I wanted to see if anyone on here carried a firearm legally while exploring? Wanted to get opinions on why it's a good or a bad idea.

Well it's hard to legally carry while exploring unless you have permission from the land owner. Other than that it's not technically legal, unless you're in a state or national park. I carried legally out west in October but normally leave the gun at home.


It's a good idea for parks since there are wild animals and what not. I carried in Detroit but it wasn't exactly legal, but it's Detroit so.

Posted by Rinzler Well it's hard to legally carry while exploring unless you have permission from the land owner. Other than that it's not technically legal, unless you're in a state or national park. I carried legally out west in October but normally leave the gun at home. It's a good idea for parks since there are wild animals and what not. I carried in Detroit but it wasn't exactly legal, but it's Detroit so.

I have a pa concealed carry license , that restricts you to no schools, courthouse etc. just curious on if you were to get caught trespassing.

This is a bad idea in just about every case one can think of. And good way to lose your carry license in Texas by trespassing with your firearm.

Considering of course some peoples idea exploring is driving around outside of a building or visiting a state park so, to get a more precise answer youd have to provide a more precise question

"exploring" is such a broad term its become whatever anyone wants to believe they are doing and may or may not even involve trespassing

Each state is going to treat this differently you should read your state penal code and not rely on advice from a Internet forum

Texas PC article 30.05 deals with criminal trespass and specifies that you go from a Class B misdemeanor directly to a Class A if you get caught trespassing with "a weapon".

http://law.justia.....00.000030.00.html

The question you need to ask yourself are you even prepared to use your handgun (shoot another person) and deal with the civil and criminal aftermath regardless of the trespassing part? Youre going to spend a lot of time and money on that I assure you.

Posted by sleeperspirit I have a pa concealed carry license , that restricts you to no schools, courthouse etc. just curious on if you were to get caught trespassing.

That's not carrying legally then if you're trespassing. I assumed you meant carrying where it's legal. I wouldn't carry and trespass unless you want a felony on your record.

Makes sense, sounds like it's a bad idea for sure.

In colorado, I grew up hiking with bears and cougars. Maybe bear spray, but I'm not sure that'd be much better if you got caught with it...

Maybe rocks and a lot of screaming is the right way to go

If you think an area is high risk enough that you need to pack, you have no reason to go there unless your business requires it. Packing doesn't mean you can forgo common sense.

If you poke your nose in enough rat holes sooner or later you'll get bit...

If you bring a gun while doing something illegal and get caught by the cops, you're going to have a bad time.

I prefer to stab my victims...makes less noise

Not just cops, but let's say you walk in on someone who legitimately belongs there--then you're a very threatening presence.

Anyway, if you're going somewhere that you think you'll need guns, unless it's out in the desert or something, probably time to rethink why you're doing this.

.....'Merica....

Nah I'm in Australia. Never carried anything else for self defence either. That said I'm a large man and pretty good at convincing people that I'm tougher than I actually am.

I carry a gun with me EVERYWHERE (except when I explore).

A simple trespassing citation can quickly escalate if you're armed (legally or not). More importantly, ask yourself why you would carry. The obvious answer is "to defend myself", however let that scenario play out... You need to defend your life, you shoot an attacker (while trespassing), now what? So it's a double whammy to carry while exploring: 1) it will cause trouble if you're caught 2) you can't use the gun anyway, because you'll likely be charged for use of the weapon.

I leave mine locked in my truck. On most explores, it's no more than a sprint away.

Yes.

guess i'm just being a pinko canadian here but you must live in some fucked up, ass backwards place if you gotta carry a gun EVERYWHERE you go. or you're one of those open carry whackjobs.

even still, carrying while trespassing just sounds fuckin dumb unless you're knowingly exploring a meth lab or something... which is also fuckin dumb

I don't think is a good idea, I dont have the experience but just knowing you are in a Private Property and the cop caught you with the gun HOLY MOLY!!!! I carry a pepper spray everywhere not just when im exploring, I never used but in case I see a cop I will throw it if I can.

Posted by unlighted-zero guess i'm just being a pinko canadian here but you must live in some fucked up, ass backwards place if you gotta carry a gun EVERYWHERE you go. or you're one of those open carry whackjobs. even still, carrying while trespassing just sounds fuckin dumb unless you're knowingly exploring a meth lab or something... which is also fuckin dumb

Yes. Us insane Americans exercising their rights. Crazy!

Given the wide geographical demography of this site it was only a matter of time before this thread went to shit...

It is illegal to carry your CCW while in the commission of a crime. (i.e....trespassing)
Granted there have times when in neighborhoods in philadelphia and Camden when I wish I was carrying.

Heres a good gun law site for yanno... us crazy gun nut americans.

www.handgunlaw.us

and as not to turn this thread political. I'll keep my opinions of other countries gun laws to myself.

Yes I do. I travel the back roads and trails of the southwest, often by myself. It seems to me to be a bit irresponsible to head out into the desert without a high-lift jack, a first aid kit, some food and water, and a weapon to protect myself. Hopefully I won't have an emergency where I need any of those, but I have them in case that I do.

I'm a bit tired of being preached at by people who don't own guns and don't want anyone else to have them either. My weapon is no more of a danger to someone who isn't trying to kill me than my fire extinguisher.

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