Legal to open carry a pistol on a bicycle in your state?

[sseelhoff]

In Illinois no open carry allowed as far as I know. I usually carry when riding a bike for reasons that I haven't seen mentioned, dogs. They love to chase people on bikes, I haven't been bit yet but I have been worried more than once. For someone that wants to carry on a bike, there are lots of options. You can't wear tight biker pants or shorts but something like a Ruger LCP can fit into a pair of shorts pretty easy.

Island Tractor, kids grabbing your guns? Really? Of all the things I worry about when riding my bike it isn't some kid grabbing my gun. One of the most quoted stats by anti gun people is that a gun will more likely harm a family member than protect them. ITS NOT TRUE!

Nothing is better for dealing with an aggresive dog than a good sprint. Outrun em and outlast em.

 

[HCJtractor]

Ok edkemper, so you're the cycling expert. I'm a female cyclist riding down a rural road with my buddies. Going about 25mph. Out of nowhere comes a dog from a front yard flying towards me. He has the angle, so he'll be on me and my group in about 3 seconds. That's usually how it happens. I have a ladysmith .38 in my fanny pack, zipped shut. Everyone panics, and scatters. But a car is coming in the approaching lane. No where to go. So tell me in detail what I should do, or what you would do. Maybe I can learn something from you.

 

[txdon]

I said: 1000 people are shot by hunters every year and you respond:

Sometimes by the very politicians that make all these silly laws. :laughing:

I don't understand.
What connection are you trying to make between hunters, silly laws, and politicians?
Who gets shot by who??????

 

[IslandTractor]

Ok edkemper, so you're the cycling expert. I'm a female cyclist riding down a rural road with my buddies. Going about 25mph. Out of nowhere comes a dog from a front yard flying towards me. He has the angle, so he'll be on me and my group in about 3 seconds. That's usually how it happens. I have a ladysmith .38 in my fanny pack, zipped shut. Everyone panics, and scatters. But a car is coming in the approaching lane. No where to go. So tell me in detail what I should do, or what you would do. Maybe I can learn something from you.

Quick, with one hand, unclip the fanny pack and throw it at the dog. (Note: always have smelly doggie treats in fanny pack along with whatever other piece you're packing).

 

[IslandTractor]

Really, but you have a problem with kids grabbing mom's gun at Wallmart - and she had direct control over that. I'm more at a risk to being shot like this.
Expectant Mom Recovering From Stray Hunting Bullet - ABC News

1000 people a year are shot by hunters.

Accidents and injuries during sporting events are regrettable but usually the participants are aware of the risk. Nitwits with guns can cause problems but to be fair nitwits with cars, boats, booze and other potential implements of destruction are just as likely to cause problems. I don't see gun sportsmen as a big problem even if there are occasional accidents. The sportsman may make a mistake in identification or be unaware of his surroundings or trip but is at least usually in control of his weapon and has the weapon with him/her for a very specific purpose.

Carrying a loaded and apparently ready to fire handgun in a poorly monitored handbag while shopping with kids at Walmart is to me a different category of stupid. Just carrying a gun around on the off chance that it might be useful is something that not many people IMO should be trusted to do. I am fully aware that most CC owners are in fact very responsible. I'm not worried about committed CC folks like Roy Jackson (although the fact that he agreed with me on something today has me worried that one of us needs an evaluation). I'm not worried about LEOs. I'm not worried about ex military types.

I am worried about trendy people who read a magazine article and suddenly get the urge to carry a gun everywhere or who are given a gun as a present who suddenly and without much training start to carry a gun around or have a gun floating around their bedroom. I worry about people who think about taking a gun on a bike ride despite the fact that there is almost no evidence that such a weapon is needed for that activity. I worry that the committed early adopters (Roy etc) who are serious and can be trusted are now going to be outnumbered by a motley crew of Johnny come latelys who are not nearly as thoughtful, prepared or trustworthy about firearms in public. I'm concerned about the intersection of the Venn diagram where yahoos, twits and guns intersect.

 

[dmccarty]

Quick, with one hand, unclip the fanny pack and throw it at the dog. (Note: always have smelly doggie treats in fanny pack along with whatever other piece you're packing).

Now that is FUNNY! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I had the best dog ever born named Kelly. Kelly was a GSD, smartest critter I have ever seen and far more intelligent than many people I know. So many stories about that dog....

One day, back in the city, I was working on a project at the entrance to the garage. I had some saw horses setup and I was doing something and Kelly was in the garage watching me and the wife. Kelly always watched me. She kept me in a bubble zone of safety at all times. She started doing that when she was a wee little puppy. Anyway, Kelly was watching me and the wife work. We had pulled the cars to the side so we could have the full driveway open and my wife was cleaning out the back of the station wagon we had which was parked in front of my truck. There was a space about 2-3 feet wide between the car and the truck.

My back was to the street and my wife but I could see Kelly. Kelly was in laying down but in scan mode over watching me, the wife and the street. Kelly's ears and eyes where taking in all in. Her ears relaxed but moving around scanning whatever she heard. All of the sudden I noticed that her ears had gone from scan mode to locked on. :shocked: Rah Roh Scooby. I looked over my shoulder and the Moron Meter Man had walked between the car and the truck and had come within touching range of the wife. Within a foot of the wife who was bent over with her head in the back of the car. This almost scared the scat out of the wife to say the least. He never said hello, he did not say excuse me, he said nothing to announce his presence but walked behind my wife on purpose. Well within a space that was not acceptable. The wife did not like this, I did not like this, and well, Kelly, Kelly was not happy.

Kelly gave a "Who The H....LL are YOU!" Woof. Followed by a "WHAT THE F.... are YOU doing in MY SPACE!" Woof. Of course Kelly had gotten up and advanced on the Moron Meter Man who had almost scared the scat out of the female two legged member of the pack. I was not happy. Wifey was not happy. Kelly was NOT happy. :thumbsup: Kelly's hair was up but she was not quite into the I AM GOING TO EAT YOUR A.... mode. She was close though. Moron Meter Man had likely scat in his pants by this point and was walking backwards through the front yard. :shocked: MORON! Instead of going back from whence he had come, the idiot continued to advance into the dogs space AND was walking backwards. :confused3: Understandably he was focused on the dog but....

I called Kelly OFF and Kelly stopped her advance but she was locked on, ready to fire and telling Moron Meter Man TO LEAVE MY YARD! NOW! in a most appropriate manner. Moron Meter Man was still walking backwards when he reached into his belt and threw a couple of dog biscuits! :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: WHAT A F......N JOKE. Kelly did not bat an eye at those stupid dog biscuits. She continued to encourage the idiot to LEAVE MY YARD in no uncertain tones. After the dog biscuits were tossed the Moron Meter Man, pulled out an umbrella and deployed it. I think that umbrella would have been good to pick the tarter of Kelly's teeth. While deploying the umbrella, the Moron Meter Man continued to walk backwards until he tripped over a raised bed and fell down. :laughing::laughing::laughing: At this point, Kelly knew the guy was no longer a threat and just watched the guy get up and quickly exit the yard. Good Kelly!

After the Moron Meter Man had left, Kelly had some biscuits as a snack.

I would not bet my health on tossing Scooby Snacks at a dog....

Later,
Dan

 

[jerrybob]

I don't often agree with IslandTractor...rarely, actually...
But a person carrying a pistol must always have control of the pistol. The lady in the Iowa Walmart had her gun in a purse...not under her direct control (meaning on her person).
As I'd written in an earlier response to this thread, if one is going to carry a firearm while riding a bike (or motorcycle), they need a holster that retains the firearm as well as provide quick access. I'm not a should holster fan, but if I was going to carry on a bike or motorcycle, I'd carry in a quality shoulder holster.

BTW, when I do carry (99% of the time), it's either in a pocket holster or a OWB holster...sometimes a vest pocket if I'm carrying the LCP.

I don't often agree with Roy.....but....in this case....he is absolutely correct!!!

 

[jerrybob]

I just renewed my permit. It is $105 for 5 years.

Wow....ours in Washington are $52 initially and $32 to renew. Good for 5 years. Just renewed mine a few months ago.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I've seen thousands (probably) of your tube videos of bike crashes. So what's next, people shooting themselves and others acidentally while in the proces of crashing? I am quite familiar and comfortable carrying a handgun, but not sure I'd want to carry one while on a bike. Just doesn't seem like a good fit although I envy you people south of the border as generally speaking, your options of being able to protect yourselves are far greater then our limited options. Call 911, yeah , right, sure!

 

[dodge man]

Why is carrying a gun while biking any more likely to have an accidental discharge than ant other activity? Do people that keep saying its a bad idea actually ride a bike? Have they ever had a large dog run at the while riding?