Taking a gun does not mean more security
 

I found this tread on a big forum from the north.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148823

And i am shoked that this subject looks to be so normal. I live in a country where a lot of car drivers carry guns(on body or hidden) and more then solving a problem,it creates it.

I know someone braugth up this subject a time ago. But i recomend again and again not to bring fire arms to southamerica!
Legal imposibility and problems with local people.

It looks temting sometimes but again, do not travell with fear.Be aware of risks and enjoy in a peacefull way your trip.
DO NOT START A FLAME WAR PLEASE!

I personally wouldn't want to carry a firearm; what with my clumsiness and all, the only thing likely to be shot is my foot!

Hi BCK,
Don't worry, advrider is a well known and previously documented source of total loonies. Just do what I do: Be thankful they don't live near you and tune in from time to time for a bloody good laugh.
Matt :)
PS: These guys are too scared to go into their local woods without a handgun. The chances of them making it to Argentina are slim.

Hmmm...now is that really funny or really frightening? My favourite quote, and the 'banjo' award for circular logic and self-contradiction goes to:

"(firearms are used in approximately 20,000 fatalities, of which the Federal Govt. does not deliniate between self defense or Officer involved shootings.) Sooo, if you think think guns are the problem, check your facts"

er...right...?

do we need it? NO I think. Especially the overlanders who are and should be the real peacemakers.

Fight cause another fight.
If you make a smash on me, I make one to you. That's it. Eye for an eye. Who can be real Jesus, "turn other face"?

Useless and unnacessary.
I don't know the people who written that and his surroundings. If we were living in the States, who knows?

But as written above: NOT US. Not overlanders and adventure raiders.

Be calm, stay cool and smile a lot. It always help.

These people are more worrying than any other problem you may encounter.....I would suggest they carry their firearms down the front of their pants with no trigger guard!:biggrin3:

There was a thread here ages ago that was closed before the pro & anti gun groups started killing each other. The last post summed it up nicely :-

'The world is full of unarmed dead people'
'Yes, they all died in their sleep'

You dont need a gun in S.America & you'd be in *deep* shit if you got caught with one.

It does beg the question, 'Do you need to bring a gun if you're going to North America?' (Only kidding).

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

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.

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

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...

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.

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

Suegra
 

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

Cu
Javier...
www.dakarmotos.com