OK, North America in general...

This seems to most appropriate place to put this... sorry if I am wrong.

I purchased my first handgun this week. I am still debating in my own mind if I really do want to - or don’t want to carry it with me as I drive 3400 miles across the US to take a temporary job.

The reasons to of course are all about self defense; the reasons not to are numerous and include:

• the fact that I travel all over the US. When I travel for pleasure, I visit everything I want to see; including state and national parks, amusement parks, casinos, hotels, and mom and gas station stores. There is such a mix of laws that I think it makes it almost impossible to be in compliance all the time.
• the fact that I sometimes "live" in motels for weeks or months on end (while on a job in a foreign US state) where it would be even more difficult to leave the gun locked in a hotel room because I cannot carry it onto the property of the employer - either inside the building or only in the parking lot.
• as a sometimes a forgetful person, I know that carrying - whether licensed or not will require a whole lot of additional awareness - and it may still be easy to screw up (e.g. David Crosby).
• being that I travel in my car, it seems that there is a great deal of potential problems related to leaving the gun in a locked car that could be broken into (even if I installed a safe), deciding to leave the weapon in the car when I cannot carry it into a hotel, or leaving it in the hotel when I cannot take it in a park, and the even more complicated issue of where to leave it when it cannot be carried into the park or into the hotel.
• there are times when I have traveled to a city, and then have to take a plane to still another city and would have to decide where to leave the weapon.
• what to do, when I am traveling by car and decide to take a jaunt into Canada.
• and of course the ever-popular, what are the odds that I will be arrested, harassed, or even killed by a bad cop (apologies to any LEO people who do not fit the category) who do not like the idea of some people who carry a gun and will do all they can to make my life miserable? (and please don't say it doesn't happen.)

It seems that carrying a gun really can limit your ability to complete and enjoy your trips.

I also recognize that when you are new to owning a gun, there are a lot of easy ways to trip yourself up and I was thinking that if I do not carry it on this trip across the country, that I would instead buy a small orange plastic water pistol and use it as a surrogate on this trip to see just how many times I may encounter a dilemma.

I post this because I am still conflicted on the issue and would appreciate any insight - I know this is a pro-gun site, so most of you would probably say it is worth the trouble, but I am still curious to know your reactions to this post.

Carrying a gun or even owning gun isnt for everyone.

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Originally Posted by SIXTO

Carrying a gun or even owning gun isnt for everyone.

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That I agree with. I have no problem with owning and keeping a gun in my house. My issue is deciding if it is worth the trouble to carry it across the country.

Traveling with a weapon is like travelling with a pet. It will limit what you can and can't do.

But have you even been the victim of a crime? You know, where someone has threatened your life? At that point, being able to defend yourself is more precious than being able to visit a casino, amusement park, etc.

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Originally Posted by randy7601

Traveling with a weapon is like travelling with a pet. It will limit what you can and can't do.

But have you even been the victim of a crime? You know, where someone has threatened your life? At that point, being able to defend yourself is more precious than being able to visit a casino, amusement park, etc.

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To a point, I think that is true. But at the same time, I think you have to be willing to do more than sit huddled in your home if you want to enjoy life.

I also travel in my line of work. I check the handgunlaws.us website before I travel out of state. This helps me understand the laws in states where I travel. I plan ahead where I want to visit....what attractions, etc. I have a safe in my vehicle and a portable safe that goes in my motel room. I also make myself familiar with motels where I travel. I don't find too many that are posted. So I do carry my gun in the motels.

I have made adjustments since I began carrying. But it hasn't prevented me from doing anything I normally do.

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Originally Posted by MandM

I also travel in my line of work. I check the handgunlaws.us website before I travel out of state. This helps me understand the laws in states where I travel. I plan ahead where I want to visit....what attractions, etc. I have a safe in my vehicle and a portable safe that goes in my motel room. I also make myself familiar with motels where I travel. I don't find too many that are posted. So I do carry my gun in the motels.

I have made adjustments since I began carrying. But it hasn't prevented me from doing anything I normally do.

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Thank you. I am not trying to get into a deep discussion as to who should/shouldn't... is it better to be prepared to defend or not...

I do not disagree with anyone who feels they want/need to be packin. I am just looking for information related to the practicality and how to overcome potential issues. Again thanks for this reply.

Now I would ask, how do you (if you do) secure your traveling safe into your rooms?

I look at it as a case by case basis. I travel and work at various military installations sometimes for months at a time and this can be hard keeping a gun and living out of a motel. Right now I don't take my gun with me. There is usually some some good ideas that come out of these forums that may help you.

When I travel I try to plan around my gun,where I can legally carry concealed,and where I gotta lock it in the trunk,With internet access everywhere it's fairly easy to access specific states laws on where you can and cannot carry a handgun,most motels/hotels allow it as it's an extension of your home,and unless you travel to anti gun citys like chicago and DC,I would just make sure you have a gun safe you can secure in vehicle/hotel room in cases where you can't carry it,I would also check into obtaining non-resident permits that would enable you to carry legally in as many states as possible

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Originally Posted by BLKTOPTRVL

Now I would ask, how do you (if you do) secure your traveling safe into your rooms?

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Most traveling safe's I've seen have a cable on them. Some people put them around the pipe under the sink.

I've shortened mine enough I can run it around the base of the toilet and the other end is secured inside the safe.

Again most of the time in a motel I don't worry about it because I'm carrying the gun. When I sleep it's in a quick access safe next to the bed.

If I go to a meeting where I cannot carry. The gun is secured in a safe in my vehicle. Not in the motel room.

When I travel...I bring my gun with me...and after I've researched the laws of each state I will be visiting. I also keep a hard copy in a small binder for refresher.

That said, there is no 100% solution...there is only mitigated risk...and the steps you take.

If you can't take your weapon with you, you can secure your weapon in your vehicle or hotel room...but it is a calculated risk based on time, location, and circumstances.

Suggestions: hang a Do Not Disturb sign on your door...all of the time. Just know that housekeeping will come in the room every 3 days to clean. Use a Center-of-Mass safe secured to the bed/large piece of furniture, but hidden/secured inside a piece of luggage. Use the same safe in your vehicle.


Just some thoughts. I would rather have it and not need it, than not have it and need it.

...those are an awful lot of miles without protection.

When we travel, we carry. If there are places or folks that don't want my kind around, they don't get my money or the pleasure of my wonderful company. :bier:

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Originally Posted by SIGguy229

Suggestions: hang a Do Not Disturb sign on your door...all of the time. Just know that housekeeping will come in the room every 3 days to clean.

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Another great suggestion. I do this too. I didn't realize housekeeping would come in the room every 3 days if the do not disturb sign was up. That's good to know.

I travel too much as well. I never even considered not carrying a firearm with me. When you're in a place you're not familiar with it is very easy to end up in a place you don't want to be.

I usually tell the hotel desk clerk that I don't want house keeping at all while I'm there. I exchange linens and towels when I need fresh ones and just deal with the fact that I have to clean up after myself, like most human beings in the world.

It does limit what you're able to do at times. You have to make decisions for yourself. I personally am willing to sacrifice doing a few things to ensure my safety. You may not be willing to do the same thing.

BLKTOPTRVL: this is a fairly simple question: If you ever find yourself in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C, military base, crossing the border, riding Amtrak... any place where even the possession of a firearm can send you to prison (even unloaded and locked in your car), you better not have a firearm.

You can legally transport a firearm through prohibited areas (unloaded and locked in trunk) as long as it is legal for you to posses where you departed from and where you arrive. You trip must be continuous. This is a federal law that helps allow interstate travel. Since you stop and work for days or weeks at a time, that would hardly be an uninterpreted trip, so mere possession could be illegal.

Firearms (especially handguns) are very difficult to mail.

It is unfortunate that you hit the hodgepodge mix of state and local laws, but it is inevitable if you travel as much as you do. I highly recommend that you find a new job or, follow the law and leave the gun at home.