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Re: [RC] guns - Joe LongI pretty much agree with everything Truman posted here, but I'll add a couple of observations. One, that statistic about being more likely to be injured by our own gun includes everyone who carries. If it only included those who have proper training and carry sufficient stopping power, I suspect it would be quite different. Two, I rarely carry my own handguns. I just don't feel a need for it. I have a shotgun for home defense, should that ever be necessary -- much, Much, MUCH better than any handgun. The advice I offer here is for those who wish to carry -- and I can certainly see how a woman who rides alone would want the comfort of knowing she had the means to defend herself if necessary. It might be a good idea to carry one in the cantlebag when riding in remote areas, as someone else pointed out, in case the horse breaks a leg. But in some 20,000 miles of riding over 40 years I've never had that happen or been with anyone who had it happen, so it's a pretty low probability. BTW, if you have to put a horse down, a small-caliber pistol will NOT do the job reliably!!!! You are likely to just add to his suffering. On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:04:32 -0500, Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: A good friend of mine is has been an FBI agent for years. He has told me some interesting statistics. 1. First people that carry a weapon are more likely to be injured from it than their attacker. 2. People that carry guns are statistically no safer from crime than those that don't. 3. Criminals that need or want a gun will often target women and small men they think are carrying a gun to get one and take it away from them. There is a reason law enforcement carries 9mm or 40 cal. Anything much less than a 357 doesn't have sufficient knock down power. The statistics slows that many times people who use a small cal weapon for their protection have it taken away by someone they have shot and used on themselves. Each state is different. In FL you cannot carry a gun visible unless you carry a badge. You can only carry one concealed and you must have a carry permit for that. There is very little reciprocity between states with respect to carry permits. Most are only good in their home state. In many states (FL being one) if a minor is injured or injuries someone else with your gun you can be held criminally liable. Even with a carry permit, some land managers do not allow any guns carried on their land. Of course my FBI friend always carries a 9 mm when he's on duty. He doesn't carry it when he is not on duty - although he could if he wanted. He feels that on a whole his wife is much safer being vigilant and being aware of her surroundings than to carry a gun and she doesn't carry a gun. On a horse - even a horse that is trained - it is very difficult to shoot with any accuracy with a hand gun - even one with a six inch barrel. It is almost impossible with a shorter barrel. A horse is a moving platform and it is very hard to shoot with any accuracy off a moving platform. For my money I just stay vigilant - listen to my horse, ride with my eyes open. The best weapon I have is my horse's nose, ears, eyes and legs. As far as I can see it I am much more likely to get hurt falling on my gun when my horse spooks at a wild turkey than I am by someone attacking me in the woods ;-) . Truman -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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