I can't really imagine a NEED to carry a firearm while riding unless you intend to start trouble and have the firepower to back it up. That would, of course, place you firmly in the total jack-off catagory.
On a side note, keeping your firearm in/on your bike in the event of an attempted gun-point theft would merely render you bikeless and gunless at the same time. And don't try to tell me that if some wank walked/drove/whatever up to you with a gun pointed at your head you'd try to outdraw them. Good luck explaining to the cops who find your bike(if you're lucky enough) why there was a gun in/on it. Or, if they don't find it, then you get to explain how it was lost. (being the law abiding citizens I know you all are, you'd tell the truth about all of this, wouldn't you?)
For those of you who will no doubt feel this is a ranting flame and decide to fire back, I do own a firearm which is registered. And no, it's not a .22, so don't go there.
While we're all out looking for a fire fight to get involved in, or a criminal to subdue, or to protect our freedom, or whatever we do with our guns in public, I'd like to express my concern about the implied level of violence we've all aparently decided is not only necessary, but approprite.
Go out and shoot someone for real and then tell me how macho it was, okay? Police need not apply.
I have no illusions about any of this. Guys, and some women, just seem to like the power and destructive potential that comes from owning a firearm and that feeling of security you get from knowing you have it on you and that you know how to use it. I just doubt how much anyone is prepared to actually shoot another person, no matter what the situation. It breeds fear and bad judgement.
Damn, there I go, running for public office again.
