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

[RoyJackson]

Why is carrying a gun while biking any more likely to have an accidental discharge than any 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?

A number of people responding to this thread aren't familiar with firearms, even if they say they are...pretty obvious who they are when one reads their posts and comments.

Frankly, I wouldn't use the firearm against a dog...of course, I'm a dog lover. Also, dogs are fast! and jump around quite a bit. I would prefer using pepper spray or something like that.
Now, the two legged attackers...that's what the gun is for.

 

[MoMower]

I'm just trying to figure out how inanimate objects can be "inherently dangerous".....

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm just trying to figure out how inanimate objects can be "inherently dangerous".....

Don't try...that "inherently dangerous" results from ignorance of those who consider firearms inherently dangerous. Of course, anything can be dangerous if the user has evil intent or is ignorant of proper usage of the item....this includes tractors, cars, a fork or spoon...pencil....anything.

 

[JimRB]

A lot of people responding are not familiar with riding a bicycle regularly. Sure you may have ridden to the baseball diamond when you were a kid but that is not quite the same as riding regularly or irregularly now that you are an adult. No, it is not some snobby elitist thing either that unless you are in Lycra or polyester you are not riding. Riding a bike whether going to work fast or slow, going to the grocery or hardware store, or out hanging out with your friends on two wheels are all cyclists. Some of the scenarios are quite unlikely. Tooling along at 25 mph on a bicycle solo on the flats is hauling butt and the person doing it is in good shape, really good shape. Doing that speed in group reflects a bunch of people in good shape. Reaching into fanny pack, grabbing your gun, undoing the safety, taking aim one handed while doing 25 mph or even 10 mph, hitting a moving target is the kind of thing they show in movies and TV shows. If someone ever did that on a group ride I was on, that trick shooter would be shunned. If that rider stopped, planted himself and took a two handed aim, he would probably still be shunned. For me pedal faster or get out the water bottle to spray the dog or distract the dog would be more likely. If I asked on some of my group rides I bet I could find a handgun somewhere. Probably not on my fast group rides though.

Reasons why firing a gun while riding a bike might not turn out well. Wet hands, cold hands, adrenalin (which I guess one might have if you ever felt the need to take aim anyway), really bad shooter position, failure to practice from really bad shooter position, one handed shooting. Again if you have the gun to defend against 2 legged predators and you are on your two legs is a totally different scenario then shooting while riding against dogs, deer and suicidal squirrels. I have run over a few squirrels at 20 mph. If one of those jumped in the front wheel and got jammed up in the fork, that could cause an endo which is no fun at speed. The deer have tried to take me out more than once. Not as many times as car and light truck drivers though. What I have never seen, probably since I have only been to inside ranges with shooting lanes, is people practicing shooting while running or riding a bicycle. Granted I have not been to the range but a handful of times but rarely do I see serious people firing one handed at the range. A .22 handgun does not have much kick but the bigger handguns required a bit more control than I could provide with one hand. Again I have not been at the range that much so the people that are there every week may obtain skills and control I certainly do not have.

So lets go back to the original statement which I think was concealed carry is too restrictive and expensive and he would prefer to do open carry. My experience around co-workers, neighbors and friends that have handguns is most do go out and practice. I do not fear the neighbors I know who have handguns. I have met a few airheads at work that do not secure their weapons and I bet are not at the range enough to really be trusted or be able to really defend themselves if put in a dangerous situation. I have no problem with someone who wants to carry a gun having to take a handgun class, demonstrating a basic ability to hit a target 20 feet away and pay a fee. It may reduce the quantity of people who carry a weapon that do not grasp the responsibility and have not acquired the basic skills. In some European countries getting a drivers license is not a pay $20 and take a basic road test. You have to take classes, demonstrate skills in situations beside the panic of a school zone speed limit of 25 mph or a light that turns red. (Off topic from post 1 but someone went there about drivers license being a right, not a privilege.)

I guess that is a long way of saying I agree with Roy. I do not have enough experience around handguns to know if you can fire at 10 mph on a bicycle one handed with sweaty or cold hands and hit a moving Jack Russell terrier. I don't know that I could take aim with pepper spray either but I do know I can spray my water bottle at speed if I see the dog first. Big if and dogs and deer often appear from nowhere. I also do not know that the Jack Russell terrier deserves to die because his owner was not responsible for containing him.

 

[tcartwri]

Don't try...that "inherently dangerous" results from ignorance of those who consider firearms inherently dangerous. Of course, anything can be dangerous if the user has evil intent or is ignorant of proper usage of the item....this includes tractors, cars, a fork or spoon...pencil....anything.

Or a keyboard even... Lol

 

[dodge man]

JimRB brings up some good points. I would never try and shoot while actually riding. I ride a lot but an not really a serious rider, my speed is more like 15 mph or a little slower. I ride in a very rural area and have very real concerns about dogs. Most people just let them roam and often there is more than one. I also usually ride alone. The only time I would shoot a dog is not because its chasing me but actually knocked me down and attacked. As in any situation, people are also a concern but probably not a problem.

Not lets talk helmets. Everyone wears one right? It should be by choice though.

 

[HCJtractor]

JimRB brings up some good points. I would never try and shoot while actually riding. I ride a lot but an not really a serious rider, my speed is more like 15 mph or a little slower. I ride in a very rural area and have very real concerns about dogs. Most people just let them roam and often there is more than one. I also usually ride alone. The only time I would shoot a dog is not because its chasing me but actually knocked me down and attacked. As in any situation, people are also a concern but probably not a problem. Not lets talk helmets. Everyone wears one right? It should be by choice though.

Yeah dogs are a problem. But having one bite you while cycling is rare. Most injuries caused by dogs are because of the cyclists reaction. When with others, somebody swerves to avoid the dog and takes you down. Or the dog chases the bike in front of you, loses interest, then turns into you, taking you down. Or the dog gets in front of you, you hit it, and crash. I've seen dozens get hurt falling because of a dog, and sometimes hurt badly, but never seen anyone bitten. It's scary when the beast charges out surprising you. If it's clear you can outrun it, then it's a good sprint practice. But if there is any doubt, slow down, hold your handlebar with one hand in the center by the stem for stability, grab your water bottle with whichever hand the dog is on, wait for him to get within 10 feet or so, and blast him in the face with a stream while yelling with your meanest voice. I've never seen one who didn't turn away. And by thus point, you're probably out of his territory, and they turn back home. Try it. It works.

As far as helmets, they are absolutely necessary. No need to make it a law, but you're crazy if you ride w/o one. Just like seat belts. I've slapped my head on the pavement several times. My helmet broke. My skull didn't.

I agree owners shouldn't let dogs roam free. But unfortunately, if you ride in rural America, it's a fact that they do. Most dogs just like the chase, and are guarding their turf. I've even stopped before when the dog was chasing me, and he then gets friendly. I wouldn't want to shoot one. Never had the need. If I'm dismounted, I can shield myself with my bike, and even use my bike as a weapon. Maybe there some bad *** dogs that would still eat me up, but I've never encountered one that I couldn't intimidate, once the chase is over, and I turn to confront him.

The funniest thing I ever saw was when we were riding to the coast. A little yappy dog burst out running along the shoulder chasing us. He was acting real mean until he ran into a telephone pole at full speed. We had to stop as we were laughing so hard. He just lay there stunned.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Apparently true story. Just recently the son of a guy I know was taken down while riding his bike by a coyotee! A passing truck driver stopped to help. A bunch of stiches and rabies needles required! That would have been a good case for a firearm, or not? As usual, you never see the real crap in life coming!

I have had friends who shot in combat pistol competitions. These are not the people I would worry about carrying a firearm on a bike. It's the people in the You Tube "Firearm Fails" that would scare me. Imagine being taken out by a richochette off the pavement from someone shooting at a dog. Did they even think about a back stop?

Another true story. My last handgun I bought, many years ago, a beautiful SS S&W 45 ACP Automatic. Could not wait to get it home. Got out of my van, loaded the weapon and fired it into a pile of heavy firewood some twenty five feet away. A split second later that slug surprised me by coming back and slamming into my shoulder. No damage, but a real surprise never the less, and a real eye opener about what you expect and what can really happen when it comes to firearms. O.K. Call me STUPID on that one. Clearly, not as seen on TV! The firewood was supposed to explode a hundred feet into the air! lol

 

[HCJtractor]

Apparently true story. Just recently the son of a guy I know was taken down while riding his bike by a coyotee! A passing truck driver stopped to help. A bunch of stiches and rabies needles required! That would have been a good case for a firearm, or not?
That is unusual. I would think the coyote was just crossing the road and was hit by the cyclist. That happens occasionally with deer also. If you hit an animal on your bike, you're going down. I doubt the coyote was actually chasing him. That's not typical coyote behavior. They avoid humans like the plague usually. So I wonder why rabies shots? Was he bitten, or maybe just accidentally cut by the yote of maybe got coyote blood on him? Would be interested to know how this happened. Regardless, after taking a spill, I doubt if the cyclist had the ability to pick himself up and get his weapon to bear even if he had been carrying. And doubt if the coyote hung around for long. But I'll sure bet he would like to pop a few rounds at what put him down.

A buddy of mine hit a deer at 40 mph. He lost lots of skin, broke a few bones. He found his bike about 20 yards into the forest, with deer hair stuck to it. The deer got tangled up in it and carried it off. Never saw the deer again.

 

[JimRB]

The first road bike race I promoted we had one event in a never opened subdivision property. .6 mile laps with a 30 foot rise. Surely the safest place to have a bike race. No traffic at all. Woods in the middle of the big circle. On the back side on the downhill which would have been a 30-35 mph section, a doe darted across the course on the last race of the day. Took out at least 3 racers. One bike shattered. One of my riding friends hit the deer hard. Cracked rib, collapsed lung and I think something broken on his leg. Only guy who ended up in the hospital. Yes there was deer fur in the brake levers. Deer can scare me. Bear scares me too but I do not ride in their habitat that often. I have seen bobcat in the bear mountains. Rumor has it there is a panther 6 miles south of my house.