Weapons in the boonies?

**Air2air** · 08-12-2007, 12:11 AM

Shortly I am gonna be doing a ton of weekend trips out in the desert. The kids are 8 and 6. I am starting to read on other forums that a lot of people recommend either a dog or a weapon for peace of mind. I will be hitting the most remote places. Mojave, Death Valley, Arizona - the absolute sticks.

I suppose carrying would help my peace of mind too but I am terrified of an accident with the kids. Is there a safe way to do it, like a locked box... or is a weapon really unneccesary? I only want to do the safest thing, that's all.

Would like to hear from any Cops too if you are guys are here...

**MoabRat** · 08-12-2007, 12:49 AM

Been thinking the same way. Love too hear some opinions. Thanks for asking.

**BellyDoc** · 08-12-2007, 12:51 AM

Ok... first of all "Arizona" is NOT the "sticks" ... we have the sticks here, to be sure, but we're a sophisticated and civilized state with all the amenities.

If you say otherwise, I'll beat you down with a stick and stuff you in the outhouse.

Secondly... being armed is a huge responsibility. If you're going to be armed in multiple states, you need to know the laws in multiple states. If you want to have a weapon as a means of potential defense, you need to know the laws governing defensive deadly force. If you're going to have a weapon in your vehicle, you better know the laws regarding concealed carry.

I suggest gun training. It's no better to have a gun without the training to use it than it is to have a white belt in karate. When the S hits the fan, you will only do as well as your most well ingrained training allows. If you don't have any training, then you're basically S out of luck.

I recommend a military or law enforcment quality pistol, carried on your person as opposed to carrying it in the vehicle. That way, if you're going to deal with a cop who wants to talk to you, you can tell them "officer, before we begin, you might want to know that I have a firearm on my person which I'd be happy to surrender for the duration of this stop." If you then have the officer reach across your passenger into the glove box to get it, he's going to wonder if it's your weapon or your passengers. If your passenger isn't a concealed carry permit holder and they have just as ready an access to the gun as you do, this could be a problem. This is completely avoided by holstering your weapon on your person.

Always keep your weapon clean and loaded. Always keep your weapon in your control.

AceTechno · 08-12-2007, 01:08 AM

I don't know. I think carring a gun is a bad idea. I have a few friends in Law Enforcement and they do not carry an off duty weapon. Their agency does not require them to do so. So they choose not to. I have one friend who is FBI. He has to carry a gun at all times. We goto the same church and I hate the fact he brings it to church under his jacket. I some times bring my dog with me when I go up to Santiago. 80lb Brown Lab. She will jump all over you and lick you to death. I have 4 guns at home. I have not shot them in the last 10 years since I have kids now. This is just me. I know a lot of people out their are a lot more responsible than I will ever be. Good luck with which ever way you choose to go.

homedad · 08-12-2007, 01:13 AM

Hey air...when you gonna' come back to Az. for a run in the desert...and like Jon said....keep it on you and train yourself enough that you can still use it when you are crappin' your pants with some freak crack head flipping out on your a$$....otherwise it's worthless...use the supercharger to avoid trouble

flipstyle72 · 08-12-2007, 01:24 AM

In my opinion, there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with a "properly" educated and trained handgun/rifle owner. If you've never owned a gun, taken a safety course or just flat out uncomfortable or unsure of yourself carrying a gun then DON'T. It's a large responsibility not to be taken lightly. Not implying you wouldn't, just in general for anyone.

A properly trained canine friend is a good alternative to some degree. AND you gain a friend in the process who would more than likely be the most committed friend you'd ever had.

Now if you have a dog AND trained him to use a gun...

tigardfitfuji · 08-12-2007, 01:24 AM

You can get a small gun safe to take with you so the kids cannot have access to the weapon or use a trigger lock.

I am not familiar with what you need to do to carry a gun in the communist state of California so you should look into it. Try this for info in CA. http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/forms/pdf/cfl.pdf

AZ info is here. Arizona Department of Public Safety-Concealed Weapons Permit Unit

IMHO it is better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one.

Just be safe.

Oh yeah, dogs are cool too.

stnmikita · 08-12-2007, 05:36 AM

Since everyone else has covered the "be safe, be smart, get trained, you'll shoot your eye out" portion of the conversation, I'm just going to suggest what looks to be a hell of snake/defensive weapon that might just suit your needs:

Check into the Taurus Judge:

http://www.taurususa.com/whatsnew/revolvers.cfm

And

http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm

I'll be getting one myself as soon as I can find one in stock near me. It looks like a lot fun to shoot and pretty effective at close ranges.

***LandCruiserSteve*** · 08-12-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Air2air previously said:

Would like to hear from any Cops too if you are guys are here...

Very good question, Air2Air.

I'll give you my .02 and hope that any of my fellow LEO's join on in with theirs.

Like you implied, safety (especially with your kids) is paramount. I'd be more concerned about your kids' accidental access to a firearm . . . . even more so than local firearms laws. So, providing a means to safely keep your kids and your firearm separated is more important than anything. There are a number of quick-access lock boxes available, a few of which have been mentioned already.

Like bellydoc said, if you plan to carry, get over-educated on firearms usage. Not just firearms proficiency, but more importantly, the moral and legal aspects of weapons usage.

Your kids are a bit young for actual firearms training, but they should be educated on safety and what to do if they come across a gun. However, I would also suggest that your wife join you in any firearms training that you take. That literally doubles the safety factor where both your personal protection is concerned, as well as, the gun safety element concerning your children.

Sadly, California is one of the few remaining states have not only have no reciprocity for out-of-state CCW permit holders, but also make obtaining a resident CCW permit next to impossible unless you can really justify its necessity. You can carry a firearm in your vehicle in California, but you better check the current laws regulating that (i.e., locked in secured area, open view, etc.).

And like bellydoc also said, regardless of where the weapon is within the vehicle, immediately advise any LEO of its whereabouts. Not just a courtesy, but an extremely important safety issue for both the officer and you. Cops don't like surprises, even if they're unintentional.

Regarding specific firearms, if you're brand new to the world of handguns, I would select something that is not just reliable, but simple to use for both you and your wife. I know you'll be getting a lot of recommendations for high-capacity / large caliber tactical-like semi-automatics from the members of the Forum within this thread . . . . which is great if you're comfortable with the complexity of usage that accompanies such weapons. However, I would recommend a quality .38 / .357 revolver made by a reputable company such as Smith & Wesson or Taurus. Easy to load, easy to unload, simple to shoot, and virtually never jams.

Anyway, approach all of this with much forethought before making any final decisions. Firearms aren't for everyone, nor is that anything to be embarrassed about. But, do whatever you need to do to protect yourself and your family. This world ain't the safe little place it used to be.

***LandCruiserSteve*** · 08-12-2007, 07:02 AM

A post-script to my above reply:

Another thing you'll want to consider if you're connoying in the outback with other vehicles and off-roaders is, find out who else is also carrying a firearm within the group. (Trust me, it won't always be that obvious.)

Knowing who your fellow armed travelers are is very important in the event that you do encounter a conflict out in the middle of nowhere. And, it doesn't hurt to lay down some simple tactical plans with such persons should the need arise to put such plans into effect.

Plus, knowing who else has a firearm will also add to the safety element where your kids are concerned (should they happen to stroll near or about another person's "armed" vehicle).