Detecting & Personal safety

[Elton]

How many in the last several years feel unsafe in some areas you detect. ??

In my end of the world it has become a safety problem for certain.. park hoodlums, gangs, Homeless bothering you etc.
This is all happening in areas just (a few short years ago) were considered family friendly neighborhood parks, and schools..

Cars being broken into while you detect if you leave them parked in some areas... Stabbings of people just because their there.. being harassed by gangs claiming it's their turf..Geezzzzzzzzz this is getting silly my friends...

We had to move the kids little league games from one park due to drive by shootings.. Honest.it wasn't safe for the kids or the observers.. kids being shot while playing or watching..
The police actually stop and tell you, you are not safe here in some areas.

I'm pretty good sized so myself I have not been bothered..That said, I am not comfortable anymore detecting in many areas by myself.. A bullet does not care about size..

The schools if you can detect them are even worse in some areas.. Gangs hang out and bother you.. Or security is so tight your not allowed to detect the property. Their trying to take it back from the idiots so to say. So I do understand..

Is this happening in most big cities, and maybe some smaller ones or is it limited to the Bigger area cities?. Let me know your experiences or concerns in your area of the world..

This is not fear factor on my part..it's common sense. So please..don't tell me to carry and shoot.That isn't realistic at all. And we all know that.. LOL I am not a tough guy looking for problems. And to be honest that mentality is almost as bad as the gangs, and hoodlums running the streets in my opinion.. This isn't the wild west hahahahhhhaha

I am asking a serious question and would appreciate no Smart Alec replies...

 

[bootyhoundpa]

ironically I sometimes feel a little on edge at some of the places I hunt for opposite reasons, mainly in isolated desolate areas that lack people... im blessed to live in a decent area generally speaking but I can drive 15 miles and be in part of the battle zone so to speak...some cities in my area do a very good job combating the evils of society and other cities seem to invite it and with budget cuts and financial decay these problems grow like run away mold... occasionally I hit some city parks, never had any problems but if I start finding bullets I leave and move on.just aint worth it..unfortunatly the whole world is in a moral decline ...kinda reminds me of when I was a kids and the elders would always tell me how much better things were in the old days..for the most part I think they were right..

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[WIHawker]

I don't see anything wrong with having a firearm if you feel its warrented. Its your saftey and who better than you to decide whats best for you.

If you don't want to carry thats fine. But don't tell me if I carry I have the mentallity of a hoodlum. That is ridiculous.

Thousands of law abiding people carry a gun with them every day.

btw I have never felt unsafe in any area I have detected.

 

[Elton]

No No I didn't mean that kind of carry Legal carry has it's merits..I meant some say shoot em all, and let god sort them out..That kind of talk is BS..I don't want to go to jail for murder... over a few coins...


Protecting your life is one thing. Carrying, and walking around looking for trouble is another...I am asking if a lot of places in todays world feel unsafe detecting..Not asking for advice on shooting people.. I'm talking detecting here.. LOL..


If I offended I apologize it wasn't meant to offend..I just want detecting facts not Shoot em all advice ..

 

[Steve O]

I moved out of a big city because I couldn't let my kids play outside without keeping an eye on them constantly. Came home from work one day and a hooker solicited me in front of my home. Went inside and told my wife we have to move out of here. As the areas I move to get worse, we'd move again. Now we are up in the country/farm area and It's nice and peaceful...for the time being anyhow.

I would like to detect some of the old parks in Phila where I grew up, but it IS a risk...don't need the headache.

 

[JimmyCT]

Right on Elton. Even with a firearm on one's side that individual better still use common sense. Like you and others, I don't go looking for trouble by any means however in this evil world we live in, sometimes it comes and finds us. This of course is last resort should we be threatened with harm.Anyone with common sense will tell you shooting someone in self-defense is the last thing they ever want to encounter.
I know it is for me. I treat people the way I want to be treated. Then there is the evil element that preys on people like us no matter what approach is used. So one can know of a fantastic detecting spot and have a good idea of the "elements" that sometimes occupy an area and think of the BEST time to go to minimize the chances of an encounter. In my case it is the West end of town. A place where a person can walk to the corner store minding their own business and get mugged, beaten and stabbed. There is a park system on this end of town that was created back in the 1870's. I love to detect it, however that bad element is there most afternoons and early evenings. I had one encounter two years ago, I ended up staying until late evening. Clearly my fault for loosing track of time finding old coins and certainly not a crime. However I think one was about to be committed....This young man was approaching rapidly from my left as I was detecting. I saw him coming up on me like he wanted to sucker punch me in the side of my head... thank God I had the Lesche digger with me. I keep my digger wrapped in cloth to conceal what I am carrying for obvious reasons. When I felt he violated my personal space, I snapped my wrist and the cloth fell off my Lesche....you should of seen the look in this guy's eyes lol Man did he suddenly change course! He realized I was aware of his presence and knew I meant business. I felt that was enough to change his mind from attacking me and it was.

I live in a small city of approx 60,000 people. Even twenty years ago it was NOTHING like it is now. I use to love this city but it has turned for the worse like most other small cities. To answer your question Elton,
this park I do not feel safe in past 5pm. The other parks in the city are ok and would detect in right til' dark. However I do see things slowly shifting just as they did in the West end of my city for the last twenty years.

Stay safe everyone - no coin is worth loosing a life or body part over.







"This is not fear factor on my part..it's common sense."

 

[mudpuppy]

I agree, its getting worse... most reputable handgun trainers enforce the idea that your most effective weapon is between your ears...avoid, evade...weigh the odds,...I have not come close to being threatened/jumped when out detecting, then again, nobody ever sees me...I have learned a lot from observing/chasing coyotes in my past...they live and thrive amongst us, yet nobody ever sees them...not that I've never been jumped and beat up and robbed...that was when I was younger and didnt know any better..life has a way of teaching lessons if a person is a willing and observant student...when the hair on the back of your neck stands up for no reason, gotta pay attention to that...I dress poor, drive a nondescript 15yr old chevy prizm, and generally try to go invisible throughout all my life..so far, those lessons have served me well, except for picking up chicks, for that, a guy has to be in all the wrong places at all the wrong times, flashing cash, talking loud and stylin'! In the scheme of things on this Planet that are gonna rob and kill a man, CrazyChicks are more dangerous than anything out there, including bears...
Mud

 

[ironsight]

Even though i have a CCL, i have never carried while detecting except in remote wooded areas while relic hunting.
I rarely detect in dangerous areas but when i do;
i make sure everyone can see my digging tool,
wear enough stuff on the pouch belt as though you might be concealing a handgun,
be aware of surroundings,
don't use headphones with full blown ear cups in order to hear if people are sneaking up behind,
if there's a crowd of people picnicing or at a tot lot try to stay within eye site of them (thugs hate witnesses),
avoid eye contact with anyone especially potential teenage thugs,
wear sunglasses,
always keep an eye on my vehicle,
be confident yet oblivious to the world

and just leave if something doesn't feel right.
Sometimes its not worth the hassle.

 

[yowow#1]

I open carry an 45 ACP in areas where i have permission to be, In my state that is perfectly legal. I don't carry it to hurt anyone, i carry it to keep trash from treading upon me and possibly robbing and killing me. I won't be tread upon by trash and scum. That is my decision. After all isn't it a free country.....I served 10 years in the U.S. military. Isn't that why we all serve? Freedom...JMO..

 

[ironsight]

I open carry an 45 ACP in areas where i have permission to be, In my state that is perfectly legal. I don't carry it to hurt anyone, i carry it to keep trash from treading upon me and possibly robbing and killing me. I won't be tread upon by trash and scum. That is my decision. After all isn't it a free country.....I served 10 years in the U.S. military. Isn't that why we all serve? Freedom...JMO..

I also have a 45 ACP and one of these days i'm gonna try open or partial carry and see what happens. Its also legal in most areas in my State with a CCL.
Got the perfect park in mind to try it out. The only concerning thing is city, park or local ordinances which i'll have to check out.

 

[WIHawker]

No No I didn't mean that kind of carry Legal carry has it's merits..I meant some say shoot em all, and let god sort them out..That kind of talk is BS..I don't want to go to jail for murder... over a few coins...


Protecting your life is one thing. Carrying, and walking around looking for trouble is another...I am asking if a lot of places in todays world feel unsafe detecting..Not asking for advice on shooting people.. I'm talking detecting here.. LOL..


If I offended I apologize it wasn't meant to offend..I just want detecting facts not Shoot em all advice ..

You did not offend. You seem to be trying to stir up drama by insinuating that any person carrying a legal firearm is out to shoot people. Or a person carrying a firearm is looking for trouble. And who would be giving advice on how to shoot people on this forum.

When WI passed its CCL law a couple years ago there was alot of propaganda like what I think you trying to promote in this thread and yet it has not come true. Even though the CCLs have been in the tens of thousands.

What do you mean "that kind of legal carry" is there a different kind of legal carry?

Are you trying to say that you would shoot people if you were carrying a firearm? By saying that you want to detect and not go to jail for murder. If that is the case please disregaurd this post.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Mud--

Truer words were never spoken. Made me think of a buddy of mine who has been married 5 times: talk about getting robbed by crazy chicks. The poor sucker can't even afford a metal detector. Whenever he comes to town I let him use my back up DFX. Your post identified one of the true dangers to men and the perils of thinking with the Wrong Head hahah. Best of luck and ...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Ironsight--

Those are all excellent strategies. And everyone should consider the wisdom that you have shared regardless of where they hunt. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Robert2300]

I have considered buying a side arm but seriously I have never needed one.
I live on the outskirts of Indianapolis in a town that is forever pushing outward.
We have our share of idiots like any other area but it's not all that bad. Now closer
to Indianapolis we had the old State Mental Hospital. It's been torn down and
replaced with some fancy low income housing. Even before the hospital was
knocked down I passed by thinking I ought to go over with my detector but the
local crowd didn't look too good. No, I prefer to go outside the city limits. Lots
of nice places to hunt.
Robt2300

 

[Walknstik]

I have basically lost a couple of good hunting spots due to thieves breaking into vehicles in the parking areas. Once you park your vehicle you have to walk about a 100 yards or more into a wooded area and you can't keep an eye on your vehicle. It's really hard to relax and concentrate on signals when your constantly worrying about your vehicle being broke into. I really use to enjoy hunting these spots for Barbers, Indian heads, early wheat's, Buff's and V-nickles:angry:

 

[hunter_46356]

What people need to understand is it's not only in the so called bad places that bad things happen. Sure the odds go up but frankly I Iook at my personal safety no matter where I am or what I'm doing. A safe environment can turn bad in a second. Like some have said using your head is your best weapon. Being aware of your surroundings and putting yourself in the better place for the conditions (or getting out) is usually enough to at least give you an the edge if a situation arises. Always having a plan in your head on what to do where to go. It's not just about detecting anymore it's life. When all else fails you need to do whatever to come out on top, if that means pulling a trigger or turning whatever you have in your hand into a weapon.....so be it.