Sorry bu I do not agree with you.To support your argument you say that as a gun must be transported in your back pack you will not have the time to use it in an emergency.Why carrying it in a back pack ? You can carry a gun around your belt , so it is ready to be used any time you might need it. Secondly you say that a gun is a too heavy weight to carry while hiking. May be a magnum 45 but there are many revolvers and guns that are extremaly compact, light to carry and at the same time very effective To sum up, a gun for whom enters in the wildness is a tool that some time can make the difference between life or death, not carrying it is very unwise.

No. The prime difference I see is Americans are actually citizens, and have a constitutional right to self defense. Englishman, and, by extension, Canadians, are subjects, and have whatever rights their governments and Crown have spelled out for them. To a large degree, they seem happy with this. One can, of course, argue the virtues of either system, but, crime has not been eliminated under either system. Americans are simply able to do something to try to prevent being victims that goes beyond running and hiding. London’s crime rate, including murder, exceeded NYNY for the first time in history, this past year.

No, Ian they are not and that’s why this whole debate is somewhat silly.

Hey – I LOVE my guns and totally get why someone would feel more comfortable with them on the AT but ultimately it’s still just about fear: they’re afraid they’ll find themselves in a scary situation and need a gun (even though it is extremely unlikely). I get it. It’s tempting to carry but ultimately in the end it’s likely riskier to carry (from a legal standpoint) than not to (since the chance you’ll need it is almost non-existent).

Not that I would blame someone for carrying or try to stop them from doing it but, yeah, your assessment is correct: guns aren’t really needed on the trail (statistically, anyway).

No worries. I see humor in the hostility.

Sure wish I’d proofread my reply…”thanks.”

Truly enjoy reading the inquiries, but enjoy your responses even more. This one might be the best. Ha ha. Thanks for all the info!

Mark, when seeing service members do things and give advice bear in mind that the regular military doesn’t conceal their firearms. They don’t teach CCW because when they deploy they are all “open carrying”. I am a currently serving (17 years in) Military Police Soldier with the US Army and ALL of my CCW training has been through civilian run schools and programs.

If that US Marine had his firearm in his pack, he obviously didn’t think it through. Predators (human and animal) attack from ambush, not in the street at high noon.

If you are concerned with weight, there are some very potent self defense guns (that would be ethical to use to stop large attacking dogs or medium sized attacking black bear) that are made for hiking. S&W makes an 11 ounce .357 Mag, that may not be fun to shoot magnums in but could very well save your life.

As for the laws, follow them. If your state doesn’t respect the Constitution then petition and fight to get the laws to change (14 states have adopted Constitutional Carry, more will follow). Becoming a felon because the laws are unjust doesn’t make you any less of a felon.