I agree 100% with Hal as far as training and philosophy of usage. I grew up with guns, I did competative target shooting, I was in the Army, and both Marie and I are very comfortable with weapons and own a number of guns. We both have taken "stress fire" courses and have taken the concealed weapons courses in Florida. Incidently, Marie is a better shot than I am... When we were in Alaska, we took the dogs ashore and did a lot of hiking--we both openly carried firearms. We had the firearms shiped from a gun dealer in the US to a gun dealer in Alaska--because of the Canadian laws. What I will say next is extremely controversial--and I would suggest that people think long and hard about doing what I did. We did carry weapons very well concealed aboard and did not declare them in foreign ports. We were boarded a number of times and throughly searched and the guns never found. If you do this be sure that any amunition and cleaning supplies are also concealed. I have deployed weapons on several occasions Once in San Diego, my boat was boarded by an apparent burgler. I was in the foreward bunk, grabed a weapon, chambered a round, shined a flashlight with my left hand well away from my head-and yelled "get the hell off my boat"--the person very rapidly departed the marina. Second time was in the Channel Islands when we observed what appeared to be a heroin smuggling operation. We had weapons, but stayed below decks until the boats departed. The third time was off the coast of Mexico, when a fishing boat attempted to ram us--at this point we did show weapons and took a defensive posture. The 4th time was when we were boarded by thiefs in the middle of the night in Yugoslovia--again we yelled " get off my boat"--and had fire arms ready--they were not necessary. The 5th time was off Beque, when a native boarded the boat without my permission, I armed myself with a Machette in the cockpit and Marie had a pistol in the companionway--we have good reason to believe that this was the same man who injured the boat owner in the book "Sitting Duck". There were several other times off Central America we were approached by suspicious craft offshore and had weapons ready--but there was no reasons to display weapons.- When we cruised some of the rivers in Guatamala off the Rio Dulce, we had discussed self protection with the port captain in Livingston--he had suggested that we be armed. We him informed that we were. He radioed the military unit in the area to keep an eye out for us. I have first hand knowlege of several individuals who have been arrested for having illegal fire arms. One was in Mexico, the other was in Greece. I would only consider firing a shot--or even brandishing a weapon in the open if I felt that I had no other choice to protect my or Marie's life. If I displayed a weapon I would be ready to fire it. This is something that Marie and I agree on. She also carries on occasion. If I was attacked by a force which had clearly superior firepower, I would not even consider getting a weapon (open piracy). A case in point is Peter Tangvald's wife who appeared with a shotgun when approached by pirates in the Philipeanes--she was killed, Peter and his son were let go by the pirates, most likely because of the boy. If my memory serves me correctly Peter's second wife was killed at the hands of a robber in Algeria (?) In the Los Perles Islands (Panama) a boat owner was killed with his own gun. There was a case in the Bahamas about 20 years ago where apparently both the owner and wife were killed with their own shot gun. In 2001 Peter Blake was killed in Brazil (where an amateur robery went down hill very rapidly as Sir Peter appeared with a rifle--and fired several rounds); the pirates who had not injured anyone until that point, shot him. If you killed a person, you would have to decide if you should run for it--or plead self defense. A fair portion of the world operates under Napoleonic law or other systems--where guilty until proven inocent. The local population would most likely be against you. There are a number of jails where you don't want to be. I would not carry weapons if going to Europe. I might still if crusing Central America. I often carry weapons while cruising in the USA. Weapons I have carried aboard: Bear repellant, Mace, fish club, 24" Machette, .22 magnum North American Arms 5 shot revolver (ss). .357 magnum revolver (ss), .44 Magnum revolver (ss),12 guage Mossberg Mariner 18.5" barrel pump shotgun (ss),.30 calliber M1 carbine semiautomatic, 30 round clips (not legal in some states and is often construed as a military weapon), .303 sportorized Lee Enfield with 10 round clips. Bob Austin