Steve, because you have talked many times about cruises to various Caribbean Islands I will say this: from many decades of travel to the Caymans, the Bahamas, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands there is no way I would be in those waters without a long gun for distance interdiction and a hand gun(s) for close quarters defence.
I have a few knives, one I keep in the cockpit mostly for emergency situations. Carry a Benchmade on me 24/7. Also have an expandable steel baton, 2 mag lights, police issued mace...oh and a Yorkshire terrier that chases away pitbulls. Mostly for any drunks that stumble out of the tiki bar and be where they shouldn't. Also have marine police two slips down...we good buddies.
I have a few knives, one I keep in the cockpit mostly for emergency situations. Carry a Benchmade on me 24/7. Also have an expandable steel baton, 2 mag lights, police issued mace...oh and a Yorkshire terrier that chases away pitbulls. Mostly for any drunks that stumble out of the tiki bar and be where they shouldn't. Also have marine police two slips down...we good buddies.
I have had my Benchmade on me for the past 16 years. Best money could buy!
I know the Caribbean as well as most. If you think you are safe there with many of the individuals who traffic in everything then I suggest you stick to something that you know better - boat maintenance.
find me unarmed, and two things will be known: i lost, and i'm dead.
seriously..... years and years of always being armed and several years of combat have made my weapons like Linus's blanket... it's actually something i'm working on... slowly.. not carefully.. my definition of careful means i'm armed... see the paradox there?
the absolute caveat? nobody knows except those privy to licensing...
.40 Glock 22 for just a day trip on the runabout. Cruiser or houseboat add a 12 ga with less-lethal rounds and an AR-15. I am retired law enforcement and like options. I don't advertise the fact that I have these but made an exception for RBO.
My father, who was an unarmed and armed combat specialist told me that with the proper training anyone could be disarmed unless he had a gun and knew how to use it - in which case unless you were Superman you were likely dead. Family, friends and I have been in the Caribbean regularly for decades. We LOVE it. That said if you get just slightly off the well travelled track, sooner or later you will meet the those who traffic everything imaginable and who have shown no mercy in the past.....and there are very many of them about.
Just knives and a baseball bat on the boat although I do have a carry permit. I feel safer on the water and in most marinas. The occasional lost drunk on my bow I have handled by other means.
I belong to the local gun club and have a hand full, plenty of long guns from the duck hunting days years ago. Boating 40+ years I have never thought about it untill this year. Daily someone is shooting someone somewhere. Today Richmond Va, and many you don't hear about. For the most part boaters are good people out haveing a good time with family and freinds. However there are so many nut cased fools packing. It's scary. Yesterday, my wife is a teacher, the school went on lock down, some nut was in the socker feild within, 1000 ft and between two schools waving a gun around, they took him down with out shots fired but he was there. Yes, it would be hard to admitt on a public forum, thanks for shareing. This will be my first year. I'm packin. Like diggin said. Better to have and not need... Than to need and not have!!
Comments
And besides, all the Army training made ME into a weapon.
2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
i see no purpose to be carrying on a boat.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
06 Rinker 270
Now if I was doing long cruises like handy is about to, I would up it.
06 Rinker 270
I know the Caribbean as well as most. If you think you are safe there with many of the individuals who traffic in everything then I suggest you stick to something that you know better - boat maintenance.
seriously..... years and years of always being armed and several years of combat have made my weapons like Linus's blanket... it's actually something i'm working on... slowly.. not carefully.. my definition of careful means i'm armed... see the paradox there?
the absolute caveat? nobody knows except those privy to licensing...
PC BYC, Holland, MI
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3