Heres a new slant on carrying protection

[peanut]

I liked this bit

"I assume you are from another country, so I suspect you would not be able to detect American truth from American fiction."

Well, his address is Belgium !!!

and how would American Truth differ from normal everyday rest-of-the-world truth?

well for a start most of Europe douesn't have Grizzly bears and Mountain lions sharing the cycle path with you .. trying hard to make you their next meal

You have to put things in perspective. In US most people own and carry pistols for self protection. It is a miniscule percentage of people that get shot every year ..fractions of 1% including accidents and robbing,mugging etc. The media makes a huge thing about any occurence like it does about any thing else these days because allegedly thats what people want to read about and view,

I and many others carried concealed full bore pistols around to target shooting events before the ban without any problems. Now our legally held target pistols have been taken away the only people that have guns are the criminals and underworld

 

[papercorn2000]

And the police and the army and farmers and gamekeepers and sportsmen and well the list goes on but no need to let reality intrude on your fantasy.

 

[rich p]

Thank God they don't let the muppets we have over here loose with guns. Reading that explains an awful lot about the USA.

 

[Auntie Helen]

I'm a member of a boating forum and there was a link on it to a blog from a young American chap (about 17 years old, I think) who was doing a long voyage on his own and who radioed a mayday when a boat approached him off the coast of Africa. He went to get his gun from inside the boat, but eventually the other boat went away. His comment was, in effect, 'Thank God for my gun and the bulletproof windows in my boat'. The sensible British commentators on his blog pointed out that, (a) the boat might well have been fishermen coming to say hello and have a look at his boat (very common); ( if they had been pirates one chap with a gun couldn't do anything except escalate the situation; (c) that it was probably illegal for him to have the gun anyway in most of the waters he was visiting; (d) he may have bulletproof windows but the GRP hull of the boat wouldn't be bulletproof. These comments were all deleted by the blog's moderator, of course, and all that remained were 'God's on your side when you're armed' type comments.

I assume that this kind of worldview is actually the minority amongst Americans. The ones I've met who've travelled to Europe have generally been very sensible.

 

[ChrisKH]

well for a start most of Europe douesn't have Grizzly bears and Mountain lions sharing the cycle path with you .. trying hard to make you their next meal

You have to put things in perspective. In US most people own and carry pistols for self protection. It is a miniscule percentage of people that get shot every year ..fractions of 1% including accidents and robbing,mugging etc. The media makes a huge thing about any occurence like it does about any thing else these days because allegedly thats what people want to read about and view,

I and many others carried concealed full bore pistols around to target shooting events before the ban without any problems. Now our legally held target pistols have been taken away the only people that have guns are the criminals and underworld

Peanut, I think it unlikely most (i.e. the majority) people carry guns in the US. Please advise where your statistic comes from.

I worked with a number of US citizens in the past, mostly Washington but some in Cleveland, NY, Boston, Virginia, etc. None of them carried except one guy who kept a rifle in his car as he hunted at weekends. Admittedly, some may not want to admit they carried, but the overwhelming majority didn't carry guns on a day to day basis.

Quite a few had one in the house (usually in safes) for protection though.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I remember reading about a female cyclist in the US who was fed up of getting her ass slapped by passengers in passing cars. A holstered pistol hanging off her waist completely solved the problem for her.

 

[peanut]

And the police and the army and farmers and gamekeepers and sportsmen and well the list goes on but no need to let reality intrude on your fantasy.

Not sure what your comment refers to as there is no link ,quote or context but assume it is the last post?


All of those people mentioned ,including Vets, not only have a legitimate right to own and possess guns they all have a practical use for them and they have a valid gun license which is issued by the Home Office and constantly monitored by the Police Force.
They invariably receive specific Government recognised safety training in handling, storage and use of firearms.
Lets not forget sportsmen and Women who compete in and represent us in National and international events and Olympic Games.

There is no problem with legitimately held firearms, its the hidden arms that cause the problems.

If you are going to comment on something you know nothing about I suggest you do a little basic research first then your comments and opinion will be informed and not just a kneejerk reaction

 

[peanut]

Peanut, I think it unlikely most (i.e. the majority) people carry guns in the US. Please advise where your statistic comes from.

I worked with a number of US citizens in the past, mostly Washington but some in Cleveland, NY, Boston, Virginia, etc. None of them carried except one guy who kept a rifle in his car as he hunted at weekends. Admittedly, some may not want to admit they carried, but the overwhelming majority didn't carry guns on a day to day basis.

Quite a few had one in the house (usually in safes) for protection though.

Mmm so a dozen people you met in the US didn't carry arms so you assume that tens of millions of US citizens don't either
Yes I can see the logic of that so who is using all the billions of firearms that have been sold in the US then ?

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

I have a can of pepper spray in my messenger bag.

I also carried a pedal spanner but thought the spray would be more effective.

 

[papercorn2000]

Not sure what your comment refers to as there is no link ,quote or context but assume it is the last post?


All of those people mentioned ,including Vets, not only have a legitimate right to own and possess guns they all have a practical use for them and they have a valid gun license which is issued by the Home Office and constantly monitored by the Police Force.
They invariably receive specific Government recognised safety training in handling, storage and use of firearms.
Lets not forget sportsmen and Women who compete in and represent us in National and international events and Olympic Games.

There is no problem with legitimately held firearms, its the hidden arms that cause the problems.

If you are going to comment on something you know nothing about I suggest you do a little basic research first then your comments and opinion will be informed and not just a kneejerk reaction

I don't see your point. Are you arguing that we should be allowed to hold firearms at our own homes a la Switzerland.

1. You said that the only people who now held weapons were criminals - you contradict that in your next post
2. Are you then suggesting that people who legitimately held pistols for sporting purposes were the only thing holding back a tide of gun crime which had hitherto not existed before the (admittedly knee jerk) reaction to the Dunblane massacre.
3. As a former police officer, I was involved in administration of firearms licences - so I believe I may have a smattering of knowledge.

 

[Twenty Inch]

I remember reading about a female cyclist in the US who was fed up of getting her ass slapped by passengers in passing cars. A holstered pistol hanging off her waist completely solved the problem for her.

She was on a triathlete forum years ago, I remember. Or someone with the same problem and same solution.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

I remember reading about a female cyclist in the US who was fed up of getting her ass slapped by passengers in passing cars. A holstered pistol hanging off her waist completely solved the problem for her.

B)

That's reminded me of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.

Hot chick on a motorbike, Lightfoot tries chatting her up and she goes
medieval with a hammer on his van panel.

He then screams: "You crazy bitch!!! I think I love you."