Does anyone carry a gun on the trail?

“That's right Buddur. People are hung up on guns. Guns don't kill, bullets kill or more specifically the big hole the bullet leaves behind.

No, I don't carry a gun on the trail, but I do carry a pocket full of bullets.”

“Rad, I'd be interested in hearing some of the religious views held by your dog. I also wonder if she brings pot into the back country.”

“ken, she's a jehovah's witness and a heroin dealer. she's totally anti-weed. competition, ya know.”

“Briar Rabbit, You know, I'm not actually that afraid of you or other responsible gun owners. The problem lies in the fact that for every responsible pereson theres about 10 idiots who whould make some fool mistake. You may think a gun adds some form of security while backpacking, I only see it as false security. You do not need a gun to be safe while backpacking.

And yes fear and paranoia are good instincts, I was only confused by the following post you made. I don't quite understand, you did write the following didn't you?

"Thin air your ignorance is gleaming with that space suit comment. Get a clue will ya. Fear and paranoia have nothing to do with why one chooses to carry in to the woods. That is a poor assumption on your part."

Then you tell me that they are the reasons.
Make up your mind will ya?”

“If the question were dogs or guns, I would take the guns. Dogs are a real pain.”

“Well for a starter Thinair, my mind is already made up, Not set in stone mind you, one can't become to narrow minded in their thoughts because that inhibits growth of ones being. I understand your fear, it is you that is having the problem of understanding why someone chooses to carry. No one likes to have their judgement questioned, but we all do it anyways what needs to be learned is respect of that person judgement.

I really don't know what you are wanting to achieve here. Humans have no instincts like other animals have, we have cognitive thought, ability to reason etc.. So you will have to try to label fear and paranioa something else. Maybe commmon sense, hey but that is arguable as well.

But you do admit that you have some reservation about guns and their owners. So a few bad apples will ruin the bushel for you I take it. I suspect you don't have those same reservation about the auto that you drive either. Alot of bad drivers on the roads. But that doesn't stop you from participating in that activity does it? Dare I bring in a race card, one black criminal does not make all blacks criminal and the same for whites. So it is just that one problem that is holding you back. That one good for every 10 bad is enough to ruin it for you. Is that proven or just opinionated.

And the crack about the space suit that you pack was just plain corny bro'. Was that your arguement? Comparing and contrasting a space suit to a gun when walking on the trail? Are you that fearful that the atmosphere will leave? Maybe it is time to change the water in the bong. Hey but if you do actually pack that space suit I guess you best invest in some gravity boots(?) and lots of oxygen because you will be breathing and blowing more than THINAIR.”

“Well as long as you don't hurt anyong I guess I'll let you have your security blanket back.”

“I Am The NRA.

I think the official cause of death due to a gunshot is termed
"High Speed Lead Poisoning".

What I implied earlier was that exposing oneself - or others - to a potentially dangerous situation is in and of itself an act of irresponsibility - if ya wanna get down right technical about it. The woods are inherently dangerous - bears or no bears. If one is genuinely concerned for the safety of their loved ones, the backcountry, period, is no place to be. But that's never stopped me. I solo - nuff said.

I believe the introduction of a firearm into the mix compounds the danger. I have no documentation, but strongly suspect that research would prove that many many more people are injured by firearms in the backcountry than by bears (or lions) - similar to the stats relating to injuries vs. intruder stoppages in the home (the guns for protection argument).

My dad raised a passle of responsible, toe-headed, gun totin' boys. We practiced all the standard gun safety techniques - at home, in the vehicle, and in the field. When you're hunting and target shooting, you're REALLY focused on the weapon - it's an impendage. When you're backpacking, you're (hopefully) focused on the environment. As hard as you may try, you will not maintain a 24/7 focus on your weapon. That's when things ( way too numerous to mention here) can potentially get reeel ugly.

Packing a gun for safety purposes is an oxymoron.
So please, brother and sister NRA'er, don't bother me with that perforated argument.

My hunting buddies scratch their heads at my mention of "walking in the woods for the sake of walking in the woods"... they don't get it - especially when I respond in the negative to their "pack-or-no-pack heat?" inquiry. When I hike, I hike. When I hunt, I hunt (and mebbe hike a little - I love stalking [or "still" hunting]).

I'm serious, folks. If you honestly believe (and some of you do) that having a gun in the backcountry is a turn down the road to safety, you're wrong.

Come clean - it "turns you on". Am I right?”

“Why are you so angry anyway. I just think guns should stay at home and people shouldn't worry enough to bring one either. The wilderness is not that hostile. The biggest danger out there is hypothermia, it kills more backpackers then any bears. Why not worry about that a little more, and leave those scarry bears alone.

And the spacesuit coment was sarcastic, sheeeeeeesh I guess I have to explane everything.”

“Cal -
I know "you can" - for the time being, anyway. The rising tide of the antigun lobby is what prompted me to join the NRA.

I do not have a problem with peeps a'packin' heat - It just behooves me to hear that they do it for the sake of "safety".

Who was that that mentioned me going "down the left side of the mountain"? Implying that I'm a liberal? LOL!

Oh yeah - bears and dogs.
No one can predict how any one bear will react to an "attacking" dog. I had a long conversation with a bear hunter on the ECT Nannahala trip last fall. I picked his brain mostly due to the fact that I pack with a dog nowadays. Anyhoo, he said that you never know how a bear will react to the dog(s). Sometimes a single dog might tree a bear right off the bat. The next bear may stand and go paw to snout with a 10 dog pack.”

“I don't believe in taking guns away from everybody, just the idiots and criminals. Maybe a gun permt should require an idiot test as well as a background check.”

“I love a trail, to stalk out, or run down a track
and it`s none of your business if I do or don`t pack
and it makes me sick, to hear you piss and moan
worry about yourself and just leave me the Hell alone
because it should matter little to you if others don`t pack, or if they do
if I see a bear at your throat, maybe I`ll just think about getting it off of you
now, you know with this, I was only just kiddin`
and it`s none of your business, if I keep it hidden
so, with that said, I guess I`m through
I`ll get down and give the soap box to you”

“Remember now, I said I was kidding and I just wanted to play
but, if that`s not enough for you, then just bash away
it`s the way I think, but that doesn`t make it ture
and each to their own so, I guess it`s up to you”

“gojo,

That would have been me, making the wise crack about you and thin air falling off the left side of the mountain.

Like I stated earlier, you have some very valid points, and I will add that I respect your views. I try to stay open minded, at least to the point of valuing the ideas of others.

I have been coming to this site and reading TT threads for the past several months, never getting involved thou, (stalkin) A regular said I should start participating more so I could get to know some of the regs.

Off to a great start!”

“That?s a great idea Deadmarcher. If we outlaw guns all the criminals will go down to the police station and turn in their guns. Lets do it.

Face it, our week spine government does not enforce the laws already on the books. How will another one help? Want to put more cops on the street? Close the donut shops. (Before I get to much heat I know some cops are great. One of them flies me into the back country in his plane. It is the leadership I really blame.) Politicians play this game I hate. They pass a law to please one group then refuse to enforce it to keep the other side happy. You said ?gridlock? was a bad thing.”

“(should be)
Who said ?gridlock? was a bad thing?”

“Gojo, I'll come clean. I'll agree to a little bit of turn on, power, etc.

Anybody see that dateline, episode where they told the kids how bad guns were? moments later they left the room with guns hidden in toy box and loaded with dummy bullets.

In a matter of minutes the kids had them out and were play shooting each other.

Pretty darn scary.

Gojo's mention of a gun being a turn on reminded me of this”

“stalker,

You present yourself as a firearms expert. What exactly is your training/experience with handguns?

Have you ever been challenged to a duel?”

“Guns are for sissys. I carry grenades. They're excellent for fishing in lakes. You can take out a pack of coyotes, a herd of deer or a truckload of ne'er do wells in one well placed throw. Toss one into a nice old growth stand for a pile of firewood. Then, they make for an exciting game of hot potato around the campfire, especially when the pin has been pulled. If anyone gives you any guff, just whip one out. You get instant results.”

“Rosymonster, it's people like you that are going to riuin my right to own and carry my grenades wherever I want.

I personally always carry 2 or 3 grenades on all hiking trips, besides the self defense against bears, hikers, icecream salesmen, and squirls (sorry kleetn) they make excellent fire starter if you bring the proper grenades. Fishing is sort of good, but contrary to popoular belief, there is skill involved.

I truly belive you would all benifit from grenade usage in the back country with proper training.”

“A little Willy pete works wonders as a fire starter. I actually prefer claymors to grenades. You get more bang for the buck. Makes great traps to protect your food bags.”

“I find claymores are really only good for car camping.
You can do just as well, heck actually a little better with a frag and some tripwire. It is really so much easier than rigging a mechanical ambush with the claymore.

WP is nice, but if you can get som magnesium trip flares, they do really well. And about three of them weigh as much as one AN/THC-3.”

“bacpac

I?m not trying to present myself as an expert. Just if you are going to carry or own a firearm, please act responsible. And if thats the case, then I don't see anything wrong with pack'in heat.

As far as my experience , I have to pass a firearms qualifications course and a training course yearly for my employment. I have also attended several weapons courses including a tactical firearms course.

As for the duel, no I have not been challenged to one. Although I have been out and out threaten to be shot, does that count. Is this an invitation? Sounds interesting. I would think 10 paces in space suits armed with thermarest wrapped hiking poles. I can picture it.”

“bacpac,

I was in neck of the woods last week. Well in your state anyway. A week ago last Sunday I went down to Fort Smith Lake and picked up the Ozark Highland Trail. Had planned on staying out til Wed., but not more than a mile down the trail I pulled something in my back. Only made it a few miles that Sun afternoon, thought Mon my back would be better but after 1.5 miles futher I turned back.

Too many @(*#@ guns, back to heavy.”

“I think I'm going to move to tombstone. It's legal there to carry sixshooters in side holsters.

"do you feel lucky"”

“That was dirty hary”

“Stalker,

I hope you unloaded your arsenal before entering the Lake Fort Smith State Park. Loaded firearms are illegal in all Arkansas State Parks.

You better be locked and loaded by the time you reach the Ozark National Forest though.

See you around.”

“OK!! Has everyone gotten their kicks in!!!! Or do some of your wish to continue beat this dead horse of an issue. I mean every few months this pops up and like the dumb bunny I am, I just can't resist it and continue to feed it.

I heard the best grenades come from Antioch!!”

“are you the carnivorous bunny???

with FIERCE TEETH????”

“What's all this talk about grenades as fire starters? I thought napalm was the way to go. You can even make it home.”

“xxxxxxxxxxx
X R.I.P X
X GUN X
X Tread X
X X
__X_________X___”

“Maybe the problem isn't easy access to guns, but easy access to oxygen. Certain people shouldn't be breathing.”

“What difference does it make if you want to pack a gun or not, who cares? If your packing a gun for bear it better be the right kind and size. Most people couldn`t kill a bear charging with a pistol anyway, better have a rifle. And a dog is going to get killed along with its owner if he mixes it up with any bear. All animals have their own personalities just like people some good some bad. Oh well enough said.”

“It just isn't needed nor is it intellegent.”

“We call those people oxygen thieves in the Army.

Must be true.”

“Deathmarch's instant fire formula:
equal parts finely ground Iron Oxide (rust) and aluminum (aluminium for our British friends) powder. Mix well and place into container. Dig out small well in surface of powder, add magnesium shavings. Place container on fire lay. Light magnesium. Don't touch, sunglasses are adviseable.

Warning: Once reaction starts it cannot be stopped. Water will not work, so don't try.”

“Wind,
There are a few pistols that could take down a bear. Ever heard of an Action Express? It's a .50 hand gun.”

“or a .454 casull....”

“I have been thinkin I need another pistol. Does anyone own a Berretta 9000S?

How smooth is it?”

“A Gun ... NO

... I just carry a noose and my black hood with me ....”

“Waz up Mr. Hangman, welcome.”

“I worry more about the two legged wolves than the four legged ones, but I don't bring a gun. I think things will happen the way there supposed to happen and there's not much you can do about it. If your in the wrong place at the wrong time then that the way it goes.”

“I like to think that I'm ALWAYS in the right place in the backcountry - I just hope it's never at the wrong time...”

“Your right gojo you are in the right place in the backcountry. Far safer than any big city. I think the deeper in the backcountry you are the safer you are. Most criminals and trouble makers are too lazy to venture far from a road.”

“Women are like guns, keep one around long enough and you're going to want to shoot it.”

“I prefer a knife myself. Guns are too noisy!”

“Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville and this is wife killer.”

“Jackass!”

“Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville and this is...me!

”

“Cool! Another gun thread! What a coincidence, I just got a 45 this week! There aren't any bears here so I don't worry bout them. Depending on the circumstance, if I have one hiking, I feel a mouse gun will do.”