Firearms aboard boats

[thenotsofreeboat]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

The UN laws of the sea prohibit guns on the ocean. I am not sure if private boats are discussed in this, but i know for a fact no guns are allowed on say a freighter. I can not imagine why you would need a gun on a boat. Water and guns doesn't go well together anyways. I have my ccw and have never thought about taking my gun with me on the boat. I carry it everywhere but can't imagine a need for one on the boat. Just stay away from anyone with an eye patch.

 

[guy74]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

i would only bring my hunting rifle "barrett m95"
it will handle ducks, pirates, planes, small tanks... you get the idea

I like my Barrett M82 better, semi auto is always better that bolt action Think it would look good pod mounted on the pylon?

 

[BF]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Just curious... has anyone actually been in a situation on a boat where a firearm has or would've helped?? Been mugged on the water etc?

There's movies about piracy in the Caribbean, but I've never actually heard of mugging/robbery etc on fresh water. I have however seen several instances of stupidity on the water where, if a hot-head had a gun handy, might have gotten ugly. E.g. someone getting cut off while pulling a skier/tuber etc, and then following the offending party to shore/dock where altercation occurs. I once saw a guy pull a filleting knife on a guy who parked a boat in "his" spot on the public beach. Idiot immediately realized the line he crossed and backed down/went away as the many people around called him choice names.

I kinda think the bad folks that people most want to arm themselves against don't go boating... if guns on boats were more common, then I think fatalities from escalating altercations would go up too... but that's just IMO. PWC operators would have to get kevlar wetsuits.

 

[Don Dickinson]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

just a note here from the north-woods, it used to be common practice in the old days (maybe the 50's) to carry a pistol when musky fishing. people would bring the musky up to the boat and instead of gaffing or netting it, they'd shoot it. there are a lot of stories of people putting a hole in their boat while trying to subdue a musky

-don

 

[ERNIE G.]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Make sure to check with local laws, and it doesn't matter where you keep it on the boat. Local laws only go out to 03 nm offshore then it falls under federal laws. As long as you are legal to posses a firearm you can have one. Unless you have an atf permit it is still illegal to possess a Title 2 firearm. I.E. machine gun, silenced pistol, hand grenade, rifle SHORTER THAN 16" or shotgun shorter than 18" However if you do have one of those and you are on a vessel you need to have the correct atf forms to transport the weapon. Make sure you tell the officer that boards you that you have a firearm.

 

[akmoosehauler]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Rifle was in my hand to keep me from getting mauled by a black bear. Did not have to shoot which was good. We always have a handgun or rifle with us up here. Hunt from our boats a lot up and get wood, pick berries and camp with them.

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Just curious... has anyone actually been in a situation on a boat where a firearm has or would've helped??

Yes, all the time. I seem to shoot a lot more ducks and geese when I bring my shotgun...for some reason I don't shoot any birds when I forget the shotgun, and yes, I have forgotten it when leaving for a hunting trip. I've also dropped it in 20' of water before too, but thats another story.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

In Georgia it is illegal to carry a hand gun on any lake managed by the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR). This includes flare guns.

A flare gun is NOT a firearm as defined under federal law. Are you saying that Georgia classifies a flare gun as a firearm? That being the case, I assume that your local marine or boat shop does NOT sell flare guns, correct?


Additionally, as a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer, I will tell you this. DO NOT listen to what anyone in this forum tells you regarding the legality of your firearms possession aboard you boat in any given body of water. Though federal law does not prohibit such posession, each and every state may have different laws which govern such act. Not finding out what YOUR state and municipality say about this can end your right to have a firearm, forever.

Finally, if you do carry a firearm aboard your vessel, I strongly recommend that if you are stopped or boarded by any LEA, that one of the first things you tell them is that you have a firearm aboard. Not doing so can be a nasty suprise to the LEO and of dire consequence to you.

I personally carry a firearm with me EVERYWHERE in the State of Florida. This right is not given to me due to a concealed weapons permit, but due to a Statewide Firearms License which states clearly "The authority of any such licensee to carry a concealed firearm shall be valid throughout the state, in any location". I have been in schools, bars, clubs, inside police stations and even entered the Broward County court armed, once. I have a private investigators license, and I can declare that I am working at any time, in any place. I can get away with being in the wrong place, at the wrong time with a gun....If you cannot do that, don't risk your rights.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Many times I have thought about getting a CCW permit, but I've never encountered a situation that I would need it, so why have it?

Please don't be insulted, but that is a terribly naive view of why you should be armed, and of why you should have a ccw.....

You don't wear your seat belt right? I mean, unless you are in a wreck, you don't really need it, so why put it on?

Public buildings have built in fire sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers through the buildings...why, I mean, the buildings not on fire is it?

You don't carry a gun because you plan on using it..You carry a gun because if you find yourself in a situation where your life will depend on it...you have the option of living another day.

Knock on wood that you have not needed a gun, and hope that you don't ever need a gun. But know this.

If you are out one wonderful sunny day with your grandkids, and your in the mall, and someone goes on a shooting rampage and you and your grandkids are trapped with the maniac heading your way.....Don't be afraid. You can call 911 and wait for them to come draw the chalk around your bodies. You can give yourself and your grandkids comfort by explaining to them how you just didnt think you would need a gun so you gave it up.....

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Well said, alamo.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Well said, alamo.

I second that

 

[Nandy]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Luckily we live in a country (USA) where suspiscion alone isnt enough to lead to arrest or fine.

Really? There are multiple laws passed that will get you in trouble by just being in the wrong place. Try to seat next to a hunter in SC and get caught there without a hunting license? Are you hunting? No, but since you could have you can get a fine.

Be in a boat with multiple fishing poles in the water and you dont have a license... There is another....

Funny how a lady cant charge the warden with attempted rape, I mean, he has the equipment to do such thing...

To the OP, check your local laws. Do not take what you are reading here as the law. If someone is wrong (and I seen a few wrong already) you might end up in jail.

Cheers!!!!

 

[Nandy]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

but it is perfectly legal to stash it somewhere, or you can mount it in plain sight if you want.

Try the first one here in NC and you sir are going to jail, try the second in SC and you sir are going to jail....

Not all states are the same....

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Bottom line, some states classify it as a hand gun and you MUST have a permit. Check your state laws.

Please elaborate? Some states classify "it" as a handgun....are you talking about a flare gun? If so, please direct me/us to what state statute classifies a flare gun, which is being used ONLY for emergency and hazzard signaling, as a firearm.

I can tell you factually (remember, I AM a licensed firearms dealer, I'm not just talking out of my blow hole) that under the law, if you utilize a flare gun to shoot at SOMEONE, or you discharge anti personel ammunition from a flare gun, then, that flare gun becomes what is known as a DD, or "destructive device" and you must have a DD registered with ATF in order to possess it. That said, I'd like to know what state classifies a flare gun which is being kept and used for FLARE dispensing as a firearm. Again, if any state does that, then, under the law, you CANNOT buy a flare gun, in your state, from a marine supply store, unless that marine supply store is a Federal Firearms Dealer.

 

[obezag]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

You're that grandfather in the mall and you've hidden the grandkids behind a table to protect them. In that moment a plain clothed officer has entered the scene and is headed towards you. You look up after securing the grandkids and shoot the maniac with the gun heading towards you!

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

Many times I have thought about getting a CCW permit, but I've never encountered a situation that I would need it, so why have it?

I don't ever need bandaids in my truck, but I have them too.

Ooops. . .

And while I generally agree with that statement on land, not so much aboard a boat, where it is more difficult to secure a firearm, you are more prone to having kids and other people who shouldn't have access, etc.

Safe gun handling practices come in to play not just on land, but on water. If someone intends to carry a firearm on their boat, just like the flare gun, it should be protected from stray hands at all costs.

There's movies about piracy in the Caribbean, but I've never actually heard of mugging/robbery etc on fresh water.

I know that in like the South Pacific and Southeast Asian waters piracy is hugh.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

You're that grandfather in the mall and you've hidden the grandkids behind a table to protect them. In that moment a plain clothed officer has entered the scene and is headed towards you. You look up after securing the grandkids and shoot the maniac with the gun heading towards you!

In that case, you have no business posessing a firearm, if you are just going to shoot the first individual coming in your direction. One of the primal rules of firearms self defense is you don't point or shoot your gun at a target, unless you are "SURE" you want to destroy it. That includes people. Additionally, police officers who enter a scene such as that are trained, expected to, and required to immediately display identification to avoid a friendly fire incident as you describe. Regardless of how you or any other anti-gun individual tries to flip the argument, the facts are clear. Depending on 911 to send help your way is moronic at best. 911 and the police department are primarily a reactionary force, that is, when a crime is taking place, they get called. If you get shot, raped, assaulted, robbed or killed in the 2 or 3 minutes it takes (if your lucky and they are that close) for them to arrive at your location, well....it was a few minutes too late. Those what want to turn over their defense to others deserve what they get....It's survival of the fittest in this world. Accept it, because the criminal element lives and dies by that creed, and they don't give a rats blowhole that you called 911......

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

You're that grandfather in the mall and you've hidden the grandkids behind a table to protect them. In that moment a plain clothed officer has entered the scene and is headed towards you. You look up after securing the grandkids and shoot the maniac with the gun heading towards you!

I take it, your NOT a cop!
And IF you are. Go back and read the safety percussions of being a "Plain clothed" officer.

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

I guess a Barrett 50 cal sniper would be the best choice if you had to deal with pirates.

I know the poster from the gun-free north wonders why we need guns on our boats, i couldn't see going into the Gulf or the ocean without one.

Pirates of the Caribean are real, look it up.

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: Firearms aboard boats

I think it was Ben Franklin who said, "Any man who would trade liberty for safety deserves neither."