cheapie said:
i'll bet tinker wishes he had one on him!
i don't carry one. where would i hide it under my spandex???
i don't have a problem w/people carrying one but as a christian i believe that in non-violence. the Bible says that if someone tries to steal your shirt, give him your coat also. so if someone takes my bike do i have to offer him my hrm? lol.
Cheapie,
I'm late to the party, but I was inspired to respond to your Christian perspective.
I've been assaulted four times while bicycling. In no case did anyone ask for or attempt to take anything from me. Each assault was committed by someone using me for target practice for a thrown object: a rock, a glass bottle, a cup of ice, and the piece de resistance: a double-bladed ax.
It was the double-bladed ax that convinced me to arm myself while riding.
When I returned home, I carefully shopped for a reliable handgun powerful enough to defend myself with, if I am ever injured by a future attacker who does not give up after his first strike. (S&W 642: Hammerless, 5-shot, .38 spl)
I also took up handgun competition, and am thoroughly trained in safety and accurate shooting.
I did not anticipate any of the above assaults. Only the inexperience of the attackers prevented me from being injured or killed. All of them missed me with their first and only strike.
All were apparently done simply for the challenge of hitting a moving target, except possibly the ax. At the time of the ax assault, I was crossing the county with a full touring rig. Loggers were on the defensive from tree-hugging eco-terrorists, who were putting lawyers in court rooms and steel spikes in trees. I may have been mistaken for such a person.
In all of these cases I was too surprised to record a license plate and report the incident. I certainly would have been too slow to respond to the initial attack with a weapon.
I do not share your mythology of an after-life. I believe that this is the only life I am granted. I WILL fight to keep this life, and I will fight anyone who tries to take away my right, or means, to do so.