After reading ALL these posts,I can see nothing wrong with packing a concealed piece in the backwoods while riding.That is,as long as you are trained and have RESPONSABLE knowledge of your piece.No one in my group packs,but I am seriously thinking about it for future day/night excursions.The trouble is,in Michigan where im from,you MUST have a concealed permit to pack,and even with a flawless record such as mine,these permits are VERY hard to obtain,
Bill

 

GreenRuby, you put lots of words in my mouth.

If you read my posts carefully, you will conclude I never claimed any special qualification or privilege for myself, never said I was "better" than anyone else, nor postured as holier than anyone. In fact, I even stated my own resume' had NO relevance to my views on responsible firearms ownership.

What DID I say?

Using deadly force remains a serious issue under any circumstances; the decision itself to carry a firearm deserves serious thought and thorough preparation, should not be the product of paranoia and/or machisimo. I hope you agree, since you announced in your original post you carry a particular concealed handgun.

The Forum readership may judge for itself which of us is on a "high horse."

Diogenes

 

No offense taken, BLH, even before your clarification; thanks anyway!

I agree with you wholeheartedly regarding victims' rights and misplaced compassion for perpetrators. Further, although I'm repeating myself, I consider your right of self-protection absolute and worth defending.

Diogenes

 

brokemybanshee: I doubt you'd run over someone standing in front of you pointing a gun at you. This may not happen, but around here you never know when some drug dealer will be out in the woods working with his patch. Personally I dont carry a gun because I dont have a place to put one that I'm comfortable with. And I'm familiar with the places to stay away from unless I'm riding with a big group. But I respect the people who do as long as they know how to use it and dont overreact with one. If somebody steals your quad yell at them, if they dont stop shoot one of the tires out, not them.

 

I ride on private land at the hunting camp. My .45 auto is holstered and visible while on the property. I'm not waving it at every passer by or at the people who use our roads to access their hunting leases. Out in a rural county in Alabama, where most everyone has a firearm or ten, a .45 auto is a temporary advantage at best.
The locals like to dump their unwanted dogs ot in our area, it doesn't take long for the dogs to turn feral. We also have a population of coyotes in the area, and like the Boy Scouts say " Be Prepared".
Switzerland is a situation completely different from the U.S. and Canada, the majority of the people in Switzerland have HONOR !!! The people of civilized counties wouldn't allow things that happen in the US to happen in their country. They wouldn't theive, burglarize, or steal. They haven't had a leader like Bill Clinton for the last 8 years, and all of the socialistic lying, and cheating that he and his cronies have subjected the American Public ( and the Military ) to.
After 20 January 2001, I hope that all this will change.

 

Please accept one final comment, GreenRuby:

You ask, "Why be an NRA Lifetime Member . . .," while wrongly implying I claimed a unique right to firearms ownership.

While you may minimize the NRA if you choose, had not the NRA vigilantly defended the civil right to keep and bear arms embodied in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, you would not have had the opportunity to buy the SIG-Sauer (Swiss-German) pistol you now proudly own.

The NRA defends ALL citizens' rights to keep and bear arms, even its detractors.

Additionally, the NRA promotes firearms safety and responsibilty, welcoming you as a member should you care to join and pledge your support of the organization's objectives.

Diogenes