One can’t very well tuck one’s gat under a towel at the beach or poolside. So how do you deal with summer aquatics and EDC (Everyday Carry)? Dan’s got one of those gun safes that you can wire to some relatively secure part of your whip, but how confident do you feel leaving your gun in a beach car park? (Note: some jurisdictions prohibit concealed carry permit holders from storing their gun in a glove box.) Do you “take the risk,” forgo firearms and disarm for pool parties and beach days? Keep in mind that there have been gunfights at public beaches. Another one just last night, in fact. The lead may not fly at at the kind of seaside areas or public pools you or I might frequent, and if so not frequently, but . . . And yes I’m happy to see you.
I have always viewed my sidearm like any other bit of safety equipment. I try to have it available to me if possible, but if you are going to enjoy life at all then sometimes you have to let it go and be “naked” as it were.
As always, the REAL safety equipment is between your ears and situational awareness is the tool you can ALWAYS have with you that will keep you out of the path of 90% of any oncoming trouble.
I keep it with the towels or cooler, if I’m with my family, I’ll let them know quickly “Guy’s my firearm is under the towels, don’t touch it please” but if someone like the wife isn’t going to be with our stuff the whole time, I just leave it in the car or at home.
Problem is, I’ve found beaches and recreational places seem to be were all the tough guy drunks seem to be so I just stay prepared and try to avoid a fight at all costs, even to the point of going “ok DOOOOD, your the badass, just move along”
Huh? What? The second link to Auburn shooting has nothing to do with seaside or pool side. “The Birmingham News reported that the shooting appeared to take place directly in front of the apartment’s office or clubhouse” Do you have the correct link?
As to the question, it depends are where you live. In CT, “Except as specifically authorized, no firearms, archery equipment or other weapons may be possessed in any campground or recreation area.” And as far as I know, there are no exceptions and the recreation area includes the parking lot. So, unless you mean your own kiddie pool at home, the answer is no. I also agree with Wiebelhaus, there are ALWAYS too many drunks at the beach it is not worth getting into confrontation with some drunken pukes. I would like to point out that in CT, the illegal immigrants probably outnumber the residents at the beach in the summer — there is always a fight.
The shooting was at a pool party, according to the most recent postings. And, as usual, it was an argument about a girl. Punches were thrown, shots fired. One of the guys killed was involved in the altercation–everyone else was a bystander.
This OFWG doesn’t go to the beach or the pool.
Just place your gun into a hollowed-out inside section of a pink life preserver and keep the thing around your waist the whole time while you’re on the beach. Most likely everyone will avoid you.
I kinda like this idea
don’t let your gun become a security blanket.
The beach is where you step down to a small fixed blade knife with a monolythic handle and no scales, dummy corded to your suit. Plus the salt water is terrible for the firearm.
That is a pretty good idea.
A largish neck knife would bo nicely:
http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/5
I have one, and they are very nice blades.
Cold Steel also makes some nice neck knives.
god i hate spam filters.
i’m scared i’ll slice off a n1ppl3 with one of those things, you know they dont grow back. and i dont want to be the one n1ppl3 man on the rare occasion when i go to the beach.
While I don’t have an issue with carry, open or concealed anywhere, I am not a 100% sure how I would secure it lets say at the pool. Yes you can store it in your car, but minus running to the parking lot and back, you might as well leave it at home.
Taking it in the pool or ocean isn’t probably the best idea either.
Concealed carry is why I’ll never wear a Speedo. Talk about printing! So I just won’t do it.
I did not need that image in my head.
If Chicago had concealed carry, maybe North Ave beach wouldnt have so many mob attacks. For those outside of Chicago, North Ave beach is in a very expensive Yuppie neighborhood, that gang bangers for some reason like to visit, not in the middle of the ghetto.
“With school out and in the wake of mob attacks along the lakefront, the Chicago Police Department is making a big show of force along the beaches and Michigan Avenue. Starting today, sources tell CBS 2′s Suzanne LeMignot, police are using every resource–from extra patrols to helicopters…”
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/06/17/with-school-out-police-presence-boosted-downtown/
“In one incident last month at North Avenue Beach, sources say a group of about 100 teens surrounded two people on bikes. Both were knocked off their bikes and thrown into Lake Michigan.”
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/05/20/police-beef-up-patrols-to-combat-flash-mob-crime/
“McCarthy again insisted that gang loitering, intimidation and flash mobs had nothing to do with his department’s unprecedented decision to close North Avenue Beach on Memorial Day, despite statements to the contrary from beachgoers and some police officers.”
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/5807701-418/no-need-to-worry-over-flash-mob-attacks-chicago-police-supt.-mccarthy-says
Plenty more mob violence yesterday too, a group of aprox 2k naked bike riders were getting knocked off their bikes and groped. by a pack of 400 – 500 shit heads. and people wonder why I advocate 7.62 NATO for a home defense rifle.
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13350456&postID=8638025608374837201
Whenever I go to the beach, the good folks from the marine mammal stranding rescue organization try to push me back into the water.
If I could avoid that fate, I’d carry in a fanny pack.
You’ll be okay as long as the rescuers keep away from your blowhole.
HaHa, roger that!
I used to carry a Beretta .25 auto on those occassions. Then a friend of mine got into a shootout with a bandit at a Burger King while on vacation in El Paso. He was also toting a .25 auto. After exhanging a few shots the bad guy ducked back inside the store to reload his revolver. My buddy snuck up and saw him kneeling down and fired three shots point blank into the heavy glass on the exterior of the building. None of them penetrated the glass which was the heavy safety type.
My B .25 was immediately retired to the safe after learning of his experience. Now I just carry my Ruger LC9 wrapped in a towel.
“Carry a .25 if it makes you feel good, but do not ever load it. If you load it you may shoot it. If you shoot it you may hit somebody, and if you hit somebody – and he finds out about it – he may be very angry with you.”
Jeff Cooper
North American Arms .22Mag Mini-mag revolver, carried in a small baggie hidden under an elastic wrist band? Hard to combine any firearm with water, especially when you are wearing a swimming suit. Do they make a waterproof fanny pack for carrying cell phones? Hey, everyone at the beach must have a cell phone attached to their body at all times, right? Has to be some kind of waterproof cell phone body holster that will take a small firearm.
I’ll carry at the beach. My problem was Stainless, Polymer or Easy to Replace. Going with Easy to Replace. Not my first choice as it’s a small caliber, but something heavier will be near by.
Comments are closed.