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Knobs

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I wonder if we could actually have THIS discussion...

Probe1957 said:
Curious what you guys do. Do you carry a firearm? If someone attempts to break into your camper while you are inside, do you have a plan?
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Given the plethora of state gun laws (and it some states, county and city gun laws), if you take a firearm with you, what do you take?

I expect a shotgun is legal nearly everywhere, but there are many different laws regarding transport even so.

While it may be legal, a shotgun is a bit unwieldy in the close quarters of an RV.

Thin walls, people sleeping just about every direction you can point in a family RV, neighbors within just a few feet, how do you even safely use a firearm for protection?

(Please leave the general 2nd amendment and gun violence debate in the other thread, if you please.)
 
I hope we can have this discussion because I would like to go East this next year and I am literally afraid to try to cross New York and New Jersey given their past treatment of situations. I will not go into those situations because I would like to hear what others have to say.

Most don't know it, but the US used to have what was called "Peaceable Transit" understanding. Such that if what you were carrying was legal and carried in legal manner, no transiting state would bring changes just for the possession.

Please, join in if you choose to share.

Matt
 
Matt_C said:
I hope we can have this discussion because I would like to go East this next year and I am literally afraid to try to cross New York and New Jersey given their past treatment of situations. I will not go into those situations because I would like to hear what others have to say.

Most don't know it, but the US used to have what was called "Peaceable Transit" understanding. Such that if what you were carrying was legal and carried in legal manner, no transiting state would bring changes just for the possession.

Please, join in if you choose to share.

Matt
Click to expand...
Are you saying you are afraid to cross NY and NJ because you want to carry a gun(s) but the laws are not on your side. If it’s because you think NY and NJ are dangerous all I can say is my wife and I have visited both states on many occasions and have never been met with any violence.
 
Because many gun laws are state-by-state, you need to research for all the states/countries you intend to travel in, if you carry firearms. I think that's the only answer and personally I wouldn't trust such advice given by someone on a message board. I'd want to see empirical proof in actual law or an authoritative agency describing the rules. Most states have this published online. You need to understand how Conceal Carry, Castle Doctrine, Stand your ground laws apply to life in an RV and on (or with) your person while you transport...and if any permit reciprocity exists with any permits you may already have.

Using a firearm involves making a lot of choices. I agree that it would be generally "unsafe" for any neighbors if a situation presented itself where someone was shooting to defend a life from inside an RV.
 
Matt_C said:
I hope we can have this discussion because I would like to go East this next year and I am literally afraid to try to cross New York and New Jersey given their past treatment of situations. I will not go into those situations because I would like to hear what others have to say.

Most don't know it, but the US used to have what was called "Peaceable Transit" understanding. Such that if what you were carrying was legal and carried in legal manner, no transiting state would bring changes just for the possession.

Please, join in if you choose to share.

Matt
Click to expand...
Even if all you are doing is transiting the state, New Jersey, in particular, is problematic.

I always check the gun laws in any state I am travelling through, and especially in any state I am planning on spending time in.

Yes, there is a Federal law that you can transport firearms across state lines so long as it is unloaded, secured, and legal to possess in your origin state and your destination state. That, however, has not stopped NJ from arresting gun owners who were transiting the state and found themselves forced to spend the night in the state. Stuff happens that can result in an unplanned stayover in the state. Like the airline passenger who had to deal with a late flight in the linked example, you can have accidents or break-downs that force an unplanned stay.

I also don't trust all LEOs I might come in contact with, from county sheriffs to small town police, to understand what is legal WRT firearms for out of state travelers.
 
SpencerPJ said:
I have a 9mm at all times. I'd rather hire a lawyer vs others hiring my grave digger.
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Even a lawyer won't do you much good if you break the gun laws in some states. You will go to jail, the lawyer will just take your money and maybe help get a shorter sentence. That said...

I see many high end Class A RVs with small safes built into the back wall. That would be the best place to store a handgun, IMO.

The NRA has information on state laws and traveling. On one hand, I imagine that the information is slanted toward gun owners. On the other, I expect it to be pretty accurate as they don't want their members running into trouble based on their faulty information. NRA-ILA | Gun Laws

I wonder how many actual times an RVer has needed to use a firearm for protection. Does anyone have any data or even know of instances?
 
Octodad said:
Even a lawyer won't do you much good if you break the gun laws in some states. You will go to jail, the lawyer will just take your money and maybe help get a shorter sentence. That said...

I see many high end Class A RVs with small safes built into the back wall. That would be the best place to store a handgun, IMO.

The NRA has information on state laws and traveling. On one hand, I imagine that the information is slanted toward gun owners. On the other, I expect it to be pretty accurate as they don't want their members running into trouble based on their faulty information. NRA-ILA | Gun Laws

I wonder how many actual times an RVer has needed to use a firearm for protection. Does anyone have any data or even know of instances?
Click to expand...
Agreed, at least I'm alive. If you were in your RV and someone broke into your RV, came inside to cause you or your wife harm, in say, (one of the states we are questioning), would you sit idle?
Thankful where I camp in the Midwest, not in a million years could I imagine that happening, but creepers and the likes do tend to stay off grid.
 
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I was travelling cross country years ago, stopped in a truck stop and took a break in my pickup camper. After a while heard someone try the driver door handle. Probably just an opportunity thief testing doors in the parking lot. I had my 357 handy, and I yelled out "Can I help you?" and whoever it was decided not to stick around. That's the closest I've ever come to defending myself, thankfully never even took it out but it demonstrated it could be anytime, anywhere. From then on I've never much worried about gun laws, the people that would do me harm don't observe them either. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Even doing everything by the book you're subject to a host of criminal and civil jeopardy the minute anything goes south, not sure what the point of even trying would be. Being around to deal with it after the fact I think is a better option than not. As my buddy Frank the Ex Con (state pen/armed bank robbery) used to say, would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

I don't have a lot of RV travel experience but at least the places I've been there have been little to zero potential threats much less any that rise to lethal force. I am more concerned about the ne'er do wells in the city I live in than any campground, rest stop or RV park I've stayed.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
 
I regularly update my copy of:

2022 Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States​

I am also an advocate of "don't ask, and don't tell" policy. As a life long firearms owner and an RV owner, I strongly suggest that if you have a gun that is primarily for your protection it should be a shotgun. To stay proficient with a handgun you should fire at least 100 practice rounds per quarter and per month would be a lot better. A shotgun is not going to shoot through your neighbor's RV walls like most pistols and it requires less practice to be effective but you do still need to practice regularly. If I were to have a firearm in my RV when traveling, it would probably be chambered for 410 and look something like this one.
1672871268042.jpeg
 
Kirk said:
I am also an advocate of "don't ask, and don't tell" policy. As a life long firearms owner and an RV owner, I strongly suggest that if you have a gun that is primarily for your protection it should be a shotgun.
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I think the shotgun is best as well, a nice legal 18 1/4" barrel as well, that's what is in the bedroom closet at home. It's just a tad bulky to have in a travel trailer for me.
 
SpencerPJ said:
Agreed, at least I'm alive. If you were in your RV and someone broke into your RV, came inside to cause you or your wife harm, in say, (one of the states we are questioning), would you sit idle?
Thankful where I camp in the Midwest, not in a million years could I imagine that happening, but creepers and the likes do tend to stay off grid.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't sit idle, but depending on the situation I would always be very hesitant to shoot someone if I had a gun. If I didn't have a gun, I guess I would try to do something else, though speculating on it could include all sorts of possibilities.

I agree, it seems that the super creeps aren't staying at the Waldorf.
 
OK, to get back to the original poster's question:

"...Do you carry a firearm? If someone attempts to break into your camper while you are inside, do you have a plan?"

Yes, we carry firearms in our camper (fifth wheel). When traveling through states with repository with Indiana, we carry them in our vehicle and concealed when out and about.. In states that do not have repository with Indiana, we carry them inside the camper and leave them tucked inside the camper when out and about. In short, we avoid actually "camping" or any "overnighting" in any state that does not have repository with Indiana. It's just that simple (That is plan #1) ... no repository, we avoid that state. It hasn't hurt us a bit.

Second, I carry a 20 gage shot gun that hold 5 rounds and one in the chamber. It's not loaded, but sits beside the bed (at home and in the camper). It's old school, it doesn't even have a serial number, and makes that click-click sound. I actually got it for the click-click sound, hoping that the "click-click" will be all it ever takes to shoo someone away. I have no intention of actually pulling the trigger. (Plan #2) Beside the bed, not loaded, don't fire, hope the sound alone is enough to scare someone off.

(Plan #3). Shells are always within reach and I can load the shot gun in complete darkness. I practice shooting after dark (at home). So, IF an intruder makes it to the bed room, I can load a shell, pretty fast. Then the click-click is for real.

(Plan #4) It makes no sense to own a weapon of any kind if you don't have the intention of actually using it, if you really need to. The same is true with my shot gun. Yes, if the intruder will not stop, inside my home or inside my camper, I have no qualms pulling the trigger after giving them ample warning. Suffice to say.... I served in the military. I have no qualms pulling the trigger for defense.

I also have a Walter's 9 mm with 3 fifteen clip magazines hanging beside my bed (at home and in the camper). I like the shot gun better. If I pull that trigger, something is getting hit. It might be half the side of the trailer blown out, but something will hit the intruder. Besides, shot guns have a much shorter range than the 9 mm. The 9 mm could penetrate the wall, penetrate the walls of half a dozen more camper half a mile down the road. (Too risky if I were to miss the intruder). BUT, if it's my life or his ... I'm shooting!

The "plan"??? the plan is to NEVER have to use either weapon for self defense. The "plan" is to scare someone off before an altercation actually occurs. The "plan" is to stay alive.
 
Oldgator73 said:
Are you saying you are afraid to cross NY and NJ because you want to carry a gun(s) but the laws are not on your side. If it’s because you think NY and NJ are dangerous all I can say is my wife and I have visited both states on many occasions and have never been met with any violence.
Click to expand...
I spent a lot of my younger life in NJ and NY, I know where to go to stay safe, but the events of both states that put great jeopardy to the lives of good people were terrifying. Even secured and unloaded is no longer a defense.
One was a historic cap and ball pistol that the owner did not even own the material to charge it. He still faced heavy fines and expensive court time just to keep the relic.
If you read the available stories, they are really scary.
Those state are not alone. In Michigan if you use bug spray for self defense, it is a chargeable offense.
Matt
 
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