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Traveling with Protection
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No matter how friendly our Canadian Friends who winter in Arizona I have told them I will not be visiting them in Canada. Thanks but no thanks. I don’t need to be treated like the Taliban and still spend my money in Canada. I have had two no gun related visits to Canada for business and both times they treated me like I should be thanking them for letting me come to their Country and spend money. I will stay in the United States, the greatest Country in the World and spend my money here. Oh Canada, no. Michael
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Just a couple of points to consider, based on my 35 or so years in law enforcement, most of which was Warden at a maximum security penitentiary. First and maybe most important is the realization that we may be seen as a good target because we are traveling in a Prevost, which means the bad guys think we are rich and we probably travel with a fair amount of cash. Many of us are no longer spring chickens, unable to defend ourselves using physical force. Next point, we are relatively safe as long ares we remain in our coaches. We are most vulnerable anytime we exit and enter our coaches, particularly at rest areas, fuel stations and Walmart parking lots. I almost always feel safe at campgrounds where the crime rate is next to nothing, except for an occasional theft or domestic violence incident. Whether or not you choose to arm, you still need to develop what we call in law enforcement “situational awarness”. This means to constantly look for and be aware of potential threats and act accordingly.
Be warned, you may not be safe at rest areas and parking lots, even in broad daylight. Case in point, several years ago I stopped at a rest area near Memphis and noticed several MS 13 gang members hanging around the common area, looking for an easy target. How do I know? I can spot one a mile away from my experience in prison. They are really bad dudes even in prison.
What can you do? First develop a sense of situational awarness. Stay in your coach if you feel uneasy. Carry a firearm if you choose, but only if you are willing to train to maintain proficiency. Consider purchasing police grade pepper spray.
I carry a firearm at all times. I do this for my protection and I will protect you as well if I am near by and your life is in danger. There are many other good guys that would do the same.
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Andy,
If you are entering and leaving Canada at the same point, you can stop by a gun shop on the U.S. side and ask them to do a “Cleaning” of your gun(s) and hold them for your return. Numerous gun shops near the Canadian border will do this for the ‘cleaning’ fee. If you come out at a different area, they can ship your firearm to a FFL dealer near your home, or to a FFL dealer close to your exit point. The border gun shops have started a cottage industry of doing this.
You just have to ask the individual gun shops if they will ‘clean’ your weapons.
Fred
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Great tip 3F!
Its important to make sure your weapon is always clean.
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Hi there,
Ref the article on ‘no go’ areas in the UK as per the article referenced by Micheal. Not true. These articles appear from time to time in the US conservative press and it is just hype. I live in Preston and my daughter lives in London and we can both catagorically say that both cities are no worse any any other city. Sure you don’t advertise yourself as an easy target to an opportunist mugger, but regarding the police needing permission to patrol? A bunch of crap.
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We crossed into Albert from MT earlier today. It went like this.
“I’ll make this short. What’s the plate number on the bus”? I told him.
“Are your carrying any firearms”? I said ‘”no”.
“How many people are in the bus”? I said “two”.
“Where are you going”? I told him.
“Are you leaving anything in Canada”? I said “no”
“Do you have any ……….”? he cited a long list of weapons (note: second weapon request) . “If you do you need to tell me now”
I said “no”.
“Enjoy your trip”
We’ve crossed into Canada many times for many years and have never had a problem. Look ’em straight in the eye, no sunglasses, and never lie.
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“Do you have any weapons?”
I’d have to look them right in the eye and lie.
I ain’t going to Canada.
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FFF – that is what I was considering but what about the amo? Can I have them clean my amo – LOL?
Philip,
That is great advice and that situational awareness is typically not somethong that is easy to learn. I grew up in Los Angeles and was around gangs enough growing up that I can usually spot trouble. They were as common prarie dogs in North Dakota. So I know what you mean but I have been with persons that did not notice them until I pointed them out and still some could not tell why I felt the way I did. Once you felt it, it is ingrained and you know it when the hair in the back of your neck stands up.
I have a black belt and have trained officers, that will be going under cover, in self defense and I am still in relatively good shape becasue I train to compete in triathlons at the 1/2 Ironman distance but I am no where near as profiecient in self defense as I once was. We are certainly not as young as we once were. Since we plan on boondocking quite a bit, I do have concerns about being targeted becasue we have a Prevost and it is the primary reason for obtaining a firearm. Fortunately, there are no where near as many instances of violence that I could find regarding boondocking whereas there are many regarding rest areas.
It will be an adventure.
BTW, for whatever it is worth, I have close friends from England and they also say that the police warnings cited are just not true.
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I would think if you carried ammo into Canada, they would strip your bus looking for the firing mechanism (gun). I do not know of, and have not heard of anyone leaving ammo with a FFL dealer.
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Thanks Fred. I would expect the same thing if they found amo in the bus. I’ll make some calls and report back.
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On one side we have Glens thumping his chest and stating he ain’t going to Canada because he cannot bring his guns and on the other hand we have people trying to figure out how to circumvent their laws.
Why not leave the guns at home and go to enjoy Canada and all it has to offer. Which is a lot.
Besides, you do not need guns in Canada. It is a hell of a lot more safe than the US of A.
I do have family in Canada and so I am going there frequently. I have never, ever had a problem at the border crossing into Canada.
I do shut off the engine, I do answer their questions, I do not comment nor argue, and on my way I am.
Try that.
Cheers,
Ronald -
Ronald, I completely agree with your statements but in mind that my motorhome will be my home. Therefore, in order for me to enter Canada legally I need to park my personal protection (and amo) somewhere else.
I’m still amazed sometimes on how we tend to focus on differences instead of the positive and common aspects of our bretheren. We are just to quick to forget things like who is always at our side when we go to war. There has never been a question that the Canadians or the English will have our back. It does not bother me in the least that they have different laws and views. As a matter of fact, if they were just like the US there would be less reason to go visit. We should embrace differences simply becasue we may actually learn something just as much as they can probably learn from us.
We may live in the greatest country but we do not live in utopia. If we did, we would not feel the need personal protection.
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One of the reasons the crime rate in Switzerland is low despite the prevalence of weapons — and also why the Swiss mentality can’t be transposed to the current American reality — is the culture of responsibility and safety that is anchored in society and passed from generation to generation. Kids as young as 12 belong to gun groups in their local communities, where they learn sharpshooting. The Swiss Shooting Sports Association runs about 3,000 clubs and has 150,000 members, including a youth section. Many members keep their guns and ammunition at home, while others choose to leave them at the club. And yet, despite such easy access to pistols and rifles, “no members have ever used their guns for criminal purposes,” says Max Flueckiger, the association’s spokesperson.
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I’ve had a right to carry way before it was fashionable to do so and I’m happy to say I’ve never had to pull it much less use it. Like others have said, you have to be aware and don’t go places and/or do things that attract attention. Like waking out of a store counting money, or talking and gawking and not paying attention. More than once I’ve chosen a different exit from a grocery store based on what I saw outside. I’ll take a few more steps to eliminate a potential problem anytime!
I will always try humor first and if that doesn’t work I revert to Ranger training and third with a gun. I guess its been three years now when my wife and I were visiting my our daughter in Tamps. We were walking up to our favorite Mexican restaurant when two guys came out, noticed I was wearing an NRA hat and nocked it off my head along with some interesting language. I don’t know what made me madder, nocking the hat off my head or subjecting my daughter and grandkids to the violence and language of the act? It was not a gun issue and as stated earlier, there are different ways to handle different situations. He did pick up the hat however!
A gun and knowing how to use it along with a working knowledge of the laws of the land all help in using self protection that can work for all of us!
Just my thoughts,
Harry
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that I am not against using guns in a controlled environment by trained people.
This one was the result of me shooting a Glock. I can do likewise or better with an AR15 …. 🙂
Sometimes, for fun or for a recommendation, I put this in the window of the drivers door when we are parked.
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