The summer is upon us, and many of us will be taking vacations, some of which may be in a different state than we reside in. But before planning out all the fun activities you will be having while on said Vacation, you should consider whether you have reciprocity with the state you are traveling to. You’ll also want to consider how you will be transporting your firearm. Are you driving or flying? Lastly, consider how you will store the firearm. Do you need to bring a portable safe to keep the firearm secure when it is not on your person?

These are the questions that popped into my head after reason about the following “rental home defense” incident.

A Family had rented a home for their vacation in the Gulf Gate Neighborhood of Sarasota, FL. At 2:13 AM on July 2, the family heard someone trying to break in through the back door of the home. One of the family members repeatedly told the suspect to stop. As the suspect continued to make entry, one of the renters shot the suspect twice. The suspect was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

Luckily, this family was armed and prepared even though they were on vacation and staying in an unfamiliar home. We say this often, but you can’t pick and choose the time something bad will happen. So you need to be prepared to defend yourself and your family, even if that means you are on a fun family vacation.

Returning to the questions prompted by this incident, let’s delve deeper into the specifics.

Where Are You Traveling?

Are you staying within the state you reside in? Then you should be covered under the existing laws of your state unless the locality you are going to has different laws, so be sure to double-check them when planning your trip.

Are you traveling to another state? Then check the concealed carry maps to make sure that you have reciprocity with the state you are traveling to or if the state has Constitutional Carry for non-residents.

How Are You Traveling?

Will you be flying to your destination? Then make sure you know the process of checking-in and flying with guns and ammunition. As long as you follow the TSA and airline guidelines, the process should be painless and easy.

Are you driving to your destination? You may want to head back to the Concealed Carry Maps to check reciprocity in any states you will be traveling through.

How Will You Store Your Firearm?

There will be times during your vacation when you cannot carry your firearm on your person. This could be a trip to the beach, going to a theme park or business that doesn’t allow firearms, etc. So you need to have a way to secure the firearm. Do not leave unsecured firearms in your rental, hotel room, or vehicle. A portable safe such as the LifePod is a great option for securing your handgun while on vacation.

Read the original story: Home Defense on Vacation: Are You Prepared? A Family’s Real-Life Encounter