Again, not talking crime anywhere.....but know what???? The mores I thinks about it, I don't think for a moment MattB really carried while vacationing.

Patrick and Matt,
I travelled as a single woman with two children in tow for many years.....Yes, we had ONE encounter in a small town between Nevada, and California.....I faced the guy down, and he fled like the coward he was,...and, did it without a weapon.
Do I expect trouble where ever I go?..I grew up in So. Calif. , for God's sake, where people get knifed at the High School.
I personally have a friend whose weapon was taken from him, and beaten nearly to death with the very same.
There are no guarantees.
I personally would be horrified that a tourist came locked and loaded, or, loaded and locked into my community!
The message will always be the same,....If you are worried about it,,,,,don't go!!!!

Dreamconch, you are right! There are no guarantees!

I used to live in Brownsville in Brooklyn, NY where Mike Tyson grew up. And I would see people getting mugged crossing the street. A sad, sad thing. But it happens!

We go to STT every year. Am I worried about it? No! Do I practice common sense? Of course! I have three young kids and they are my priority. Do I carry? No!

Would I be horrified if a fellow tourist was packing? No! Because I know that that person wouldn't come down without checking out the rules and regs. He/she would be a knowlegeable individual aware of what's what. To be able to carry a concealed weapon is a privilege nowadays. And folks who do so would definitely not want to lose that.

I personally would be horrified that a tourist came locked and loaded, or, loaded and locked into my community!
The message will always be the same,....If you are worried about it,,,,,don't go!!!!

How do you feel about a criminal that is locked and loaded.? I don't carry but I don't blame those that do. If you think you need it, get it. These stories about survivors not getting killed are great BUT....................the one that were killed can't write their story.

Okay you guys,

I understand what you are saying. But, I am also no naive dummy either, even tho you have not said that I am.

I was married to a cop for a very long time... Guns, were a part of my everyday life,..we depended on the animals my husband and my sons hunted, to get by. I am an animal lover, so let's not even go there.

The friend I mentioned, that was almost beaten to death with his own gun, also, lost that gun to the guys that he was trying to protect his property from.

Do I think we should all be a bunch of wimps??...NO I DON'T. And, believe me, I say that very seriously.

However, I DO NOT think it is appropreiate to take firearms to someone else's island, country, town,..whatever. If you feel the need to protect yourself in your own town, your own space,..then, you have to be a judge of that need.
When, you are a guest on someone else's island, or in someone else's country, town,...the rules, in my opinion, DO NOT APPLY. And, I beg to differ about those that carry firearms, those that have passed the so-called whatever,...... how is anyone to know who is, "responsible", and who are the ones that are just "FULL OF IT!!"

Honestly folks,...if you are afraid of crime, which of course is, really consider going to your local "Six Flags".
Do I look over my shoulder when I travel?....Constantly. Even when I'm shopping at the local market a block away from where I live.
Am I sad about that??...You bet I am.

Patrick,

Thank you for explaining your situation. It is hard to accept brief remarks when you don't know who or what situation is behind it. While I don't like to live in a society where everyone feels the need to pack a gun, I don't agree with taking away that right. That being said, coming to the U.S.V.I. with a gun is NOT recommended. I understand it isn't fair to those who do get robbed or their lives threatened, but it is rare against vacationers. For those who live on island, I have a whole different view on the crime situation and what to do about it, but that is for a different message board. Simply stated, carrying a gun as a vacationer on island will only increase your chances of being in a bad situation and/or put in jail. It just isn't in your favor. I don't determine whether or not that is right, but it is the way it is. I think crime is an important topic to discuss for anyplace that you are visiting. Unfortunately some people can not discuss it without a lot of emotion.

What is important to note, the U.S.V.I, is still a place you can vacation and go to quite a bit of places safely and have fun. There are some islands that you would not want to leave your resort. There are all different levels of safety for many places in the Caribbean. No islands want to be labeled as 'crime ridden' and so there are people who will always defend their island as safe no matter what. I like that this board has many different opinions on the matter so vacationers can get a better perspective. I have friends who went to Haiti and said it wasn't nearly as bad as they expected, but they did have to take extra precautions and follow safety rules and common sense a bit more than they would in St. Thomas. It is just a good idea to get to know what to expect and I can appreciate Roger asking questions about gun laws and crime as he wants to be informed. I don't think Islander will delete all the posts on this subject as long as it stays realistic and not just a fight over who is right and who is wrong type thing.

Knowlege is a good thing in my opinion. 🙂

Teresa

We've traveled all over the world and the best thing anyone can pack is common sense. This, along with a deep appreciation for the culture that you are visiting will make your trip much more enjoyable.

I am much more likely to be hit pulling out of my driveway on the way to work, than I am vacationing by someone with a gun.

You all had great points, now let's get down to the business of partying!

How come Matt travels to the virgin islands if he has to carry a gun?

I've been away. Guess I'm going to really go over the posts more.

Hey Patrick,

did you actually just say "show them the buldge"?
That has worked for me in my younger days.
Are we talking about the same thing??

If he did bring a weapon here and carried it unlicensed locally he could be arrested for an illegal firearm. You have to turn your firearm over to the police or licensed firearms dealer within 24 hours after your arrival to the island. You will get it back when licensed. I am sure there are some exceptions for Federal agents, but not because you are licensed back home.

RL

Ron, thanks for the info. I had a hard time believing that people could take a weapon on the plane and carry it legally without some very special credentials.
Guess I feel a little better now.

KSg,

After I wrote that I figured someone would come up with a comment like yours. Was just wondering how long before someone would post it. Lol!

Great minds think alike!

Ksg...it's an unlicensed bulge at that!

I don't know why someone would go on vacation somewhere that they felt they had to have a gun. That's no vacation.

Holy crap,,,, I was afraid of this... Was just asking what I thought was a fairly simple question and had the answer I needed after the first reply.

I will not be "packing heat" when I show up in the USVI. As I stated, I have never taken a firearm with me on any of my other over-seas vacations, but I had never had 4 women with me either. THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD NOT GO IF I WAS ALL THAT WORRIED.

I look forward on doing nothing much but swimming, laying on the beach with a drink in my hand and watching the sun go down. (Oh, yeah, and with 4 women in tow I will also be doing lots of shopping, sigh).

Thanks for all the input, but everyone take a deep breath, grab a rum and coke and put on a Bob Marley or Jimmy Buffett song.

Patrick, I don't want to see your "Bulge".....

Roger--

I thought your question was simple, reasonable, straightforward. Glad you got the info you needed. Some of the other posts are the sort of things that give gun owners a bad name.

Not that it matters, but as much as I personally don't like guns, I believe people should have the right to own them if they are licensed, etc. However, I was simply saying that I can't imagine going on vacation somewhere that I would be concerned enough to consider bringing a gun. *shrug*

Roger, if your are going on vacation with four women I think the "bulge" is in order. You never know when you might need it. Lol!

This topic is real easy,

Carry if...
Your going to be walking around the more colorful parts of downtown CA late at night by yourself, not sure why anyone would do this.
You plan on buying any sort of narcotics or transporting large amounts of cash.
Your sole intention is to look for trouble or prove how brave you are.
All the above applies also applies to STX

Leave the gun at home if...
Your coming down for a relaxing vacation.
You can use some common sense and avoid the rougher neighborhoods of STT at night
You can live without buying some weed, crack, meth or other idiot makers.
Your credit card has enough space left on it to avoid walking around flashing hundreds to everyone you meet
Staying anywhere on St. john.
You can say the following terms, hello, good morning, good evening and THANK YOU.

Random attacks on innocent tourists happen less in STT than they do in Orlando. CA is like any other city, it has it's really nice charming areas, tourists areas and poverty stricken areas. Listen to the advice of your taxi driver, hotel employees and rely on local knowledge. If your so freaked out that you might need a gun than go straight to St. John or head for one of the smaller islands in the BVI's.

Lastly, everyone deserves the right to carry a concealed weapon. As long as you are trained to use it and not walking around looking for the chance to pull it. I just believe that vacations should be stress free and leaving the gun locked up at home has never left me nervous on any trip to the VI's. Then again I avoid walking around downtown at night by myself and I don't stand around asking everyone who passes if they know where I can get some smoke (I see lot's of tourists doing this every time I'm down there). Use common sense, go to common places and don't freak out about every newspaper article. Dozens of tourist get mugged here in Orlando every year just filling their rental cars with gas.

my two cents....

Just curious how did you get passed security & get on the plane with a gun? I know only law enforcement people are allowed to carry but they have to give gun to airlines to hold for them unless they are US Marshals. Just curious that all?