carrying a firearm on a tour

[HikeBikeCook]

Years ago I carried a Bauer .25 when I went to night school in the city. It is a very small semi-automatic that fit in the palm of your hand. It was purely a close range defensive weapon and did not pack a huge punch but was light weight and highly concealable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauer_Automatic

[John Nettles]

When I was a youngster (teens and 20s), I never went anywhere without my Zephal HPX https://www.amazon.com/Zefal-Frame-Pump-59-64cm-Silver/dp/B002LR61VM . Highly recommend others do too.

[HikeBikeCook]

I still carry a long throw frame pump. In the proper hands it can extend your reach, but I would rather ride away and live to tour another day.

[TundraRider]

Unless you are thoroughly trained in the safe use of firearms I would say no, too many things can go wrong like killing an innocent bystander or even shooting yourself. Carrying the extra weight wouldn't be worth it. If you are worried about defense against people and/or animals I would carry bear spray.

[Westinghouse]

I knocked down people-sized targets at 300 meters with an M 16 automatic weapon in the army. All you need are practice, a sharp eye, a steady hand and knowledge of trajectory of your particular firearm. It isn't rocket science. I have cycled about 35,000 miles through 19 countries. I do not recall a time when I needed a hand gun. But then again, things happen all the time. If you are legally eligible to carry a concealed hand gun, more power to you. If the situation should arise, it's the bad guy who will be the statistic, and not yourself. That's the way it should be. Keep the powder dry.

[BikePacker]

.....if you are worried about defense against people and/or animals I would carry bear spray.

Amen.

[Rixtoy]

Worst bicycle fatality EVER . . .

Only related to this post because of the gun linkage, but this happened on Friday in Wichita-
Eyewitnesses say a man on a bike had the right of way in a crosswalk with a crossing signal for him being green.
A woman was irritated because she had to wait to turn through the crosswalk, so she hit him with her van - THEN GOT OUT OF THE VAN, SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD AND DROVE OFF. Witnesses followed her and radioed police , who stopped and arrested her. she DID NOT KNOW THE MAN.

"WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a bicyclist is dead after a woman struck him with her van as he crossed a Wichita street and then apparently shot him.

 Charity Charmon Blackmon, 31,  was booked into jail Friday night on suspicion of first-degree murder, driving with a suspended license, unsafe turning or stopping and failure to give proper signal.

Wichita police chief Gordon Ramsay said the victim was either riding or walking his bicycle when he was hit Friday afternoon. Ramsay said the initial reports were that the suspect got out to shoot the man after the crash.

Ramsay said police would know definitively if he was shot after an autopsy. The man’s name wasn’t immediately released."


Horrible . . .

[hikerjer]

Of course, it's horrible, but that's how it is in a country with a gun culture like ours.  Not meaning to get too political, but that's what many Americans see as a soluton to their disputes and problems -  a gun

[BikePacker]

.... culture like ours ....

A "...culture like ours...." hikerjer would benefit immensely from actually enforcing all laws that are already legislated.

[John Nettles]

.... gun culture like ours...

I am not a gun owner, but have no issues with gun ownership and am actually a strong believer in the 2nd Amendment (and all the Amendments). 

You say we have a "gun culture".  However, to me, it is our overall culture that is the problem, not our gun culture, and it has been getting steadily worse for 10+ years.  Again, to me, a very high percentage of the population only seems to care about themselves and not others ("it's all about me").  This is in all aspects of life from the very top to the bottom.  People get "offended" for the slightest reasons, even if the action is minor or not directed at them personally.  This has beget the cancel culture, violence, hate, anger, "us vs. them attitudes", etc. which in turn has created the desire for more people to look for ways to defend themselves.  Our country is very divided right now because people are not willing to consider others.  People think they are entitled to have their way on everything anymore.  If they don't get it, they get angry and lash out in anyway they want/can.  To get rid of the "problem", some destroy people and businesses through the cancel culture, others use guns.  Neither is acceptable to me when 99.9% of the time, if people would try to respect (not necessarily agree though) others, the "problem" would not exist. 

Note that I am against non-lawful gun violence.  By that I mean this lady who shot the bicyclist above seems to be in a non-lawful manner and should be punished to the full extent of the law.  However, a homeowner that shoots an intruder breaking into his home is, in my opinion, totally justified.

The left's cancel culture can be just as violent and in some aspects much worse than gun violence as it restricts our free exchange of ideas which is very much the basis of our country.  For instance, say the right had control of the cancel culture.  Your comment may very well be viewed as "unacceptable" and you would receive unjustified outlash accordingly.  Just for sharing your idea/opinion.  Again, this is just showing that people only care about what they want and believe, not willing to consider or even listen to different ideas. 

I firmly believe our society will continue to deteriorate until our culture begins to care about things other than just themselves.

All that said, this thread is about exhausted.  The OP's question has been answered and we are now just descending into a political flamefest which has NOTHING to do with bicycle touring.
Tailwinds, John

[HikeBikeCook]

Well said John, thank you.

[ray b]

All that said, this thread is about exhausted. The OP's question has been answered and we are now just descending into a political flamefest which has NOTHING to do with bicycle touring.
Tailwinds, John

Agree with you on all points including the last. (The purpose of the thread was to help write a novel, not solve the problems of a litigious and contemptuous populace..., though - back on thread - interpersonal conflict always plays well in books, movies, and internet "news.")