Security while abroad?

[SethB]

One quick question, when you all have traveled what security precautions have you taken for your apartment, home, hotel, or hostel where you are staying? I have come across things like this in the link, but not sure how that looks. There is also one that hangs around the door knob and goes off when one walks in.

http://www.amazon.com/Door-Alarm-Travel/dp/B000BP3K2O

Any ideas that you have or experiences that you have had are greatly appreciated. I am looking for the best way to protect my stuff while I am out and about where I will be living. I have traveled extensively in the past, but never worried about my stuff then. Now I have laptop, phones, and other stuff that I would be severely hampered if something happened to it. Whereas before, it just made for simpler traveling having less stuff.

Any tips?

[badhank]

i intend to have a VA research gun laws for the countries i want to go to, and hey, if its legal there grab a pistol. I can share my finding if anyone is interested (i'm talking to you timw) when i do have the research done

[TimW]

Hank

Would love to learn what you find out. I can give you a fairly good overview, however, of a traveler's ability to have a handgun in many other countries:

Little to none.

Basically, most countries require a license or permit to own, let alone carry, a firearm at all, and handguns are much more restricted. There are some exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, I am confident in my assessment, having spoken to various board acquaintances from other countries about their firearm laws.

Hank...you're in Canada, right? Certainly a fairly free country, where gun ownership isn't a complete unknown, esp in the Western provinces. So let me ask...if I am spending a couple weeks, or even months, in Canada, what are my chances of being able to own and/or carry a handgun for my personal protection?

My father-in-law, when he was transferred to Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, AK, had to ship his firearms from CONUS, because Canada would not let him transport them through the country...even though he was a US government employee, being transferred to another US state on behalf of the US Air Force.

In England, you will get arrested for carrying a pocket knife. They're working to ban swords and non-kitchen straight knives now, and have basically banned "airsoft" and replica firearms. Australia pretty much banned ownership of most firearms, and knives will get you in trouble too.

So, while I doubt you will find much positive on this, I would love to see what you discover....especially the "exceptions" I mention above....for example, firearm ownership in Central America is possible, if you pay the right people.

[badhank]

a traveler's ability to have a handgun in many other countries:

Little to none.
agreed, for first world countries


Hank...you're in Canada, right? Certainly a fairly free country, where gun ownership isn't a complete unknown, esp in the Western provinces. So let me ask...if I am spending a couple weeks, or even months, in Canada, what are my chances of being able to own and/or carry a handgun for my personal protection?

Handgun: 0
Previously owned rifle or shotgun, with the right papers however is possible. Americans can come and hunt in canada, theres lots of fees and paperwork, but it can be done. Same goes for canadians hunting in the states, but even more fees and paperwork. Did you know in ontario its technically legal to walk downtown with a unloaded shotgun with the action open, altho u will more than likely get brought up on mischief charges etc etc etc.

And yes i know theres a large difference between a handgun and a hunting gun.


firearm ownership in Central America is possible, if you pay the right people.

This is more along the lines of what i was looking to find out. Im sure (well, assume) that a lot of south america would have un-enforced laws on this nature, as well as some eastern european countries. Those places are in fact the ones you would most likely need a pistol while in! In places like that a little extra cash and schmoozing goes a long way when it comes to buying things you want from shops. Sure wouldnt want to rot in a serbian jail tho...

[SethB]

Hey guys, thanks for the answers. I would be curious for those rules as well. Most countries I have been to don't allow hand guns at all. eg Brazil and Mozambique. People have them, but anybody who does have them, it is considered illegal. I guess you could go that road. Anything is possible if you have a few bucks to spend on it.

I guess what I am looking for is a non-permanent security solution to your place of residence. When you are away. Is there anything out there that works that you have used?

[TimW]

I've never used this, don't know anyone who has. However, I have heard a couple nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts plug this item:

http://www.lasershield.net/


starts at $199.99, plus a monthly monitoring fee (apparently?? it's not clear if you have to have monitoring)

[TimW]

I mentioned LaserShield as a possible security device while overseas. I wrote the company, and here's the reply. Basically, you can use it as a perimeter alarm w/o any monitoring.

- - -
Email Support

Department: control
First Name: T.
Last Name: W.
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: 602-555-1212
Have you purchased a LASERSHIELD?: N
DeviceID:
Comments: Is monitoring required? I travel overseas and would love to use
this as a passive entry detector in hotels, etc.


************************************************** ********
Dear T.W.,

Thank you for your interest in LaserShield Security Systems. The LaserShield is the world's first "plug'n'go" instant security system with a professional 24/7 monitoring service. Our Company has been designing and producing state of the art, user-friendly security systems since 1999.

You can purchase the system and use it over seas. The system will work as a stand alone siren outside of the US; however, at this time the monitoring service is not an option. Our International Division is working to expand the monitoring service into the International market. Keep an eye on our website for news releases at www.lasershield.net. Soon we hope to be able to extend our full protection to neighborhoods all over the world.

I hope this answers your question. Making your experience easy, comfortable, and confident is our mission.


Sincerely,

Lisa Ortiz
Sales/Security Specialist
Inside Sales
LaserShield Systems, Inc.
lortiz@lasershield.net

[overtaxed]

i intend to have a VA research gun laws for the countries i want to go to, and hey, if its legal there grab a pistol. I can share my finding if anyone is interested (i'm talking to you timw) when i do have the research done

Hank,

I'm seriously thinking of living part-time elsewhere or even moving fulltime to another country. However, the lack of firearm ownership/carry rights is one of the prime considerations for me. Even in a "safe" place, there are always a few bad apples. Even if I decide to spend the rest of my life here in the US... "gun friendly" laws will play a big part in my decision about which state to ultimately retire to.

RE: England - they aren't just extreme with anti-gun and anti-knife laws... they're generally anti self-defense. People who have fended off youth assaults, even non-violently have gotten into trouble for doing so.

If I could remember or find this resource, I would PM you or link to it, but I once found a pretty good series of Web pages detailing foreign nations' gun laws.
It appears that some Central American nations are actually less restrictive than Europe, as far as handgun carry.
Mexico is horrible... their gun laws are so strict that Americans driving offroad with guns in their racks, or even loose ammunition on the floor have been summarily arrested by Mexican police and are rotting in prison.
Given the notorious corruption in that part of the world, I suppose you could keep some "look the other way" money on your person in case the local constabulary notices that you are packing.
Another alternative I just thought of would be to inquire at a magistrate's office and inquire about the permitting process, and perhaps discreetly ask if there are any "administrative fees" one can pay to move things along.

[badhank]

overtaxed, my pending process is to get a VA to send a cookie cutter email to a few embassies, both here in Canada and the US to get certain information i need about countries i know little about. Gun laws will definitely b on the default question list

[intrepidtraveler]

Place chair next to door. Build pyramid of empty beer cans on chair. Works like a charm.

If you don't drink beer, start.

[James Grey]

Generally speaking civilian owned firearms are generally not allowed in most countries (this is something I have actually researched quite extensively) – especially in 3rd world and developing countries.

Some 3rd world and developing countries do issue firearm permits that are ether extremely expensive, only issued to well connected people and sometimes have off the wall conditions. Additionally (in almost every instance) you must have some sort of legal resident permit, obviously someone on a tourist visa won’t be issued a firearms permit.

I have a handgun permit for Indonesia, it cost over 8K to obtain and I can only load it with rubber bullets. Even worse, it looks like the Indonesian government is going to revoke all firearm permits so that’s 8K down the drain.

I have carried a folding knife in every country I have ever visited (except Europe) and never had any issues. But like intrepidtraveler said – a chair behind the door works fine

Funny that this is a thread here – I was going to write an article about owing firearms overseas once, but I didn’t think most independent travelers were interested in learning stuff like that.

~James

[Krayzi]

One quick question, when you all have traveled what security precautions have you taken for your apartment, home, hotel, or hostel where you are staying? I have come across things like this in the link, but not sure how that looks. There is also one that hangs around the door knob and goes off when one walks in.

http://www.amazon.com/Door-Alarm-Travel/dp/B000BP3K2O

Any ideas that you have or experiences that you have had are greatly appreciated. I am looking for the best way to protect my stuff while I am out and about where I will be living. I have traveled extensively in the past, but never worried about my stuff then. Now I have laptop, phones, and other stuff that I would be severely hampered if something happened to it. Whereas before, it just made for simpler traveling having less stuff.

Any tips?

Guns, not so much. Way too difficult to carry with you, and they only help in a handful of self-defense situations.

As Mr. Myagi said on Karate kid: "Best defense, no be there". (I think).

1. Location. Stay in relatively safe areas wherever possible--a five minute conversation with a trusted local can be really helpful.
2. Perimeter security. Stay in places that you can secure physically with relative ease. Inaccessible windows and securely bolted/chained doors are usually sufficient for most purposes. Bolt your door when you're inside. If you need more than that, see #1.
3. Don't be a target. If you're showing off flashy electronics in places where a $1K laptop is half a year's salary, you're asking for trouble. Get rid of some stuff. Do you really need all of those gadgets?
4. Blend in. Admittedly, this was pretty hard for me when I went to India.

I've spent weeks to months in several 1st world and developing countries. In Indian cities for instance it's common to see armed security guards or police outside most establishments, apartments, and hotels. That helps. I had a $10 mobile phone, a cheap camera, and no laptop. I stayed at a place that had an Internet kiosk nearby.

I felt a lot safer in my apartment there than I did at the Ramada in Houston, but that's a different story.

In Prague, on the other hand, nobody worries overmuch about breakins. The pickpockets (and associated theatrical distractions) are much, much worse. I wore a money belt strapped underneath a few layers of clothing. I was more paranoid on the trams there than I ever was anywhere else.

If you just want a low-budget intrusion detection method that you can obtain locally, a bell on the door works pretty well for when you're there, and some talcum powder (or similar) on the floor will make it obvious if someone came in while you were out.

[TimW]

Guns, not so much. Way too difficult to carry with you, and they only help in a handful of self-defense situations.

Not necessarily. I carry one nearly every day. Once you understand how, it's not much more difficult than carrying a wallet.

But I DO agree that the best defense is to not need it. I don't go looking for trouble, but unfortunately the law-abiding citizens choose neither the time nor place for bad things to happen. If we did, then nothing bad WOULD happen to them.