What is considered a firearm?

Maybe you can carry a flare gun. Hell, maybe you can carry one of those sparkling fireworks you can light in the face of a mugger.

To be honest, and I know I'm gonna catch flak for this from you guys, you shouldn't even be pulling out guns if the robber/mugger is unarmed. Theft shouldn't carry the death penalty. I think this is what the law is trying to prevent--excessive force that doesn't fit the crime. If the criminal wants to take you out, that's a different story. Call the coroner in that case.

"That guy looked at me wrong, so I shot his ###." An extreme example, but you get the idea. Some guys are trigger happy, so we must all be kept on leashes. If a guy breaks into my place and I catch him, I'll probably have my gun. But I wouldn't think of using it. I'd just call the law and let my tax money take care of the problem.

And don't get me started on the truck drivers who'll shoot you if you claim your CB radio is louder than theirs. Some out there will do it.

 

I'll respectfully disagree. Should a guy with a knife be considered a threat? How about someone who could easily win in a fight? Someone with a pipe that plans to beat you to death? Should you be on the ground bleeding before you pull out a gun that you conveniently left in the truck because you didn't want to bring a gun to a knife fight? When you pull your weapon, you're supposed to give the person threatening you every opportunity to leave. If they come at you after you give them a chance to leave, shoot. I'm not going to take a pipe to the head just because I didn't want to have an unfair playing field.

 

CMoore, you're right. I've thought this way, too. If a mugger thinks you're an unarmed pushover, that may cause him to act against you. If, in his mind, you are carrying something that may seriously make his move not worth it, he won't make that move.

I guess what I'm ultimately trying to get at is people shouldn't take those Soldier of Fortune stories too seriously. One doesn't need a gun for every room and for every pocket. One doesn't need 5,000 rounds of ammo for that one time in his life when he MAY need it.

You don't need guns in trucks.

 

Are tasers or other personal defense stun guns legal to cary in a truck?

 

It's better to have it and not need it than to not have it when you need it.

As for newbee, perhaps this will help. You sparked my curiosity.
http://www.taser.org/laws.html

 

You may only use lethal force when lethal force is being used on you.

Lethal force can be defined by as little as a stick (bat, baton, nunchucks, etc.), blades, even a slingshot in the right persons hands. In fact if you are being beaten with bare hands and think you may be killed you have the right to use lethal force.

The assailant need not fire at you, slice at you, nor poke at you to define lethal force being used against you. Trying to force his will upon you by brandishing a weapon is "using lethal force". If he threatens and does not stand down, or retreat, feel free to neutralize the threat, quickly.

You'll still go to jail for a while while the facts get sorted out, but that's better than the morgue.

Oh! Leave the BB gun at home. It's worthless for self defense because although it may eventually kill a human, it won't provide the quick drop in blood pressure that is needed to stop an attack.

 

The test for lethal force use is that you must be able to prove you were in fear for your life.

Mark

 

I wanted to add my .02 worth here. I can't count on both hands how many times drivers have made the comment "DOT prohibits guns in trucks". This is a huge myth. They can not do that due to the second amendment. The only restrictions against you having a firearm are those of your company if a Co. Driver and the states you are driving in. I know in a few western states you can carry conciled in your vehicle(car or truck), but have to unconcile it when you get out unless you have a permit/license to carry conciled. The main state I'm thinking of is Colorado, but I am sure there are a few others like that out there. There is no permit or license valid in the PRI(People Communist Republic of Illinois). If you do carry and travel north, just find a safe, bolt it under your bunk and keep out of trouble(don't get yourself searched). If you stay in the south, then you are good to go. Most of the southern teir of state recognizes each others permits(except for a select few depending on State of issue). Just remember there is no federal regulation of the possession of a firearm in a truck, only state and company.

 

And following the above advice means that when they do a random inspection of your truck, whether there is cause or not, at that point you will be in trouble. The primary reason not to carry a weapon in your truck is that every single community can enact it's own laws concerning having a weapon, and on a daily basis there is no possible way that a driver can be aware of the local ordinances, much less all of the state regulations. Carry a weapon in your truck, and one of these days, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, it will come back to haunt you. You will sit in some local jail, cooling your heels, wondering if they are going to let you make that one phone call.

I've never understood the fascination with having a gun in the truck with you, and as of yet, not one person here has managed to explain any reasons for doing so. I will probably go to my grave without ever hearing a valid reason.

 

Now you may argue that YOU have never had a problem on the road. But that is YOU and not me and many others. Besides, you haven't lived tommorrow yet and you don't know what it holds in store. I guess many people are raised differently and believe differently. I had a close friend who was raised by his Mom and felt the same way. She would say, Oh, nothings going to happen, I won't get mugged or carjacked or whatever. She was right; nothing happened to her. Her son was the same way. One night in Maryland he left a mall and on the way out he was abducted at his vehicle by two men at knife point. They made him open his car and drive them to another area, relieved him of all items , wallet, and vehicle, then proceeded to stab him over 40 times. They found him barely alive 3 hours later, but died in the hospital shortly after his arrival. That's not a scary story, but a real incident. He was my friend.
Does it mean that will happen again to you or me, NO, But..... put yourself in that position. Don't tell me I'm paranoid. It happens everyday. I was a cop and a Paramedic for most of my life, I've seen it. Maybe that's why I feel differently than you do. Maybe we have different views on self preservation or defense. Does that make us different? yes. Does it make each of us wrong? No. Does that then mean your decision not to carry is correct and mine is wrong? Again, No. My decisions are my decisions based on MY experience and knowlege. Nothing more. Personally, from what I've seen, I think a person is completely nuts, this day in time, to travel across the country on the roads in a vehicle without one and being properly trained to use it. That's just me.
MOST of the drivers I know "personally" do carry and say they've never had a problem, even when inspected or checked. It's almost a given to many of them. Sure, some jurisdictions are different, but, safe passage laws allow motorists to have one unloaded, and locked in the trunk or rear compartment when proceeding through those areas. It's usually bedding down or those lengthy stops in places where you have no control of the people around you that concern me. (Rest Areas, Truck Stops, Shoulder of the road) The notion of having one in my hand while I'm driving down the road is a farce and a notion of Non-Gun People. I'm not a Rambo or Mad Max. Besides, it's going to take one tough cat to get me outta my truck, stopped or at any speed. I'm a law abiding citizen who is rightfully concerned for MY safety. If that's not "Valid Reason" enough, then you will never understand, nor will you conceed my right to protection.
Last point..... A guy I know from training is a Police Officer in the Atlanta area, and was a firearms Instructor and Competitor. He responded with another officer to an intrusion alarm at the home of none other than Jane Fonda. When he arrived, Jane and another woman living in the house, both had pistols in their hands and were walking around in the house talking on the phone in panic mode. After the all clear was given, he asked Ms. Fonda why she had a gun, if she was so anti-gun and an advocate of gun control. She replied, "but that's not for us". Well, excuse me for being a pee-on. I guess the "elite" should have protection.
Please don't tell me I don't have a valid reson for having a firearm in a truck or anywhere else. Sorry, but that's not your decision.