What do you carry on your boat for Protection.....

I've never packed on my boat, but I had a situation a few nights ago where I REALLY wished I was.

I was at a secluded ramp in Indiana. No other boats on the water, no other cars in the lot.

Some yahoos came through the campground and started yelling at me from the shore. I really paid no attention to them.

An hour later, nearly dark, I put the boat back on the trailer and am getting all my stuff together and here comes 2 guys down the ramp. One guy on one side another guy on the other.

They are about 20-30 yards away and I ask them how they are doing......no answer. Something serious is going down. They are going to rob me, beat me up....whatever......

As they get closer, I yell over to them to hold on a minute cause I got something for them, and I open up my rod locker and start to reach into it.......

Both of those SOB's ran off like a couple scared chickens, but the only thing I had in the locker was a paddle......I'm assuming they though I was packing.......

Now a couple questions for people who KNOW.....

* First, what is legal for me to carry.
* What is EASIER to carry.
* What can I carry in Indiana AND KY.

I will definitely be looking into this and getting something soon.

I though about a semi-auto handgun with some decent stopping power, but I also thought about a pump shotgun.

What do you guys think.

Later,

Geo

I have a .45 Kimber Pro CDP II that I carry in my vehicle and my boat, I also have a concealed carry permit. Which is reciprocal for IN and KY. I think in order to carry firearms that are less than 2 moves away requires a permit. For example if you had your gun in a case that was inside a dry locker in your boat that would require 1 move of opening the locker and a 2nd move opening the gun case. I think that would be legal without a permit. But to be safe you might just want to go ahead and get that permit and then you can carry anything you want pretty much anywhere you want. You could pack a Samurai Sword if you wanted to. Also, I don't a shotgun would be a good idea, they are great for home defense but not really very maneuverable or easy to carry also not very concealable. I think a handgun as long its no smaller than 9mm would be a good choice, even a revolver, but the capacity is alot less than say a compact 9mm or even a 1911 .45. The choices are really endless.

I ALWAYS carry a 45 cal Taurus on my belt. Never leave home without it.. Unless I am going to a school function. It is legal to carry on school property only when dropping off or picking up a child in your vehicle the way i read it.

i can't speak for IN but in Ky a CCDW permit would be your best bet. Having the permit can make a lot of headache and hassle go away. you don't have to worry about some a-hole LE having a bad day hassling you about having a firearm. i know when i go out on the water, whether it be a boat trip on the lake or bank fishing at a local park or creek, i am always carrying one of two things, either my Glock 26 ( 9 mm) or my springfield XD ( .40 cal). criminals don't make appointments, and trouble always happens at the most inconvenient time. i carry all the time anyway. It's my constitutional right, just like freedom of speech and i chose to exercise it.

Since I could never shoot anyone I dont carry anything but a pocket knife, for cutting line or rope. But since you asked you can carry a pistol or any firearm on yourself or anywhere else in KY( there are exceptions ) as long as its visible.

Here is a link to the Kentucky State Police website it's a map that shows which states honor KY's CCDW permit and which ones don't.

[url]http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/conceal.htm#recip[/url]

Yes, open carry is legal anywhere not restricted by federal law in the state of Kentucky. Thanks to the 7th ammendment of teh state constitution, only Concealed Carry can be regulated by state government. And state law says that no city, county, or municipality may make any firearms laws that are more restrictive than state law. With that said, it is 100% legal to open carry or to concealed carry (with proper permit) while on the water. However, I am still trying to clarify whether carrying on Army Corps property (boat ramps, dams, parks) is legal.

Additonally, there is no "two step" rule in Kentucky. Its either in plain sight, or is considered concealed. IN a motor vehicle, it will not be considered concealed if it is place in a factory installed glove box in your motor vehicle regardless of whether that container is locked or not. Does motor vehicle apply to boat is teh question... I do not know, and the KRS isnt clear. So if you wann keep a gun in your glove box (at least in your car) unlocked, with a mag in and a round in the pipe... it is still not considered concealed carry... this is all KRS 527.020

I, however, never leave home without my S&W M&P40c concealed on my body. When on the water, I will occasionally place the firearm in teh glove box for comfort. If it were me, I would open carry in KY if i did not have a CCDW, but would recommend the CCDW route if you have the means to do so... because yes most LEO's are less educated about teh laws they enforce than we are, and if you catch one in a bad mood, you may end up in Jaiil and having to get a lawyer involved to defend yoru civil rights.

You may want to check the rules of the COE and the US Forestry service before carrying on their property permit or not. This includes lakes etc.

I also had the same/similar questions. It seemed that depending on who you talked to or asked, you get conflicting answers because of the gray areas in the laws. I chose to acquire my CCDW permit. There are NO gray areas in these laws. Therefore peace of mind and weapon readily available should it be necessary.

I heard that on Falcon lake that guys are mounting 30 or 50cals on the back deck, so one can fish and the other shoot. It is sad that we now live in a socitey that is reverting back to old west days, Glad they did not do anything to you Geo, Get a" 44 mag the most powerful handgun in the world, powerful enough to blow your head clean off, so do you feel lucky punk". But serisouly I have seen some that carry shotguns and have them mounted in a rod locker that you can get to quick, they make a stanlis steel marine model, filled with buckshot and a couple slugs it is a great deterent and has effective stopping power, as if the perp is wearing a vest te buckshot will tear thru it and if that dont work then the slug will stop him. Lot easier to hit a moving target with a shotgun.

is it legal to have a shot gun on your boat? cause i have no problem carrying one. been wanting to for awhile

[URL="http://www.kc3.com/"]http://www.kc3.com[/URL]

#1, get a Kentucky CCDW permit. That will require taking a 1-day training course and passing a shooting test. If you pay attention in the class, a good instructor like I had will cover a lot of different scenarios and answer a lot of questions. Nobody should carry without knowledge of the law, your rights, and some forethought about how you would react in situations where you perceive that your life is in danger, a by-stander's life is in danger, etc. Even if you don't want a CCDW permit, take a class, read some good books on the subject of defensive handgun carry. Walkeraviator's post is spot on too.

#2, there is some concern about carrying, even with a permit, on COE and US Forestry Service property. I'm not certain that it's okay...I'd like some solid answers on that one myself. My position on it, quite honestly, has been that I'm still putting my gun in my pocket. If I need it to protect my life, I'll take the rap for carrying in an unauthorized place...at least I'll be alive.

Carrying a gun is a privilege, but it comes with a lot of responsibilities. I'm very touchy about it. It's a subject that can be debated a lot! Geo, I'm sure based on what I've read here from you that you are a responsible law-abiding citizen who can think quick on your feet, without a doubt. There are others that aren't so responsible and think that simply having a gun in their possession is enough - It's not. You have to have the restraint to only use it as a last resort...and the quick, logical thinking, to know when to use and it when not to use it. Even though "Standing your Ground" is a fundamental ideology in Kentucky law, I believe that things like avoiding conflict, taking reasonable steps to retreat from a threat, and demonstrating an intention not to fight before using lethal force are just as important as selecting the right weapon and being proficient with it. I often think about certain situations that I hear about in the news and try to come up with how I would react, as a CCDW holder, to protect my life, a by-stander's life, or property. That might involve using my gun, or using my brain. I want to avoid having to pull my firearm at all costs, but if I decide to show it, it's because I'm going to use it...quickly...to neutralize a threat.

A lot of debate about what are the best concealed carry guns...I do not buy into the "carrying capacity" argument against 5-6 shot revolvers. The majority of situations involving civilians and self-defense are handled in a couple of shots, at very close range. Do not over-look a snub nosed .38 Special that will handle +P ammunition. Small, light, relatively accurate for what they are, and the ability to deliver a punch center-mass at close range.

I want a weapon that is reliable, always "goes bang", and is convenient to totally conceal. A small revolver fits that bill. If it's bulky or a bit of a chore to carry it, you are more apt to leave it at home....it can't protect your life if it's in the nightstand. I carry a Ruger LCP .380 in many cases, simply because of convenience. Extremely light, concealable, and with the right loads can stop a threat, even wearing bulky clothing. (Google Ruger LCP Hornady Critical Defense Loads - You want a round that will expand at impact, not get clogged with material, and stay inside the victim - Not pass through.) It will easily slip into a jeans pocket, coat pocket, even the pocket of gym shorts when you're on a run. I use an inside-the-pocket holster (Desantis "Nemesis"). It's no more bulky than your wallet or cell phone. With an extremely long trigger pull, it can be carried safely inside the pocket with one in the chamber. Many LEO's use them as backup guns, worn on the ankle.

I have 9mm, 45, etc...all great guns...but I find that I carry the .380 or .38 Special more times than not out of convenience. Yes, you'll get the arguments about not being able to stop some guy jacked up on drugs...and that may be true...but there are times when larger calibers won't stop them either. It's a balancing act, really.

For home defense, it gets much easier for me....with a .45, cocked and locked, and little regard for why you broke into my house. I will not try to find out whether you intend to steal my TV or rape my wife. I will shoot first, then ask those questions later. Sorry to be so inconsiderate of the criminal's feelings, but I am what I am. A 12-ga pump, short barrel, with good loads is also a fine home defense weapon...wouldn't be bad to keep in a rod locker, but I'd much prefer a handgun in my pocket...always accessible to me quickly, in one slick movement, whether I'm in the boat, in the parking lot at the ramp, or walking up from the ramp to the bathroom to take a leak.