HI, nice thread, I have to add my opinion.

we are now in Ecuador and never have had an experience where I should have needed a gun. Not in Mex, nor other central american countries. There are some travellers who need to go always into those parts of the countries where even the locals dont go. There are parts of San Jose, Costa Rica at night, where even a gun would not get u around the corner.

But beside the obvious dangerous places we have seen people smiling, waving but never angry. They are interested in your bike and yourself. We never had any trouble and I would rather talk myself out of strange situations than kill somebody....just imagine u do kill somebody who wants to steal your money or bike...u prob. do not have much fun hanging out in a prison down here.

take it easy, most people are just great and happy that their live switched from existence to living down here..
Martin

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Geez,

The guy asks a question and somehow politics enters into it. Don't remember seeing anything about his political affiliation, or his support for the war.

"as an american you can go around killing innocent civilians...just for fun or for the great cause of Mr.Bush."

Why single him out as American? What if a Canadian, German, or Brit asked the same question, doubt we would see the same tone in some of the replys.

Cut the guy some slack, an answer without the political rehtoric and attitude would have worked just fine.

Were all just learning here eh!

I think the fact he is America sorry from the US was fundemential to him asking the question.

It seems to me to be the only place on the planet with a reasonable democracy where a civilian can buy a weapon designed tto be used in battle.

these type of Guns are for the police and military not for the general public. I am married to a US Citizen and I find it incredible that i can be walking down the street and pass people who own and carry guns who are untrained unvetted civilians.

Is it acceptable in any other country? Would your country be ok with a forgiener walking around with a gun licenced or not? We would lock them up here thank God.

Charlie

It’s incredible we are still arguing about this post. He ask if he can carry a pistol; Ok at least in Argentina no. And I’m happy with that. He could come from USA, Argentina, Africa, France or wherever he comes from. And if he wants to take a gun with him that’s Ok .he is free to do what he wants.
I’m part of the Buenos Aires community, and I’m not made any difference to help all the travelers.
But I’m not agreeing with guns. Because I’m not agree to kill people; so you are welcome to my country and Also to my house, but please take the gun out off my home. You are welcome guns not
And that’s all; if you want to carry a gun I would respect your way of life even when I’m not agreeing.
For me there is not more point of discussions. Anyone is free to do what he wants, and I’m talking about people not countries. He is a traveler not Bush.
Sandra

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

1. Why not contact the diplomatic missions of the countries you wish to visit in your own country. Ask them if a foreigner is permitted a firearm.

2. At the border declare your firearm to customs or the police. Make arrangements that if they wish you not to take a firearm into their country, it be forwarded to the exit border post for your collection when you leave.

or 3 (my prefered choice). Leave the gun at home/ don't buy one for the trip in the first place.

ChrisB

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TheBrightStuffDotCom

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I think this topic is so popular, you should start a new "Debates on the Ethics of firearm posession" heading on the HUBB. People seem to be more interested in this than travelling.

[This message has been edited by ainslier (edited 16 June 2005).]

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An explanation, not an excuse.....

OK, so at first I figured the best thing to do is to just never write
anything on this bulletin board again, because I'll always be referenced to as the guy who goes around
killing foreigners. But for whatever it's worth to you, here's some
background. I grew up outside of New Orleans, Louisiana during the
'70s in a household in which guns were an everyday part of life. We
hunted out our back door to save money on food, as did most of our
neighbors. When we went fishing, we would bring a pistol, so that if
the fish was big enough that it might break your line getting it into
the boat, you reel it in close enough, then shoot it, then lift it
into the boat. It was completely normal to walk into a 7-11 and the
guy standing in line in front of you has a gun on his hip. It was a
very rugged/ outdoor lifestyle. Whenever i go camping back home, I'll
bring a small pistol, just to sit around at dusk and shoot tin cans
off of a fence post. Killing anyone has never been a consideration.
Also, I realize that most Europeans never see guns at all, so when
they do it conjures up a thousand different scenes from American movies which
depict guns killing people. We had a guest bedroom in our house, and I
remember in the closet was a set of sheets and towels for the guests,
along with a revolver and holster for the house guests to use.

Now, please don't think I'm trying to tell you that i come from some
utopia where everyone carries a gun and no one is ever afraid, and
nothing bad ever happens. When I was 16 my best friend Ben was shot in
the chest and lost a lung and almost his life in a bar fight over a
quarter on a pool table. Fear and intimidation is what brought the
gun to the bar, and
pride is what shot Ben in the chest. Now i realize that had guns not
been so commonplace, it probably would have just been a black eye an
a few bruises.

The possibility of being held up or robbed wasn't a consideration when
i asked if people ever carry guns. The Federales have swindled me out
of more money than any crooks ever have. I just consider a pistol as a
piece of equipment when doing any serious trekking through wilderness.
I've gone camping for weeks on end up in the Rockies, and the back
country down in Louisiana, and have always brought a pistol with
me.When ever i've carried a gun for protection, it was from bears and
cougars rather than humans.

Anyhow, take it as you will. It was a question, an inquiry to find out
if it's something that is recommended or not. It was a solicitation
for advice, not your judgement..

Kid C.

How about pepper spray if you must.

I was once ADVISED to buy a gun by border guards (as I was leaving Greece heading into Turkey). I said 'what about customs?' and the reply was 'put it in your sleeping bag when you go through customs, we didn't search you and noone else will!' True enough I could have got away with bringing it all the way to the UK but I never felt like I needed a gun. I didn't feel I needed one in South America when I was there and the only countries that I wouldn't want to travel through for risk of being shot are Iraq, Afghanistan and the USA.

There was a similar thread on adventure riders (wheres the best place to pack heat on a bike), and it had exactly the same effect of polarising political opinion between the 'we need a gun for protection' group (american) and the 'why on earth do you think that' group (rest of world). It seems to be that if you live in the USA then you do NEED to carry a gun for your own protection!!

I just hope that the gun culture doesn't continue to spread to other countries, it will be a sad sad day when people in europe start shooting each other en-masse.......

After twelve years of living in Africa, I spent two traveling around the states. Louisiana was my favorite state, along with Arizona and NM. (Drop me a line if you're traveling soon!) Reason being they were a bit wilder than other places. And that's why a lot of us travel. And that's why you'll probably love it here! The rules are sometimes more nebulous than they are in the West, or, are interpreted differently for foreigners.

In almost 30 years of traveling, much of it solo and in very out of the way places, I've never had a problem where I needed a gun. While living in bush in Kenya I would walk with a whip. Never needed it. When I returned to the US, initially I did sleep with a sheathed knife underneath my pillow. I've been traveling/living in Central America for over a year, and don't bother. I do have two dogs who would bark an alarm. But faced with a gang of bandito's, even if I had a gun I would be no match, and neither would my dogs. You take your chances wherever you are. And the places you're more likely to have problems is in the cities.

I will say that if you do have a problem and you are in jail, depending on the circumstances, don't count on the American (or British) embassies to bail you out. When I did have a problem (a border crossing issue in a military zone) the American embassy basically hung up on my friend who had a US passport, and the British embassy, though very nice and understanding, said they couldn't help. So, smuggle with extreme caution.

For spooking people off, you might want to carry some loud firecrackers. That should scare anyone away. I kept meaning to get some but... well, I've just never had any problems.
Lorraine

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Braindead - Since you asked,

"Is it acceptable in any other country?" Generally speaking, no

"Would your country be ok with a forgiener walking around with a gun licenced or not?"

No, not permitted here.

...But who cares about the laws elsewhere, thats not the point, they are what they are in the states, and although I don't happen to agree with it, no need to slag the guy.

I hear it all the time in this country, the trashing of all Americans for their governments decisions, its a knee jerk reaction. Almost half voted against their government.

Anyway, I still think a reply, less the political baggage & innuendo would have got us to the same place.

The legal concept behind carrying a handgun in the U.S. is only to use it to defend oneself or others against specific, generally life-threatening attacks. In fact, many Americans consider carrying a handgun a responsibility to society, and that failure to carry is tantamount to condoning violent crime. When you are in the U.S., some of the nicest people you meet will be carrying a concealed handgun, and you will never know it.

Guns are not the cause of violent crime in the U.S. The causes are social issues such as weak or non-existent families, alienation of youth from society, and an extreme policy of imprisoning people for drug possession and sales.

I carried a small PPK handgun throughout Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala in 1994. I probably would not do it again. I like to travel light, and the chances of needing it are too small. The chances of getting caught by the authorities, and the resulting penalties, are too great.

Kid, you will find Guatemala is a VERY different place than it was in the '80s. The military reasons are obvious, but also this is a very peaceful, friendly country, with an active economy, hard-working people, and close-knit families and communities.

Mike,
So do you think that drugs are a good thing ?
Do you not think that drugs could possibly be one factor that destroys families, (a good friends son would habitually steal with violence from his parents to feed his heroin addiction)
alienates youth from society, (wasting there lives)
and selling drugs doesnt lead to other illegal activities ?
and is drug use/sales often involved with violent gun crime or not ?

Just my thoughts.....

There is no point carrying a weapon - if you need to conceal it to get through the many police/military checkpoints in CA then it is no use to you kept somewhere where it cannot be brought to bear on the 'enemy' quickly.

Just avoid the rough areas (parts of DF, Belize City, San Jose(esp), Panama City) IME, I worked in Mexico and CA for a year and had no problems.

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Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

there are more guns per capita in the posession of swiss citizens than american citizens. However in switzerland there is virtually no gun crime. ( I think about 3 years ago some guy shot up a town hall because they refused a planning application). So crime is due to the people, not the availablity of weapons.
In the UK since all the legally held hand guns were confiscated, gun crime has soared dramatically. As there are no legally held handguns now, gun crime should be impossible. Seems those nasty criminals dont always register their guns
Carrying a weapon on a bike is pointless. In the event you might need it you will never have time to deploy it unless you are the aggressor.
A long time ago it was perfectly possible and legal to shoot the odd rabbit for the evening meal when camping. Sadly these days you just cannot ride a bike about the UK countryside with a rifle.
In France you are allowed 'self defence' weapons. these are low powered pistols mostly, which can be lethal at 5 metres or less. One model is essentially a 12 bore double barrelled pistol ( with reduced 2" loads).
Great, so I am stopped on my bike, just how do I get the pistol out of the shoulder holster whilst wearing motorcycle gloves ?

Not wanting to stray from the point...but it's pretty hard to ride a bike through the UK countryside WITHOUT a rifle these days....

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