Chattanooga: Hikers packing concealed heat

timesfreepress.com ^ | May 5, 2008 | Joan Garrett

[neverdem]

Staff Photo by Meghan Brown -- Chattanooga resident Monica Dobbs, standing near her home, hikes 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail each year and carries a handgun for protection while hiking.

[cyclotic]

Good for her. I’m just getting into backpacking in the last year or so. On our last trip, two of the three adults were armed. The third left his in the car because he didn’t have the space in his pack. My new backpack has a nifty little pocket near the water bottle holder that perfectly fits my 9mm.

The USNPS is exactly correct in allowing concealed carry in our parks

[ahayes]

Finger off the trigger, I see. Nice to see someone who knows how to hold a gun.

[krb]

Not Guilty.

[kbennkc]

If she hears the word Lewinsky one more time.....

[bboop]

Must have. Else you are ‘Code White’ in a ‘this is not heaven’ world.

[krb]

Nice to see someone who knows how to hold a gun.

Nice to see a woman who knows how to hold a pistol also. :-)

[mbynack]

Oh no!!! Blood on the trails. Every campfire will be the scene of a bloody shootout. Campers will murder every wild animal they encounter. All the shooting will increase global warming. Children and minorities will be hurt the worst.

We were driving on a paved highway bordering Blackwater State Forest when I left the paved road to answer the call of nature. I got stuck in the clay and had to wait several hours for a tow. During the time I was stuck, two drunks who had dumped a stolen car in the state forest came by and decided to carjack me with a big stick. I placed my 357 magnum on dash of the car and they left without any more problems.

I've also encountered Black Bears in the Smoky Mountain Park. Shortly after our visit a woman was killed by a bear.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I used to live in suburban Atlanta and would hike the AT in north Georgia frequently. I never saw a woman that attractive on or near the trail.

[andy58-in-nh]

There’s a nice looking-lady who knows how to hold a Walther PPK/S. I’d like to show her mine.

[hemogoblin]

That’s a PPK/S. I guess you could call it a 9mm (as reporter did). .380 is as large as they get, I think.

[VOA]

Meredith Emerson, was found bludgeoned to death on a North Georgia
section of the Appalachian Trail,
and the killer has been linked to other park slayings.

Predators always look for the easy meat.

[AppyPappy]

There was another sexual assault on the Trail a month ago.

[ArrogantBustard]

I regularly hike AT and side trails in MD and VA.

I've seen my share of good lookin' wimminfolks on the trail.

Oh, yes: Armed?

Don't ask, don't tell. Concealed means nobody knows you have it.

[opus86]

Good for them. Having hiked some of those trails myself I always wondered if the women traveling alone had the means to protect themselves. I typically took a pistol with me if I was hiking alone.

[VOA]

Hikers such as Ms. Dobbs said they are glad park officials are
discussing the issue,
but other groups say a rule change could alter the hiking and
backpacking culture that exists at areas such as the Appalachian Trail.

I suspect it would alter the "hiking and backpacking culture".
Making it even more polite and civilized than it already is!

[kbennkc]

guess they meant 9 mm kurz .

[Rocky Mountain High]

You should hike in Colorado. The scenery is excellent;)

[Siberian-psycho]

Anyone know Ms Dobb’s adress or phone number?

[petro45acp]

Article says 9mm, and the photo looks like a PPK (usually .32ACP or .380). Not my choice, but if she can place shots, more power to her.

It would be simplest to make the Second Amendment the law of the land....oh wait, it is!

Arm the womenfolk!