Carrying A Weapon

[Steezie]

Do you carry a weapon with you on a daily basis and do you feel that people should be allowed to carry weapons for personal defense? Why or why not?

I personally am always armed in one respect or another. If its out in public or someplace where knives are not allowed, I carry a 20 inch steel riot baton with holster. If Im somewhere where knives are permissible, I carry a set of throwing knives. If its somewhere a little nicer, I have an ornamental dagger (although no less effective if used) or if its REALLY an important occasion I have a beautiful sword (location permitting of course)

 

[GettinInTune]

I never carry a weapon. I do not see the need for one. I am curious, when have you needed to use your knives or your baton for protection? I have lived in small towns and big cities and I never felt the need to carry a weapon.

I think many people can avoid dangerous and unhealthy situations by not putting themselves in such a predicament.

I do not have an issue with people carrying weapons for protection as long as they remain for the purpose of protection.

 

[JadeTigress]

I'm always armed! My fists are deadly!

Nah, quite the opposite, really. I'm weak.

But no, I don't carry a weapon. I never have. I suppose I could stab someone with my keys or something. I've lived all my life, excluding the past couple months, in a tiny little town where nothing ever happened. There was no need to carry a weapon. I just recently moved to St. Louis, MO, which apparently is the most dangerous (or crime-filled...I forgot which one the numbers were for ) city in the US, unless the numbers have changed since the last time I looked. But I've still never even thought about carrying a weapon.

 

[WatersMoon110]

I don't carry a weapon with me (unless you count my pen - my grandmother once put an attacker in the hospital with a ballpoint pen). I used to, so that I felt more secure, but I don't anymore. I don't think I ever will desire to do so, again.

However, I am in favor of concealed carry laws. They lower crime rates (since if anyone could be carrying a weapon, a potential robber/attacker will think twice).

 

[Steezie]

I am curious, when have you needed to use your knives or your baton for protection?

I live in a small town and have thankfully to this point never needed to use a weapon for personal defense. Part of my reason for being armed is a point of honor. Among the Norse, carrying a weapon was the sign of a free man as slaves were not allowed to carry weapons. Its a symbol that I am a free man and willing to defend that.

 

[sbvera13]

I never carry a weapon. Firstly, unless you have long term training in it's use, and practice regularly, it is just as likely to be dangerous to you as to your assailant. Secondly, the best form of self defense is not to allow yourself into a situation where you have to defend yourself in the first place. Common sense, not going into dark alleys alone, parking in populated areas instead of street corners, etc. Thirdly, most pysical assaults are made by people close to the victim. The number of real life or death self defense situations from some unknown attacker is very low. And lastly, having studied martial arts for 10+ years, I do not require a weapon to defend myself.

 

[SedjmNeter]

P.E.A.C.E and Blessings...

Eye own a Sword, but don't carry it on my person.

Idealisticly eye'd like it if no one had to carry a weapon for protection purposes, but that's not the world in which we live. As long as it is for protection purposes it's fine by me.

SHEM HETEP

 

[Blackguard_]

Among the Norse, carrying a weapon was the sign of a free man as slaves were not allowed to carry weapons.

Interesting. I wonder if this influenced our second amendment by way of the Danelaw? Or is it a Germanic thing more than specifically Norse?

Anyway, I see no problem with carrying a weapon around for non-aggressive purposes.

It really is the mark of a free man as weapons have with good reason been symbols of power throught history, as posessing a weapon, or at least having the right to do so, is posessing a degree of power and/or self reliance.

If the State is banning guns in the hands of commoners (as if the Elite and their servants and deputies will ever be unarmed. Even English cops keep a few guns laying around), it either sees the commoners as threats to it or as children to be guided and protected by Elites and their deputies. Neither attitude has a place in a free society.

 

[quatona]

Do you carry a weapon with you on a daily basis and do you feel that people should be allowed to carry weapons for personal defense? Why or why not?

I don´t carry weapons because physical force is not an option for me, anyways.

I personally am always armed in one respect or another. If its out in public or someplace where knives are not allowed, I carry a 20 inch steel riot baton with holster. If Im somewhere where knives are permissible, I carry a set of throwing knives. If its somewhere a little nicer, I have an ornamental dagger (although no less effective if used) or if its REALLY an important occasion I have a beautiful sword (location permitting of course)

I feel uncomfortable in the presence of armed persons.

 

[MarcusHill]

I always have a knife about my person, but it's not a weapon, it's a Swiss Army knife which comes in handy as a tool more often than you'd think. Apart from anything else, I can always open a bottle of beer or wine.

Carrying a real weapon might give one a false sense of security. If you're attacked, it'll likely be by surprise and you'll be wounded before you can bring your weapon into play. On the other hand, I'd be tempted to wear my mail under my coat if it weren't so heavy...

 

[TheManeki]

I always have a knife about my person, but it's not a weapon, it's a Swiss Army knife which comes in handy as a tool more often than you'd think. Apart from anything else, I can always open a bottle of beer or wine.

I carry the same here. It would take a lot of doing to hurt someone with a 1-inch blade, but I still can't take it into sports venues, theme parks, or concert halls because it might get confiscated as a "deadly weapon."

The only other potentially dangerous weapon I carry with me is my rapier wit. Though that may be more dangerous to me than to others.

Carrying a real weapon might give one a false sense of security. If you're attacked, it'll likely be by surprise and you'll be wounded before you can bring your weapon into play. On the other hand, I'd be tempted to wear my mail under my coat if it weren't so heavy...

Excellent point, Marcus. That reminds me of something a black belt friend of mine told me. Although he'd probably be able to hold his own in a fight, his Karate teacher always taught that avoiding the fight or escaping the fight is the best option.

 

[MarcusHill]

That reminds me of something a black belt friend of mine told me. Although he'd probably be able to hold his own in a fight, his Karate teacher always taught that avoiding the fight or escaping the fight is the best option.

To quote the world's leading expert on Karate: "Best block- no be there."

 

[Tenka]

I've been in few situations where self defence seemed to be necessary. The first time I got stabbed in the leg before I really knew what was going on and the guys ran when they saw the blood. The second time he backed down before any action and nobody got hurt.

I have never armed myself for defence because I am not prepared to kill someone and my experience has shown me that agressors tend to be cowardly if stood up to anyway.

If Im somewhere where knives are permissible, I carry a set of throwing knives. If its somewhere a little nicer, I have an ornamental dagger (although no less effective if used) or if its REALLY an important occasion I have a beautiful sword (location permitting of course)

Do you seriously? that seems a little ...erm, eccentric.

 

[Pogue]

I never carry a weapon (unless you count my bow, but I'd never use it as a weapon. It wouldn't be practical anyway, because it takes me at least 5 minutes to set up) Apart from the fact that I'm not sure how legal it is to carry most weapons in my country, I doubt that I could ever use one with the intention of killing somebody. For me, I think the best options are to avoid walking alone late at night, to know basic self-defence and to carry a personal alarm.

 

[Allister]

I would feel uncomfortable around anyone I knew who was carrying a weapon, even if they were a good friend.

Even if it is only there for self-defence that person would still be dangerous. I would then only feel comfortable if I also had a weapon. But then you get a better weapon to stay one step ahead of my potential attack. I also upgrade, and so on and so forth.

The safest solution is surely to have a level playing field where no one has a weapon.

 

[The Nihilist]

Do you carry a weapon with you on a daily basis and do you feel that people should be allowed to carry weapons for personal defense? Why or why not?

I personally am always armed in one respect or another. If its out in public or someplace where knives are not allowed, I carry a 20 inch steel riot baton with holster. If Im somewhere where knives are permissible, I carry a set of throwing knives. If its somewhere a little nicer, I have an ornamental dagger (although no less effective if used) or if its REALLY an important occasion I have a beautiful sword (location permitting of course)

Just my hands and my feet; I find they suffice

 

[Cactaur]

I never carry a weapon. They seem to do more harm than good.
If I was in a suitation where I needed to defend myself, I'd just put my keys in between my fingers.

But then again, I hate confrontations and try to avoid them always.

 

[jayem]

I just recently moved to St. Louis, MO, which apparently is the most dangerous (or crime-filled...I forgot which one the numbers were for ) city in the US, unless the numbers have changed since the last time I looked.

Well hello, neighbor. Another non-native Missouri transplant here.

What you say is true about St. Louis city. Most dangerous US city over 75,000 population:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921299.html

But it's mainly limited to certain neighborhoods---homicides especially. I've never felt insecure going downtown to restaurants or to Busch Stadium, even at night. And the suburbs in the county, like Glendale, where I live, are quite safe.

But I'm not so sure about the safety of deep fried ravioli and processed cheese on pizza.

 

[Lynden1000]

Do you carry a weapon with you on a daily basis and do you feel that people should be allowed to carry weapons for personal defense? Why or why not?

I personally am always armed in one respect or another. If its out in public or someplace where knives are not allowed, I carry a 20 inch steel riot baton with holster. If Im somewhere where knives are permissible, I carry a set of throwing knives. If its somewhere a little nicer, I have an ornamental dagger (although no less effective if used) or if its REALLY an important occasion I have a beautiful sword (location permitting of course)

Yes, I have a concealed carry permit and carry a revolver when I go out.

And yes I think that America is at the point where the best way to get rid of the baddies is for more law-abiding goodies to be armed.

 

[Allister]

I have a concealed carry permit and carry a revolver when I go out.

Have you ever shot anyone?