Boats & Guns

[burleytog]

Do you carry while on the water?

[frogtog]

Yes, I know that it is against the law to have a loaded firearm at the ramp. So I don't tell, I have a P85 in the Suburban and a Ruger 22 in the boat.

[fishfordollars]

Yup.

[Glenn]

Nope.  In over 3 decades of fishing, I've never once ever felt the need to resort to deadly force while fishing.

[Jake P]

I always do incase a gang of pirates come and try to steal me booty, other than that whats the reason?

[Sam]

Burley,

Interesting question.

I have discussed this issue with a number of guys and they all say that they do not carry any weapons in their bass boats.

Some do have pistols in their trucks, but they keep the guns in their trucks at all times.

I have never ecountered a problem on the water; however there is no guarantee that my next outing will not place me in a precarious situaiton.

I thought of carrying one of those "snake" guns while fishing the Chick and Nottoway Rivers, but so far I have not seen any water moccasions or copperheads that were a threat.

So to answer your question, no - but I have thought about it many times.

And I will share with everyone that one of the guys in my boat club was actuall shot at while at a gas station filling up his boat for a tournament. Seems this guy got angry at him so he fired his gun and hit my friend's truck.  Local Sheriff deputies took that looney away and he is now in jail.

Two other guys had a man run down his lawn from his house carrying a shotgun and threatening the boaters to get away from his dock and fish somewhere else.  No shots fired and the local Sheriff told my friends that the guy has a history of chasing fishermen away from his property but he has not fired his shotgun to date.

As we all know, there are a lot of angry people out there and it is better to walk away then to find yourself in court facing charges after all you did was defend yourself.

[Dibbs]

I carry EVERYWHERE. I don't have a boat yet, but when I do it will be no different.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

this goes for many things and having a gun especially  'its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it'

[bowtech_182]

Always.  The only place I do not carry is at work or places prohibited by law.

[Micro]

Only when I'm hunting.  I've used my boat to get into some distant creeks with good squirrel trees around them.

[Korea_Bassin]

Short answer is no.  

Longer answer is that guns aren't allowed in Korea, so be thankful for the second amendment rights that we share in America although some are trying to take that right away. (We did have a great victory in that regards just last week at the Supreme Court level that I'm thankful for but I'll have to stop here before I incur the wrath of the mods for political content).

When I was living in Monterey, CA a few years ago, I went out with a friend fishing for salmon.  It was extremely foggy (as it normally is about 300 days of the year in Monterey).  There is an oddity about salmon fishing and sea lions.  Salmon aren't part of the natural diet for a sea lion.  They can't even catch them themselves.  But they follow the fishing boats when they go out, and if you hook up with a salmon, the sea lion will try to steal it before you can get it to the boat.  The sea lions don't even eat the entire fish.  They just eat the gut portion and then they are finished.  

So we are out fishing and out of the fog, we hear the distinct sound of a .22 caliber rifle being fired from not too far away in the fog.  I asked my friend about it and he said it probably was a fisherman shooting at a sea lion that was trying to take his fish.  I was a bit concerned since, due to the fog, there is no way the guy who was shooting could know whether there was anyone else (possibly, and most importantly, even me!) in the direction in which he was firing.

[AnthonyRSS]

I carry a gun always.  I can't read the future, so I don't know what may happen.  I still carry although I have never come close to having to clear leather.  I do frequent some shady ramps though.

Anthony

[flechero]

Nope. In over 3 decades of fishing, I've never once ever felt the need to resort to deadly force while fishing.

That's a common feeling... no one wakes up and say "well feels like today is the day I'll get attacked" or car jacked or murdered or whatever.

carrying a weapon is NOT for everyone... but for some, it's like insurance... you have it and hope to God you never need it.

Do you think any of the Va Tech students felt unsafe before the shooting started?

I always felt safe at home until one night a few years ago when I awoke to the sound of my door being kicked in.

Secluded boat ramps at late night/early morning seem to attract people I would otherwise avoid, if there was an open ramp elsewhere.

[skunked_again]

i legally carry everywhere, cuzz a policemans to heavy to carry.

i used to carry a sawed off single shot 12 ga. for snakes and such but after a while i learned that snakes wont get in your boat 98% of the time if you ask them not too. so now its just the Para LTC for me.

[fishbear]

All day every day, as the law or work allows.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I carry two large concealed knives. Each can be opened with one hand in a nano second. I prefer stabbing instead of shooting....just me.

[Bass Tard]

I noticed that the majority of the gun toters are from the south. I've always thought that the friendly folks lived down there. Is it that bad that you feel you need to bring a gun when you go fishing? That's pretty sad.

[Tin]

I prefer starter fluid and a lighter for a home made flame thrower when I'm in trouble.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I noticed that the majority of the gun toters are from the south. I've always thought that the friendly folks lived down there. Is it that bad that you feel you need to bring a gun when you go fishing? That's pretty sad.

LOL thats why most are freindly ya never know who has a gun so ur kind and polite im below the mason dixon line maryland to be exact our real name is murderland we aint allowed to carry concealed or open our crime rate is 1  murder ever 48 hrs my neighbers murder rate (ILOVE VIRGINIA) is 1 murder every  48 days why .............because felons KNOW that armed citizens BY choice are a force to be reckon with

[Bassn Blvd]

I carry my .40 Glock and .38 Airweight S&W in the boat on every trip.  Why?  Because I won't leave them locked in my truck at the ramp, only to be stolen.  #2 reason- because my job says I will be armed whenever in public.

[Sam]

Special thanks to all of you law enforcement guys.

We need more good guys and it is nice knowing that you all are out there if we need you.

As for nice people down south...yes, 99% of everyone down younder are great people.

But it is the 1% that we worry about and that are out at 3 AM when we take off to head for the ramps or who stagger to a city ramp (like Hopewell Marina in Virginia) that can cause trouble.

As flechero said, "carrying a weapon is NOT for everyone...  but for some, it's like insurance... you have it and hope to God you never need it."

[AnthonyRSS]

And I carry because I couldn't live with myself if I let anything happen to my loved ones.  

Its also funny the "uneducated" think that those that carry are always looking for trouble, when in my personal experience it is exactly opposite.  

Still can't read the future.

Anthony

[preach4bass]

I noticed that the majority of the gun toters are from the south. I've always thought that the friendly folks lived down there. Is it that bad that you feel you need to bring a gun when you go fishing? That's pretty sad.

It ain't our fellow Southerners that we're worried about; it's all them Yankees comin' down we carry for.

[flechero]

Part of my own reasoning is that as a husband and father to be, I am to provide for and protect my family.  If I get mugged, killed or whatever, then I can't do either.

Just like lots of people advocate a life jacket -because you "never know."

Its also funny the "uneducated" think that those that carry are always looking for trouble, when in my personal experience it is exactly opposite.

Agreed, 100%  

[FishingBuds]

Burley you pot stirrer ;D

you just set back and wacth don't ya :

"Its sad to carry a gun"  "I like to stab"  "I carry a 40"

;D ;D ;D

alright heres my clever input

Hopefully no one finds out if I carry one or not

;D ;D