Protecting yourself

[traveler]

What do you do to protect yourself when you are doing shows, or traveling to and from shows? Do many of you carry a weapon of some kind? (legally of course!)

I am legal to carry CCW in 25+ states, and those that I am not, I disassemble, lock and store as required by the state. I am mindfully aware that I could be a victim in many venues that I attend, or more-so that someone may be watching the sales I make, and hit me after the show is over. I also usually have on my person a box opener, that I use to open the boxes that come in, and do have a small can of pepper spray I keep high up in my RV. Maybe I am more protective, because I have to take the family with me, and I need to be protective of them, as well as myself. There have been a few locations I've had to stop and fuel up, and I was really glad to have SOMETHING.

I see that many fairs and venues are strongly against carrying a gun on their property, which I (begrudgingly but) lawfully abide.

I'm not trying to pass judgement on any of you by asking. I am just starting a new thread to give and get ideas on protection.

[davejs]

The only protection I carry is a can of new-improved Right Guard.

No guns for me. I don't have one in my home nor do I bring one with me. I know a number of vendor's who do pack a pistol. I heard a lot of people talking about how easy it was to obtain and license in Arizona when I was there. We all would just love to be able pull a gun on somebody who is trying to rob or harm us. I am one, who thinks that you might very well be asking for trouble when you carry a piece. I think that it changes your mentality. I am sure that many can justify having a gun, but that is not for me. To tell you the truth, if I feared for my life in such a way that I thought I was going to be attacked by a group of people, I would rather have something like an AK-47. Of course, that's illegal.

[traveler]

I appreciate your honesty and point of view, Dave! & you are right in that, if you have reservations on pulling the trigger, it can certainly be wrangled away from, and used against you. It is a big responsibility!
Given my particular situation, in which my husband has a "regular" job, (except 2 weeks a year,) while I have to board the RV and drive it 2,000+ miles to AZ. with my children, (Ages, 12-10 & 2) while building the business so he can get out of there, in this day and age, without clearly knowing the areas in which I will be traveling through, it just is not safe to not have some way to protect myself. But I do have fully charged fire extinguishers that work wonders too.
If I am not mistaken, Arizona is looking to abolish any sort of permit needed to carry a gun. It would just be free will. (There are a few other states in the Union that have this already.)

Thanks again for your reply.

[suktexas]

to protect myself i am going to get a taser gun as this is not going to kill someone but at least give me some time to run away from danger.

also, i learn where to attack eye, throat, male organ with a lot of practice.

i do not go unfamiliar place alone after sun down.

[bmermaid]

Ok well, I'll throw in my little bit here... no judgment at all, just my pov as an old hippy girl.

I have always felt that fear and dwelling on the worst can bring it closer to me. Maybe it sounds funny, but I sincerely believe it. I also don't do guns or weapons at all. It has never occurred to me once.

I'm not dumb, of course, I keep things locked and I'm very aware of what's going on around me. I usually camp in my van at shows, so I have curtains for the windows and try to be invisible.

I've traveled alone in big cities (with & without a car), driven across country a few times... of course I've been in sketchy situations here and there, but I don't fear as a general rule. If someone is going to *get* me, that's a bummer, but it's their karma. Mine is clean.

But that's just me.

[stuff4sale]

I am a firm believer in guns. I carry one and would not be afraid to use it if I felt threatened enough. And I have used it before and waited for the police to arrest the person. Without it I would have been stabbed.
So now I always carry.