WalterMitty

Well, I doubt you're being serious, but since I can't read your body language and it looks like you've named yourself in an effort to appear ominous, I'll have to answer "seriously" no, that would be criminal. This is part of my reason for the madness of commenting on this topic. Many folks would like to project evil intent or character on anyone that would take this issue seriously and equip themselves for a bad case scenario.

Having been stranded over the years by broken cars, trucks, motorcycles, helicopters, etc, in the course of my travels, I can assure you having a thing and not needing it is better than needing a thing and not having it. I have never found it necessary to shoot the next passersby to get out of my situation, nor send menacing "rescuers" along their way.

So my postings are a revelation to some, others read things they already know. I must assume that those that express horror at the thought, or pose some funny ludicrous question either haven't thought that much about the subject or wish to be assured that their erroneous assumptions regarding a disarmed public or their incontestable position in the social food chain will keep them safe. For the vast majority of us it will, when it doesn't, well, that's why this subject seems to keep coming back up on this board.

I am responding on this subject, seriously and honestly, to give those on all sides (for, against, & undecided) a chance to hear from an unapologetic Self Defense activist. Sometimes I seem harsh, without malicious intent, but that is only because it is a serious subject with serious consequences.

I don't think this should be joked about. I don't think we should make light of shooting people (or even burning their cars) because we have been threatened or are angry. There are correct responses at each level and we do ourselves a disservice by being flippant. I think part of the reason gangs and hooliganism has gotten so bad is that the members talked so big and bad that their crimes had to escalate to match the talk. I'd hate to think that someone actually acted on some of the advice inciting vandalism or any other extra-legal remedy that I've seen on this board.

Of course, I only have so much energy and time to devote to this subject, so I'll probably have to restrict myself to only "serious" questions or comments from this point forward. But please, take no offense if I fail to respond promptly. I may just be preoccupied.

habernac

carrying a concealed weapon while cycling is laughable. What would the reason be? Do you just pull it out to scare off a possible confrontation? Maybe WW3 starts on your commute and you have to defend yourself? Gimme a break.

centexwoody 

Living in a state where the CHL has helped fearful persons legalize their firearm possession in their cars, I can tell you that it has reduced some road rages incidents. If a person with a Concealed Handgun License is involved in a road rage incident in which threats are exchanged, that person will be prosecuted for the incident. Seems as though our judges have decided that if you own a handgun & a permit to carry it concealed, then you have also declared your maturity in not threatening others in situations that cannot possibly be solved by violence or defused by threats of violence. Guess it's like being a blackbelt in judo or karate: you've learned self-defense and also that your moves must be minimized or avoided wherever possible. Remember when professional boxers would be charged with assault with a deadly weapon when they got caught up in barfights?

Caspar_s

So you carry a full survival kit, first aid kit, etc while riding too?

So where/why are you riding that you think you need a gun? Let us hear some of our assumptions to see why our belief that we don't need a deadly weapon whilst riding is wrong.

Gotte

Sorry, should have been more careful with my title. It was meant, as Sammyboy rightly guesses, as a shout of frustration.
Hey, here's the scoop, though. I went back and waited in my car. And guess what, I saw the car again. Two guys in it this time. I couldn;t get the number, though because of the line it took in the traffic. I'm going to go back tomorrow at the same time and go to a different place with a better view into the road. Just as I thought - numbskulls.

kjmillig

In Texas anyone who can legally own a firearm can legally carry one concealed inside their car. They are still subject all laws regarding firearm use (or abuse). Brandishing is illegal unless in the actual use where you felt you or another is in serious danger of death or serious bodily injury. Now that the question has come up here, I'll be investigating to see if that law applies to bicycles as well. My first intuition is that it does not.
I you do not see the need to legally carry a firearm, then don't. If you hate guns altogether, that's your right. I legally carry a concealed firearm almost everywhere I go, including on a bicycle, partly because of where I live, and mostly because I can. I'll be happy to invite you to the range for a familiarization course or a concealed firearm permit class if your interested. If not, please fell free to go on doing what you like to do.
NRA Certified Instructor
Utah State Concealed Firearm Permit Instructor.
TX Parks & Wildlife Hunter Ed Instructor
BSA Shooting Sports Director
Bicyclist

jyossarian

I'm not an NRA supporter, but I do know that cigarettes kill more people in America each year than bullets. I'm puzzled by the need for handguns vs rifles. I could see the need for rifles when hunting, but what are you hunting for w/ a handgun? Or is it only for protection from people w/ illegal handguns?

gizmocat

I agree that the punks in the car were on an egging spree. I once had some similar jerks throw a watermelon at my parked car as they drove by at forty miles an hour. You wouldn't believe how much damage a melon can do at that speed.
Here in the USA punk kids once dropped a rock off an overpass and killed a woman driving beneath. Direct hit to her head and the car went out of control and crashed.

These people are not after bicyclists per se, but there are too many of them out there so you have to prepare for eventualities. Screaming brats on the sidewalk can be ignored. Brats in cars throwing things can be reported to police. Vary your biking routes when you ride with your daughter. Make sure the girl is wearing a helmet. The camera idea is excellent if you can afford it.

But don't get a gun. This is also the country where someone named Bernhard Goetz pulled a gun on the subway and shot four punks who were trying to rob him. Two wrongs do not make a right, and a gun is a disproporationate response in all the cases you mentioned.

14R 

I never had problems with eggs, punks or direct confrontation, but I have to agree the overall mentality changed in the last 5 years or so. If I am not riding without sunglasses and make eye contact with drivers all the time and show a at least 'strong' approach to some moments, I am often disresppected, ignored, cursed or pretty much just ran over.

I ride a 20" Wheel folder and, somehow, acquiring respect sometimes takes more than just a quick second of eye contact when, before, it was a matter miliseconds...

eaglevii

I've ridden with my gun (concealed) once, to see what it would feel like to carry it in my jersey pocket for an extended period. If I were to ride through certain areas of the city at night (unlikely, since the danger from cars hitting you is far, far higher than anything a gun would help with, and much harder to avoid), or in the middle of nowhere, I would consider packing on the bike. In the middle of nowhere, it would have more to do with feral dogs and less to do with other humans.

Anyway, +1 to your first post. The wording was a bit harsh, but I agree with your point.

gizmocat

Actually if the punks were driving such an easily-identifiable car you can have the cops after them in a jiffy. The problem is that you don't have evidence of assault; they did not actually hit you.
I'd opt for safety over revenge.

Zero_Enigma

Wow you definately have more tolorence then a friend of mine. A friend of mine had marbles thrown at him. That set him off that day as he drew the line. He's a sea boy and thus part owns a craft. Lets just say 12ga flare gun shot through the open window bounced off the inside windshield and most likely into some SOB's lap as they were laughing up a storm as the marble nailed him in the face. I can't blame him for shot to the car tho after that. If I had the 6D maglite .... ... ... ... that windshield would be smashed up at the next lights when I catch them.

God damn.... it's a good thing your child was not injured. Now that above was an extreme case and most can't blame him for doing it. I'd get a cheap digicam and gun tape that to the handle mount. If you have the option set the focus to infinity and try to snap a photo of the car plate. Better yet, wire a mic to your neck to a mini tape recorder (Radio shack cheapie) then read off as many numbers and letters off the guys lic. plate and describe the incident and call the cops.



Zero_Enigma

Bike_UK

This "stand your ground" thing sounds interesting, can you elaborate? Does it have definitions of what you can and can't do? The closest we have in the UK is being allowed to use 'reasonable force' in self-defence, which in reality means you can't cause any injury to the perpetrator. One case that will horrify you Americans is the case of Tony Martin who shot 2 guys (and killed one) who broke into his house. He was initally jailed for life, but had it reduced to 5 years on appeal. Really.

Keep heading south past Essex, for sure, because...

I have had a few eggs thrown at me, but the lit cigarettes are the ones that concern me the most. I have never been able to ascertain if it they are deliberate 'attacks' or i am just in the wrong place at the wrong time when they were flicked out the window.
Being screamed at (usually by the occupants of white vans) is a weekly 'pleasure'. This always happens along the same 2 mile stretch when i am riding along the cycle path next to the oncoming traffic, but from different vans.

Sammyboy

Walter - I pay pretty close attention. I cycle in Southampton and London, and I don't hear much like this. I'm struggling to know whether I should take you seriously. You genuinely read the title of this thread, and thought the guy REALLY wanted a gun? I don't believe it. The more I read, the more I think you're just a little hung up on guns, and saw an opportunity to talk about it. You cannot have thought he really meant it.

So, any road up, the people who would like to restore gun ownership in the UK would disagree with me, but then, on other topics, so would supporters of racist organisations. I don't want to compare the two topics, but you should understand that in the UK, there are far more BNP supporters than there are people with a serious interest in guns. It's just different here to where you are. I've spent time in America, and like a lot about it, but wouldn't want to live anywhere that gun ownership was that widespread. Likewise, if carrying concealed is legal there, and you want to do it on your bike, fine, but I wouldn't live in any country where I felt the need to carry a concealed gun. I think it sucks that the OP got things thrown at him, and something needs to be done about that, but shooting the culprits is not it......

LittleBigMan

I can't seriously see myself using a gun on my bike. When I'm on the bike, I don't have my hands free, and if I'm stopped, I'm also vulnerable due to lack of maneuverability. I'm toast for a gun-carrying driver or a gun-toting pedestrian, either way.

Coyote!

Humans have gone mad. I s'pose it's the localized overcrowing and clawing for resources and the unbridled acceptance of allowing testosterone to be used for gratuitous agression rather than species protection.

Thomas J. [Stonewall] Jackson said it best about some similarly repugnant folks, "Kill 'em. . .kill 'em all". In the end, guns didn't help his cause much though.

babaluey

Hey Walter, lighten up! It's called hyperbole and when people are affected by strong emotion they use it. It's like saying "Boy, I'm starving!" when you really just mean you're hungry. The OP is not seriously suggesting these folks should be shot, just venting his anger.

If you take everything this seriously, makes me a little nervous that you are armed...

bugmenot

Walter: I don't think the OP was seriously suggesting using a gun in these intances. However, I do agree that his problems probably are highly related to the fact that you can't concealed carry in the UK and I would also agree that carrying would, in general, be a good idea for situations which are more dangerous like a mugging.

OP: In situations where it's just a pedestrian yelling, ignore it. If it's someone in a car endangering you, I would suggest either a slingshot and marbles or a hammer. You can also use spit since they usually have their window down. But be prepared for evasive manuveurs or they'll run you over.

Stacey

'cans

truman

That firearm would be your Webley-Vickers .50/80, I trust?

Tapocketapocketapocketa....

Dickseacup

Going?

jomconra

My approach to someone who yells at me, either from a car or from the side walk, is to confront them, stand close. I simply say "I'm sorry, I thought I heard you yell something, is there a problem, are you ok?"

Then I pull out my gun and pistol whip them (I never leave it loaded, I don't believe in deadly force).

Joking

bentstrider

I wouldn't really waste time with a gun.
Instead, it's just my U-Lock and a long tire iron kept underneath my rack.
This is just in case I meet the offending Jacka$$ at a stoplight and they want to pull some Rodney King/Reginald Denny BS.

ItsJustMe

Wow, shop around though. Given that the first camera there is an Oregon Scientific ATC1000, which has a RETAIL price of $99, and can be bought from Amazon for $80, the fact that they're charging $113 for it means maybe the other cameras should be bought somewhere else too.

The ATC1000 does have sound. However, you don't get much useful when you're at speed. Mainly wind blast, road noise, and clicks from shifters and howls from brakes.

Mr23779

[QUOTE=kjmillig]In Texas anyone who can legally own a firearm can legally carry one concealed inside their car.QUOTE]

You might want to clarify your statement because this would only apply in certain circumstances for certain individuals in Texas. Using the word "anyone" implies an absolute and not many things in life are that way.

For instance, I pull Joe Smith over for failure to properly signal a lane change. I approach Joe's vehicle, ask for his ID (he doesn't have a CCW license), and detect the odor of marijuana coming from inside his vehicle as he rolls down the window. I run Joe on my MDT, he's a 25 year old male, notice he has no prior record of any kind, return to Joe, and start asking questions about his failure to signal and about the odor coming from his vehicle. Joe starts to get nervous so I get Joe to get out of his car and start asking more questions. I happen to see a marijuana pipe in the floorboard on the driver's side as Joe is exiting his vehicle. Terry frisk/wingspan rule now applies after seeing the pipe and I just happen to find a firearm under his seat. Among other things, I'm going to charge him with unlawfully carrying a weapon. Joe happens to have no priors and can legally own a firearm...but he's going downtown with me and his record is going to be forever changed.

Another...
My father can legally own a firearm, doesn't have his CCW license, can take it directly to and from the range only, and in certain instances while "traveling" (see Texas law for more on the "traveling" clause), but I guarantee that he would go to jail if he tried carrying a concealed firearm to and from work each day and circumstances led an officer to finding it concealed in his vehicle...and he has no prior record.