Tips for metal detecting in high crime areas?

[treasurenoir]

First off, my hat off to you for bringing up such an interesting topic! This is not something I would have thought of personally.

I live in a major city; I've recently been hunting in the parks and areas closer to my house, and I live in a section of the city that is pretty quiet during the day (although there was a major crime near me recently, but that occurred at night time).

I haven't read all the responses here, but personally I think vigilance and discretion are probably the two most important things. If it doesn't seem right when you get to the hunting spot, it probably isn't. As well, even if people are around, you can still detect while keeping an eye on those hanging around, and digging in their direction, with your eye on them.

This city requires a firearms permit to carry pepper spray, which I retain, but I don't normally carry it (I obtained it for a part time job and now keep it up for the heck of it; I sometimes do night time photography in the city, so why not). Believe me, if I want to go into high crime areas to detect, I'll be carrying it. Why not?

The idea of the orange vest is a great one; I would think one would be less apt to be approached if someone thought they were a utility worker than if they were carrying an MD.

Thanks again for an interesting topic, and safe and happy hunting!

 

[Patton]

 

[Mozhoven]

I'll never understand why so many people feel the need to carry firearms in this country. Don't get me wrong, I understand the statistics, but the reality is that a situation where you would benefit from having a personal firearm is not likely to happen. By all means carry pepper spray or a taser, but having an absolutely lethal weapon in your pocket makes no sense and puts the public in general at risk.

I have family members that legally conceal and carry and I must admit hating going anywhere with them. They constantly think someone is out to get them and nightly dream (literally) of situation where they have to use their weapon. I think it is an activity that seems to breed fear and distrust. Maybe I'm naive, but there are enough problems in this world without having another nervous person out there with a weapon that could take the life of another (and likely not your intended target).

I'm not trying to trample the rights of others but appeal to the common sense of those who feel like they will be killed (someday) if they didn't carry. (after all, that's the only real reason to have a gun on your person, right?)

As for MD'ing, just use common sense in higher crime areas. Wear an official looking vest, have some spray, and do it in the morning. Otherwise, it isn't worth it.

 

[dogpound]

i carry both......pepper spray in my finds pouch & firearm concealed

 

[fontok]

shoot first

Shoot first, then ask questions!! Of course you will probably spend the next ten years in prison, but at least you got the dollar in clad and didnt chicken out.

You dont have any other places to hunt?

 

[justinmich]

I have been target shooting for 10+years, carrying concealed and open for about 4 years. I am new to detecting, but carry as much as I can.. 99% of the time I am carrying when permitted. I am considering detecting in Detroit with 2 buddies soon. There are certain areas in the city that I would not detect though.

-Justin

 

[Dirt Nuker]

Hey....maybe we can get the cast of American Diggers to choose Compton as their "ARZ". I would LOVE to see their door knocking technique there. Most door knocks there are used with a battering ram.

Talk about a win-win situation.

 

[ramer]

I'll never understand why so many people feel the need to carry firearms in this country. Don't get me wrong, I understand the statistics, but the reality is that a situation where you would benefit from having a personal firearm is not likely to happen.

The stats are this: more than 2 million times a year, a gun is used to protect one's self or family members. That number sounds high I know, but I've seen this figure so many times over the years that I am thinking it's true.
This doesn't mean that a gun is fired 2 million times a year at the bad guys, it just means that the bad guys were scared away and prevented from continuing with their crime.
I personally know of a person with a carry permit who was about to be robbed at knife point in a downtown street, he merely pulled his coat to one side revealing his gun and the low life piece of !!!! ran off.

 

[xxnshcxx]

If you wouldn’t feel comfortable walking down a certain street, you definitely would not feel comfortable slowly walking down that street swinging a metal detector. So go with your gut.

 

[Liberty_1776]

No carrying of any kind where I'm at. I really hate Illinois for being the only state to not have some sort of conceal carry system in place. Anyway, a MD is not worth shooting someone over and neither is a car, wallet, or whatever else you have. The only thing worth shooting someone over is your life. I wouldn't hesitate for one second if I thought my life was in danger but I'd let everything else go. It's just not worth the $10,000 in legal fees and possible jail time that are sure to follow.

Here's an idea (kind of funny but true) Leave your wallet in the car along with any other valuables. If you get robbed, give up the car keys too and tell them to take the MD with them. Since everything is in the car, auto insurance should cover everything. Now if you just got the MD and your wallet stolen, your're outta luck.

 

[dogpound]

No carrying of any kind where I'm at. I really hate Illinois for being the only state to not have some sort of conceal carry system in place. Anyway, a MD is not worth shooting someone over and neither is a car, wallet, or whatever else you have. The only thing worth shooting someone over is your life. I wouldn't hesitate for one second if I thought my life was in danger but I'd let everything else go. It's just not worth the $10,000 in legal fees and possible jail time that are sure to follow.

Here's an idea (kind of funny but true) Leave your wallet in the car along with any other valuables. If you get robbed, give up the car keys too and tell them to take the MD with them. Since everything is in the car, auto insurance should cover everything. Now if you just got the MD and your wallet stolen, your're outta luck.

thats assuming the "bad guy" doesn't harm you after you hand over your car keys, wallet....etc. if i'm getting robbed i'm assuming the worst. thankfully in PA carry permits are easy to obtain (plus its also an open carry state) and we also have the castle doctrine

 

[Liberty_1776]

thats assuming the "bad guy" doesn't harm you after you hand over your car keys, wallet....etc. if i'm getting robbed i'm assuming the worst. thankfully in PA carry permits are easy to obtain (plus its also an open carry state) and we also have the castle doctrine

True. We have the castle doctrine here too but that's kind of pointless when they make it so difficult to own a firearm.

As far as open carry goes, do you ever see anyone open carrying? I've heard stories about the general public not being educated on gun laws and calling the cops on people open carrying. The cops don't seem to be to familiar with the laws either because they come and hassle the person open carrying.

 

[dogpound]

the only time i normally see open carry are by people making a statement about their rights to open carry or during hunting season or fishing ya sometimes see someone open carry. the only time i would open carry would be night fishing along the river, other than that i just conceal. as far as the cops.......i think in our area they are very educated about the subjet plus our local sheriff is very very pro gun and has been a great gun supporter. if you live in philadelphia thats a different story, philly is also an open carry city BUT you must also have a concealed permit to do so, this is where the police aren't as informed and give ya a hard time