next to me?) suggested purchasing BB guns for the kids.

Niiiice.

[JPShinn]

Indeed, she even nodded approvingly at the nice Browning gun safes. I had thought I'd died and gone to wife heaven.

[Colt]

Very cool - a teachable moment.

We were on a road trip recently and saw the wanted posters from U.S. Marshals for the Arizona escapees. That was a bit of a wake up call. Was glad I had protection, albeit unloaded in a locked container while driving in California - as well as the 80 lb. dog.

Unfortunately, traveling on road trips seems to be a lot less safe now than a few decades ago...

[sequoia_nomad]

Glad things worked out for you.

[BillCA]

Very cool - a teachable moment.

We were on a road trip recently and saw the wanted posters from U.S. Marshals for the Arizona escapees. That was a bit of a wake up call. Was glad I had protection, albeit unloaded in a locked container while driving in California - as well as the 80 lb. dog.

Unfortunately, traveling on road trips seems to be a lot less safe now than a few decades ago...

+1 on that.

About three years ago, a friend in Texas drove to Wyoming for his Uncle's funeral. After dinner at a truck stop, he noted two guys just "hangin out" that set off his radar. He went inside to tell the restaurant manager. By the time he went outside, there was a commotion. Sure enough, they'd carjacked some solo car driver after watching him gas up. Sad.

Always travel with a firearm, criminals know you have a lot of valuable cargo with you when traveling.

Only if they know you are travelling. Out of state plates are a clue, of course, once you're away from border areas. But having luggage, snack foods, maps, dozens of tapes/CD's littering the car is a dead giveaway.