WALMART and Safety personal experience

[Dragginourbedaround]

Recently while driving back to FL from Salisbury, MA because of a family emergency we had the dreaded knock on the door at 2 in the morning. Only it wasn't a knock it was a pounding. We were at the MGM Casino at National Harbor MD. He was a big guy standing all alone. I do have a pistol, but normally wouldn't bring it out unless there was an emergency (lucky decision on my part my DW and I both have concealed carry permits from FL and they are not recognized in MD). A moment later a MD state trooper stepped into view. The big guy was casino security (no uniform) telling me we couldn't overnight there. I explained we had permission from another security guard at 9 pm and we had been playing and drinking in the casino. He called the hotel and verified that information and left us alone and I could hear him pounding on door of the 18 wheeler near us. First time in four years that we ever had a problem dry camping anywhere.

[kdbgoat]

  I would not open the door but may display the pistol in the window next to the door.

I'm a firm believer that if the pistol comes out, it won't be for show. If the situation has progressed that far, someone will be getting a double tap. That's just me though, other's may have a different opinion. Displaying the pistol in a window next to the door won't help much if the other person is armed. The doors and walls of an RV will slow down a bullet from them, but I wouldn't depend on it stopping the bullet.

[BIG JOE]

I'm a firm believer that if the pistol comes out, it won't be for show. If the situation has progressed that far, someone will be getting a double tap. That's just me though, other's may have a different opinion. Displaying the pistol in a window next to the door won't help much if the other person is armed. The doors and walls of an RV will slow down a bullet from them, but I wouldn't depend on it stopping the bullet.

X2

In the CCWP class, they kept Stressing..

Do Not Display Your Weapon Unless You Have Been Committed To Use, Or Fire It.

I once pulled an embedded BB out of our Fiberglass Boat (shot to low at a Crow), so I don't think an RV wall would stop anything, either.

[JFN]

I have pepper spray over the door, one item of concern is my door window is frosted can't see in or out, thinking of changing it, Thoughts? Have not had a problem to date.

[Oldgator73]

I guess I'm just gonna die since we don't carry a gun or pepper spray. Must be something I could use as a weapon. Be my luck the intruder would close the assist handle and we would be stuck in the RV until help came.

[kdbgoat]

Be my luck the intruder would close the assist handle and we would be stuck in the RV until help came.

I almost did that to Deb one morning when I left for work. I'm sure you figured out enough about her, that you know that wouldn't have gone over very well.

[Oldgator73]

I almost did that to Deb one morning when I left for work. I'm sure you figured out enough about her, that you know that wouldn't have gone over very well.

I was just looking at Pinterest and there was a pin there that showed how to fix that problem. Maybe I should post that here.

[mel s]

I have pepper spray over the door, one item of concern is my door window is frosted can't see in or out, thinking of changing it, Thoughts? Have not had a problem to date.

JFN
In 2005 I ordered a pane of tinted tempered glass to match the windows in my coach and replaced the frosted glass in my entry door...(but not because I had a problem).

[aguablanco]

around here,.... the 24 hour Walmarts have become magnets for homeless people living in their cars out in the busy parking lots.
 
They often stand out in front with small children and panhandle money,  They eat at the McDonald's and use the restrooms to take "Bird baths" in.

 It hurts me to see children and families living like this ...  and for that reason I don't patronize Walmart. 

 

200mb

Those people are probably Wally's  employees.
RichH

[Bill N]

200mb

Those people are probably Wally's  employees.
RichH

You and Tony DTorch seem to have a pretty broad brush you got there buddy.  I have over 11 Walmarts within 25 miles of my home and never seen any like you describe.  Their security people are pretty good about keeping that stuff minimized. Plus you seem pretty quick saying that Walmart employees are the ones being described.  Easy to criticize.  Must be one of those RV owners who think they are better than the working man.

[TonyDtorch]

there is a big difference in Walmarts here in Ca...

the Walmart I went to in Laguna Hills,  was different than the Walmart I saw in Inglewood.

and you can't boon-dock in the Laguna Hills one.

[BIG JOE]

there is a big difference in Walmarts here in Ca...

the Walmart I went to in Laguna Hills,  was different than the Walmart I saw in Inglewood.

and you can't boon-dock in the Laguna Hills one.

Agreed.

Most all of the Big Box stores and Shopping Centers here in the I-5/SR99 North/South corridor.. No Problem with Overnighters.

ALL the ones along any part of the Central Coast (SR 1 & 101).. anywhere near the Beaches.. are ALL posted: No Overnight Camping, or No Camping. Rightly So (?).. their parking lots would be FULL of campers skipping any camping fee's ? City revenue's too ?

On Edit: Anywhere NEAR a Beach area (say 10 miles).. even a Wide Spot in a road will have a sign saying: No Camping. 

[NewmanRacing]

there is a big difference in Walmarts here in Ca...

the Walmart I went to in Laguna Hills,  was different than the Walmart I saw in Inglewood.

and you can't boon-dock in the Laguna Hills one.

Correct me if I am wrong Tony, as I remember it, you can not get a big rig into the Laguna Hills parking lot! Entrance too steep and twisty!

[NewmanRacing]

  But spoiled suburban kids...they just want to see the world burn because that's how bored and narcissistic they are.

Off topic but this reminds me...

In the mid 1990's I had an old 1976 class C that I took my kids camping in regularly. I managed and resided at a very high end apartment complex in a very well to do town. I had a great storage spot for my rig by our garages.

It was New Years Eve, 1999. I rung in the New Year with my kiddies and we all went to sleep. Shortly thereafter I heard a loud knock on my apartment door. It was the fire department notifying me that a vehicle was burning on my property. I threw on my carhart coverall, ran outside and discovered it was my beloved motorhome burning.

Unfortunately the fire department put it out and did not let it burn to the ground. No one would tow it to scrap in its maimed condition. I had to personally demo the thing down to a flatbed truck to dispose of it. Some of the most distasteful distressful work I have ever done (and I have done alot of dirty jobs!)

Upon investigation, a side window was broken out and an incendiary device tossed into my rig. Local spoiled rotten kids attempting to entertain themselves on New Years Eve.

[TonyDtorch]

Correct me if I am wrong Tony, as I remember it, you can not get a big rig into the Laguna Hills parking lot! Entrance too steep and twisty!

Not really, I just take the 405 fwy to Alicia parkway and it's a 4 lane road all the way to the entrance of the Walmart parking lot.