mattski

Hi,

This may be a really sad/muppety type thread but what is the situation regarding having an air pistol in the car?

I *know* it is probably very illegal but also know that lots of people carry a baseball bat/spanner/whatever in their car.

ta,
Matt

(with his paranoid security type head firmly in place)

AWD

Surely this is the same as having a carving knife in the car.

Unless you've got a damn good reason you're going to get in trouble if they find it.

Also what are the chances that during some roiad rage you might grab it just to scare someone, and then they'll report you and the armed response bods will come for you...

Bad boys.. bad boys.. whatcha gonna do...

Bajie

Just out of interest, if you get into a situation and have your air pistol, carving knife, baseball bats or smelly socks ... what will you do.
When does your self-defence end and the joy of inflicting pain begin.
Just a question from someone who was STUPID enough to confront his aggressors.

Diablo

It all depends on the situation.

I've got a 12" steel extention bar with a correct sized wheel nut socket under my seat just in case I get a "puncture".

Clearly, it dependins on the circumstances and severity of that "puncture" as to whether I would need the extra leverage of the bar.

D

mattski

indeed, what if I had been 'shooting' some little tw*ts, erm, I mean somewhere?

AWD

I have a 6 cell Maglite that lives with my London Atlas behind my seat. I haven't used it for anything other than map reading (touch wood) but it's there just in case. Between that and the disposable camera in my glovebox, I have as much covered as I reasonably can.

Bajie

AWD
I trust you always carry your mobile phone
Much better deterent than driving and waving a MagLite IMHO

Blow Dog

Anyone who carries tools for the purpose of self defense isnt thinking straight. Its more of a 'manly' thing to walk away from a confrontation.

Cem

mattski

Yes it is Blow, but there is a worrying trend of car jackings and the like, what would you do in those situations?

btw.. I am not seriously thinking of having an air pistol in the car, just curious as to what the legality(non) would be.

Geezer

There is nothing illegal about carrying an air pistol in your car. A shotgun in another matter, but not if you have a license.

Air weapons do not require a license, and as long as you are over 17, you can carry one in a public place or transport it in a car.

Even if keeping one permanently in a car is an offence, the police still have to prove that you were not just transporting it somewhere, which would be nigh on impossible.

Geezer

Diablo

Cem,

Couldn't agree more.

But there will always be the situation when you cannot walk away, or indeed it might not even go that far.

On a less serious note, who said anything about self defence?

mattski

that's it...straight to rugby to buy that 10 shot gas powered thing with laser sight... you have been warned sc*m

Dave T-S

AWD
I also have a 6 cell Maglite in the car. If anybody tries to carjack me i'll blind them with it - (by smacking them in the fecking eye... )

AWD

Cem

I agree that it is much beter to "walk away", but sometimes this is not possible.

A deterrant need not be used unless it has to be. Otherwise why bother with self defence/martial arts?

My motto is always try to avoid problems if at all possible, but if you cannot avoid them then make sure that you are as best prepared as you (reasonably) can be.

AWD

If someone yanks my girlfriend out of the car and starts assaulting her - I will probably forget all about the Maglite and jump out... but it's there just in case.

I have had it for about 4 years now and have never used it in anger and have experienced no road rage incidents either (which is unrelatd to having it of course). I hope that this will continue.

cwal1

All these different deterrents in use obviously shows that people have a 'real' fear of been attacked in the car - why then does no-one mention locking their doors when driving ?

If someone wants to carjack you they'll do it by waiting for, or causing you to stop for something innocent e.g. roundabout, then they run up to your door, open it and put a weapon to you and force you out. You'll not have time to get your 'deterrent' and you won't be able to defend yourself at the same time as getting out as your seatbelt will be on !

ChrisW.

mattski

my doors lock automatically, it is part of the anti-hijack kit for the alarm

AWD

My doors are locked when I drive around.

Greg Jones

Safe to carry pistol in car as long as it is to transport to a location where you will be making use of it (gun club/private land with authorisation...etc)

It also has to be below 6ft-lbs and not loaded (including any magazine that is stored seperately) or stored with ammunition itself, albeit just pellets.

Greg.

robski

sod that air pistol, pah!

Im gonna become a part time tree surgeon, carry a decent petrol chainsaw around with me.

See the ****ers run when you get out with that and start it up hehehe

robski

cwal1

A bit off topic but: Last year a group of us made our annual pilgrimage to Donington for the World Superbike round and decided we'd take an air pistol to mess around with in our campsite. We ring fenced quite a large area as there were about 10 of us. As soon as the tents were up we set about drinking etc. and had a bit of target practice using fence posts and coke cans.
After a while our aim became less accurate due to alcoholic blindness so we decided to give up and chill out for a while. A short while later we were all VERY chilled out when a boat load of armed coppers stormed through our ring fence ! We stopped chilling pretty quickly. In the end we just got a slap on the wrists and 'voluntarily' gave up the gun but I can remember the shock as if it was yesterday.

ChrisW.



[This message has been edited by cwal1 (edited 19 December 2000).]

Bajie

AWD
There are many reasons for practising martial arts.
The first thing you get taught is that what you learn is for defence only. Of all the weapons training I have undertaken, a Maglite , air pistol or car jack was never one of them though there are suggested[!] defences against these items.
A pencil and an umbrella were though ...
I have been involved in two severe cases of road rage idiots attacking me or my car.
Both incidents ended in police involvement and both were totally unnecessary.
And before one of the more intelligent among us pipes up with the question my answer is:
"If I get confronted by somebody holding any kind of weapon I generally try to do what he/she asks".

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by AWD:
<B>
Otherwise why bother with self defence/martial arts?
[/quote]

Martial arts should be about disciple of the mind, body and soul, NOT beating the crap out of someone!! I'm just annoyed when I hear that arguement!!

The defence side of it is one aspect, but you are always taught to not get into a situation where you have to use it, and you're best form of defence is to run! May seem cowardly to some, to others, just plain old common sense! It's a simple case of 'Fight or Flight'. If it was just me, flight is the easy option, if my girlfriend/family/etc were there, fight everytime (as they can't)!!!

Almost like saying that if you watch football, you will be a hooligan!!

That said, the only thing I have in the car which can be considered a weapon is a pen, but I dare say a quick jab in the eye will stop it!!! Either that or my years of martial arts training!!!

AWD

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Andy Tang:
<B> Martial arts should be about disciple of the mind, body and soul, NOT beating the crap out of someone!! I'm just annoyed when I hear that arguement!!

The defence side of it is one aspect, but you are always taught to not get into a situation where you have to use it, and you're best form of defence is to run! May seem cowardly to some, to others, just plain old common sense! It's a simple case of 'Fight or Flight'. If it was just me, flight is the easy option, if my girlfriend/family/etc were there, fight everytime (as they can't)!!!

Almost like saying that if you watch football, you will be a hooligan!!

That said, the only thing I have in the car which can be considered a weapon is a pen, but I dare say a quick jab in the eye will stop it!!! Either that or my years of martial arts training!!! [/quote]


Exactly what argument are you annoyed with?

I never mentioned beating the crap out anyone for the sake of fighting!

I said "A deterrant need not be used unless it has to be. Otherwise why bother with self defence/martial arts?"

By this I meant you learn to defend yourself and hope that you never need to use it. However, if a situation arises when you feel that you have to, then you can better defend yourself.

This does not mean atacking people who just happen to annoy you, or putting yourself in a position where you invite trouble.

I am bemused that both of you guys have jumped on the "this is not what martial arts is about" thing - when all I said is that you part of the thing about learning to defend yourself is that you may need to use it one day.

In fact, if anything, you have assumed that I have said that you learn martial arts so that you can better beat people up.

Another thing I said was "If someone yanks my girlfriend out of the car and starts assaulting her - I will probably forget all about the Maglite and jump out... but it's there just in case.". In what way is this different to Andy when he said "if my girlfriend/family/etc were there, fight everytime (as they can't)!!!"

AWD

You are taught to avoid trouble in martal arts (well if your teacher is any good), and you are also taught that it is meant for self defence only.

However, sometimes situations do arise which you can't avoid.

I have taken abuse on some occasions (verbal and physical) and not resorted to retaliating because I had the option to leave. However, you cannot tell me that you would just walk away if you saw a loved one (or a friend, or mabe even a perfect stranger) being assaulted.

I would not use a MAGlite on a human as it will hurt and possibly kill them. However, it is potentially useful as a parrying or defensive weapon.

There is no Maglite Form or Kata .. but even a total moron could use one to defend themselves...

[This message has been edited by AWD (edited 19 December 2000).]

Blow Dog

Pah...

U guys have obviously not seen me do a kung-fu flying kick from 29 metres across the room!

Kick ***

mik

I'm told that maglites can also be used as a primitive form of "illumination device"?

Seriously though - I thought that (post Dunblane) air pistols (not rifles) were outlawed?

Isn't this whole concept a bit like carrying something on your person just in case you get attacked in the street?

"No officer I always carry this big maglite just in case I drop my keys and its dark"

boomer

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by AWD:
<B>
I have a 6 cell Maglite that lives with my London Atlas behind my seat.[/quote]

AWD,

you have a pocket behind your seat?

My 4-door MY00 has naff all storage space - not even for a large can of de-icer (which could also be potentially used as a weap..., er, windscreen clearing device!).

mb

kelvin

As far as I'm aware - following much media attention in Bournemouth where a number of people have been threatened with these sorts of weapons - the law states that if you <B>do</B> carry air pistols around, they mustn't be loaded, and the magazine needs to be carried in a seperate bag/box.

Other than that; as far as I can gather it's perfectly legal to carry them around (provided you dont mind being a target for the armed response boys if anyone see's it )

Kelvin (prepared to be corrected... )

Dave T-S

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Blow Dog:
<B>Pah...

U guys have obviously not seen me do a kung-fu flying kick from 29 metres across the room!

Kick ***[/quote]

BLOWDOG
I've warned you before about those phal curries M8