Chased by dogs on bike - what do you do? (Page 4)

Why is that? 

But still, the unanswered question is- has anyone actually shot a dog that was chasing them while cycling?  Even if you stopped your bike and shot it, it counts.

I know people have yelled, and have squirted, and have maced, so those are viable strategies in at least some situations.  Don't know yet if shooting with a gun is a viable strategy.

What is extreme about it?

If you need it, you have it.  If you don't need it, where's the harm?

Completely sensible to me.

On the other hand if you need it and don't have it, yer kinda screwed.  Sensible?

Do you carry a spare tire in your car?  Ever PLAN to use it?  Isn't carrying only one spare kinda foolish considering that you could experience 2 or more flats?

How many people are accidently killed by spare tires every year?

How many people are accidently killed by spare tires every year?

Millions!  'Course, I'm talking about that 'spare tire' around people's mid-section. 

Seriously, carrying a gun on bike ride is ridiculous.  If you are that fearful of dogs, 1. find a route that avoids them and/or 2.  carry some maze or mini-air horn.  The scenario was mentioned where a pit bull latches onto your leg.  In such a scenario, I would rather have a knife or a large rock to beat the dog rather than shoot the dog that has my leg in his mouth!

How many people are accidently killed by spare tires every year?

"I am intrigued by the fact that several here are eager to label it as ridiculous or extreme but no one can or will articulate WHY that is"

I'll take a stab:

1.  It would be like using a sledge hammer to crack a peanut

2.  A dog is not intimidated by a gun unless you fire it.  The noise can also be made with a airhorn.

3.  If you hit the dog who is only barking and you just THINK he is about to attack, you will face the retribution of the owner.  My dog might chase and bark but would NEVER bite or attack.  Someone shoots at my dog and I will shoot them.  Period.   In fact, fire a gun 'in the air' in my hood with kids all over the place and I'll assume I'm under attack and take you out with a 30.06 from my front porch.

4.  Requires a concealed weapon permit.  Go to the law enforcement and fill out a concealed weapon app and tell them you want to carry it on your bicycle to defend yourself against dog attacks.  Maybe they will grant it...I don't know. 

5.  The ONLY scenario where you would be justified in shooting a dog is when he has latched onto your  leg.  So then you have to unstow the gun, take the safety off and try to hit the dog w/o hitting your leg.

You can carry a watermelon on your bike for a snack but I think it is ridiculous and you can get the same benefit with less radical fruit.  

As always, these are just my opinions.  You asked why I thought it was ridiculous and I attempted to explain why I thought it was.  I'm a live and let die kind of person so people can do whatever the want, I really don't care....as long as they don't fire a gun in my neighborhood. 

So now, someone tell me the benefit (and scenario) there is to carrying a firearm over an airhorn and/or maise?

One of my good friends who is a district judge.  He told me if you are legally carrying a firearm when you are riding a bike and a dog comes into a road way and you feel threatened you could shoot the dog without legal repercussions.  Although you better know where your bullet is going.

"I am intrigued by the fact that several here are eager to label it as ridiculous or extreme but no one can or will articulate WHY that is"

I'll take a stab:

1.  It would be like using a sledge hammer to crack a peanut

2.  A dog is not intimidated by a gun unless you fire it.  The noise can also be made with a airhorn.

3.  If you hit the dog who is only barking and you just THINK he is about to attack, you will face the retribution of the owner.  My dog might chase and bark but would NEVER bite or attack.  Someone shoots at my dog and I will shoot them.  Period.   In fact, fire a gun 'in the air' in my hood with kids all over the place and I'll assume I'm under attack and take you out with a 30.06 from my front porch.

4.  Requires a concealed weapon permit.  Go to the law enforcement and fill out a concealed weapon app and tell them you want to carry it on your bicycle to defend yourself against dog attacks.  Maybe they will grant it...I don't know. 

5.  The ONLY scenario where you would be justified in shooting a dog is when he has latched onto your  leg.  So then you have to unstow the gun, take the safety off and try to hit the dog w/o hitting your leg.

You can carry a watermelon on your bike for a snack but I think it is ridiculous and you can get the same benefit with less radical fruit.  

As always, these are just my opinions.  You asked why I thought it was ridiculous and I attempted to explain why I thought it was.  I'm a live and let die kind of person so people can do whatever the want, I really don't care....as long as they don't fire a gun in my neighborhood. 

So now, someone tell me the benefit (and scenario) there is to carrying a firearm over an airhorn and/or maise?

Yeah, "feeling threatened" is a very subjective phrase that would have to be resolved in civil court...assuming you are still alive after the redneck dog owner shoots you for killing his dog.  A civil court would have to dertermine if your sense of 'feeling threatened' was justified and therefore your use of lethal force was justified.  How close was the dog, what did you do to ward him off before you resorted to lethal measures, has the dog ever bitten anyone, etc?  But the threshold is much lower for the dog owner.  Many people think of their dogs as part of the family.  Shoot at one of my dogs and that is just one notch below shooting at one of my children.

Years ago a motorcyclist stopped at our house and told my dad that our dog was chasing him and that if he chased him again he was gonna shoot him.  My dad looked the man right in the eye and calmly said, "If you shoot him, I will shoot YOU."  The guy looked all flustered and rode off.

Lets be careful out there.

Keep your dog secured on your property and you won't have any problems.

How you view your dog and how the law views your dog are two different things.  In most states the court is allowed to give you market value for your dead dog.

Again, do a little reading on the justified use of lethal force in Alabama.

Your dad made a foolish statement.

You should be aware:

1.  Many states do not allow law enforcement discretion in the issuing of concealed carry permits.  Do a little reading on the differences between "May Issue" and "Shall Issue" states.

2. If you shoot someone for shooting your dog you will go to prison and your family will be ruined financially.  In the situation you present the armed cyclist would be dealing with a negligent discharge case and market value of the dog in court, worse case.  This would be decided in court.  Someone shoots my golden retriever it is reasonable to me to believe that my life is being threatened by some reckless maniac on his bike shooting dogs and maybe children....I had to take him out before he killed someone.

3.  There is a difference between a barking beagle in your yard and a rotweiller in full pursuit on public property.  Responsible dog ownership is very similar to responsible gun ownership.  When your potentially deadly dog is allowed to leave your yard without a leash you are negligent.  Please be a responsible dog owner.

4.  You are completely mistaken in point #5.  You should read up a bit on the law with regard to the justifiable use of deadly force in your state.  Also, my guns have no external safeties.  My safety is the finger here on the J key.  Pretty foolish and arrogant....and maybe even a violation of the state laws if you modified a gun to remove safety devices. 

My dog is secured on 6 fenced acres but fences fail, gates are left open, trees fall on the fences during storms, etc.  I don't have a problem with my dogs.  But if they did get out and  you shot and killed my Golden Retriever from your bike because you felt threatened, there would be hell to pay....don't really care what the law says....never have.

My dad made a lot of foolish statements....but he meant every word.  We had someone break into my house one time and wake my dad up with a Bowie knife under my dad's throat.  My dad knocked the knife away, got up and....well, never mind.  He was a read badass and not to be messed with.  He passed away about 11 years ago.  I miss him dearly.