holly molly, A 79 yr old man was mugged and beaten to death at a park very near my home. I usually ride my bike through there in order to reach mountain bke trails.
I will be carrying weapons when I go through the park this time. If those muggers want to mess with the captain. I will be ready to rearrange their internal organs.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Content...epath=News/News

The link to the article you posted mentioned that the man was walking through the park at 9:00 p.m. And he was 79 years old. And apparently alone. Definitely tragic, but possibly avoidable.

I can only speak for myself, but you wouldn't catch me walking or biking through any city park at night, or alone for that matter. Maybe you have a friend that can go biking with you? And hopefully there's a different way to reach your mountain bike trails to avoid the potentially crappy areas of the park.

Not sure what the weapon restrictions are up there in Canada, but before you start packing heat, I'd check up on the laws and training needed...

I won't be packing heat at all. It is illegal. I will carry tactical knife but it isn't a switch blade.

The park is frequently used by joggers, bikers at this time of the year. The park still has plenty of sunlight at 9 PM. The news also report that the muggers also attack another 35yr old man. The cops will catch them soon enough. I never heard any mugging in this park for 15yr years. I rode my bike through this area frequently in afternoon and even at night. My bke is of course equiped with powerful 35watt dual head lights and 10watt helmet light. I can spot a potential problem 200ft away.

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20060521-002/page.asp

Well, be careful just the same. Being confident is helpful, but overconfidence can kill. What if these guys setup a trip wire? A well aimed rock to the head? Hide behind trees and rush you on your side? I'm just saying you might not see it coming. And they might be better with a knife than you are.

But it looks like they caught the punks.

It's great that the AARP doesn't think that "retired persons" should be able to legally carry firearms to protect themsleves. Dialing 911 should be sufficient.

My Grandfather and I had a related conversation one time before he passed... He was a truckdriver all of his life, and driving meant the world to him. We discussed how as one grows older, reaction time slows, vision blurs, and how many people were against seniors driving. Now, I think one might argue that either topic - license to drive or have a gun can be, ahem, "lively" on either side of the fence.

Anyway, I think we came away from the conversation with; As long as a person is deemed of sound mind, has a history of safety, can operate safely and continues to remain certified, there should be nobody against it. This seems to apply as well to guns as to driving. I wouldn't be against re-certifying every year (gun or driving!) if that was the rule by which we were all universally measured. I don't think it's any great burden as long as the rules don't change as I get older.

Can I shoot straight and pick out targets properly? Can I see said targets? Do I know what signs mean on the road? Do I drive like a crazed teen or overcautiously (which can be just as dangerous as too fast)? The AARP is wrong headed in this. It perpetuates the "someone will always be there for you" mindset that is so rampant these days.

And yes, I'm fully aware that teens and seniors tend to make up the bulk of accidents (for completely different reasons).

Gotta say... I like the way you think... on guns AND the environment.

Troy

I am not over confident when I ride through area at night. I always check both sides of the bike trails for hidden danger like muggers.
My knife is strapped directly to my packpack that I can easily withdraw it. My head is protect by helmet hence a rock won't damage my skull. I had lots of practice jumping off the bike in emergency. Next time I will buy a steel baton. These muggers will have regular cheap knife which is no match for my 6 inch benchmade tactical knife. I don't want to use weapons unless my life is threaten. I had been serveral serious deadly fights when I was a teenager. My fighting skills might be rusty as I grow older.

Crime in the city is getting worse recently than I ever recall living here.

Sounds like you are as prepared as you can be. And yeah, a 6" tactical knife will outdo a cheapo. I was just trying to say that you shouldn't let down your guard even if you are prepared and expecting something. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />