Camping advice

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Ramey

Ramey

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Hi all, was wondering how to manage tent camping with kids and guns? How to keep the gun safe from little ones and still have it accessible. Brother and sister in law are anti gun. If they see a gun case they will ask what and why. Things will be tense. Thinking about locking it up in the car about 20 yds away. Any ideas?


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Make the gun a non issue. If you carry and they do not get a small one gun vault and explain it's benefits and drawbacks. I see one on midwayusa for <100. Doesn't help to make an issue, explain clearly why and how safe is safe. Anti gun is not a bad thing to address, just talk about it before you go.
 
I'd just put a trigger safety on it and put it in a case. Having it 20yds away locked in a car doesn't give you quick access. Explain that the kids won't get it and it's useless if not available if needed. My SIL is afraid of guns as a friend in HS was killed goofing around with a handgun. But she didn't mind mine in the cabin when a black bear started rooting around at 4 AM.
 
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Tense because it will bring up politics or because they don't think you are safe around guns?
 
Holstered on your person is the safest manner to keep it and still have adequate access.

I have family similar to yours. I probably would not go camping with them if it became that much of an issue.
 
^ Yep, a second to GOB's advice. When you got relatives like that, who needs enemies? :rolleyes:

If they see a gun case they will ask what and why. Things will be tense. Thinking about locking it up in the car about 20 yds away. Any ideas?
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Incredible. But I believe it.
 
One of the small lock boxes or safes would be pretty unobtrusive. It could be stashed under a front seat or wherever and cabled to something immovable. Not optimal, but its better than being at home.

Its great to say one would just exclude family that doesn't agree with you about everything, but many of us like to maintain some semblance of family relations. I just don't talk about certain things and go about my life otherwise if its an issue. The original poster can make his decisions according to his feelings on the matter.
 
Dodge the politics and try to have fun. If they ask "what and why" tell them it's a pistol because it's fun. Then, ask them if they'd like to shoot.

On the other hand, if they're wound so tight they can't have fun knowing a gun is around, they're probably wound too tight for the woods.
 
Bring the gun but don't advertise. No one needs to know what you're "packing" for the trip. Keep it with you in a backpack.


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Malamute said:
Its great to say one would just exclude family that doesn't agree with you about everything, but many of us like to maintain some semblance of family relations.
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It has nothing to do with "cutting family ties", at least for me and mine.

At this point in our relationship my anti gun family knows (for the most part) that I'm not going to attend a gathering without a side arm. It's acknowledged by the fact that I'm not going to (for example) invite my vegan cousin to a steakhouse and press him to eat a steak. He'll either decline the invite or come and eat a salad.

Analogically I don't eat salads.

But we still get to together regularly. We stay in touch by way of phone or text.

We manage to get along just fine.
 
Sleep with it holstered. I have had firearms around kids all my life (started when I was a child myself), actually had one of my "progressive" nieces ask how "we" felt about armed people at a family dinner, she was surprised to find I had always been armed throughout her lifetime when she was with me.

If your camping you could tell them it's like a first aid kit. You hope you never need it but if you really need it and you don't have it, you won't ever have another need for one...
 
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Ramey - it may look "stupid" but putting your handgun in a PADDED fanny pack keeps it concealed without it "printing" through the padding, yet keeps the sidearm not only close at hand but in YOUR control.
The "out-laws" may realize you're packing but hidden is hidden.
If you don't have a need for it, they might stay in the dark the whole trip.

Good luck!
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Holstered on your person is the safest manner to keep it and still have adequate access.

I have family similar to yours. I probably would not go camping with them if it became that much of an issue.
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I couldn't have said it better. Holstered on you is best.

Next time you make the camping plans and invite them, and let them know your plans include having a gun with you. Then they can be the ones who choose if they'll go or not.
 
When camping with my anti gun family, I have carried as concealed as possible. I have carried an M&P 360 .357 snubbie in a IWB holster and /or ankle rig. I have also carried a 329 PD in a fanny pack.

With kids around, I trust no one at any time. The gun is worn on my person at all times. I have slept with the 329 holstered on my hip. My personal firearm philosophy is that it must be worn on the person at all times to maintain control over the firearm and have access to it when needed. Otherwise it never comes out of the holster. Its not a conversation piece, its not a talking stick around the campfire. NDs happen when firearms are being handled out of the holster. A loaded gun is safest when inside a holster with the trigger covered.

When the family understands my discipline and seriousness of purpose about firearms handling, they become less afraid. But their fear is a powerful, deeply seated emotion and it takes a long time to over come it and habituate to firearm presence. That can be done with modelling good, strict firearms discipline.
 
If it is a handgun of some kind and you have a CCW just keep it concealed.

Bear spray is also a good idea.
 
For kids, proper training and supervision helps quite a bit around firearms. Lacking that, lock it up. If it is a pistol, I use a small combination safe for my CCW when I'm visiting places where I might need to put my CCW down. In reality, my gun is almost always on me (safest place IMO).

I get a chuckle when my anti-gun inlaws go on and on about how unsafe CCW is and how they would never go into this place or that place unless they had no guns signs; all while I'm sitting right next to them CCWing and somehow not shooting the place up like they think everyone would.

Idiots.
 
Obviously recreational shooting isn't on the agenda so you must be bringing it along for self defense. Are you worried about people or bears or both? In either case you need the gun ready to go, not locked in a vehicle 20 yards away.

I suggest getting up in the middle of the night and crawl around camp making growling noises and scratching at their tent. Come to the rescue with your gun and you might change their perspective and become the hero instead of the villain. :)
 
GAF

If it is a handgun of some kind and you have a CCW just keep it concealed.

Bear spray is also a good idea.
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That's exactly what I would do in this particular situation.
 
jamesjames said:
...With kids around, I trust no one at any time. The gun is worn on my person at all times... My personal firearm philosophy is that it must be worn on the person at all times to maintain control over the firearm and have access to it when needed. Otherwise it never comes out of the holster. Its not a conversation piece, its not a talking stick around the campfire. NDs happen when firearms are being handled out of the holster. A loaded gun is safest when inside a holster with the trigger covered.

When the family understands my discipline and seriousness of purpose about firearms handling, they become less afraid. But their fear is a powerful, deeply seated emotion and it takes a long time to over come it and habituate to firearm presence. That can be done with modelling good, strict firearms discipline.
Click to expand...

This is some great advice, and practicing it has gone a long way toward helping my family and less gun friendly friends feel more comfortable around firearms.
 
shafter said:
...I suggest getting up in the middle of the night and crawl around camp making growling noises and scratching at their tent. Come to the rescue with your gun and you might change their perspective and become the hero instead of the villain. :)
Click to expand...

Or find out they carry bear spray. Either way, good times!
 
I try to be as discreet as possible when I camp. Kids would complicate things for me. My daughter isn't one to dig around in my stuff. She knows that there are things in my pack that are dangerous. Other kids....that's a different issue.

I'd pack small and powerful if you are worried about bigger critters. I'd probably stick my SP101 snubbie on my belt and just leave it hidden under an untucked flannel shirt. For sleeping, I like one of those cheap little Nano vaults. If I am locking it up for storage, I scramble all of the numbers. If i want quicker access, I'll just thumb one number off so that it's easier to access in the dark. They cost about $30.

That said, what kind of protection are you looking for? From what kind of animal? I've gone on hikes where I packed nothing more than a .380 in my pocket. I'm not talking about 15 miles into the forest here, just 3 mile walks at state parks. Some gun is better than no gun, but I'm not going to jump at the mention of bears (especially when I'm not in an area where they live).
 
I never considered sleeping with it holstered. I carry at 3 o clock so while it might not be all that comfortable I guess it could work. The kid is as undisciplined as it gets and the parents let him do what he wants. I might just have to sleep with the gun on. Thanks for all the input


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