No gloves or knives in the park, AND No pocket or belt knives in public

[teknitroxdiver]

Oh now, I'm sure a country boy like yourself remembers the days of leaving things unlocked. Spending my high school years living in a small town in Arkansas in the 80's we never locked anything and nothing every happened. The police blotter was hilarious: "Mrs. Mable reported someone stole 3 peaches from her peach tree." "Mr. Jenkins reported a spinner bait was missing from his tackle box." "Aubry Miller, son of Mr. Miller, reported that he was mobbed while visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Ada Mills in Atlanta, Georgia."

That's the way it was in the small Arkansas town I grew up in not too long ago. Our house was unlocked all day, and many nights, my truck sat in the driveway with the keys in it. I went to a school with 350 students K-12, and nobody worried about students carrying knives or anything. The principal and superintended (who had been the same for my dad when he was in school), would often find a need for a knife and ask me or any of the other more 'country' boys if they could borrow ours. The town had a page in a bigger town's newspaper, and the reports were just as you describe. "Mrs Love's family came up from Mississippi to visit this weekend" "Bobby Joe had a good day fishing yesterday and caught 12 fish". "Howard's boat was stolen last Friday morning, but was returned Saturday afternoon after they were done with it". Ahh, that was a good place to live.

 

[lmorin]

Cozumel-related knife story:

I carry a knife, almost always, except on planes, of course. And even there, there are exceptions. Like 2 wks ago, I took my dive knife off my BC in preparation to go to Cozumel. But, like an idiot, I put it in the plastic pouch in which I carry cert/DAN cards and some sales receipts. This went into my carry-on bag which proceeded unnoticed through JFK security, into overhead storage on the plane all the way to Cozumel. Ironically, my pocketknife was appropriately in my checked luggage. I never did carry it in Coz because I never got out of my bathing suit, except to change into pj's.

Then, on the way home, Coz airport security found my forgotten dive knife for me. I was completely oblivious to the fact it was still in my carry-on bag, having not discovered it even when taking the cert cards out of the same plastic pouch to register for diving.

Coz security officials did me a really big favor: they sent me back out to the ticketing area where I gave my baggage receipts to a USAirways check-in clerk. That clerk found my checked bag and put the knife inside a running shoe in an outside pocket thereby saving me about $75 for a replacement. Thank you, USAirways. Quite a contrast to last time (2 yrs ago) when American Airlines employees took all the AA and C cell batteries from my lights and confiscated them as I was departing.

 

[bhalah]

Cozumel-related knife story:

Quite a contrast to last time (2 yrs ago) when American Airlines employees took all the AA and C cell batteries from my lights and confiscated them as I was departing.

Where the batteries and lights in your carry on?

 

[DandyDon]

I remember a beggar in Amsterdam 20 yrs ago, getting aggressive with me. I thot "Man, you got the canal right behind you - too tempting!" I walked away. Didn't want an international indecent, especially if he drowned.

Oh now, I'm sure a country boy like yourself remembers the days of leaving things unlocked.

I didn't have a lock for my house from 1980-200?, then I moved to town. I often forget to lock a door for days, or close the garage which has an unlocked door to the house. No problems, but I try to not do that - kids.

Bonaire may well be worth the risk & hassle, but no being able to leave my land camera and eyeglasses in the vehicle tears it for me, as well as the break-ins while occupied. No thanks.

Where the batteries and lights in your carry on?

Sounds like they were. Lucky TSA didn't keep the lights. I always remove batteries from all but a tiny LED light I carry in my pocket, my land camera, cell phone, and laptop - nothing in checked luggage. Dive lights with batteries can look too suspicious on X-ray and there is a fire risk if one gets turned on - other than the LEDs, which are not that common.

 

[driftin' by]

Bonaire may well be worth the risk & hassle, but no being able to leave my land camera and eyeglasses in the vehicle tears it for me, as well as the break-ins while occupied. No thanks.

That's cool. I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise but you should understand how your paranoia about Bonaire sounds similarly petty to me as other's paranoia of not being able to carry a knife to protect themselves in Coz sounds petty to you. It's all relative.

 

[cicopo]

I just wanted to let you know that I've passed your message on to the members at Tripadvisor. I meant to do it sooner but due to an overload of things on the go I forgot until now. I'm living in a country where very few people carry a knife of any kind, and even though I have them in my toolbox which is in the trunk of my car I always worry about how the police would look at them if they searched my car. It's perfectly legal but it still worries me a little.

 

[DandyDon]

I just wanted to let you know that I've passed your message on to the members at Tripadvisor. I meant to do it sooner but due to an overload of things on the go I forgot until now.

The message in post 1? Cool.

I'm living in a country where very few people carry a knife of any kind, and even though I have them in my toolbox which is in the trunk of my car I always worry about how the police would look at them if they searched my car. It's perfectly legal but it still worries me a little.

Does Canada not allow personal knives? I have got to start checking on these things before I travel anywhere. Glad they didn't stop me for driving 70 mph on a 70 kph hiway.

 

[rsldonk]

The message in post 1? Cool.

Does Canada not allow personal knives? I have got to start checking on these things before I travel anywhere. Glad they didn't stop me for driving 70 mph on a 70 kph hiway.

Not sure about knives but a few years ago, they would not allow me to bring in a .22 pistol I keep in my truck when I was heading to Calgary for the Stampeed. Thankfully had a friend in Montana I could leave it with.

 

[DandyDon]

Not sure about knives but a few years ago, they would not allow me to bring in a .22 pistol I keep in my truck when I was heading to Calgary for the Stampeed. Thankfully had a friend in Montana I could leave it with.

Actually, I don't think there are legal problems with either, but I do have to start checking in advance. From Canada I bet you did not acquire the permit in advance.

Canada has three classes of firearms: non-restricted, restricted, and prohibited. Non-restricted firearms include most ordinary hunting rifles and shotguns. These may be brought temporarily into Canada for sporting or hunting use during hunting season, use in competitions, in-transit movement through Canada, or personal protection against wildlife in remote areas of Canada. Anyone wishing to bring hunting rifles into Canada must be at least 18 years old, must properly store he firearm for transport, and must follow the declaration requirements described above. Restricted firearms are primarily handguns; however, pepper spray, mace, and some knives also are included in this category. A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to Transport permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. Prohibited firearms include fully automatic, converted automatics, and assault-type weapons. Prohibited firearms are not allowed into Canada.

 

[MMM]

Does Canada not allow personal knives? I have got to start checking on these things before I travel anywhere.

There are laws in Canada against carrying concealed weapons. Lots of people carry pocket knives. There are lot more stabbings and knife injuries on a Saturday night than gun injuries b/c guns are not the preferred weapon. Generally an income thing plus tighter gun laws.