**EDITED my first paragraph out so that I don't have to have another political argument...

But... people on this thread keep writing "I wouldn't carry a gun to protect my bike"... This is not the point.. The act of being robbed or beaten is in itself the reason to protect yourself. Its not about the bike or the money. Its about the theory that you have a right to walk (or ride) down a street without becoming a victim. You have a right to live safely.