It sucks that we even have to be discussing this issue. I generally feel pretty safe on my 17 mile commute each way, mostly MUP, but I had an incident last year where a group of teenage punks were hanging by the trail and one of them (a girl, which really surprised me) took a swipe at me with her arm as I passed by. She missed my head because I ducked, but my unfortunate reaction was to yell some profanities at her. That caused several of them to step into my path and block me from riding further, so I stopped and got off my bike, thinking if we're going to brawl I wanted to be prepared. I'm a big guy, 6'0" and about 280 lbs., and my getting off the bike and squaring off with them scared them all but one real small kid. He was about 17, but rock solid and he moved towards me in a fighting stance. I had no weapon, so I pulled off my backpack and reached into it for my cell phone, thinking if I'm going to take a beating I'd at least like to have help on the way. At that point, they all seemed to get nervous and began to back away from me, thank goodness. I ended up not calling, and I got back on my bike and took off.

I learned a lot that day. One, I wish I hadn't yelled at her and escalated the situation, but it was a reaction and I'm not sure I could stop myself from doing it again. Two, I do now carry a small firearm on me for last resort protection. I'm not ever going to engage them if I can help it, and I know that my gun is not going to keep me from getting hurt, but I hope that it would be the difference between me getting a beating and maybe being killed or beaten to a point where I have lifelong injuries. I sincerely hope I never have to use my weapon, but it does make me feel more secure if I am ever forced to step off my bike again and face a group like that.

I did get my my concealed carry license and I also took some very specific training in firearms use for self-defense, so I am carrying legally and I feel well-prepared to use my gun, but it would only be to save my life or that of another person.