Salianron wrote: We simply do not stay alone in places where we feel that we need such protection.
Rule number one for me would be that you have to "trust your gut."
If you have that "gut feeling" that perhaps a particular location is not a good one, then move on.
And, again as mentioned before, get in a group of RV's or a bunch of cars/trucks and try to become less noticed.
We simply do not stay alone in places where we feel that we need such protection.
Ron
Good point! If a rest spot or campground doesn't feel right, just leave. Use your instincts. Your best defense is to stay out of a bad situation in the first place. We've only had to do that once, pulled into a campground just outside of Salt Lake City UT on a Friday night. There were lots of campers there, and most were drinking and partying. When we saw a few guns come out we decided that probably wasn't a good combination so we moved on down the road after dinner.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
A good old 3, or 4, D cell Mag light can come in handy.
You can also get very high intensity lights that are classified as "optical weapons" They are so bright they will temporary blind someone. I have a Surefire
I spend around 21 nights a year alone in an isolated spot in the Pa. mountains hunting, fishing, etc. The closest house is 7 miles, the closest pay phone used to be 2 miles now that's gone, and there is no cell phone reception at all. (I really should have a satellite phone) I have mace that was legal but I heard no longer is, and I carry two of those things Roger doesn't want to talk about, one short, and one long. I follow most of what everyone says regarding parking and the ability to go forward or reverse. I'm not concerned about one or two possible intruders, more than two could be tricky. However, I feel that most criminals, not knowing what is behind the closed doors of a unit that's occupied, will shy away from it. I'm sure there are exceptions to that but I'm hoping they're in another state. Oh, even though I'm alone, I try to leave two chairs outside during the night.
I try to make sensible choices about whether an area or situation is safe. Beyond that I don't take exceptional precautions.
When I was a teenager, the murder rate in Houston was considered high ( I think it approached 500/yr at one time). Still your lifetime risk of being murdered at that rate was fairly low. By avoiding obviously dangerous places and situations, you could further cut the odds. The city should have, and did, work to reduce the murder rate, but the statistics say it wasn't worth your while to take extraordinary precautions as an individual.
Have I missed the news stories about hundreds (or even tens) of people being attacked in their RVs?
My assessment of the risk doesn't seem to justify the costs of taking extraordinary precautions (not all costs are in $).
If I feel the need to sleep in my clothes and make a plan for how I'm going to plow through the bad guys with my RV, I'm not relaxed and I'm not having fun.
Great advice (most of) you guys...In the 35K+ miles I've travelled alone, only scare I had WAS a cop... I still only carry airhorn, keys and charged cell phone by my side (and pillow) at all times. Oh, and I park only where I DO feel safe - and where driving out quick will most likely work ...hadn't thought about being surrounded by something I couldn't run over... Oh, how those tanks low to the ground would hurt. BTW, I don't leave keys in ingnition where they can be seen, cause I use my "stealth curtain" behind seats instead of using RT curtains that indicate to anyone passing by that someone IS inside. Still haven't done the G-- thing, cause I'd be afraid it'd be wrestled from me....what then?
Andrea...formerly from Minnesota, but goin' to my destiny..."Seeing the USA in my Chevrolet!"! 02/02 Roadtrek C190V
Skipper DC wrote: Nowadays, there are several options other than lethal force. Having a can of pepper spray on a keychain/beside bed/etc. is something that can give you an advantage in a confrontation that isn't otherwise escapable. Tazers like police use are another non-lethal option. If some teenager is just being stupid and trying to steal a stereo I wouldn't want to take his/her life. It's impossible to say what the intentions are when someone is violating the law and/or trespassing by trying to enter your vehicle though. An idiot with a gun is more dangerous than criminals IMHO. Lethal force should be a last resort. Have you ever seen a six foot five 300 lb criminal be reduced to a whimpering fool after being tazered? It works. My $.02. Hope it doesn't get censored...
Pal, try your pepper spray on a perp wired on PCP. Won't do a thing.
Shoot 'em and they don't get up. Geeeeeez when will the good people take back America?!?!
I'm not saying there aren't any situations that require lethal force to protect yourself. I'm just saying not all situations require taking a life. Suppose someone noticed smoke coming from your vehicle while you slept and was trying to help and the mentality of shoot first, ask questions later caused you to kill a good sumaritan trying to do the right thing? Wouldn't it be a better scenario if you'd only tazered that person and could thank them and laugh about it after the fact instead of killing someone for trying to help?
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