There seems to be a couple of threads around on motorcyclist safety, centered on wearing a helmet and with a large number thinking that it should be mandatory. Guess we should agree to disagree as I wear a helmet based on common sense not some mandate from some legislature. I carry a weapon or two or three on my body and do it for the exact same reason as I wear a helmet, gloves and boots. I think it is foolish to rely on police which may or may not be available when I need one. I have had two members of my family killed on the street, neither had a chance and were shot. Neither were motorcyclists and both relied on society protecting them. What they have in common is that they were both related to me and both were honest law abiding citizens. One was in San Francisco about 40 years ago and the last was shot in Denver on a downtown street by an illegal. I maintain awareness of my environment and try and stay away from higher crime areas but crime knows no boundaries, we had a guy go off and was stalking around our rural neighborhood with a compound bow. 49 states allow for concealed gun carry. Guess if you live in the one that doesn't allow carrying of a firearm then you next best option is to train with a fighting knife.
Or move. Sorry for your losses. The wife and I got pulled over on our way to church this past Sunday. We were on the VFR and doing 96 in a 70. I do break the occasional law, so I am not 100% comfortable with the "law abiding citizen" label for myself. Anyway, we were told in our concealed carry class that if pulled over show the permit to the officer. So I did and he asked if I was armed. I told him I was and the weapon was in my tank bag. I am not sure if it was the church bit, my weapon or the gray hair or what, but he let us go. We didn't have the Glock with us during our honeymoon (on the bike) and we had one incident where we really wish we had it with us.
