Sue St.Clair and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

This sounds like a joke... but sadly, it isn't.......

We were "tipped off" to this via our BC Director who found it just surfing around. She was astounded (which needless to say, so were we...)

According to this site's RECOMMENDED equipment for "ghost hunting"...

"Handguns these days are very important to have. Its not about using it as a weapon its about protection some abandoned houses and buildings in the city do not have exactly the nicest people in them there are times when you may deal with something that can hurt you people, maybe even something that comes out of a vortex who knows, but you got it and its there if you need it."

...with a lovely picture of a weapon to boot.

...oh, and they suggest this too...

"A solid knife is very important not only does it provide protection but you can use it for a variety of things whether its to cut wire, vines, through wood, whatever the case may be do not go home without your knife it may not effect a ghost, but it will at least provide you with some security."

...which also came with a great photo of a nasty looking dagger. One has to admire the fact that this "ghost hunter" made the boo-boo of saying "Don't go home" without your knife... what happens to this guy at home to warrant a blade???

Back to the topic at hand, however... picture this if you will... a bunch of scared people trying to find a thrill or at least exploring something they perceive as scary... all armed to the teeth.

"Okay gang, now SPLIT UP!"

Can you see what might happen?

First person that rounds a blind corner and startles their counterparts... the first person that snaps a "flash" photo without alerting the other armed folks...the first person who bumps into a security guard in a darkened corridor and assumes it is "a ghost leaping out of a vortex" ...

*Bang!*

Now, in our estimation aside from the fact that "abandoned does not mean haunted" (yet more people confusing urban exploration with paranormal exploration), in our humble opinion, if you're doing a "ghost hunt" (or ghost investigation) and you honestly feel that your personal safety is at risk.... DON'T DO IT.

If you're at a site and you're worried about your personal safety... LEAVE!

If you find there is a genuine "human" threat to you at a site... LEAVE, THEN CONTACT THE POLICE!

Packing a knife and a gun is just a recipe for utter disaster.

Oddly enough this "ghost hunter" and his crew already have a "body count" as it were, in our eyes.

A Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society investigator from the now defunct Western New York group went with this group on a night "hunt" ... and did his best to maintain their protocols of "wearing black only" while doing it.

The young man was struck and killed by a drunk driver who claimed they "didn't see him" until it was too late. He was 19 years old.

Wearing all black, especially on an "outdoors" evening venture is just plain silly... and now one reason is obvious. The other is that bright colours will help distinguish "people" in photos from a possible anomaly.

Anyway, wearing all black on investigation is stupid... but packing a gun and a bowie knife is even stupider... It will definitely lead to bad things eventually, and will undoubtedly result in someone's wounding or worse.