The great part about this is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the sad part is that most of you are living a fantasy where your so sure that your safe in your neighborhood that your blind to the truth, and the truth is that muggings, rapes, murder, and so on can happen anywhere and at any time even in your super nice "crime just dont happen round these parts" neighborhood :rolleyes: I love it when you see something going on in a hotsy totsy neighborhood and you hear the person say," I just cant believe this happened in our area! This kinda stuff just doesnt happen around here!" well holy crap! it just did! also, I dont let anyone scare me away from where I live, if you want to run to the so called "safe place" its up to you, I live here although I know its not the greatest place and my kids know how to survive here if needed (yes, that includes how to safely handle, clean, load, and shoot all the weapons in my home) but they also learned how to stay in school and become who they want to become and live just about anywhere they want to live, remember, what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, hidding your children from the truth doesnt make it any less real :rolleyes: just makes them weaker and more of a target is all.

To achieve true power over Cager one must first master the Art of the Flying Guillotine

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3...gguilloly4.jpg

You can be in a nice neighborhood and still have trouble.

I was a in a VERY nice neighborhood in front of a great park where they have a kiddy water park and some ****** STILL got out of his car to "fight me" after I took the lane over a narrow bridge crossing... mind you this bridge is like 50 feet long. lol

you just don't know who is going to snap or do something crazy to you ... regardless of your mental attitude.

Oh, believe me, I know that! I live in a lovely little city ... full of drug addicts, and people who break into cars, and smash car windows just for fun, etc.

But I still would NEVER even consider carrying a gun or similar weapon.

:D

And one thing with "getting around" like that is this ... carrying a gun (outside of hunting purposes) is illegal here in Canada where I live, and I cannot take a weapon with me when I fly to other countries.

So I have to resort to other tactics ... basically Chipcom sums it up with this: "Best weapon for any situation is a brain." ... and for me I also add a bit of women's intuition. There have been many times on my travels where I have suddenly felt uncomfortable with the situation. Often I can't put my finger on why I feel uncomfortable ... I just know that something isn't right. For example, that has happened a few times when we were looking for a place to camp ... I'll have a look around a potential camping area and if something feels uncomfortable about it to me, we move on. Another time it happened while walking through a certain area of downtown Sydney (Australia) after dark. My hair practically stood on end I felt so uncomfortable. We grabbed the first bus and got into a more populated, less run-down and graffiti covered area.

I don't generally carry anything considered a weapon -- I do have a knife with me while hiking, but if I needed it for self defense I'd have to ask my attacker to hold up for a few minutes while I dig it out of my pack -- but I don't understand the attitude that it is somehow wrong or immoral to arm oneself, either. I don't see how planning for self defense by carrying a weapon is any more paranoid than planning for a house fire by carrying insurance.

If we could all be sure of avoiding violence by using our intuition, feelings, etc., there'd be precious few people being attacked. Although whacking a mugger with your brain would almost certainly throw him off his stride... :D

Car-sized limpet mine

Went and checked out the website and have much respect for your opinion. Have advised my son when he became of age never to ignore the feeling in the pit of his stomach...get away because something's about to go down. It's gratifying tp have him share w/me several situations that were either defused or avoided. I love these posts because this is where the rubber meets the road in being a cycle-commuter.

Years ago I started commuting by bike in West Chicago over to Rand McNally ever day and then down to th Old Town School of Folk Music on Armitage where I taught voice/guitar 3-4 times per week. I was rather timmid when first starting out...on the wrong side of the road!! Almost hit a fellow commuter head on. He hit me w/'Get ON THE RIGHT SIDE A55HOLE!! So, this whole thing's been a bit of an eyeopener. As time went on and I gained experience and confidence. My riding began to become more assertive. Then I went through a period when I was harrassed frequently. Finally, one night when I'd had enough I spoke something back to my tormentors and they responded by throwing beer bottles in my path and laughing as they drove away.

I caught them down the street about 2/3 lights. They were boxed in by a few cars. As I rode by them I grabbed my krypto-lock by the curved end and slammed it down HARD on the upper arm/elbow. Didn't plan on doing it, but just did. I heard him yell and I knew I'd hurt him, but didn't know how bad. I took off and they were boxed in and I was able to make a couple of turns, shut my lights off and I was gone.
Avoided that area for a week or two and I saw the guy getting on an El about 3 weeks later and he had a cast on his arm. He didn't know who I was, but I knew him right away. Started riding through there the same way a/t same times and never had a lick of trouble again.

I ride rural and carry and 'air zounds', pepper spray, 480 ftprsec bb gun w/an 18 shot mag, and a small sharp bowieknife. If I was urban I'd carry either a Berretta Tomcat or a 5 clip .380 instead of the pellet gun. When touring in foreign countries I've got a 3 piece spring load telescopic billy club. Use cable ties and leave it right in full view. 3 trips abroad and still have it.

Sorry, starting to get repetativre so I'll just say this: We all have to make our own decicions as to what to carry and what to not carry. Whether it's Clif Bars, Gatoraid or a .44 magnum. People who choose to NOT carry have that right, aslo. For me and my family we've decicded that the reality is that in micro time one can become a stat overwhom everyone sheds a tear and remembers fondly as a good,(man/woman)cyclyst. Or you can attend a funeral of one though foolish in life won his/her eternal salvation w/a deathgbed confession and a truly renpentant heart. At some point in our society/push will come to shove and if you aint packing you're going to need to be.:p

Flying guillotine pwnz guns.

Just in case you missed it.The great part about this is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the sad part is that most of you are living a fantasy where your so sure that your safe in your neighborhood that your blind to the truth, and the truth is that muggings, rapes, murder, and so on can happen anywhere and at any time even in your super nice "crime just dont happen round these parts" neighborhood I love it when you see something going on in a hotsy totsy neighborhood and you hear the person say," I just cant believe this happened in our area! This kinda stuff just doesnt happen around here!" well holy crap! it just did! also, I dont let anyone scare me away from where I live, if you want to run to the so called "safe place" its up to you, I live here although I know its not the greatest place and my kids know how to survive here if needed (yes, that includes how to safely handle, clean, load, and shoot all the weapons in my home) but they also learned how to stay in school and become who they want to become and live just about anywhere they want to live, remember, what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, hidding your children from the truth doesnt make it any less real just makes them weaker and more of a target is all.

OK, send me your addy and the next time some drugged out zombie tries to rob someone at gun point Ill send him to you so you can use your brain and talk him out of it, Im sure he'll be very understanding of your situation and walk away a new man :rolleyes: I know plenty of people that thought like you and guess what? their the ones that ended up without brains when they teid to talk some a55wipe out of a "situation!" Do I worry about my family 24-7? your damn right I do! and it would be the same no matter where I lived! anyone who doesnt worry aboout theirs 24-7 shouldnt have a family IMHO :rolleyes: also, how do you think the guys that "make the world safer for the rest of us" do it? do they go around tryin to talk the terrorist out blowing 5h1t up? or do they use weapons? wake up and smell the joe bro :rolleyes: youll be the one blowing your brains out should (god forbid) something ever happen to a member of your family because you didnt have a weapon to at least TRY to defend them!

I like bikes... you must live in a really crappy area. I would hate to have to be in fear for my own safety as well as the safety of my family 24/7. I hope things improve for you and that you stay safe.

ilikebikes: I really hate to say this, but I feel so much pity for you. It must be terrible to be so afraid of your own shadow all the time. Yes, there are terrible people and things in this world. But to live in constant fear of everything isn't living at all. I'd suggest seeing a psychiatrist, but I know that you'll blow the suggestion off as not being a "manly" thing to do. You'll be in my prayers tonight.

I have car insurance but I've never filed a claim. A gun is like that.

Even empty ones work! People will exit the vehicle if one is tossed in.

Richard

When compared to other areas I guess I do live in a kinda crappy area, but Im never in "FEAR" for my safety or "FEAR" for the safety of my family, heres a quote from my last post,"Do I worry about my family 24-7? your damn right I do! and it would be the same no matter where I lived!" See? I WORRY, fear has nothing to do with it, if I was afraid I wouldnt be here taking care of mine :) Id be in some high end area paying high end prices just for the illusion of "all being well" Im one of a few people that know that BS is everywhere and Im as prepared as I can be to deal with it should it come, thats all, I love my family and would gladly give up my life for them, does this mean that I live in fear, no, just means I love them is all :) and remember you shouldnt just assume that someone needs improvment on their life just because they live in what some consider a "bad area" I never said I was poor, or sad, or misrable, Im none of that, finacially Im doing well, Im very happy to be in my situation, and Im no where near misrable! :lol: ;) My neighborhood is an "up and coming" area so Im just sticking it out :) when things get better Ill STILL be in MY neighborhood :D Thanks for the concern though ;) :)

Wow! Do you not know how to read?! Please, do read the prior posting completely and try to comprehend at least a little bit before making stupid assumtions :rolleyes: if you ever get to meet me youll know that Im in no way a super macho kindof a guy! :roflmao: thats like the dumbess thing Ive ever heard! :roflmao: in fact Im just about as liad back as any person can be, being as prepared as I can doesnt make me afriad :) read on and MAYBE youll understand the written word of the guy thats,"so afraid of your own shadow all the time/living in constant fear of everything" :lol: thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard! if you knew me and hung out with me just for a day youd be apologizing for the dumbess assumption youve ever made :) well maybe not the dumbess YOUVE ever made, Im sure there has been others :)

using your brain is more about not getting into a situation than talking your way out of one. If you smack cars for buzzing, do you smack it if its full of gangbangers or a soccer mom? I don't consider pepper spray or stun guns as weapons; when used properly, they are non-lethal self defense tools, there when you need them. If you have have wild animals or serious crime problems to contend with carry something more appropriate.

I understand where you are coming from. I guess its a geographical thing.
In my case, These people who dont understand dont work in Riviera Beach,
FL, for instance, one of THE most scary and crime ridden areas in FL like I do.
Its not a case of 'being able to take another route' etc. Of course you use your
head, change routes every day etc, but there is very real possibility statistically
speaking, that you will suffer some type of violence weekly as I do with verbal
taunts and seriously aggressive panhandling from crackheads. Im the MOST peaceful,
laidback person I know but I feel better carrying something that might save myself
from a serious injury should I suffer a level of violence over what I suffer now. I used
to laff at this stuff until it applied to me. I can only opine that people who dont understand this more often than nots travels dont take them into very violent areas.
Its ironic that if a "I dont need a helmet for safety' thread comes up most
people chastise the poster and give horror stories of all their freinds and relatives and
cousins of girlfriends uncle who are vegitables now from no helmet but post something
like this about another very real danger and you have some type of mental shortcoming
or are scared of the world, etc......Go figure :rolleyes:

Thats a really good point, I used to smack, punch, kick cars when they buzzed me all the time, didnt matter who it was, kinda stupid when you look back at it and think about what could have happened, but I have learned the lesson and havnt done these stupid things for a while and I feel like a better person because of it :) my weapon of choice is there when I need it and if ever I need to make the choice I have the ability to make it lethal or non lethal :)

Thanks ;)

You speak from a very US point of view. Fortunately, many other parts of the world have a very different perspective. :)

-------------------------------------

Threads like these just reinforce my thoughts that I would NEVER want to live in the US, and they make me appreciate my country and the other countries I've visited all the more.

Many other countries don't have the crime and criminals the US has, either. BUT---I will guarantee you there are sections of London and Paris which are dangerous in which to wander. I seem to remember Paris erupting in riots last year. People being killed on the metro, and all that.

Black bike
Dark blue shirt with "Polite" Poland" "Please" or "Peace" in large white block letters on the back.
Small camelback worn under shirt.
White helmet.
Web belt containing repair kit, snacks, with a mag light attached to it.
Trunk bag.
Black shoes.

Get the idea?

I'm not saying stuff never happens around here. Just that the odds of me getting into a situation where I might need a gun to defend myself are extremely low. I've made the decision that I'd rather play the odds than carry a weapon with me all the time and take on all the responsibility and risk that goes with it...not to mention the fact that it's ILLEGAL.

I don't even know where you're going with the "hiding your children from the truth" comment. Who's hiding their children? What truth am I hiding? :rolleyes:

I'll take my son to the range when he's older...maybe around 10-12 years old.

Sorry :o I did a bit of assuming myself :o due to your comment,"I should seriously consider moving..." I just assumed that you have your family in a so called "safe neighborhood" the "hiding your children from the truth" comment pertained to my assumption about the area in which you live, the truth that I spoke of is that crime and crazies are everywhere, but it was all based on assumtion so scratch it :) unless.....;)

OK, Im an idiot, I dont get it? or Im the only person here that admits that I dont get it :lol: please explain?

Gearing up for your first ulcer?

Dude, you can live your life in fear, constantly worrying about your loved ones or you can relax and enjoy life. We're all going to die, it's inevitable. It's just a matter of how and when and all the protection and guns in the world aren't going to prevent that.

I have a 5 year old son and I hardly spend any time at all worrying about him. Sure, I want him to be safe and never get hurt but that isn't reality. I can't protect him from everything...it's just not possible. We play out on our street and I wouldn't even dream of having a gun with me when we're out there. It's just not something that would even enter my mind.

I will speak for him......You are not 'living your life in fear' if you choose to commute
through a high crime area, every day. I would say just the opposite. That you are
definately not afraid if you rode in/through dangerous conditions. I would never shoot
anyone but, my carrying a shockpole could mean the difference between a major beating
and a minor one. That I do have control over. Again, If your commute takes you through
a scary area everyday and two and three times a week you have violent behavior visited
upon you I think your opinion might change.