ShowMeState1977
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What does your complement of arms consist of when you're traveling away from home by car and staying in a hotel? Do you take a long gun or go only with your side arm?
Armed away from home territory
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
If I'm not going to be doing something where I need a long gun, I don't take one. I don't need a rifle or shotgun to defend myself in a 15'x20' hotel room, and the instances of violence I've heard of involving travelers all seem to be matters of targeting folks moving in parking lots or on city streets (where I wouldn't have access to the long gun anyway), not teams of criminals breaking into random rooms on some floor of a hotel.
splattergun
Member
sidearm only, and being careful to know the carry laws at the destination and along the travel route.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I carry in accordance with local laws when I travel. When hunting, of course, I carry rifles or shotguns.
PowerG
Member
Sidearm only, but I would be considerably upgraded in capacity from what I'd likely be carrying close to home.
Squire Western
member
Sidearm only on all business or vacation excursions.
jamesjames
Member
I live in Oregon and travel through rural and wilderness areas. I may have use of both long and short and pack my rig accordingly.
Good Ol' Boy
Member
I don't think the better parts of any other state are any worse than the better parts where I live, so I would carry the same as I do here, a pistol. I would avoid at all cost the seedy areas.
I actually have an out of state trip planned in Jan and a more reasonable question IMHO would be whether to carry more than one pistol.
I actually have an out of state trip planned in Jan and a more reasonable question IMHO would be whether to carry more than one pistol.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
The pertinent questions would seem to be:
1) What are the threats I'm likely to be exposed to?
2) Are they different from the ones in my home area?
3) Is a rifle or shotgun a realistically ugraded response to those specific threats, within my hotel room?
4) Will traveling "heavy" be a bother, nuisance, or possible risk, disproportionate to the usefulness of my upgraded ability to defend against the threats I identified in No. 1, and categorized in No. 2?
The truth is you may actually be MORE secure from invasion-type assaults bunked in a random room on the whatever-eth floor of a hotel than you are in your home. You're certainly harder to locate and get to for any but a very specialized criminal who is targeting you personally for some reason. And, again, you're in a small-ish room with only one entry. Not hard to defend that space with ANY firearm, including your daily carry sidearm.
The danger rises quite a bit the minute you lock your long-gun away in that hotel room (or your car trunk...) and head out onto the streets of whatever town you're in.
1) What are the threats I'm likely to be exposed to?
2) Are they different from the ones in my home area?
3) Is a rifle or shotgun a realistically ugraded response to those specific threats, within my hotel room?
4) Will traveling "heavy" be a bother, nuisance, or possible risk, disproportionate to the usefulness of my upgraded ability to defend against the threats I identified in No. 1, and categorized in No. 2?
The truth is you may actually be MORE secure from invasion-type assaults bunked in a random room on the whatever-eth floor of a hotel than you are in your home. You're certainly harder to locate and get to for any but a very specialized criminal who is targeting you personally for some reason. And, again, you're in a small-ish room with only one entry. Not hard to defend that space with ANY firearm, including your daily carry sidearm.
The danger rises quite a bit the minute you lock your long-gun away in that hotel room (or your car trunk...) and head out onto the streets of whatever town you're in.
JohnBiltz
Member
If I am traveling over 90 miles I pack a long gun along. I always have. Home is a long drive back and I don't know the threats as well. Its not as though throwing an AR in a case with some loaded magazines is an inconvenience. I'm not lugging it around on my back. The car is doing all the work. When I lived in the east it was usually a shotgun. In the SW its a rifle. Been a lot of bad things going on along the border down here.
MedWheeler
Member
I take my sidearm, my second, smaller gun (deeper-conceal or BUG), and a long gun. The long gun is usually a .22LR, and it's more in case I come across some shooting opportunities along the way, or in my final destination area. Since I have the advantage of taking what I want when traveling by road, I've taken a half-dozen or so guns sometimes (sometimes, I just can't make up my mind which ones I want to have around.)
Why is that?
Ramone
Member
While much depends on where, why, and how I'm traveling, my load out is either sidearm only ( though sometimes with 2, a full size and compact 1911), or the above plus an AR ( usually in anticipation of a chance to visit a good range ), or my default travel kit - a GLOCK17, Kel Tec SUB2000, Mags ( 17 & 30 Rd, 2 each) holster, mag carriers, cleaning gear and ammo, all fits in a Halliburton Brief Case.
Depending where I am going, I may or may not be able to carry depending upon the State and reciprocity. I'll carry a small J-frame in one of the front pocket holsters and a karambit if I can carry concealed, and just the karambit if I cannot. God-forbid SHTF, I would prefer to have a rifle as opposed to a handgun, but it's just not practical for me away from home, so the ARs are locked up back home in the safe.
There is one type of team who break into hotel rooms, those going to do a take-over style robbery of a drug dealer. They could simply have the wrong room and get you instead.
Since drug dealers often use hotels and since drug dealing is one of the few cash businesses in a credit card world and since drug dealers often won't report robberies to the police they're a high value target.
There is also the thuggish drunk and/or drugged out boyfriend who thinks that his cheating girlfriend is in that room for whatever reason and is determined to kick his way through the door if you won't open it.
So I always bring two or three pistols (my main carry pistol, a backup gun for me and then one for my wife) and a long gun. Plus there's the possibility of trouble on the road, that's the one I have personal experience with where my wife was the target.
The other ones where armed robbers were robbing drug dealers at hotel rooms and jealous boyfriends kicked their way into the wrong room and then assaulted the occupant out of frustration that they didn't open the door despite the fact that their girlfriend was nowhere in sight I've been called to in a professional capacity after they called 911 for an ambulance.
Avoiding 'seedy' areas might help a little bit, but this stuff happens on public roads and in good areas too. No where is completely immune.
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PowerG
Member
Because at home and for most trips to town we're just in an area and live a lifestyle that is about as low-risk as I could imagine. We live WAY out in the country, access to my home is controlled, and the town where we do banking and light shopping has a population of 314 at the last census. You've heard the expression "everybody knows everybody", well in my case that's true...if I'm checking the mail and a car goes by I not only know them but their families, have been to their home, etc. The community here is literally that small. There are no homicides in the county most years, though we did have one this year. Walmart or other heavier shopping trips are done in a nearby city that is still relatively small, stay out of the older part of town and any kind of violent crime is pretty rare there also (though not nearly as rare as here). 90% of the time I'm carrying a 642 and a speedloader simply because it's more convenient and I feel completely at ease with that.
I am semi-retired, and am lucky enough to be able to pick my spots where I want to work, I do contract QA inspections, occasionally that might involve overnight travel. Additionally we often take short trips to different places just to sight-see. I am often not particularly familiar with these places, so I usually feel more comfortable with a Commander and a couple of extra magazines.
I still work part time and likely always will. My work has always had me traveling in farm areas, and as such i have always traveled with long and short guns. Either my colt offercers or my sig 938 and or anything from a 22mag to a 45/70 rifle.....
Yesterday for the first time in likely five years i was out without anything, naked..... no gun, club or knive.... So of course thats when it happens...... Standing knee deep in snow 1:00 PM next to a standing corn crop, out charges a rabid skunk.... and i had to haul tail to the truck..... really hurts to let that vermin live.... it just don't pay to be unarmed....
Yesterday for the first time in likely five years i was out without anything, naked..... no gun, club or knive.... So of course thats when it happens...... Standing knee deep in snow 1:00 PM next to a standing corn crop, out charges a rabid skunk.... and i had to haul tail to the truck..... really hurts to let that vermin live.... it just don't pay to be unarmed....
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lightman
Member
I carry a handgun and an extra mag. I worry more when actually traveling than when I'm spending the night. An unexpected breakdown or a flat on the road increases your exposure. If I'm in my truck I usually have a head knocker too!
I never feel safe in a hotel; I always took my Ruger Security Six.
My wife & I were staying at "Circus Circus" in Las Vegas. After a night of Black Jack, we went to bed at 3am & put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. At 4am, we hear the door unlocking. The door opens & the maid starts walking in, along with two big guys. While my wife screamed, I rolled off the bed, grabbed the gun from under the bed & rested it on the bed. The maid screamed & ran out of the room, the two guys started to walk in, saw the gun & ran out. I phoned the front desk & told them to grab the two guys. LV police arrived & arrested the maid & the two guys...who were wanted for several previous rapes & burglaries - with the maid's help.
It taught me something about how many people have the key to your hotel room....
My wife & I were staying at "Circus Circus" in Las Vegas. After a night of Black Jack, we went to bed at 3am & put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. At 4am, we hear the door unlocking. The door opens & the maid starts walking in, along with two big guys. While my wife screamed, I rolled off the bed, grabbed the gun from under the bed & rested it on the bed. The maid screamed & ran out of the room, the two guys started to walk in, saw the gun & ran out. I phoned the front desk & told them to grab the two guys. LV police arrived & arrested the maid & the two guys...who were wanted for several previous rapes & burglaries - with the maid's help.
It taught me something about how many people have the key to your hotel room....
Armored farmer
Member
You gotta take care of yourself and loved ones.
Well done Shaq.
I always count the doors to the stairs in the hotel, know where the fire extinguisher is, and have my ccw in the hotel room.
Friends, you gotta teach yourself and your loved ones to always be aware of where the exits are. Restaurants. Theaters. Hotels. Bars. ....etc. you have to know nowadays. Teach your kids to know.
Well done Shaq.
I always count the doors to the stairs in the hotel, know where the fire extinguisher is, and have my ccw in the hotel room.
Friends, you gotta teach yourself and your loved ones to always be aware of where the exits are. Restaurants. Theaters. Hotels. Bars. ....etc. you have to know nowadays. Teach your kids to know.
Armored farmer
Member
Dirt man
lucky you didn't have a club. Club vs skunk sounds like lose - lose.
Sometimes it's best to run away and fight another day. Lol
X-Rap
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Voted before I read the full question. I often travel long term for work in which I plan for larger contingencies than short term motel camping.
If I'm across the country from my home base I have as a minimum, a rifle, mid sized pistol, and a pocket pistol with plenty of spare mags and ammo to allow practice if ranges are available.
From my base, be it the permanent or temporary I usually just take one or both pistols and never a long gun on the bike.
If I'm across the country from my home base I have as a minimum, a rifle, mid sized pistol, and a pocket pistol with plenty of spare mags and ammo to allow practice if ranges are available.
From my base, be it the permanent or temporary I usually just take one or both pistols and never a long gun on the bike.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I drive to a different location daily within the state as my job isn't really office based. Even though I do have a desk at an office, I might see that desk once a week.
If driving I always have a handgun with me and sometimes two. Unless I have to do work on a military base, then I'm kinda screwed as I leave the gun(s) at home.
On rare occasions I'll take a rifle with me if I think I'll have the opportunity to go shooting somewhere with friends or family.
If driving I always have a handgun with me and sometimes two. Unless I have to do work on a military base, then I'm kinda screwed as I leave the gun(s) at home.
On rare occasions I'll take a rifle with me if I think I'll have the opportunity to go shooting somewhere with friends or family.
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