Trespass

[jdmidwest]

People don't carry guns because they are paranoid or looking to start a fight. People carry guns because in most cases, you are the only one around that is available for your personal safety in case of an assault, attack, or other violent act. Most criminals don't attack their victims in sight of an armed police officer. Most places I hunt and fish would require no less than a 30 minute response time from local law enforcement or longer. Most places don't have cell service either, so 911 is not an option.

I personally carry because when I am out in the outdoors alone, I really never know what I will wander up on. A portable meth lab, wild dog, wild hog, or maybe a nice frog if they are in season. Or maybe, I slip and break a leg with my new non skid, non felt waders and need to signal for help.

I never carry because I am scared. I am smart enough to realize that there are things in this world that care less about my life than I do, the firearm just helps to equalize things a little.

[ozark trout fisher]

People don't carry guns because they are paranoid or looking to start a fight. People carry guns because in most cases, you are the only one around that is available for your personal safety in case of an assault, attack, or other violent act. Most criminals don't attack their victims in sight of an armed police officer. Most places I hunt and fish would require no less than a 30 minute response time from local law enforcement or longer. Most places don't have cell service either, so 911 is not an option.

I personally carry because when I am out in the outdoors alone, I really never know what I will wander up on. A portable meth lab, wild dog, wild hog, or maybe a nice frog if they are in season. Or maybe, I slip and break a leg with my new non skid, non felt waders and need to signal for help.

I never carry because I am scared. I am smart enough to realize that there are things in this world that care less about my life than I do, the firearm just helps to equalize things a little.

Well, I do see the reasons that some people carry guns.There have been a few times, especially on one certain Ozark stream that I like to float that for whatever reason seems to attract a worse than usual crowd, where I've been more than a little uncomfortable...But no more threatening than the possibility of drowning, or getting struck by lightning, or (and I have to add this one) getting eaten by a great big mountain lion. In other words, if any of those things happen, which they probably and hopefully won't I guess those are just the breaks. Especially if it's just me out on the river alone. I respect your right to see it otherwise.

Not a happy topic, and hopefully something that won't ever become important for any of us! Back to fishing talk, at least as far as I'm concerned.

[Greasy B]

I have found Missouri landowners to be much more accommodating than in other states, and I applaud them for their friendliness and tolerance, but I do see a growing problem with the landowner/public relationship, which could lead to changes in the current laws and the rights of sportsmen. The problem, as far as streams are concerned, is not being caused by outdoorsmen, but by people whose primary attraction to the outdoors is a lawless place to party. They're not reading any of this, and they don't care. They not only don't respect landowner rights, but the rights of sober and considerate outdoorsmen as well. A few are ruining it for the many.

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance is well aware of this, and the upcoming March/April issue of the Bronzeback News examines this dilemma and offers sound solutions in Matt Wier's regular column. It suggests combating the bad example of slobs with a good and conscientious behavior through participation in the Missouri Stream Team projects, but it also suggests reporting outlandish and illegal behavior to bring some law and order to lawless situations.

In the same issue, Dan Kreher presents one of the best articles I’ve read concerning Missouri trespass laws.

The Bronzeback News goes out to all members of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, and I encourage everyone to support this alliance and check out this important issue of the Brozeback News.

I couldn’t agree more. I have never had a bad encounter with a land owner in 30 years of Ozark gravel bar camping. I am truly grateful to all land owners who have not posted their gravel bars. I try to return their tolerance by leaving no trace.

It almost goes without saying that I have had countless encounters with river idiots.

[Flyflinger]

that's funny

Same here Flyflinger, it's funny to here the other side of this. They will demonize guns anyway they can, even infer that you are walking around afraid, ready to squeeze off some rounds at anything that moves....lol

Don't blame OTF...I was kinda poking at him. He isn't against guns...he just doesn't understand why anyone would carry...I was like that once upon a time. Then I changed my mind for a number of reasons.....I started to hash it out with myself right after the Virginia tech shootings.

You see...I have no delusions about winning a quick draw with some punk that pulls a gun on me....nor do I believe that there is a boggieman around every corner. All I do know this...I never want to be place in the situation where my life or my families life is threatened and not be able to do a dam thing about it.

If you think it can't happen to you...think again.

[joeD]

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

[Flyflinger]

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

I am having a hard time understanding your point here....how would one know if a gun could have prevented a murder? On the river...by a stranger. Are you looking for the "thank God I had my gun or I would have been killed" story or the "if only they were armed they could have lived" story...I doubt you will find any written from any news source.

You see the funny thing about people after they are murdered is they can't really tell you their story....

[laker67]

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

Some thing tells me it was right in the nixa, ozark area, maybe the finley or james. The land owner who shot an killed the floater, partier, not sure. Just in the past year or so. He has already gone to trial and sentenced. Don't know how many lives would have been saved, but self defense would go along way and give you a fighting chance. .

[jdmidwest]

Well, I do see the reasons that some people carry guns.There have been a few times, especially on one certain Ozark stream that I like to float that for whatever reason seems to attract a worse than usual crowd, where I've been more than a little uncomfortable...But no more threatening than the possibility of drowning, or getting struck by lightning, or (and I have to add this one) getting eaten by a great big mountain lion. In other words, if any of those things happen, which they probably and hopefully won't I guess those are just the breaks. Especially if it's just me out on the river alone. I respect your right to see it otherwise.

Not a happy topic, and hopefully something that won't ever become important for any of us! Back to fishing talk, at least as far as I'm concerned.

Do you wear a life jacket when floating or get off the water in a storm? If so, you would carry a gun for the other two problems you suggested.

Some things in life are not always a happy topic. You have to deal with reality on a daily basis.

[jdmidwest]

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

I used my pistol last year to signal some target shooters that there was someone fishing in the stream that they were shooting into. With bullets flying around my head, they heard my shots and stopped shooting.

[Feathers and Fins]

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

Im sure there has never been a case where a person with a self defence weapon hasnt saved themselve or others. Really Mr Honey Badger are you serious. There are Thousands of those reports. Possibly not in the Ozarks but enough from around the country to know it can happen here very easily. Not sure what your getting at but Ill continue to carry and pray i never need to use it.