Open carry / firearm handy

Sysop · Aug 17, 2017

Anyone worried about getting mugged or having issues with some thug while riding your tractor around your property is a bit paranoid or really needs to move someplace safer.

I carry on the tractor only because I never know what sorta furrball is going to be hiding in the tall grass as the rotary cutter does the rotary cutter thing... Generally I see the baby deer and whatnot and can scare them out before running them over. If I ever miss seeing one and the rotary cutter finds it, I don't want to leave it lay suffering while I go off to get a gun nor would I wanna make a second pass with the tractor trying to finish the job.

If it were me, I'd prefer someone end it in a flash, so that's why I carry on the tractor... As for how I carry, I have a super strong magnet on the fender of the tractor I just let my gun hang on down beside the seat. Easy to grab, yet out of the way.

dieselcrawler · Aug 17, 2017

Sysop said:
Anyone worried about getting mugged or having issues with some thug while riding your tractor around your property is a bit paranoid or really needs to move someplace safer.

I carry on the tractor only because I never know what sorta furrball is going to be hiding in the tall grass as the rotary cutter does the rotary cutter thing... Generally I see the baby deer and whatnot and can scare them out before running them over. If I ever miss seeing one and the rotary cutter finds it, I don't want to leave it lay suffering while I go off to get a gun nor would I wanna make a second pass with the tractor trying to finish the job.

If it were me, I'd prefer someone end it in a flash, so that's why I carry on the tractor... As for how I carry, I have a super strong magnet on the fender of the tractor I just let my gun hang on down beside the seat. Easy to grab, yet out of the way.

Exactly why I never hit the fields without a means of humainly dispatching an injured animal. I believe my earlier post described an incident involving a cutter bar, a cat, and my reasons for carrying ever since.

ovrszd · Aug 17, 2017

dieselcrawler said:
Exactly why I never hit the fields without a means of humainly dispatching an injured animal. I believe my earlier post described an incident involving a cutter bar, a cat, and my reasons for carrying ever since.

I totally understand Greg.

I don't carry. But I have a hammer. Have dispatched several creatures in such a manner.

CincyFlyer · Aug 18, 2017

Heck, now I carry just walking the dog (15 lbs. of Jack-Rat) because we have these critters on the property. I shot this photo from the kitchen window yesterday.

bindian · Aug 18, 2017

Sysop said:
Anyone worried about getting mugged or having issues with some thug while riding your tractor around your property is a bit paranoid or really needs to move someplace safer. .

I totally disagree with the above statement. Guess you never lived at the end of the street. Heck, I've found Fed Ex drivers and pizza delivery drivers cutting across my property thinking they could get to the places behind my property. Not to mention the Saturday night drunks that can't turn around before tearing up my property. Now I haven't had any hopped up druggies attempt to cross my place, but why take a chance.

When I see a car come down my driveway and stop, I immediately drive my tractor towards them. Most of the time they turn around and drive away before I get to where they stopped. I challenge any and all who seem to be where they do not belong............and I carry to back that up.
Brandi

Sysop · Aug 18, 2017

bindian said:
I totally disagree with the above statement. Guess you never lived at the end of the street. Heck, I've found Fed Ex drivers and pizza delivery drivers cutting across my property thinking they could get to the places behind my property. Not to mention the Saturday night drunks that can't turn around before tearing up my property. Now I haven't had any hopped up druggies attempt to cross my place, but why take a chance.

When I see a car come down my driveway and stop, I immediately drive my tractor towards them. Most of the time they turn around and drive away before I get to where they stopped. I challenge any and all who seem to be where they do not belong............and I carry to back that up.
Brandi

Living at the end of the street isn't the problem, if bad people wander in, it's not a good place.

Most delivery drivers will be quick to admit a mistake and choose to exit private property pretty quickly so they don't catch **** from the boss when they get back. Most are simply good working folk trying to do their job.

Some properly placed cameras at the turning points to nab plate numbers followed by calls to the law should clear up the occasional drunk damage. If the cops won't tend to it; it's not a good place.

Hopped up druggies would be a sure sign it's time to move. The good people and law enforcement have failed that community.

When I have a car come to my driveway, I go out to greet them and provide any assistance I can. Most people who end up someplace they do not seem to belong are simply unaware of the exact location of their destination. Many also drive away before I can find out why they stopped, but that doesn't make them suspicious.

None of the above is really any sort of 'silver bullet' reason for or against carrying. There really is no one situation or scenario that defines "the reason to carry". There really is only one reason to carry; it is the one tool you can't put a project on hold to go retrieve. It is the one tool that when it is needed, it is generally needed immediately. Everyone that can legally carry, should carry anytime they're legally allowed.

I still say if you're worried about being mugged or having an issue with some thug on your own property, you're either paranoid or living in a bad place. The fix to the situation is something much broader than just strapping up and waiting on the problem to present itself. Move away or fix it, doing nothing but waiting on it to arrive at your doorstep is akin to enabling the problem to grow.

SpringHollow · Aug 18, 2017

Very well said.

JRobyn · Aug 18, 2017

"Hopped up druggies would be a sure sign it's time to move. The good people and law enforcement have failed that community."

I'll hafta disagree. Meth manufacture and use is a huge problem in our area. LE is super-vigilant and as on-top of the situation as it is possible to be. Frequent busts of both small time labs and "organized" dealers. But the hopelessness of many younger folks with few or no job prospects, coupled with the easy availability, makes it SO EASY for them to get sucked in and then be seemingly permanently under the influence of this horribly addictive drug. It is as if no amount of "good people" or LE can significantly impact the problem.

jrschremser · Aug 18, 2017

" Quote Originally Posted by Sysop View Post
Anyone worried about getting mugged or having issues with some thug while riding your tractor around your property is a bit paranoid or really needs to move someplace safer. .

I'm usually just a sponge to all the great info on this site since my knowledge and experiences are rather average and mundane compared to others. After reading some of the responses to this post though I felt I just had to respond, especially to the above statement.

I own a large tract of land in a rural ag area of southern Alabama. I have had numerous trespassers over the years, some not threating, some made me very concerned. Like many areas of the country Meth cooks are a real problem in our region. I had a good friend who encountered two young males as he returned to his barn after working food plots. These thugs beat, shot and killed him then stole his truck. They were caught later.

I should not have to move a "safer place". I'll defend my families and my safety especially on my property. All the cameras, signs, fences, etc. only provide evidence after the fact.