Some time before the end of the year we are off on a nice two week vacation in a comfy vacation house near a beautiful Texas river (yes, I'm being vague).
Since I carry constantly and usually have an extra car gun at the same time... I do have some PD armament, but my question for the group is this; Would you bring along more or less what I've already mentioned or would you bring a PD shotgun along as well? I'm not overly paranoid, but it does seem like homes located in rural areas have recently become a better looking target to the bad guys (or maybe there are just more young kids willing to BE bad guys. ) and a shotgun really is a better home defense weapon. My wife thinks I'm being a little nuts. She welcomes the protection factor, but worries we might get ripped off while we're gone during the day.
What do y'all think? Have you ever given this any thought?
While I can certainly appreciate you dilemna, it would depend on how much time you spend away from where you are keeping the weapons. Will you be leaving your campsite/hotel very often? Will you be taking them all along with you everywhere you go? A host of other questions arise.....
Personally, when travelling, I will only have my normal carry weapon. At the most, I would keep a BUG in the glovebox and take it in the room/camp with me. If the kids aren't with me, perhaps a spare mag or two (in addition to my norm) located where they are accessible to me in the car.
Oops...my bad. Missed the part about the vacation house. As long as no one else will be traipsing in and out (cleaning staff and such), carry what you are comfortable with. Just bear in mind that it would be nice if the other half were comfortable as well.
Knowing my wife, having a primary and backup handgun would probably be fine, but bringing the shotgun would be overkill....the only question really is, though, have you trained yourself to reach for the shotgun first, or the handgun in the middle of the night?
lonewolf wrote:
....the only question really is, though, have you trained yourself to reach for the shotgun first, or the handgun in the middle of the night?
Very good question... and to the point. Something to ponder since I am programmed to go for the handgun, with the shotgun(s) being secondary weapons... the shotgun is the wife's at-night-close-by weapon and if she doesn't feel it's needed or want it on the trip... then maybe that's the answer.
Last edited by kirock7 on Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
When travelling - and planning on being away from home for several days, I usually pack a shotgun or carbine along. If staying indoors I usually go with a shotgun. If camping or in a remote cabin I'll take a carbine. Sometimes if we're going to be at the cabin for more than a few days I'll throw both longguns in the trunk and take them along.
but it does seem like homes located in rural areas have recently become a better looking target to the bad guys
Really? I live in a rural area and I haven't seen it yet. I can leave my doors unlocked on occasion and nobody has broken in. I've even left the keys in the truck once or twice overnight. Maybe my dog has something to do with it, but I'm thinking not so much. Like the line that Paul Harvey read in "Dirt Roads"
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.
And there were no drive by shootings.
Our values were better when our roads were worse!
Although we have upgraded to semiauto single barrel shotguns and a handgun... or two... maybe an AR ..and yes, I live on a dirt road.
USAF Veteran
Lifetime NRA Member Do or do not, there is no try. For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.
kirock7 wrote: ... the shotgun is the wife's at-night-close-by weapon and if she doesn't feel it's needed or want it on the trip... then maybe that's the answer.
I wonder why she would feel 'safer' at a vacation home rather than at home. In either case, have the shotgun handy. Especially if that is what she is used to using. You can put it in the trunk if you go out for the day.
In all honesty, if she's comfortable having it at home, and that's her night time primary, one would think it would be the same in the vacation house. The only difference I can see is that perhaps her defensive mentality is geared more toward property when at home, hence the feeling its not necessary when away. For me, its always personal protection (my family then me) far above property. On another hand, you're more likely to be at her side most every minute of the vacation, and she trusts you implicitly. That's not a bad thing..
Or she just doesn't want to lug it around and have to work/play around it when on vacation. Vacations are supposed to be pleasant times, fun times, care free times. Taking it along reinforces the idea that we are truly safe nowhere. Have her keep your glovebox gun in her nightstand when you sleep. That might be a compromise....
Just thinking out loud. I'm sure I'll run across this in the future with my wife, or something similar. I recently took my father to visit my brothers in Houston and all my in-laws came here to visit my wife. She had me take every gun with me. Her family is not comfortable around them. Although I didn't like the idea of leaving her without one in the home, I ended up deferring to her comfort level. For further clarification, the guns would have been properly secured when her family was here.
Most importantly, don't let the issue cause a problem on a very nice vacation......wives have VERY long memories. At least both of mine have......
) and a shotgun really is a better home defense weapon. My wife thinks I'm being a little nuts. She welcomes the protection factor, but worries we might get ripped off while we're gone during the day.
