Mounted search and rescue

["Irvin Lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Unless you are a law enforcement officer carrying a weapon, even with a permit, is often prohibited in public spaces.  In Pennsylvania, which is a shall issue state for handguns, your permit is NOT effective in public parks (state, county, city); within 1000 feet of a school or colleges, hospitals, etc; state forests, all public buildings, and even in state game lands or hunting areas, except for persons with a hunting license and carrying the proper long gun in a hunting area in season (shotgun or rifle).   Handguns are concealed carry only where permitted except for uniformed officers.  The recent change to allow permitted persons to carry in a national park only covers Valley Forge and some parts of Allegheny National Forest. There is private property intermixed in the forest and in Valley Forge, almost all of Independence Hall has city streets and buildings within it.

 

There is a great deal of difference between the west and the more urban east in this area.  If you are carrying a saddle gun it should be secured with a flap or strap since many jurisdictions prohibit hunting from horseback.   As a unit we don’t carry in the field. Two members are commissioned officers and while our policy allows them to carry in accordance with their departments’ policy on off duty weapons and the law allows them to carry anywhere now, they usually leave their weapon locked in their truck or the gun locker at ranger HQ.

 

We have found that being alert, being ready to escape and evade, and using the horse as your best defense works well.  If you do carry become very familiar with your state’s self defense rules for civilians, which are different than for law enforcement.  And never carry where you cannot get to the weapon or somebody else can get there first.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

SE PA SAR

 

---

From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thor Burfine
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 9:19 AM
To: 'Mounted search and rescue'
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Self Defense from the saddle

 

One thing to consider in all of this.

 

Some of us carry a rifle in a scabbard when afield.

 

now you must defend yourself, your mount and your rifle

You must not let the bad guy get a hold of it

 

Most people that ride with a scabbard have it on the off side, not a natural position to defend