Traveling and Carry

[American1776]

Here's something I wanted to get some opinions about.

I find that as I get older, and now that I've become a father, I find myself less and less willing to travel to destinations where my right to carry a firearm is not recognized. I have family in NJ and MD. Spending weekends or holidays in places where I cannot have a firearm is becoming a more and more unpleasant proposition, and I find myself trying to do what I can to stay in PA.

But here's my realization: I like my freedom, and carrying a pistol is an expression of that freedom, and a way of preserving that freedom. BUT: how free am I really, now that I have locked myself into a pretty small box of 'freedom' so that I can always be armed? It seems there is a self-defeating principle governing my actions: in wanting to preserve and exercise my freedom to carry a pistol, I have chosen to severely limit my freedom to travel and enjoy other aspects of life.

I'm just curious: how much do your carry rights affect your choice to travel, and potentially see the world and be with family?

Thanks for reading.

[rwilson452]

I think what your going through is a struggle between security and social interaction. It's not unusual for people as they get older and have the obligations of a family to think more about security. Simply put you will need to find a balance that you're comfortable with.

[JL911]

You are not alone. I do everything in my power to avoid MD. I do my best to avoid even traveling through the state for any amount of time. NJ is out of the question unless there are very extenuating circumstances. If I do end up in either of those two states, I do not stop at all for anything. As petty and non-difference making it may be, I do not want them getting one penny of my money in taxes.

[Bill67]

We have family from Colorado that comes every August to spend a week in Avalon. They rent the house. We go and take groceries to feed the crew for the week and they cover the house rent.
I will spend one week of my private time there to be with them. I work in NJ. I do my thing, get out and come home. I only do that because I have less than 3 years til I can retire form this job and they screwed me out of my route in Bucks county. I don't like it, but I have 2 in college and as soon as I can, I will get out and most likely stay out.
I don't even like the beach and we have a small house up near Lake Wallenpaupack I would much rather go to. I want to retire there.

[American1776]

Thanks for the input.

I'm about as pro-gun, pro-constitution, pro-liberty as can be. I'm realizing though, It just starts to wear on my nerves worrying that in order to stay 'free' (exercise my right to carry my pistols), I give up so much of my freedom to travel.

We fellow Pennsylvanians enjoy freedom land-locked on a small island, surrounded by an entire world of oppression. that's a weird idea of freedom.

[BIGPOPPA]

There is freedom to the west and south. Having transplanted myself from Upstate NY, I dread the invites to go back. In fact one is pending for a wedding in August. With my son starting college locally, I think I can weasel out of that one.

And planning my travels elsewhere, I make sure to take routes that avoid MD, etc.

In a few weeks it'll be trip to SC, where we'll have to put the firearms in the console and dash, but the rest of the trip we'll be free to carry.

And the way I look at it, PA is an protrusion of freedom from the west and south into the heart of the socialist states in the northeast.

And we more than anything we need to be active and communicate with our Gov't. Too many folks bury their heads and say, "it'll never happen here" and overnight it can.

[jthrelf]

Thanks for the input.

I'm about as pro-gun, pro-constitution, pro-liberty as can be. I'm realizing though, It just starts to wear on my nerves worrying that in order to stay 'free' (exercise my right to carry my pistols), I give up so much of my freedom to travel.

We fellow Pennsylvanians enjoy freedom land-locked on a small island, surrounded by an entire world of oppression. that's a weird idea of freedom.

All of my family lives in NJ (lived there the majority of my life) and I have many friends in NJ/NYC, so I'm there a fair amount. I'm not happy about being unarmed, but it's what has to be done. It helps that I have access to firearms at my parents house where I usually stay, but obviously that's just in the house.

The chance of needing a firearm for defense is small. But statistically the more you carry, the better the odds are you will be armed if that time does ever come. I wouldn't rack your brain too much with this - the occasional unarmed trip every so often will very likely be just fine. Always be armed when you legally can. Just don't let it dictate your whole life.

Or if only there was national reciprocity .......... Problem solved...

[Hodgie]

I work in NJ too and am there 5 days a week I have come to the realization that I will never find a Job within 60 miles from my home in PA that will pay me close to half what I make or with the benefits I have. I highly value my rights especially my 2A rights and it does conflict me all the time. My brother lives in MD for now and I rarely go there but when I do it's with my family and that bothers me much more then my daily unarmed commute. I am working on trying to get a job within my current company that will allow me to work at least 50% of my week from home but that's proving to be a job in itself.

We are going to RV park this year in VA with my brothers family since we can carry there I will be. Unfortunately when we hit the MD boarder I will have to unload, case, secure and make my way through MD. Will anything happen well I have gone 38 years without a gun fight but with me it's simply the fact that my right to defend myself and my children have now been restricted making me feel like a potential criminal has more power then I do when it doesn't have to be that way.

[STBear]

It really sucks doesn't it. I go to CT to visit family and also to ME for vacation. Got a CT LTCF, so FOPA should cover me but I worry about NY and NJ following the law.

[sprrdhawk44]

Between three permits I'm covered in about 31 or so states. My box of freedom is pretty big, bigger even than Jenna Jameson's. I don't patronize Commie states anyway, so no loss for me.