More reading matter for you :

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99705

It's a cultural difference .Europeans have a totally different point of view , live in a different world .
Americans have a tendency to go over the top as far as firearms are concerned ,but I view it more as an equipment fetish.They are a very generous and outgoing people and love technology new and old - guns are a part of that .
Also it's a very big country and the police can't be everywhere.

When walking in the woods behind my house I feel a whole lot safer with my 12 guage shotgun . I've met a bear or two and it's not funny , sadly I've had to shoot a couple that wouldn't go away and posed a risk to my family and livestock .
If I was off roading in bear country ,I would definately carry a gun capable of putting one away should the need arise .

The other kind of [two legged] predator ,I'm not so sure about .On a motorcycle trip I would want to avoid the trouble spots and trying to get a gun across a border --- well it is sheer stupidity as far as I am concerned .

People have strange attitudes towards guns - I blame Hollywood !
For most ranchers up here they are just a tool of the trade and no more noteworthy than an electric drill or a pick up truck .

I received rifle training at school in England and if more youngsters were able to do that ,I feel that they would grow up more responsible and disciplined and not regard guns in a glamorous "Rambo" manner or conversely be scared stiff of firearms .

It's good advice to leave the guns at home when visiting a foreign country ,BCK 973 - you are right !

Dodger

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

You're right, its certainly cultural and not just a N.American thing.

Many households here in Peru have enough weapons to start a small war, overthrow the government or put holes in noisy neighbours, but generally speaking people are well behaved with their firearms. Except for road signs of course, especially the ones that say 'Damaging the road signs is an offence' as they're obvious lead magnets.

I've been on the wrong end of a gun twice (not in S.America I hasten to add) but would never consider travelling with one. Contents of my day wallet and my 'Toys R Us' gold card in exchange for my life....deal!

It'll be interesting riding through N.America & seeing what its really like. Only been there on business before & thats not the same as travelling.

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Missing, presumed fed.
https://youtube.com/@ChileBob

Toys'R'us card , that's a good one !
Hope the thief didn't buy a water pistol with it though !

There must be a place somewhere that makes Noddy and Big Ears , Bank of Toyland credit cards . " Promise to pay the bearer on demand - a bag of jelly babies " .


Dodger

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Boring, that's what it's like.... at least for me it is.

As far as weapons go, I carry a pic of my suegra with me all the time.... when they ask for my wallet I just let my wallet flip open to her picture and they run!!
Works everytime...

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John C.

Did you ride the Rockies, Ozarks, Appalachians, coastal areas or Alaska?

What is a suegra?

(I do not mind people legally carrying guns, just let someone waving a red flag walking 5 meters in front of them)

Regards

Lars

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http://www.ontheroad.de
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiVqgukzm40

Suegra (it's in Spanish) = mother in law

Cu
Javier...
www.dakarmotos.com

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

LOL but I bet she looks like she's packing a concealed Glock, semi-auto with carbon fibre grips, titanium trigger guard and laser sights...?

After spending a bewildered hour reading the adv. site (and a mispent youth watching American TV and popping .22's at rabbits) I do buy the cultural difference thing, but for any European looking in, this kind of fear fetish is one of the weaker parts of US culture. The irony is it kills 30,000 of them every year.

These chaps are just frightened of overextending themselves on their trips in the backwoods and are looking for reassurance - some metal in their pants. Bless them, but I wouldn't like to be hiking in on one of their campsites whilst they're having a tizzy about the 'noises' in the trees.

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Pictures, Mauritania 2011

"I dont need a gun i've got a donk" Crocodile Dundee.

Of couse this begs the question, where are you going to keep your donk?

If memory serves, they combine those two activities in some states. ;-)

Anyway, how can N.America be boring ? There's mountains, deserts, lakes, beaches, BMW dealers on every corner, no language barrier (well, almost), the list of good things is quite long.

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Missing, presumed fed.
https://youtube.com/@ChileBob

Yeah, all with perfectly good paved road, lot's of no trespassing signs and tons of rules and regulations.....boring!!

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John C.

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Yeah, all with perfectly good paved road, lot's of no trespassing signs and tons of rules and regulations.....boring!!
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John C.
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Try Canada then !
The roads are shit , the no trespassing signs are full of bullet holes and can't be read and there is nobody about to enforce any rules or regs anyway .
Plus we have the odd bit of scenery here and there .

Dodger

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

a good way to spend an afternoon at work reading that Adv rider page.

They all sound a touch worked up about carrying weapons do they not? so any visitors should be scared of getting your ear bashed in with macho talk and no action. Seems good these gun wieldign maniacs are all kept in their own country.

We should just get out and see our wee planet before we totaly destroy it.

Would a Donk not just bungee ontop of a side box? don't really know how heavy they are.

happy days

That's exactly where I'm heading this week!!! 2 weeks of great scenery, nice people and wilderness.

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John C.