SnowTown

Maybe they thought you were a poor bum riding a bike and wanted to give you some food.

KonAaron Snake 

This is exactly why I don't own a gun. I'd use it.

KD5NRH

Not at all; if I'm wearing cargo shorts, (basically any time I plan to stop somewhere) it goes in a cargo pocket. If I'm just wearing the bike shorts, it goes in the top bar bag or a fanny pack. Other options like the SafePacker allow for a bigger gun.

dynodonn 

Calif: California is a “May Issue” state; the decision to grant a CCW (Carry a Concealed Weapon) Permit being granted (or refused) at the discretion of the County Sheriff or Police Chief. Some sheriffs/chiefs issue on a reasonable basis, others can be next to impossible to persuade.

Texas: Obtaining a permit to carry concealed in the State of Texas requires completion of the course, qualifying with a handgun at the range, and passing a 50 question test. The applicant then applies and pays a fee to the State which completes a background check and completes the issuance of the license.



One of the dicey issues I was referring to on carrying a concealed firearm in Cali, if the local Cali sheriff or police chief says "no" and one carries anyway, one is opening themselves to a considerable slew of legal litigation if caught with it, or uses it for self defense.

electrik

Why would anybody want a concealed carry? Isn't the point to use the gun as deterrent... so strap it on where it's visible.

dynodonn 

Again, here in Calif, only unloaded firearms can be openly carried, and there's legislature in the works to ban that practice as well.

Elmog

At the very least, throwing trash out the car window is against the law and can cost around $500 each occurance. If you are a witness and can write down the lic# then you can report it and they will have to pay a nice little fine. I think that's the best revenge.

electrik

Weird, so you guys went with hiding loaded guns instead of displaying them in the open! Really it seems a bit strange if the goal is to prevent fire-arm deaths as most people won't pick a fight if it is clear the other person has a loaded gun on their person. They might rob/pick a fight with somebody who seems unarmed though and somebody could get killed, even the weapon owner.

I think out of sight out of mind has confused you guys. It's not safer hidden. Agree?

dynodonn 

Personally, I've never had a need to carry a firearm in public, and to me it's a slippery slope since if someone knows that I have a firearm on me, they may be more tempted to use theirs first before I even knew that I was in trouble in the first place.

trx1

the best thing you can do is nothing.
BULLSHYT!
just be carrying a can of wasp spay
and when u catch up...BLAM! they WILL learn!

KD5NRH

I never needed a seat belt until one saved my life. I put a lot more effort into putting seat belts on and taking them off than I put into having a handgun in my pocket.

dynodonn 

Personally, to me that's a bad analogy since I've been in more car crashes than public fire fights, which is zilch, zip, nada on the use of firearms in public, and someone isn't realistically going to do me bodily harm because I'm wearing a seat belt.

KonAaron Snake 

I fully understand the desire to beat these cretins over the head with their own limbs, and I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if that happens, but let's look at this rationally...

Escalating the situation and looking for retribution puts you in a confrontation with three teenagers in a car that can kill you. You are likely to lose any conflict. What can you possibly really win here? These kids don't have judgement...especially when they are in a group. They don't understand consequences. If they did, they wouldn't have done this to begin with. Seeking retribution has a chance of landing you injured, arrested, or at least further inconvenienced.

Calling the police and going about your day, on the other hand, minimizes these potential consequences while also potentially leading to repercussions for the idiots.

dahut

I guess its better than having beer bottle tossed at you. Now THAT hurts. Sadly, Life has no guarantees and it is certainly filled with fools and idiots.

But, this is one of those times when calling the cops may be useful. Get the license number, if at all possible, and report it.
Its their word against yours, at that point. It may do nothing for you, but they may think twice next time.

If you cant get their license, do the faux cellphone thing, so they THINK you are reporting them. And take a different way home for the next few trips.

Tarkin

This kind of stuff absolutely blows my mind. I have been living in Japan for two years now and my bike is my main form of transportation. Between work and Japanese classes I ride about 20 kilometers a day on pretty busy streets. The only run-in I've had with a car in the past two years has been when an old man pulled out into the road without looking, I saw him with enough time to swerve out of the was and drive around him but I also had enough time to stick my foot out and kick the grill of his car. I looked back and saw him pull out and start to follow me, he pulled up next to me rolled down his window and yelled (in Japanese) "I'm sorry, are you OK?" I felt really bad for kicking his car. I said I was fine and I pulled off onto a side road, I really didn't want to have to deal with him trying to apologize to me anymore.

But yeah, I have yet to get any road rage here, and to be honest, I don't think I ever will. America is crazy.

KD5NRH

Until that crash, I'd never been in a crash, either.

And just how is someone even going to know there's a gun in my pocket, much less choose to do me harm because of it?

Tarkin

So what are you going to do with that gun in your pocket? You really going to shoot someone? If your'e going to carry it for protection you better be ready to kill someone with it because otherwise it's just an expensive paperweight. You ready to do that?

KD5NRH

Same thing I do with the fire extinguisher in my kitchen; keep it handy and hope I never have to use it. If a situation arises where it is needed, then I will use it.
As opposed to what? Trying to blind them by reflecting the sun in their eyes with it?
The only people who are truly "ready to kill somebody" are sociopaths. On the other hand, a lot of people have been successful in doing things they weren't really ready for. Dealing with it afterward sucks, but being alive to deal with it goes a long was toward balancing that out.

jwb

Better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by six.

OiS

Yup, of course would have to agree with that! But, on the other hand, all this is rather surreal. I live in Singapore, and lived in Tokyo for 10 years before that, and like Tarkin, the only time I have had issues, when I have had a chance to react, the people in the offending vehicle have been really apologetic.

I remember one incident when I was riding downhill on some country road on the outskirts of Tokyo, and this car passed me, on then turned into a service station virtually straight after. I jumped on the brakes, locked up my back wheel, and had to go into the servo as well to avoid hitting their car. I swore at them a lot, and the woman that was driving was apologizing a lot, and after 30 secs or so I almost felt bad for her - she was almost in tears! After I caught my breath a bit, I calmed down, and explained that I was just shocked and I was fine, no harm done, but could she please just look out for cyclists in the future. She nodded like crazy still apologising, but seemed happy I wasn't yelling at her anymore. It doesn't really get much worse than that in Japan in terms of run-ins with other traffic!

electrik

Haha, she probably figured you were going to hit her right there! The flip side of these I'm x cycling in Japan story is that the cyclist becomes the abuser/sociopath in a way. Sometimes, er usually, you drag your attitudes and experiences with you. American cyclists have the rage volume cranked up to 10.

dahut

This got me thinking. I believe I'll make a sign for my backpack that says: "THROW MONEY!"

electrik

Haha, ever been pelted with a handful of pennies travelling 70mph? Careful what you wish for.

dahut

Fair point. I imagine rolls of dollar coins or packs of Benjamins, of course.

But even high speed pennies are better than old burgers and empty beer bottles.

electrik

But he's got hiiigh hopes. He's got high apple pie, in the skyyy hopes.