Do you carry protection when running?

I always take pepper spray and my cell phone. I have a wrist holder for my cell so that it doesn't fall out of my pockets and that makes it easier to carry. I listen to music so I don't hear well around me. You never know what you are going to encounter. I had a friend get chased by a homeless man and I've had dogs chase me. Always better to be prepared than the one time you aren't and wish you had brought it. You should have your phone if you get hurt or need medical help, especially if you run on back trails.

I am scared reading this thread. If you need to carry a weapon to go about your normal business (and I take running to be normal business) the states is in a far worse place than I thought it was. The more people who carry weapons really increases the likelihood of someone getting hurt or killed.
Wow, this thread is enlightening to see the attitude of the general population in America as well. I don't mean that in a bad way, and I know that this is hardly a statistical representation on America, but I am still very uncomfortable reading that knives and guns are carried routinely. I do hope that you know how to use them, and that you never have to! I could never live somewhere where I felt such measures were required.
I live in rural uk my big problem is no street lights or pavements! I just started running and my expense was the trainers, not a gun!

You dont have to be scared of us. You neverhave to fear the legal carrier.

And DGU (defensive gun use) is relatively rare. Actual bullets fired is even rarer. I have carried for 27 years pulled twice on mugging attempts. In both cases the sight of pulling was enough to send the muggers running. Places with MORE legal guns are actually safer per FBI stats but to be fair other factors could be in play. Anecdotally though whenever a state that didnt allow citizens to carry finally did crime dropped dramatically (and the streets didnt run red with blood or people didnt shoot each other over parking spots).

The following is from a great treatise on armed robbery basics (if anyone wants a full copy message me and I'll send it):

However, probably the BEST way to protect oneself is get your eyes off your cell phone and your ears unplugged from your MP3 player. The vast majority of people who are attacked all say the same thing- "he/they came out of nowhere" No they did not- they tagged you as a sheep, circled in like the predators they are, and then attacked you. Your inability to be situationally aware meant you never picked up on the predators hunting you. Interviews with muggers and rapists have found out they are opportunistic. Average time between when they spot you and then go in for the attack is between 5-7 minutes.

A girl my brother knows was walking her dog when a guy approached her. She was polite. Mistake. He talked to her about the dog and said she had pretty hair and reached out and touched her hair. She did not slap his hand down or aggressively object. Mistake. He asked her if her dog bit and she said "No". At that time he slapped the **** out of her, drug her into a wooded area, and raped her.

The answer in the street is always "No". Can I ask you something? No. Do you have a cigarette? No. Can you tell me what time it is? No. The answer is always "No". Don't be nice. Stop the encounter as soon as it starts.

bad guys travel in packs- if you see three guys approaching you across a parking lot and they fan out then you are being stalked as they are trying to flank you. When you lock eyes with G the very first thing you need to do is indicate you have a weapon (if you atually live in an area that treats you like an adult). It doesn't matter if you do or not. If you are a woman put your gun hand in your purse and keep it there. If you are a man fan your shirt or coat tail with your gun hand. Make it clear to dude you are mentally prepared to draw and making sure your gun is clear. This will many times result in an about face by dude. It is the single best robbery avoidance tactic IMHO

And size doesnt mean anything. One time we were locking up a hold up man and having a conversation about how they target their victims. I was saying they pick easy ones, another guy was saying they preferred easy ones but would take anybody. I pointed out a uniform Officer there was an NFL size guy to that hold up man. Frankly the dude was a monster. I asked hold up man if he would rob him. He said "If I needed the money

<<<<

As for learning martial arts- thats all great but do you have the cardio AND mindset to take on 3 people simultaneously as you fight for your life? If they have a gun or knife and you attack YOU WILL be shot or stabbed. Mace, etc- pffffttt... I can squirt mace into my mouth like Binaca and still fight through it. Nothing is a wonder weapon- again your best defense is to detect the attack before it comes in and do something to mitigate it. If you do have to fight you have to go 110% psycho and want to kill them because they sure as hell will kill you - where they come from violence is the coin of the realm.

So eyes up, look around and listen to the lizard part of your brain when you start getting the feeling you are being stalked because you are.

Stay safe out there

Nope. Live in one of the nicer neighbourhoods in the UK so I feel completely safe...and we have no terrifying wild animals. Don't see this guy eating me:



If I lived in the US, or any of the rougher parts of the UK, I'd undoubtedly carry something that was purely defensive.

I like his little feet....so cute

I am scared reading this thread. If you need to carry a weapon to go about your normal business (and I take running to be normal business) the states is in a far worse place than I thought it was. The more people who carry weapons really increases the likelihood of someone getting hurt or killed.
Wow, this thread is enlightening to see the attitude of the general population in America as well. I don't mean that in a bad way, and I know that this is hardly a statistical representation on America, but I am still very uncomfortable reading that knives and guns are carried routinely. I do hope that you know how to use them, and that you never have to! I could never live somewhere where I felt such measures were required.
I live in rural uk my big problem is no street lights or pavements! I just started running and my expense was the trainers, not a gun!

I can't speak for others, but I don't feel I need to, in the sense that I feel like I'm in eminent danger walking out of my door, but I do believe that I'd rather have it and never need it than need it and never have it.

It's kind of like seat belts, locking your car/house doors, or learning CPR/First Aid - there may not be an eminent threat of danger, but it's a reasonable precaution to take to increase your safety and that of those around you, should you ever need it.

And actually, your perceived correlation that "more weapons = more injuries/deaths" isn't really true. Anecdotal case in point - our rural areas are typically the most highly-armed areas. Most homes don't just have a gun, they have many, of all different kinds, ranging from pistols to 50-cal large game rifles. Very often, it wasn't uncommon for any given individual to have one on them or in their vehicle. Many of our rural schools have the opening day of major hunting seasons off, because the students and teachers would be out, and it used to be not uncommon for the high schoolers and adults to have rifles in their vehicles on school grounds, because they were going hunting or trap shooting after school.

Gun-related deaths and injuries are rare in these areas. And more often than not, the ones that do happen, happen to the tourists who come from the cities (where guns aren't a way of life) and act like morons and get themselves or their buddies shot.

Additionally, as I and others have mentioned, not only does legal carry reduce crime, but US cities have lower crime rates than equivalent British cities. In the case of licensing involving firearms (concealed carry, hunting licenses, etc), training on safe handling is often part of the licensing process (just like driver's education, be it formal or informal, is required for getting a driver's license).

Knives, guns, mace, training, etc, are all tools that people can use to keep themselves safe, in the event that they actually have to use them, no more, no less. Their presence doesn't turn their wielders into psychos and they don't "just go off" (or in the case of non-projectile things, just embed themselves in someone).

In the case of licensing involving firearms (concealed carry, hunting licenses, etc), training on safe handling is part of the licensing process (just like driver's education, be it formal or informal, is required for getting a driver's license).

Just a little aside, this actually varies by state. Indiana, being one of the three most lax states on gun laws, is a shall issue state that does not require any class or training to get your carry permit. That being said, I don't know anyone with a carry permit that does not regularly make it to a range. I practically grew up at the range. TN, where I lived for a few years working on my masters, does require a class for a carry permit, and had very nice public ranges. They sometimes did and sometimes did not recognize my resident Indiana permit since reciprocity laws change about every time state legislators are in session. If you are traveling and carrying, it's always good to check ahead of time if the states you will be going through like your permit or not at the moment: http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

Wow...I'd be afraid of the gun accidentally discharging on a good run...

How? Shaking a gun doesn't make it go off.

Big thanks to movies and television for this one - guns don't accidentally discharge on their own, not by being shaken or jostled or by being dropped, etc. The trigger has to be pulled, and that's why good holsters have trigger covers on them.

but I am still very uncomfortable reading that knives and guns are carried routinely

Guess what - they are carried routinely by bad guys, and in places where they are illegal to be carried by responsible law-abiding citizens, the bad guys know they have the upper hand every time.

the belly band works wonderfully with my G26.

I love my G26! Have never carried it on a run (when I remember, I clip a knife to my shorts), and don't have a belly band, but looked at them when I was searching for a holster for every day carry. I'll have to look into the belly bands again.

In the case of licensing involving firearms (concealed carry, hunting licenses, etc), training on safe handling is part of the licensing process (just like driver's education, be it formal or informal, is required for getting a driver's license).

Just a little aside, this actually varies by state. Indiana, being one of the three most lax states on gun laws, is a shall issue state that does not require any class or training to get your carry permit. That being said, I don't know anyone with a carry permit that does not regularly make it to a range. I practically grew up at the range. TN, where I lived for a few years working on my masters, does require a class for a carry permit, and had very nice public ranges. They sometimes did and sometimes did not recognize my resident Indiana permit since reciprocity laws change about every time state legislators are in session. If you are traveling and carrying, it's always good to check ahead of time if the states you will be going through like your permit or not at the moment: http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Ohio and Pennsylvania require classes, so I assumed that everyone did. Good to know that's not necessarily true.

I agree, too, most of the people that I know that have taken the time and money to obtain a firearm, also takes the time to train with it.

Michigan requires the class as well. I'm additionally required to appear before a gun board next Friday before I'll get licensed to carry concealed (but that's specific to my County).

In the case of licensing involving firearms (concealed carry, hunting licenses, etc), training on safe handling is part of the licensing process (just like driver's education, be it formal or informal, is required for getting a driver's license).

Just a little aside, this actually varies by state. Indiana, being one of the three most lax states on gun laws, is a shall issue state that does not require any class or training to get your carry permit. That being said, I don't know anyone with a carry permit that does not regularly make it to a range. I practically grew up at the range. TN, where I lived for a few years working on my masters, does require a class for a carry permit, and had very nice public ranges. They sometimes did and sometimes did not recognize my resident Indiana permit since reciprocity laws change about every time state legislators are in session. If you are traveling and carrying, it's always good to check ahead of time if the states you will be going through like your permit or not at the moment: http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Ohio and Pennsylvania require classes, so I assumed that everyone did. Good to know that's not necessarily true.

I agree, too, most of the people that I know that have taken the time and money to obtain a firearm, also takes the time to train with it.

Michigan requires the class as well. I'm additionally required to appear before a gun board next Friday before I'll get licensed to carry concealed (but that's specific to my County).

California requires all kinds of classes, training, jumping through hoops, and of course paying ridiculous fees. They don't make it easy, but I am very thankful to be living in a county with a good Sheriff who will actually issue permits. The wait right now just for the initial interview at the Sheriff's Office is about 12 months.

California requires all kinds of classes, training, jumping through hoops, and of course paying ridiculous fees. They don't make it easy, but I am very thankful to be living in a county with a good Sheriff who will actually issue permits. The wait right now just for the initial interview at the Sheriff's Office is about 12 months.

California, Illinois and Oregon won't even recognize my CPL...that's what I was told in my class (they said not to even THINK about taking it across those state lines concealed or otherwise)

You have to be careful in California even with a California permit! I've heard horror stories about people visiting the San Francisco area and having problems with officers on a traffic stop. I know folks who frequently travel around the state and to other states who carry a copy of the law with them - you get an officer who doesn't usually deal with CCW holders and they often aren't familiar with the law and make mistakes.

California requires all kinds of classes, training, jumping through hoops, and of course paying ridiculous fees. They don't make it easy, but I am very thankful to be living in a county with a good Sheriff who will actually issue permits. The wait right now just for the initial interview at the Sheriff's Office is about 12 months.

California, Illinois and Oregon won't even recognize my CPL...that's what I was told in my class (they said not to even THINK about taking it across those state lines concealed or otherwise)

IL doesn't recognize anybody's permit. They don't allow anybody to carry. However, with a resident MI permit, you can safely carry across state lines into WI, OH, or IN.

ETA: For now, always check the map before a trip, as those laws change often.

IL doesn't recognize anybody's permit. They don't allow anybody to carry. However, with a resident MI permit, you can safely carry across state lines into WI, OH, or IN.

ETA: For now, always check the map before a trip, as those laws change often.

That's exactly what we were advised to do in our class...double check the maps before you go anywhere. We're taking an RV camping trip out west this year and since we won't be in OR or CA, we're seriously considering bringing them along since we'll be camping in some rural areas...

Thanks for the people for replying to my previous comment. Just a quick question, I'm curious, and mean nothing by this. Do you ever travel to Europe, Canada, Australia NZ etc where the general population do not routinely carry weapons? How safe do you feel in, say, Paris or Edinburgh. I know that "bad" people are everywhere and you can get mugged (and worse) anywhere whether as a tourist or a local. I mean, generally, do you feel safe in your own neighbourhood? In another US city? In a city in a foreign land? And how about where you don't understand the language? I'm from the UK and have been to Paris and Rome recently. In Paris I felt that as a tourist my purse would be stolen at any point, I did not think that I would be shot or stabbed, in Rome there was a different atmosphere and although I could have been mugged, it did not seem quite so likely. That was my perception based on the number of people "accidentally" knocking into me at tourist spots, or asking directions. (I don't know either language) However, if I were to travel to, say New York, I would assume that the robbing would involve a gun! It is such a different culture and it is like asking you to explain why you say sidewalk instead of pavement. We just don't understand! I feel 100% safe from attacks where I live. (The traffic is a different matter!) Seriously, I would hate to have to go anywhere with a gun, even if I was trained in its use.

Thanks for the people for replying to my previous comment. Just a quick question, I'm curious, and mean nothing by this. Do you ever travel to Europe, Canada, Australia NZ etc where the general population do not routinely carry weapons? How safe do you feel in, say, Paris or Edinburgh. I know that "bad" people are everywhere and you can get mugged (and worse) anywhere whether as a tourist or a local. I mean, generally, do you feel safe in your own neighbourhood? In another US city? In a city in a foreign land? And how about where you don't understand the language? I'm from the UK and have been to Paris and Rome recently. In Paris I felt that as a tourist my purse would be stolen at any point, I did not think that I would be shot or stabbed, in Rome there was a different atmosphere and although I could have been mugged, it did not seem quite so likely. That was my perception based on the number of people "accidentally" knocking into me at tourist spots, or asking directions. (I don't know either language) However, if I were to travel to, say New York, I would assume that the robbing would involve a gun! It is such a different culture and it is like asking you to explain why you say sidewalk instead of pavement. We just don't understand! I feel 100% safe from attacks where I live. (The traffic is a different matter!) Seriously, I would hate to have to go anywhere with a gun, even if I was trained in its use.

Well I have traveled fairly extensively for work around the world. Usually in the "tourist areas" one has to worry about pickpockets and purse snatchers. Violent crime rarely happens there as usually there is a police presence (both overt and covert) becuase tourism = big dollars and a splashy headline of some tourist getting stabbed to death in front of say Buckingham Palace wont go over well. So for "tourist areas" I do feel safe.

Now- do I feel safe going to places where I cant carry a gun? Yep- no problem. Like I posted above the best way to keep from having to defend yourself or from getting mugged is to keep your situational awareness up. Too often as a tourist people gawk, look around, and so on at whatever cool city they are in. That's fine but every now and then bring your eyes to street level and see if anyone is giving you a hard stare from across the street or is pacing you. Another good trick is every once in while walk into a random shop to "browse" for 5 minutes or so. Muggers are opportunists and they wont wait around typically while you look through a store.

As for not speaking the language- thats not true. I will guarantee if someone pulls a knife on you in Rome you will understand the language damn quick. ALL- and I mean ALL- criminals react almost the same way when it comes to the stalk and attack. Why? Because its rooted in our human nature. The stalk and attack are the same around the world, which means the signals are the same, which means you can pick them up and react accordingly. How you react will determine many times the outcome of the attack.

Real life example: I have a co-worker who went to Budapest. Now Mark is a jacked dude- 5' 11", wins amateur body building contests, has multiple black belts in "normal" martial arts and is very high in both krav maga and Gracie jiu jitsu. On top of that he just has a naturally mean face- so basically NOT someone you would want to **** with. Ever.

Mark is an amateur photog, wears a rolex, etc. He was in Budapest around 9 PM and he went a little off the beaten tourist path to take some pics of a church. He said all of a sudden he violently flinched because he felt like something was thrown at his head. He looked around and found himself being paced by 5 guys on the other side of the street. When they realized they were made they began the classic fan that is a prelude to a pack attack. Mark got out of it by NOT running as that kicks in a predatory response of the attackers. Instead he squared off to the obvious leader, set himself, and with eye contact alone non-verbally let the ring leader know that it was going to be an epic fight and Mark would do his best to KILL him if noithing else. He said the stare down lasted a few seconds, the ringleader said something and they broke off the impending attack.

In this case Mark let his SA down but listened to his primal brain that said he was being hunted. he then reacted accordingly and in this case his getting ready for a throw down was obvious. Crminals dont like to a) get hurt and b) have a commotion start that will attract attention typically. They try to pick on what I term "the sheep"- sometimes though they pick on the sheepdog and then all hell breaks loose. I am a sheep dog but responsible gun owners (and really responsible people) dont go looking for trouble. Just because I carry a gun doesnt mean I go all vigilante and hit the bad sections of town to dispense justice- screw that- the problem with that is *I* run the risk of being hurt in a fight!

Carrying a gun doesnt make me paranoid- if that was the case I would be in a sandbagged house receving my pizza through an armored slot in the door! I carry because I legally can. Avergae response time in the US for 911 call is around 17 minutes. I cant carry a cop on my hip but I can a pistol. And like I said in a previous post I have carried for 27 years and drawn twice in my defence (once a mugging attempt at 2 AM near a bar, once a pack attack by three armed teenagers at a mall who decided to mug my 9 year old of his Xbox)

To finish this ramble- I have two very good friends over here who are UK citizens. Here in my state at least permanent resident aliens also have the right to get their permits. Both of them carry over here also and wish they could do the same in the UK. It is a liberating to know that your safety is in your hands and one doesnt have to barricade the bedroom and pray the cops get to you before that door is broken down!

Hope this helps

I do not use anything for protection. But if I was a women I would use "The CellBand" along with a personal alarm.

Any weapon you take may possibly be used against you.
i have considered pepper spray, but if the wind is against you, it will zap you as well.
so unless it's something that comes second nature to you, is readily out of your pocket and doesn't require distance (such as a gun), i think you're better off with tall posture and a bit of a crazy stare. Or a crazy dog
Mind, if that gun, or knife, or mace gives you confidence, that might be all the deterrent you need.