Guns on Vacation?

[Melensdad]

Just came back from a week in Florida. My carry license is honored in every state that I traveled through (we drove) so I borrowed a Glock from Dargo and had it in the car for the journey. When I fly to a destination I rarely carry a gun with me unless I plan to shoot when I get to my destination (btw, lots of good shooting places around Atlanta) but when I drive I tend to have a handgun handy just in case we get caught with a breakdown in a remote or bad area and encounter the local ne're do-'ells. Its never happened, never been needed, but then again I've never needed to use the fire insurance policy I keep for my home. I figure better safe than sorry.

Do any of you folks, when you travel on a family vacation, take a gun for defensive use?

* Darn the luck, but all my guns were lost in a tragic boating accident in the middle of Lake Michigan this past summer so I had to borrow one for travel purposes . . . that is my story and I'm sticking to it.​

 

[Big Dog]

Yep, I'll even go so far as plan the trip through states that honor my license/permits. Sometimes it is not possible and then you go through the BS of securing while in a communist state. I always have a firearm within reach when lawful, every law abiding citizen should!

 

[Tractors4u]

Did you come through Alabama, down I-65 by chance?

 

[Melensdad]

Did you come through Alabama, down I-65 by chance?

Nope. Through Georgia.

I-65 south through Indiana & Kentucky then picked up 24 took it to I-75 and took that from Chatanooga through Georgia and into Florida.

 

[Tractors4u]

I was going to say that I am 7 miles from I-65 and would have been disappointed to find out you were so close and we didn't get to meet.

 

[Melensdad]

I was going to say that I am 7 miles from I-65 and would have been disappointed to find out you were so close and we didn't get to meet.

I actually USED to get to Alabama on a pretty regular basis but haven't been there in a couple years. I've got some good friends in Birmingham.

 

[Tractors4u]

B-ham is where my current Guard assignment has me one weekend a month. But not this month because I am going to balmy Wisconson.

 

[Av8r3400]

 

[Melensdad]

. . . I am going to balmy Wisconson.

If you are driving are you coming through the greater Chicago area? I'd be happy to meet up with you if that is a possibility. DaveNay and Sushi both live nearby Chicago too.

 

[Tractors4u]

I am flying in on Sunday and arrive at O'Hare at 11:50 and depart at 1:05. Of course I have a 4 hour lay over at O'Hare on the way back on the 24th! 4 hours!!!

 

[Hutchman]

Hey Bob, you should have honked when you passed the overpass at the 17 mile marker in KY on I-65 just south of Bowling Green. My house is right there.
I've carried for many years while traveling. I get somewhat nervous when driving through Illinois to relatives in the St. Louis area however. Of course, the fastest way to get to St. Louis from here is across IL on I-64 which puts one in the state for quite a while. One recent coworker actually goes considerably out of his way over to Paducah, and crosses into Missouri at Cairo, IL just so he can spend as little time as possible in the Gestapo state.
Hutch

 

[Bamby]

I've never carried myself but there's been a lot of occasions I sure wish I'd had. We often wing it traveling. And when we go our dog always goes with us. And because of that we've ended up in more than one fleabitten motel.

 

[Erik]

generally do - although it has to be locked up and unloaded when going to Mn to see Mom, because there's no way to get there without going through a no-carry state. (despite the fact that Mn is a reciprocal state for me)

 

[Melensdad]

I've never carried myself but there's been a lot of occasions I sure wish I'd had. We often wing it traveling. And when we go our dog always goes with us. And because of that we've ended up in more than one fleabitten motel.

Well those hotels are one of the best reason to travel with a gun and you don't even need a carry license to have a gun in a hotel room, even in an anti-gun state. As long as you travel with the gun unloaded/secured, when you get to the hotel you are legally allowed to load the gun and have it handy in your room. That is one reason I find semi-autos so attractive, for transport just drop the magazine but when you get to the hotel you slip the magazine in.

generally do - although it has to be locked up and unloaded when going to Mn to see Mom, because there's no way to get there without going through a no-carry state.

Well the federal safe journey laws allow transport through no-carry or no-reciprocity states, the only difference is the gun must be locked/unloaded out of the passenger compartment. Not a big deal while driving, rarely do you have to shoot out the window unless you're a gang banger.

Hey Bob, you should have honked when you passed the overpass at the 17 mile marker in KY on I-65 just south of Bowling Green. My house is right there.

NEXT TIME! Actually on our return trip we usually stop for the night just north of Bowling Green. I always look forward to getting up to Bowling Green because I know that we will be stopping for dinner and some rest soon!