As long as Georgs has opened this can of worms, let me mention that good
friends who are retired FBI agents and are now cruising in the Third World
tell me they are seriously considering buying a Taser for protection.  Do
they know something we don't?  These guys know firearms well, handled them
regularly throughout their careers, and are very comfortable with handguns.

More info on Tasers at: http://www.taser.com/self_defense/index.htm  Note
that Tasers have "restricted use in DC, MA, RI, NY, NJ, WI, MI, HI &
certain cities & counties," likely meaning they cannot be used there
legally by private citizens.

The thread reminds me of a megayacht captain who told me the story of
having his yacht boarded and searched off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
one summer a few years ago.  The inspecting officers said it was simply a
"compliance check", and the very professional captain told me that he had
been doing nothing wrong at the time the yacht was stopped; he suspected
the marine patrol officer just wanted to see the boat.  A weapon, which
belonged to the yacht's owner (who was not onboard) was found in the
ensuing search, and the captain was issued a citation for having an
unlicensed weapon in Massachusetts.  The weapon was licensed in Florida,
the boat's home port, and the paperwork for that was onboard, but the
marine patrol pointed out that the boat and the weapon were not in Florida
at the time; the officer pointed out that they were in Massachusetts, and
Massachusetts law requires a weapon anywhere in the state to be
licensed.  The captain had to engage an attorney and make several
inconvenient trips to Massachusetts before the matter was settled.  If I
remember correctly, he went to court and received a small fine.  The entire
incident was disruptive and cost the yacht's owner several thousand dollars
for the attorney, travel, and the inevitable fine.  All this taught me that
if one is going to carry weapons, licensed or not, it makes good sense to
have a good and secure hiding place as Bob Austin suggests.

Full disclosure: I have nothing to do with the firearms world or Taser
International.

--Milt Baker

There is a federal law which essentially states that if you are in
interstate travel and possess weapons which are legal in the state of
departure and the destination state then they are not subject to regulation
by states you transit.  I would have claimed to be on the way to New
Hampshire, where carry without a permit is legal.

Live Free or Die!

Hal

The thread reminds me of a megayacht captain who told me the story of
having his yacht boarded and searched off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
one summer a few years ago.  The inspecting officers said it was simply a
"compliance check", and the very professional captain told me that he had
been doing nothing wrong at the time the yacht was stopped; he suspected the
marine patrol officer just wanted to see the boat.  A weapon, which belonged
to the yacht's owner (who was not onboard) was found in the ensuing search,
and the captain was issued a citation for having an unlicensed weapon in
Massachusetts.  The weapon was licensed in Florida, the boat's home port,
and the paperwork for that was onboard, but the marine patrol pointed out
that the boat and the weapon were not in Florida at the time; the officer
pointed out that they were in Massachusetts, and Massachusetts law requires
a weapon anywhere in the state to be licensed.  The captain had to engage an
attorney and make several inconvenient trips to Massachusetts before the
matter was settled.  If I remember correctly, he went to court and received
a small fine.  The entire incident was disruptive and cost the yacht's owner
several thousand dollars for the attorney, travel, and the inevitable fine.
All this taught me that if one is going to carry weapons, licensed or not,
it makes good sense to have a good and secure hiding place as Bob Austin
suggests.

Full disclosure: I have nothing to do with the firearms world or Taser
International.

--Milt Baker