Kilted Hero in Ottawa

**Dreadbelly** · 20th August 05, 02:29 PM

I am restrained because I am now focused on my real enemy.

Vegetables. I will not rest until my foe has been violently smashed, slashed, and chopped to bits, then stir fried while still alive in some nice hot oil in a wok.

**Sir Robert** · 20th August 05, 03:07 PM

RiverKilt good for you!

**MacConnachie** · 20th August 05, 03:11 PM

Having said that, and having seen that principle at work amongst groups of people, I am also adamantly behind the idea that being a responsible citizen will sometimes involve the judicious, well-placed use of force. Even though the state I'm from was founded with a strong streak of vigilante-ism, I am against taking the law into one's own hands if the law (the police force) is truly working in the spirit of "To Serve and Protect." However, how often/seldom have you seen that slogan emblazoned on a squad car in these days and times? Realizing that this post could be seen as containing a number of paradoxes, I'll leave it at this. I detest bullies of any stripe, and seldom hesitate to call them on their bullying tactics when the chips are down -- in whatever manner may be deemed necessary. I'm not in favor of being a hero, just in being a responsible citizen. The Good Lord gave me a 6'2" 230 lb. frame and a reasonably calculating intellect to help operate that construct, so when called upon to do so, I have, and hope to continue to be able to do so.

Regards,
Mac

**Woodsheal** · 20th August 05, 03:32 PM

The courts have ruled numerous times that the police have no legal responsibility to "protect" anybody. Their job is to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of crimes. Protecting one's self, one's family,and one's property is the responsibilty of the private citizen.

I've found that a 12 ga. shotgun is best for these duties...!

**davedove** · 20th August 05, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

The courts have ruled numerous times that the police have no legal responsibility to "protect" anybody. Their job is to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of crimes. Protecting one's self, one's family,and one's property is the responsibilty of the private citizen.

That's it exactly! Until a crime is committed, the police have no authority. Of course, they can act on a crime in progress, but unless they happen to already be there, it's too late to call them. So a person's first line of defense is himself. The problem comes from well-meaning but misguided people who try to disarm the common citizen, making it impossible to defend oneself when the situation arises.

Are there people who shouldn't be armed? You know it. But the vast majority of people are decent and law-abiding, so it doesn't seem right to me to disarm them, you know - throw the baby out with the bathwater. Now I do think that anyone who wishes to arm himself should make sure he knows how to use the weapon or he's as big a danger to himself.

**Dreadbelly** · 20th August 05, 04:27 PM

I thought long and hard about arming my self. Purchasing a gun. Or something. After much thinking, circumstances being what they are, I do not feel the need to be armed at this time, as I am perfectly capable of dealing with what ever might happen with my own two hands. Carrying a concealed firearm would be pointless. I feel as though that I am plenty capable of keeping my self, and all those around me, safe. While a gun might be handy, that could potentially put others around me in danger. I can not allow that to happen.

I am supremely confident in my abilities. Nothing else has ever managed to take me out up to this point, and I have been stabbed, shot, bludgeoned with all manner of blunt objects, ran over, thrown out of an upper level apartment window, and several other assorted events that should have meant my untimely demise, all of which have failed to kill me. I am a little uglier for wear and tear, but I am not complaining.

**bubba** · 20th August 05, 04:32 PM

Dread, you don't need firearms. You're more effective with a cast iron skillet than a mad housewife.

**Iolaus** · 20th August 05, 05:13 PM

Given the option (which is damn near impossible in California), I would rather have a gun than not; like some say, "Never arrive ready for a 'fair fight'".

**Archangel** · 20th August 05, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly

I thought long and hard about arming my self. Purchasing a gun. Or something. After much thinking, circumstances being what they are, I do not feel the need to be armed at this time, as I am perfectly capable of dealing with what ever might happen with my own two hands. Carrying a concealed firearm would be pointless. I feel as though that I am plenty capable of keeping my self, and all those around me, safe. While a gun might be handy, that could potentially put others around me in danger. I can not allow that to happen.

I am supremely confident in my abilities. Nothing else has ever managed to take me out up to this point, and I have been stabbed, shot, bludgeoned with all manner of blunt objects, ran over, thrown out of an upper level apartment window, and several other assorted events that should have meant my untimely demise, all of which have failed to kill me. I am a little uglier for wear and tear, but I am not complaining.

again, your restraint is admirable.
One of the best arguments for not carrying a gun came from a person, here in Canada, that had a rare permit to carry a concealed one. He said he figured that no-one is going to come and say, "draw." That with all the other concerns, there was little point in continuing.

I don't want to be part of a gun debate here. Here's where I agree: with all the legal/safety conditions for keeping a gun for self-defence, it become more practical to have a brick beside the bed. But I think a live katana is more "decoritive", and you already know I don't believe in decorative weapons, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

**Dreadbelly** · 20th August 05, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

again, your restraint is admirable.
One of the best arguments for not carrying a gun came from a person, here in Canada, that had a rare permit to carry a concealed one. He said he figured that no-one is going to come and say, "draw." That with all the other concerns, there was little point in continuing.

I don't want to be part of a gun debate here. Here's where I agree: with all the legal/safety conditions for keeping a gun for self-defence, it become more practical to have a brick beside the bed. But I think a live katana is more "decoritive", and you already know I don't believe in decorative weapons, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Where I am at, namely, a densely populated area, downtown, a gun didn't seem prudent. Anybody with any sort of combat experience knows that 9/10, in close combat, a knife wins over a gun each time. My cane is a good deal longer than a knife. (But I keep one of those too) So if you think about this in a logical fashion, which I did, arming my self with a gun would actually reduce my ability to effectly control a hostile situation. My voice, my menacing looks, and my commanding authoritative aura should suffice, or, in last ditch efforts, I get my hands dirty.

Should I ever feel the need to defend my self with projectiles, I do have one weapon in storage. It is a 350 pound xbow. Lever action. It will shoot a bolt clean through an elk or a bear and keep going for quite some distance. I have a good assortment of bolts, and a small stockpile of Rippers, special bolts with hooked barbs in both directions, that rip going in and coming out, designed to bring down big game. I also have three harpoons.

It may sound silly, but I keep it around in case of emergency. Should there ever be a major disaster or some kind of horrible event that brings civilization around me crashing down, I wanted something that I could protect my self with, get food, etc. And I didn't want to have to depend on gunpowder or chemical based projectiles. In some cases, simple is serviceable.