Legal Personal Defense on a Bike

[GalaxyBlue]

I have been thinking about this alot lately... Since i cant legally carry my firearm across state lines, I am considering a pepper spray. I have been looking at THIS, And the price is pretty good.

Anyone carry anything like this? And have you had to use it?

 

[ionbeam]

There are some draconian states like Massachusetts where you must have a fire-arms identification card to purchase, possess or use pepper spray. I believe Washington as a similar law. If you really want to be legal you need to check. Getting popped with spray has to be better than bagged with a loaded gun. No comment about which will best save your bacon should it ever be in the fire.

 

[Fencer]

Since i cant legally carry my firearm across state lines,

Why can't you carry across state lines?

look here

even MO better here You CAN go South

 

[TriggerT]

There is NO carry here in IL, and the same goes for WI. Pepper spray would be an option, but I have carried a knife for years, and have spent a lot of time training to know how to use it. You just have to be willing to close to knife fitting distance to use it, which is always a iffy thing.

 

[evil_henchman]

If you're the type that gets stopped and searched regularly then worry about it. Otherwise I think G. Gordon Liddy said it best: Some laws shouldn't be obeyed under any circumstances....Now off to NEPRT we go

Edit: Best personal defense on a bike - The throttle. Do you actually believe you'll have occasion to draw and shoot while riding? Pepper spray at speed? Now there's a good idea... :lol:

 

[6mmbr]

The bigger "hand sized" units easier to use especially with gloves on.

A maglite flashlight holder will allow mounting of these in fixed location.

visit local police/safety supply store and talk with them - often will sell to public;

cannot take into canada

Have to use with intent - can't be running away and spraying over shoulder

aim for "center-of-mass" then move to face, otherwise likely to miss.

buy two: take one and practice - most people buy one and never know what the spray

pattern is or actually how to use it or how far away you can be; especially your S.O.

make sure you know which way faces the enemy!

use on humans can be considered assault.

people with intent can fight through the spray - it is NOT a guaranteed man-stopper

good to use on the neighbors dog taking a crap in your yard

others will have additional thoughts

gotta go.....

 

[cougar8000]

There is NO carry here in IL, and the same goes for WI. Pepper spray would be an option, but I have carried a knife for years, and have spent a lot of time training to know how to use it. You just have to be willing to close to knife fitting distance to use it, which is always a iffy thing.

+1 on the distance. The biggest question you have to ask your self are you willing to use it and will you use it?

As Trigger said, we in IL can't carry. I never tried to carry a gun with me. had a knife on a few occasions but realistically speaking I am not sure if the push come to shove I would use the gun. I would have less problems braking someones arm or neck with my hand then using the knife. In the court knife would be looked at as a deadly weapon. My hands on the other side will not. Specially that I am a small guy it would be easy to defend my self against a bigger opponent in the court.

The best solution in my mind is to rather walk away from the confrontation period, no matter how much it will hurt your ego. just because I know martial wooping do doesn't mean I should use it. :assassin:

 

[gypsy]

Just curious whether anyone here has ever been randomly attacked? I know it does happen but - knock wood - hasn't happened to me. When I started reading this thread I thought the need was for defence against some kind of animal. I know my brother who hikes a lot in British Columbia carries pepper spray in the event he is forced to confront a bear.

gypsy

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Since i cant legally carry my firearm across state lines,

Why can't you carry across state lines?

look here

even MO better here You CAN go South

Interesting link! Thanks...

I figured the law was the same for everyone, But it is not. I drive a commercial vehicle and the DOT prohibits me from carrying

a fire on across state lines "in the truck".

I will dig deeper into this and find out more info.

I am not sure how the states will deal with a CDL/CCW. They might have a problem with that, I dunno. :dntknw:

 

[ionbeam]

Just curious whether anyone here has ever been randomly attacked?

Yes, several times, just not motorcycle related. I've been attacked by screwdriver wielding, mouth foaming robber. I've had a punk want to do me with a 2x4 for some mistaken reason. I've had a stranger shoot up a car I was in. This asshole emptied a pistol, pump shotgun and was fiddling with a second pistol. I was laying on my girlfriend on the floor of the car until she freaked and started screaming in a way that curdled your blood. My friend, also laying on the floor managed to get the car into reverse and pull out while lying on the floor. There have been a couple of others but these stand out. BTW, the guy with the 2x4 sued ME for assault after the dust settled.

 

[cougar8000]

Alan,

Maybe you should rethink your traveling habits and visit less active areas?

 

[fjrchooser]

Several years ago I bought those as Christmas presents for all the female family members. Don't remember if it had the UV dye but otherwise was the same item. Figured they'd be likely to have them with them if trouble struck due to the keychain feature.

Most of the ladies were glad to get them, however my brother-in-law, (who brought no gifts for anyone by the way) kept bad mouthing them saying they'd just further enrage an attacker, they'd eat it like candy etc. All this at the family get together on Christmas eve where we exchange presents, have dinner, a few drinks etc.

As the night progressed he had many concerned that he was right which further emboldened him to prove to the rest that he was indeed correct. I told him to put his face where his mouth was. He agreed as long as we would just go into a closed space , spray a little into the air and he would then walk through and report back on the effects.

We go out into his car where he insists on doing the spray himself and spritzes a little into the air at the windshield.Everyone else is standing around the outside of the car waiting to see the effects, which of course there are none. He laughs, makes some smart ass comments and I see everyone is pretty dissappointed with their gift.

I mention thats not how its used , take it from him and hose him down with it good point blank in the face. After watching the instantaneous effect on him as he tumbled backwards out the car door screaming and crying with snot pouring out his nose, etc. the few who had declined their gift then asked for them back.

So to answer your question GB, yes I've had to use it and it works well enough on jerk brother-in-laws. :yahoo:

 

[S76]

I usually find that most of the time "I" am my own worst enemy.

No deffense needed, just a firm talking to.

 

[ghost]

Last year while on a trip , my riding partner and I found ourselves in a "situation" in which we were both concerned about our personal safety. We both had 9 mm pistols on our bikes but were reluctant to escalate the "situation".

We were able to eventually extracate ourselves from our predicament and no one was harmed.

The next day after discussing the incident, we both bought cannisters of pepper spray and tested them on each other.

I can't speak for anyone else, but , this stuff is incapacitating. It was worse than teargas, much , much worse.

I now carry the stuff in my jacket pocket . All the time.

I've had the occasion to use it once when several dogs cornered me on my bicycle. It stopped them in their tracks ! The spray changed two german shephards in full snarl-attack mode into two whimpering animals in full retreat.

I am a believer. It is not a cure all , but when you need to add another step between talk and gunplay , it works.

BTW get the type that sprays a stream not a cloud.

 

[warsw]

Does anyone know what the shelf life is? Is pepper spray something that one can store away and two years later it is good to go if you need it?

 

[TheAxeman]

From the Mace website:

Will my pepper spray expire? Yes. That is why we print an expiration date on every can of pepper spray. Expiration date is 3 to 4 years from the date of purchase. Although the spray life is indefinite it does start to lose potency over time. We strongly advise you to replace your pepper spray every year! That way you are always assured of the potency of the spray.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Does anyone know what the shelf life is? Is pepper spray something that one can store away and two years later it is good to go if you need it?

https://www.buypepperspraydirect.com/pepper_law.asp

[snip]

Canisters may have a shelf life of three to six years. They are usually conservatively dated to expire in one year. Shake the canister about once a month to keep the ingredients mixed. Canisters have the active ingredient mixed in a liquid, and a pressurized gas propellant. The inside of a tear gas canister is like a squirt bottle under pressure. An intake straw dips to the bottom of the canister, into the liquid mixture. For this reason, the canister must remain fairly upright. If it's held upside down while spraying, only the propellant may escape. If the canister is sprayed upside down, it will loose pressure and may not be able to spray when you need it, even though you may be able to hear and feel the liquid sloshing around and you believe the can is full. Other canister failures are possible. The nozzle may become clogged with lint or dirt. The trigger may break off. If left in a car on a hot day, a canister may be exposed to temperatures over 140 degrees F. Even if the it doesn't explode (which it might), this adverse condition may cause a leak or a loss of the pressure needed to fire the device. It could also shorten the life of the active ingredients. If you wish to test your canister for pressure, make your spray burst only a fraction of a second and don't do this often, as there may be as little as four seconds or less worth of spray in some models. The label or instructions of a good brand should tell you how many seconds of spray it has. Although floating the device in water to determine the quantity of ingredients left has been recommended in the past, be aware that this may cause the label to fall off or dissolve, and the device will no longer comply with the law unlabelled. Keep it away from children! You are responsible for the use of your canister. [snip

 

[warsw]

I have been thinking about this alot lately... Since i cant legally carry my firearm across state lines, I am considering a pepper spray. I have been looking at THIS, And the price is pretty good.
Anyone carry anything like this? And have you had to use it?

I think this is a great idea. I always carry my Pistol but the situation would need to be just right before I could use it. I think my hesitation would be my demise. I think that I would be more apt to use the pepper spray to ward off offenders (man or beast) before the situation became life threatening. I went ahead and ordered three cans. One for my wife, my bike and our business. Thanks for the Idea.

 

[HaulinAshe]

The scenario I dread, and am most likely to be confronted with, is a flat tire while solo riding in remote mountain areas. Around these parts I'm not likely to be confronted with anyone who would back up from pepper spray. They are much more likely to be armed themselves.

My neighbor and I have been discussing taking the certification class in order to be licensed to carry concealed. I have been growing more concerned about being stranded in the middle of nowhere, after dark, and unarmed. Just not sure Pepper Spray is the solution of choice. Maybe both would be best. Pepper Spray first, pull the firearm if distance does not permit the use of pepper spray?