Originally Posted by
ipguy225
One thing I have learned from this thread is that those who are disinclined to carry, whatever the reason, should NOT carry a firearm. The anti-gun folks are concerned that they will shoot themselves or hurt someone else, or that their own brandishment of a firearm will escalate the situation, or that their firearm will be taken from them by the thug and used against them.
If that is truly how you feel, then it is best that you remained unarmed and let nature take its course. Perhaps a close call or two will change your mind someday, but until that happens, you are more likely to mishandle the firearm and become the subject of a news article that frankly makes it harder on those of us who do carry. We respect your right to remain unarmed and use alternative means of self-defense. We all assume different risks. Your decision not to carry assumes certain risks, and our decision to carry also assumes certain risks. You simply draw a different conclusion from the risk calculus. Although we feel strongly that our personal decision is best for us, we will not ridicule you as irresponsible, as wimps, or use other derogatory terms to denigrate you or your decision. But, we who choose to carry would like the same consideration, i.e. refrain from the "cowboy", "redneck", "macho" and other phallic-compensation comments.
The debate over whether to carry a firearm while on a bike is an interesting one, although academic for those of us who carry consistently. We have a firearm in our car, at home, in the mall, or maybe even at work, so the bike is no different. It just presents its own challenges, i.e. weight, location, ease of access, etc., and that's why you see most of the threads on this.
It's a simple matter of what Can occur and what Can't occur in certain situations and what causes situations to become unstable.
With or without a firearm you cannot control the situation. Without a gun, you are less likely to aggravate a situation in which there is a chance you could get away uninjured. Pulling a gun can only escalate a situation. Not diffuse it. You take the next step. That could mean he runs, it could mean you misfire and kill them, it could mean his friends around the corner are strapped. Nothing changes when you have a gun except the ability to cause more harm then necessary.
Most criminals will only attack you if they want something. Your car, your wallet, whatever. In those situations, you give them what they want. Pulling a gun on them escalates the situation. Always. Does that mean it can't ward off an assailant? Of course it can, but you cannot foresee the outcome of the situation.
There are people who are out there to just hurt you, it's rarer, and in that situation it's not as cut and dry as just pulling a gun and ending the conflict.
I mean, in which situation is it "acceptable to draw a gun." If the assailant is unarmed, and trying to steal from you? If the assailant is armed with a knife and is trying to steal from you? If the assailant is armed with a Gun and is trying to steal from you? If the assailant is unarmed and attacking you? If the assailant is armed with a knife and attacking you? If he his armed with a gun and attacking you?
Any of those situations where you can Run?
Any of those situations where you can't run?
People with guns die just as easily as people without.
Any situation where someone is trying to steal from you via intimidation, presenting the threat and then demanding, there is no reason to draw a gun.
Any situation you can run from, there is no reason to draw a gun. In a physical struggle a gun can be used against you, or you may kill the assailant.
The few situations where a gun is "acceptable" to draw is rare.
What if the gun is stolen from you? It can happen. Then there is one more gun on the street. Having a gun on you serves only as a temptation and a tool of escalation. Guns on the street are more a negative impact on society then a positive one.
At the time of the Bill of writes drafting, there was a threat of invasion. The right to bare arms was created to allow local militia to defend their home and country. No such threat exists in this age at this time.
Does this mean everyone should turn in their guns? No, I have no problem with having a rifle, for hunting, or home defense. Hand guns are not necessary for the private sector. Carrying a gun is not necessary for the private sector.