Wow. Ranger shot just outside Moab.

[brett13]

MOAB, Utah – Officers swarmed a rugged Utah canyon west of Moab Saturday, searching for a man who shot and critically wounded a park ranger.

SWAT teams moved into the canyon near the Colorado River while boats patrolled the banks and a helicopter watched from above. Sharpshooters had surrounded lined the ridges overnight as authorities waited for sunrise to go after the suspect, Grand County Sheriff Jim Nyland said.

The state park law officer was in critical condition after being shot three times Friday night while patrolling the popular Poison Spider Mesa Trail, Parks spokeswoman Deena Loyola said.

Full Article

Now that's pretty scary.

 

[pods8]

Weird. It'll be interesting to hear the motive.

Anyone want to wager a meth head perhaps?

 

[Barko1]

There can be some strange ones out there, hope he falls off a cliff.

 

[Desert Rancher]

This is what's going on in my neck of the woods. I have known this girl for about 20 years as she is a neighbor of one of my desert buddies, out in a remote area. She is & has always been a really nutty case. Talks to herself and stands outside of her house and screams to the desert. She has come over to my buddies place at times and completely exposes herself.


L.V. woman arrested for plotting to kill sheriff’s sergeant

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/plotting-23113-sergeant-sheriff.html

 

[Barko1]

This is what's going on in my neck of the woods. I have known this girl for about 20 years as she is a neighbor of one of my desert buddies, out in a remote area. She is & has always been a really nutty case. Talks to herself and stands outside of her house and screams to the desert. She has come over to my buddies place at times and completely exposes herself.


L.V. woman arrested for plotting to kill sheriff’s sergeant

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/plotting-23113-sergeant-sheriff.html


A shame as it certainly seems she is quite mentally ill but until she does something very illegal nothing will be done

 

[home skillet]

You know, this raises (again) the question in my mind about carrying self protection with me in my camper. I know that there are two sides to this debate. One says, "carrying a gun just causes more problems than it solves". The other says, "when you need protection, you really need a gun". I haven't been able to come to a conclusion on this topic myself. I really don't like guns (unless I'm hunting birds) but what do you all think?
Home Skillet

 

[MarkBC]

You know, this raises (again) the question in my mind about carrying self protection with me in my camper. I know that there are two sides to this debate. One says, "carrying a gun just causes more problems than it solves". The other says, "when you need protection, you really need a gun". I haven't been able to come to a conclusion on this topic myself. I really don't like guns (unless I'm hunting birds) but what do you all think?
Home Skillet


Here's my view on this and similar situations: Most people have trouble with accurate risk-assessment.

They hear about some horrible or scary situation in the news (crazy ladies, teenage-school-shooters, child-abduction, contaminated meat, planes crashing) and they think, "I gotta protect myself against this -- better safe than sorry!" That seems to make sense...until you think about the real sources -- the likely sources -- of harm in their lives. For example, all of the dangers I listed in parentheses are way, way less-likely to happen to them than the likelihood of them getting in a car accident. That's why these kind of events are in the news -- they're in the news because they're rare. Common events don't make the news -- rare events do. So removing the dangers of crazy ladies or plane-crashing, etc. from their lives has very little reduction in the likelihood of injury since car-accident-risk is so much higher than those rare events.
It makes people think they're doing something worthwhile...but that's just an emotional/feeling outcome, not a real outcome.
And what's wrong with "better safe than sorry" even if the dangers are rare? Because steps taken to be better-safe-than-sorry can/do have side-effects, unintended and/or obvious, sometimes increasing the risk of other/new dangers or even just reducing quality of life by limiting your choices.

I know some people -- maybe most people -- will disagree with me...but that's what I think, and that's how I live my life. Others have the choice to live their lives differently...but I would hope that their choices don't affect my life (e.g., please don't accidentally shoot me because you hear a noise and think I'm the crazy lady)

 

[leadsled9]

You know, this raises (again) the question in my mind about carrying self protection with me in my camper. I know that there are two sides to this debate. One says, "carrying a gun just causes more problems than it solves". The other says, "when you need protection, you really need a gun". I haven't been able to come to a conclusion on this topic myself. I really don't like guns (unless I'm hunting birds) but what do you all think?
Home Skillet


The typical FWC owner likes to camp away from organized campgrounds.....out in the boonies. There is no 911 response. You can't call the police and expect an officer to show up in 5 minutes. Your protection and that of your family/friends is up to you. I would rather have options available for self protection. The amount of protection I feel appropriate varies by camping location.

Last year I spent the entire month of January camping out near the Mexican border in Arizona. The country was beautiful and I'll have good memories from that trip for years to come but it wasn't all roses. The amount of crime down there is appalling. There are illegal immigrant smugglers, drug smugglers and banditos (who shoot the drug mules and steal their drugs).

I camped in a remote area and was visited often by Border Patrol officers. It made me feel good that they checked up on me regularly. They knew I was camped alone and suggested that I always "carry" while hiking down there. One officer went further and suggested that "something with a high-capacity magazine would be preferable." Luckily, having heard about the situation down there I was prepared. Attached is a picture of the "Security Section" of my Hawk.

I always try to stay alert about my surroundings. One day during the trip I was camped about 3 miles North of the Mexican border when I ran into 3 guys that just gave me the creeps. They were all armed...and they all noticed (I watched their eyes) that I was carrying. We had a brief conversation and I felt that they were scoping me out. Two of them even followed me (from quite a distance) back to my camp. They spooked me enough that I broke camp and relocated about 20 miles away. I don't know if I was over sensitive or not....but relocating camp made me feel a lot better. Stay alert out there!

 

[Barko1]

Attached is a picture of the "Security Section" of my Hawk.



We live next to a huge expanse of BLM land and far enough out that it would take the Sheriff too long to get here I have taken the concealed carry course and have a few crime deterrents.

I still think I'll avoid the border, too much craziness and you might end up in jail for protecting yourself from a drug mule.

 

[mtn-high]

I am prohibited "Federally" from owning a weapon because I carry a Colorado State-issued medical marijuana card.
(you KNOW how crazy violent us potheads are so it makes sense, right?)

I should intro you guys to my brother. I think he has every assualt weapon/grenade launcher/automatic weapon ever made. Scares the Hell out of me.

"happiness is a warm gun....bang, bang, shoot, shoot..."

be safe

mtn

 

[pods8]

I am prohibited "Federally" from owning a weapon because I carry a Colorado State-issued medical marijuana card.
(you KNOW how crazy violent us potheads are so it makes sense, right?)

Really? Is that the feds trying to put pressure on individuals since even though states are allowing medical MJ, the feds aren't so technically you're a "criminal" to them (without ever actually being charged)? Or are they lumping that under mental health issues or what? Either way sounds like BS, its not like they make it illegal for the opiate pill popping baby boomers (yep, they are the highest abusers of narcotics, people just kid themselves about it since your doctor hands them out like candy) to have a gun.

 

[mtn-high]

I don't have the official forms in front of me to quote, pods, but the Federal forms required to own a weapon ask specifically if you use or are addicted to any illegal drugs, including marijuana. As the Fed doesn't recognize the State MMJ laws...to answer anything other than "Yes" of the Federal form would be untruthful.

In the end, pot grows and weapons just don't mix (penalties are very harsh). Sadly, because the gov't chooses to keep marijuana illegal and threfore, worth A LOT of money, those who grow medically must make the choice between such penalties and the rights that others freely enjoy when it comes to protecting their home/property/possessing a weapon.

mtn

 

[pods8]

I don't have the official forms in front of me to quote, pods, but the Federal forms required to own a weapon ask specifically if you use or are addicted to any illegal drugs, including marijuana. As the Fed doesn't recognize the State MMJ laws...to answer anything other than "Yes" of the Federal form would be untruthful.

Huh, I never read the form that close to have the MJ jump at me, I'll check it out next piece I pick up.

In the end, pot grows and weapons just don't mix (penalties are very harsh). Sadly, because the gov't chooses to keep marijuana illegal and threfore, worth A LOT of money, those who grow medically must make the choice between such penalties and the rights that others freely enjoy when it comes to protecting their home/property/possessing a weapon.

mtn


I don't doubt they try to screw folks over in that regard but do you have any references of instances of med grows taking additional heat for any weapons legally purchased? One hand says yeah they'd likely try to screw folks like that but on the other it seems like there has to be lots of previous case laws involving folks who own firearms getting popped for other drugs and logical jurors realizing that owning a gun doesn't factor into the equation at all.

 

[brett13]

One alternative to firearms is bear spray. Much more powerful than mace in both projection and strength; it will protect you; you can't miss; and if you made a mistake you won't kill anyone and end serving time.

 

[leadsled9]

One alternative to firearms is bear spray. Much more powerful than mace in both projection and strength; it will protect you; you can't miss; and if you made a mistake you won't kill anyone and end serving time.


I used to carry bear pepper spray in Alaska thinking that I would be adequately protected against bear attacks. I carried it many times over about a year and a half with peace of mind.

One day my brother explained to me if I was going to rely on pepper spray that I should point it down wind and test it every once and a while. So....I pointed it down wind....pushed the trigger....and the head snapped off and the can fell on the ground. After I picked up my chin....I loaded my .44 and carried it ever since.

Moral of the story is if you are going to rely on pepper spray....test it often.

I think I'd still be ok with pepper spray (tested) with a gun back up.

 

[Cort]

... if you made a mistake you won't kill anyone and end serving time.


ummmm really......

seriously?

 

[brett13]

if you are going to rely on pepper spray....test it often.

Fair enough, but I wouldn't rely on it in grizzly country either. A ranger in Yellowstone told me it was statistically 100% effective vs black bears, but only 60 or 70% vs griz. I'd call a .44 "prudent" in AK!

 

[brett13]

ummmm really......

seriously?

Are you implying pepper spray is lethal? I suppose if someone were allergic, but that would hardly be criminal and if you accidentally did it to yourself or your partner, you'd at least have a fighting chance of getting to medical help. Better odds than a gaping gunshot wound to the face or torso.

 

[leadsled9]

I'd call a .44 "prudent" in AK!


Well, I've updated my options specifically for Alaska. The .44 magnum has 900 ft./lbs. of muzzle energy....the .500 magnum that I recently acquired has 2700 ft./lbs. at the muzzle.....three times the muzzle energy of the .44.

I feel that the .44 is adequate for black bears....but feel much better with the .500 in grizzly country.

 

[Cort]

I am not implying anything....the use of any type of force can be lethal...whether it be throwing rocks, bottles, hitting someone with a bat, using a gun or knife, or shooting caustic liquid at someone (ie bear spray). The attitude that using bear spray somehow releases you from the responsibility of your actions is just in error. I guarantee you if you made a mistake and hit someone with bear spray without just cause, that you would without a doubt be in jail....and to count on that as an effective defense against someone who really wants to harm you is even a bigger error.

IMHO if you ever encounter a situation when you feel like you need to defend your life (ie nowhere near civilization or the prospects of help) there is no middle ground....you either defend yourself with deadly force or you put your life in the hands of your attacker. The idea of threatening or disabling someone and running for help is just not realistic and in many cases will put you deeper into harms way.

99.99% of all potentially dangerous situations encountered when we travel off the beaten path can be handled by being aware, having a cool head, and knowing when its time to move on to a different spot. For the 0.01% of those encounters where that is not an option......I choose the last of the three precious metals.....lead (of the high velocity persuasion).

Cort