My Glock .380 fits in my jersey pocket although I have kept it in a TT bag on the Rail-Trails.

wow sad thread.

has anyone here actually shot a dog or a person while out riding?

I can't imagine having to shoot or stab a dog or a person while out exercising, but I suppose it's a sign of the times

My best defense in hostile situations has been my own two feet. Material possessions are replaceable, injuries could cost much more, with possible long term consequences.

Video recording may help to figure out what happened after an incident, it will not prevent animal attacks, or humans that act in a similar manner.

Some of the Taurus's are nice and compact, too: Stainless Steel Pink Polymer Frame 6rd +1

But I'm decidedly low=tech, low-cost. Strapped to headtube:
https://www.top-gear.co.nz/ic/1566823...uide%203.2.jpg

...and if you really want to make it count, use Counter Assault bear repellant in its dedicated shoulder holster:
https://community.blackovis.com/wp-co...ssault-AGC.jpg

What is really sad is that this is a reflection of our current reality. I don't know of anyone who has injured or killed a person or dog while riding, except for the dirt biker I mentioned who threatened a friend and killed another man. My goal is to never be put in a position to have to use deadly (or other) force.

I had a can of Halt clipped on my handlebar stem when I first started commuting. After a couple of years of never needing it I ditched it.

Question for all those carrying a gun or folding knife that is tucked away. Exactly how effective is any weapon that is not in your hand ready to use? Especially in an attack like Scooty unfortunately had to suffer. Not effective at all, I'd say. Seriously, if I were to attack you, you certainly would not see it coming.

I carry no weapons, but I do have 26 years of martial arts training, which I'd say is of more value than any weapon which hidden away.

good point Bruce

You do make a good point. That's why I've never really bothered to take along my Spyderco most of the time; and when I have it has mostly come in handy for slicing apples!

The devolution of the thread into a gun debate was/is inevitable.

I read second hand about a guy who shot a dog and was prosecuted. Apparently he had enough of the dog's repeated harassment and though not in any present danger, decided enough was enough and shot it. Apparently you can spray proactively but can't shoot proactively.

There was an issue in Michigan this past summer. The police had to shoot the Pit Bull.

Kalamazoo police shoot dog that was attacking bicyclist | Fox17


-Tim-

Oh yeah, you're right. The gnarly legal ramifications of actually using a weapon in "self-defense" are almost enough to convince you to simply allow yourself to be victimized. Simpler that way. Well . . . almost.

Sad thread? Actually, sad world. When I posted the OP I knew some people may mention guns for use in self-defense, but that's ok. The thread is about pepper spray - not guns - so don't let other posters lead you astray into that discussion.

I'm convinced that I may never run into a situation where I have to use Pepper Spray to defend myself, but frankly I would rather be prepared in case a situation occurs where it is needed.

****

Lol, I'm trying to steer it back home

Doing my part to help. My setup in the early years, before I figured out I didn't need it. Spray is supposedly readily accessible and ready to go. Patrick Star navigation system still comes in handy.

I think you mean to post this in the "What is a Fred?" thread.

Heehee! Thanks for the laugh, Indy.

We can get emotional by news of a few horrible cases.
But the fact is that getting attacked on the MUP is really rare incident.

There no need to own firearm.

The chances of you accidentally shooting yourself or my family is probably higher than getting attacked on the MUP.

This will match my invisible bikemobile.

Where do I get this?

I usually ride road with a group, but even when riding solo I feel confident that I can deal with any situation that might arise in my area with the exceptions of being "blindsided/bushwhacked" or facing an armed (gun) individual who means to do me harm. I can't outrun a bullet and I can't predict the future. I don't carry any weapons, try to avoid confrontation, and try to just make it home safely. I certainly don't have a problem with someone else being armed with gun or spray. If I may contribute a couple of points;

1) Sometime around 1988, I was on a group ride with several people. One young man had a can of pepper spray in his jersey pocket. At some point several riders went down (automobile related), my memory is a bit foggy now, but I do remember the young man with the pepper spray suffered a serious leg/hip injury. Unfortunately as we waited for the ambulance, the busted pepper spray canister was causing him much more distress than his actual injuries as the pepper spray had erupted all over him as it exploded on impact in the crash.

2) While I don't carry a gun when I ride road, I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon and I am often armed when I ride solo off-road in some interesting locations. Twice I have drawn my weapon- Once on a six foot Rattle Snake intent on killing my dog until I dispatched the snake with a few rounds (FWIW, I like snakes and usually just try to avoid them)- and another time when I stood face to face with a snarling wild boar, six feet in front of me on a single track trail, in very dense woods. Fortunately for both of us, I didn't have to shoot the boar.

Ride where you want, carry what you want, just be careful and ride.

Choosing not to carry a potentially deadly weapon is not "allowing yourself to be victimized".


-Tim-

+1

I feel this is true.

Gun talk will kill a thread every time.