Friend visiting Philadelphia, advice sought

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Jim Gwyn

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I have a friend who's going to be driving from NC to Philadelphia for a couple of days. He plans on bringing his CC weapon along. I know that Pennsylvania, Va and WV have reciprocity with North Carolina, but is there anything else that he's going to have to watch out for? How anti-gun are the local police? Any advice or comments will be appreciated.
 
1) Don't get made. The PHL cops are pretty institutionally anti gun/CCW.
2) Bring a copy of the reciprocity letter, just in case.
3) Having done 1 & 2, don't sweat it, and

Have a great trip!
 
I normally open carry most places, but Philadelphia is an exception. It's just a bad idea, unless you're looking for a confrontation with the local law enforcement agencies. By all means, go for it, but if you do, you're a braver man than I.
 
"but is there anything else that he's going to have to watch out for?"

Yes. Gangbangers who will kill you for your shoes. Highest murder rate in the country so far this year. After dark, they come into the nicer parts of the city.
 
Be out by sundown. Literally. Or at least inside away from the windows. Not a place I go without my gun. I believe they made their homicide rate for the year in the first quarter.:what: Big gang problems amongst other things.
 
Be out by sundown. Literally. Or at least inside away from the windows. Not a place I go without my gun. I believe they made their homicide rate for the year in the first quarter. Big gang problems amongst other things.
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:scrutiny:




Well, let's just say there are placed not to go in PHL at ANY time of the day.

That being said, it's not like it's Beirut or Serajavo or anything.
 
Remember that Maryland is a crazy place that hates firearms. Also, don't take a wrong turn and up in NJ.
 
Bah!

You Yankees - ya wanna see the best action this side of Fallujah, I bet the bad boyz of Nawlins will accomodate you. I'm sure they make the local talent in Philly look like Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs :evil:

Or maybe the west side of Houston on a Saturday night :scrutiny:
 
There are parts of Philly that are quite safe and others that are shooting galleries. Stay indoors after dark and stay out of bars. Stay out of North Philly, West Philly and Southwest Philly. Center City is safe as is the Northeast, Manyonk and Roxbourgh.
 
The only place I can comletely relax over there, after dark, is Manyunk. The Northeast is OK too, but I don't have much reason to go there. Old City is OK, if you're armed. ;) South Street, I don't touch anymore. It's still a big hangout, but quite dangerous after dark.

Don't ya miss Frank Rizzo? I sure do.
 
Also, don't take a wrong turn and up in NJ.
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Actually, this is a legitimate concern. No Joke! There are some spots around 4th street, near Independence Hall where if you're in the wrong lane, you'll suddenly find yourself compelled to cross the Ben Franklin bridge into {shudder} New Jersey.
 
a) I've done just what Geekwitha .45 describes -- I used to live right near one of those entrances; I got folded into the wrong lane of traffic, forced to cross bridge, had to pay for the right to leave New Jersey :) Naturally, I *should* have been carrying cash, but I wasn't -- I'd just intended to go the mile-or-two to Temple Univ. from downtown. So I stopped at the first place I could find in NJ with an ATM, to get cash and to turn around. Scary. Never felt quite so much as prey as I did there, incl. on various tourist trips to poor parts of the world, or traveling alone in Mexican border towns.

b) The Art Museum district (starting a few blocks west of Broad street, and going from the Art Museum itself a few blocks south of Spring Garden, north until approx. Fairmount is how I'd block it out, but that's not official) is a really nice neighborhood. I'm there dogsitting right now, and it's one of the few places that I've felt fine walking around at night in Philly (never been to Manyunk). Of course, I'm not walking around alone, but rather with a 3-year-old mutt with a chip on its shoulder and (we think) some German Shepherd blood.

c) All the cops from whom I've heard an opinion are suspicious / skeptical of armed citizens; only THEY are professional enough, goes the theory. Some have demurred a bit, but the overwhelming attitude I get from Philly cops is the usual "too many guns on the street" one -- in other words, that good people having guns just means that the bad guys will steal them down the road and use them in muggings. So, follow the law, but don't expect any warm congratulations from Philly cops, but just the opposite. You might get lucky and meet some exceptions instead.

timothy
 
I find Philadelphia is most beautiful when viewed in my rear-view mirror.

That aside, I have a sister living in MD who absolutely loves Philly. When I do meet her in the city, I'm always carrying.
 
"you'll suddenly find yourself compelled to cross the Ben Franklin bridge into {shudder} New Jersey."

Not just New Jersey, Geek. CAMDEN, NJ!!!! :what::what::what:
 
A friend of mine a few years ago quipped about them bringing the U.S.S. New Jersey into the bay to be docked as a museum. He said they'd need to keep her active just to keep her safe! :D
 
Stay out of North Philly, West Philly and Southwest Philly. Center City is safe as is the Northeast, Manyonk and Roxbourgh.
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Also, don't take a wrong turn and up in NJ.
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Two very good pieces of advice.
I've lived in Philly and now the Philly suburbs all of my life. It's not as bad as the national media makes it out to be. Just be smart, use your head, don't look like a victim, and be aware of what's going on around you.
Most of all USE COMMON SENSE and don't wear any Carolina Panthers crap!
 
I've heard that in a PA "first-class city" (whatever that means, anyway Philadelphia is the only one) you can get nabbed for disturbing the peace if you're openly carrying, even if you have a permit.

Bring along:
NC permit
copy of reciprocity letter
 
"Camden's not as dangerous as you may believe,"

Are you kidding? :confused: I grew up in Collingswood, and I've lived in South Jersey my whole life. It's been crowned "Most Dangerous City in America", like 3 of the last 5 years.
 
In most of New Jersey, "mischief night" (the night before halloween, for some local reason) is about toilet paper. In camden, it's about arson.

I used to do social work with adjudicated youts there in the 80's. It was pretty dicey back then.

The thing to keep in mind though is that even our most dangerous cities are places you can travel through...if you stay on the main roads and keep your wits about you.
 
I was born in Camden and spent my first 17 years in south Jersey. There is NO way that I would purposefully take my kids there. I haven't been there in a while, but 'rough' doesn't quite do it justice.

Philly on the other hand is a great city as long as you are smart. Stick to the historic district and the places with a bunch of tourists, and it is really no more dangerous than any other large city.

Watch for thugs; in a sea of tourists, they are really easy to pick out. Even in the tourist areas, the bums are out panhandling; watch your back as you walk away from them as they have been known to hit people they don't like.

Drive between neighborhoods if you can. Even if you're just going a few blocks, take a cab or something. Don't be an idiot and roll into a bad neighborhood. You can end up in one just by crossing the street. You'll know it. Leave.

Something that I have always pondered, but have never tried: I wonder if wearing a firearms manufacturer t-shirt would make you a less-likely crime target.
 
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