dieharder
Ottawa, ON
Senior Member
Joined: 09/10/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Umm... for those that may not be aware...
this isn't the norm here in Canada. Let's try not to overreact. This could happen anywhere, even if you happen to have a firearm at your disposal.
1999 Itasca Sunrise
|
stugpanzer
Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 06/19/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Things like this can happen anywhere and not just Canada. When we camp, we always camp with our 'camping buddies'. I believe its a good practice because we support each other in many ways. About a month ago while driving to one of our vacation spots, our friends had a blow-out on their travel trailer. We put their family in my coach with the genny and AC running and my friend and I changed the tire. Generally, Canada is actually quite safe but like anywhere else, you have bad people. My major question about this incident and one that might get some mad at me is I believe it is NOT a good idea for elderly people to go on trips, camping, etc without some sort of support such as travel/camping buddies. Not just for dangers from bad people but even health emergencies, etc.
2004 Damon Intruder 369W Workhorse Chassis
Mods: LCD TV in Bedroom, Steer-Safe, Winegard Wingman, Bulk LP Gas Adapter for my Camp Chef Grill, Cobra 29 LX LE CB 50th Anniversary Radio with a 3' Firestick NGP Antenna, EEZRV Products TPMS
|
Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/07/2004
View Profile
|
This has been a sad, sad story - but will NOT cause me to stop RVing in Canada or the remote parts of the USA (our favorite places, actually).
I hope the family of this missing couple get the closure they need?
|
Tinstar
McKinney, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 09/13/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
stugpanzer wrote:My major question about this incident and one that might get some mad at me is I believe it is NOT a good idea for elderly people to go on trips, camping, etc without some sort of support such as travel/camping buddies. Not just for dangers from bad people but even health emergencies, etc.
You say "elderly"; If you don't mind, tell me, at what age would you force them to stay at home?
 Never pass up a chance to go somewhere
|
paulj
Seattle
Senior Member
Joined: 06/11/2007
View Profile
|
While some of my fellow Americans feel safer with a gun, it is easy to imagine scenarios in which it wouldn't have done any good. Maybe the couple stopped for lunch near Edson, and the perpetrator jimmied his way into the RV, and jumped them when they got back in, or were driving off. But charges against Vader don't suggest that he was given to violent confrontations or assault. Maybe they were camping at a remote lake, and he stole the rig, leaving them stranded. Apparently their credit cards weren't taken and used, not even for gas.
I suppose the police have already checked whether the McCanns had an itinerary for the 7 day drive to SW BC. If not that, did they have favorite camping spots along the way, especially in this area west of Edmonton? It is easy to link someone like Vader to the disposal of the RV (arson) and the SUV, but harder to come up with a plausible scenario in which he would have first encountered the couple.
Even if a cell phone can't be used to call for help, it can be used to keep loved ones informed of your whereabouts and plans. There were 7 days between the time the McCanns apparently left home, and when their daughter reported them missing. If it wasn't for the burnt RV, police would have suspected an accident or medical emergency rather than foul play. I'm all for preparedness, but confrontation with an armed criminal in Canada is rather low on my list of worries.
|
|
|
Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/08/2001
View Profile
|
I'm 70, and I'm still healthy. But, my NRA membership has nothing to do with age. Heck, I grew up with guns. And, for a long time I thought it was the same for everyone. I feel safer with a gun in my holster, and my wife feels the same way. It's one of the reasons we base in Texas. You might ask, which came first, the danger or the gun? All I know is that there's certain things that I do to FEEL safer. It's MY perception. And, it certainly improves the quality of my sleep. Everyone else can do it THEIR way.
In camping and RVing, many is the time when I felt it was safer to have a gun. IMO RVing is your home, even when you're using it for a a couple of weeks. It's not practical for us to always go RVing with other RVers. IMO you gotta know how to look out for yourself. I just hope that I actually know how,.....I think I do. What else can I do?
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
|
stugpanzer
Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 06/19/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Tinstar wrote:stugpanzer wrote:My major question about this incident and one that might get some mad at me is I believe it is NOT a good idea for elderly people to go on trips, camping, etc without some sort of support such as travel/camping buddies. Not just for dangers from bad people but even health emergencies, etc.
You say "elderly"; If you don't mind, tell me, at what age would you force them to stay at home?
I would not suggest that anybody stay home, but I do suggest that people should consider camping buddies, travel buddies. I don't have a definition for what an elderly person is so perhaps I shouldn't have used that word. Apologies if I offended, but I stand by my thoughts on having camping/travel buddies!
|
bill h
coastal reconquista
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2001
View Profile
|
Has there been info that these folks were experiencing any vehicle difficulties when this happened? I sort of got the idea that things started to go wrong at or near the campground where their MH was burned.
NOTE: Any incorrect spelling is intentional to prevent those annoying popups.
84 Barth 30Tag powered by HT502/Thorley/Weiand etc, Gear Vendors OD.
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes, 4WD Toyota toad
|
Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/08/2001
View Profile
|
bill h wrote:Has there been info that these folks were experiencing any vehicle difficulties when this happened? I sort of got the idea that things started to go wrong at or near the campground where their MH was burned.
That's one of the problems. We never get to find out all the facts, so we end up speculating.
There might only be 2 people alive who know what happened, and they're not talking.
|
deltamaster
Middletown, New york
Senior Member
Joined: 04/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
stugpanzer wrote: My major question about this incident and one that might get some mad at me is I believe it is NOT a good idea for elderly people to go on trips, camping, etc without some sort of support such as travel/camping buddies. Not just for dangers from bad people but even health emergencies, etc.
While I disagree that elderly people should not venture out on their own I will say that they need a plan...
So many days should not have passed before anyone realized these people were missing.
Maybe when folks get up in age like that they should set it up so that they check in daily while on the road and if they do not then the family will know to call the authorities.
 I ride it like I stole it! 
.......and I just may have.......
I'm on "CB-13", are you?
2004 Fun Mover -- 2002 Sportster -- 1997 Road King
All being pushed down the road by a 1997 "Ram Tough" Dodge Dakota
TSgt(Ret.) USAF
|
|
|
