Mr. Ed
Veteran Member
This is a timely discussion, for me anyway. Apologies for the long winded post.
I'm planning my first trip down the ICW for this fall, and am considering the potential benefits of having a firearm on board. As an NRA instructor and CCW holder in multiple states, I have some experience with firearms and the law.
I know that this will be an entirely personal decision, but I'm conflicted. I have not read (or heard) of ANY incidents on this route where a boater was confronted, and successfully defended himself (herself) with a firearm. Sure, there are stories of rowdy folks on shore partying near public docks, but that is only a perceived potential threat, not an actual one.
For folks with CCW permits, the only place I've heard (read) that a loaded firearm cannot be on the boat is near the Naval yards in Norfolk. Unloaded firearms should be good to go for everyone else, everywhere else from the Chesapeake Bay south. This assumes that the firearm complies with all federal, state and local ordinances, and that the owner is not a prohibited person.
As the saying goes, "It's better to have it and not need it". I'd add that it's better to not use it if at all possible. No matter how legally justified we might be in defending our lives (not property), the aftermath of a shooting is horrific, as well as expensive. God forbid that the person we shoot is of a different ethnicity than we are, as then the incident will become more about race and prejudice than it is about self defense. It will be purely coincidental what folks look like in a life and death situation, but the media will make it seem as though there was an agenda in place that caused the boater to "plan" to shoot somebody, and hope for the chance to do so.
Bottom line is to follow your conscience and the law. Get training, and practice with your chosen defensive tool. Everyone who has used deadly force to save their own lives has had their life changed forever. Consider buying self defense insurance. Most of these companies will provide the name and number of an attorney you can call when the need arises.
A final thought... consider having non-lethal defensive tools available. Aerosol sprays (tear gas) are not optimal as the wind can blow the cloud back into the face of the defender. Kimber makes a Pepper Blaster that I recommend. Tasers can be an option against a single attacker as long as it's not winter or the attacker is not wearing heavy layers of clothing, and most tasers are limited to a single shot. I'm a fan of Japanese style swords, and plan to have a Wakasashi (short Katana) on board. Perfect for close quarters defense, no chance of a puncture to the hull, and I'm hoping that the sight of a 250 lb naked redneck with a sword, hollering a rebel yell, might dissuade an attacker from his approach. At least he might pause long enough to stop laughing and give me some time to react.
I'm planning my first trip down the ICW for this fall, and am considering the potential benefits of having a firearm on board. As an NRA instructor and CCW holder in multiple states, I have some experience with firearms and the law.
I know that this will be an entirely personal decision, but I'm conflicted. I have not read (or heard) of ANY incidents on this route where a boater was confronted, and successfully defended himself (herself) with a firearm. Sure, there are stories of rowdy folks on shore partying near public docks, but that is only a perceived potential threat, not an actual one.
For folks with CCW permits, the only place I've heard (read) that a loaded firearm cannot be on the boat is near the Naval yards in Norfolk. Unloaded firearms should be good to go for everyone else, everywhere else from the Chesapeake Bay south. This assumes that the firearm complies with all federal, state and local ordinances, and that the owner is not a prohibited person.
As the saying goes, "It's better to have it and not need it". I'd add that it's better to not use it if at all possible. No matter how legally justified we might be in defending our lives (not property), the aftermath of a shooting is horrific, as well as expensive. God forbid that the person we shoot is of a different ethnicity than we are, as then the incident will become more about race and prejudice than it is about self defense. It will be purely coincidental what folks look like in a life and death situation, but the media will make it seem as though there was an agenda in place that caused the boater to "plan" to shoot somebody, and hope for the chance to do so.
Bottom line is to follow your conscience and the law. Get training, and practice with your chosen defensive tool. Everyone who has used deadly force to save their own lives has had their life changed forever. Consider buying self defense insurance. Most of these companies will provide the name and number of an attorney you can call when the need arises.
A final thought... consider having non-lethal defensive tools available. Aerosol sprays (tear gas) are not optimal as the wind can blow the cloud back into the face of the defender. Kimber makes a Pepper Blaster that I recommend. Tasers can be an option against a single attacker as long as it's not winter or the attacker is not wearing heavy layers of clothing, and most tasers are limited to a single shot. I'm a fan of Japanese style swords, and plan to have a Wakasashi (short Katana) on board. Perfect for close quarters defense, no chance of a puncture to the hull, and I'm hoping that the sight of a 250 lb naked redneck with a sword, hollering a rebel yell, might dissuade an attacker from his approach. At least he might pause long enough to stop laughing and give me some time to react.
I will donate money to the test case person's Go Fund Me page for legal costs. 
