I remember when breaking articles years ago there was one form the master filled out declaring how many 38 cal rounds on board.
[QUOTE=injunear;145793]I remember when breaking articles years ago there was one form the master filled out declaring how many 38 cal rounds on board.[/QUOTE]
You hear about a lot of those “Back in the day we used to keep a revolver, or an M1, or a shotgun, or a 1911, etc… on board” stories but you don’t hear much about that going on today. I guess this is no different than how we treat firearms anywhere else these days. What was only very recently commonplace is today grounds for shocked gasping and calling the police…
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;145794]You hear about a lot of those “Back in the day we used to keep a revolver, or an M1, or a shotgun, or a 1911, etc… on board” stories but you don’t hear much about that going on today. I guess this is no different than how we treat firearms anywhere else these days. What was only very recently commonplace is today grounds for shocked gasping and calling the police…[/QUOTE]
Amazing…how did you know the exact inventory of my small arms locker? I wished to hell now I had taken those home with me after we laid the ship up when the charter ended. Never went back to service and somebody got those great guns…DAMNED!
I’m not sure where I stand on domestic vessels and guns. If a vessel is not going into high risk waters, what is the potential threat where deadly force would be warranted? A belligerent crewman? No way. A violent/threatening crewman? No, restrain him till you get to port had then have him arrested & fired. Piracy? In the Americas? Not frequent enough to justify maintenance of an arsenal on board.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a firm supporter of the second amendment BUT, unless you are sailing off the coast of Asia or Africa, the risks of having guns on board, even in a locker, seem unjustifiable.
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;145824]I’m not sure where I stand on domestic vessels and guns. If a vessel is not going into high risk waters, what is the potential threat where deadly force would be warranted?[/QUOTE]
Lots of guns on boats in Alaska, especially in the fishing fleet. Both for predator protection ashore and also for hunting in remote areas. It’s even illegal to fly up there without a survival kit that includes a firearm.
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;145824]I’m not sure where I stand on domestic vessels and guns. If a vessel is not going into high risk waters, what is the potential threat where deadly force would be warranted? A belligerent crewman? No way. A violent/threatening crewman? No, restrain him till you get to port had then have him arrested & fired. Piracy? In the Americas? Not frequent enough to justify maintenance of an arsenal on board.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a firm supporter of the second amendment BUT, unless you are sailing off the coast of Asia or Africa, the risks of having guns on board, even in a locker, seem unjustifiable.[/QUOTE]
Practically speaking master’s possession of a hand gun is probably more useful as a deterrent and symbol of the master’s authority then a practical tool. Non lethal means are likely to be a better choice in many situations.
As far as the risk of having weapons on board, the hazard created by having weapons in a locked safe is much lower then hazard created by ordinarily day to day shipboard operations.
From my point of view the real problem with having weapons on board is the risk (risk of arrest or vessel detention due to documentation issues) and the hassle. Port officials can come aboard anytime day or night and demand to inspect the weapons. It’s not a simple matter of legal or not legal, some countries try to discourage ships from carrying weapons by making it as inconvenient as possible.
I’ve never had any issues in the U.S.,
I learned to shoot on a tugboat going to alaska 10/22 drift wood, clays, pop cans good times!
[QUOTE=lm1883;145884]Besides all that, I’d rather negotiate my OT with a fire axe.[/QUOTE]
Whatever it takes to get the job done.
Hey KC check your messages box!
I’m very pro gun, NRA life member, VCDL member and I have a safe full of them. That being said I have worked on boats long enough to know that I dont want anyone to have a gun on board the boat. We have all had “that guy” on the crew you wouldn’t trust with a pocket knife let alone keeping his pistol under his pillow. There’s also to many people out here who get bent out if shape over anything and spoil for a fight, now add a gun in that mix and see what happens. And yes I have had a capt or two who were “that guy”.