Carl Levitian
member
I know that I've made a great deal of posts about my absolute favorite non-firearm weapon, the stick. I love my collection of blackthorn and hornbeam walking sticks, some of which I've made myself. I never go out of the house without a walking stick in my hand, but some of that is thanks to a service injury I received on active duty almost 40 years ago. Plus, with white chin whiskers, a walking stick or cane does not look too out of place in my hand, where I do understand how a 'younger' person may feel a little self conscious.
But maybe not.
Is there a good side to carrying a stick when it may be obvious you don't have need of one?
As an example, I live in one of those nice little planned communities with the landscaped common area's and little parks. There's a nice little lake with an asphalt path around it that people like to use as an exercise walk. It's marked on the asphalt with mileage and it's a mile and a quarter around. Part of it goes through some woods and it's a little isolated back in there, and sometimes a less than desirable element hangs out in the woods at night. Then they took to robbing the old folks who like to walk in the evening. Their mistake. Never underestimate cranky old folks who don't like being pushed around.
We have this one neighbor John. John is a retired state department guy, and has been stationed all over the world. One evening, while walking with his wife, two little punks try to relieve him of the nice big expensive looking watch on his wrist. Never mind that he is carrying this strange looking stick thing in his hand. One flashes some Hollywood flip knife, and tells John to "give it up!" John keeps his watch and the young punks get a few broken bones, and a ride in a nice police car. Ends up John is packing some African war club thing made out of an iron hard wood. Having being stationed all over the world, John is adapt at use of a club/stick/cane to good effect. Gotta watch those state department guys.
A meeting is called at our little rec center to discuss the problem of having a bad element move into our lake and prey on us. A decision is made. Within a few nights, everyone is walking around the lake carrying a club of some type. Canes, walking sticks, golf clubs, large hammer handles, cut off section of shovel handles, broomstick, large Maglights. People are walking in pairs and couples instead of alone. No more lone ships for the U-boats, but armed convoys. A tactic was worked out, with the menfolk packing hickory, (or ash, hornbeam, or whatever) and the women folk packing the pepper spray and cell phones primed with 911 on speed dial. Since this is Maryland, no firearms. It seemed to work out well, as most street punks use a knife for intimidation. Guns seem to be reserved for the older punks robbing 7-11's and pizza delivery guys.
There's a few incidents, but on the most part, Gunners Lake was taken back, and after a few arrests and ER visits, the bad element moved on. A bunch of senior citizens with a great variety of sticks made them leave. Criminals, being cowards by nature, backed off from a bunch of retirees with clubs. Okay, there was a can or two of pepper spray got used to good effect as well by a couple of the women folk.
It's been a bit over two years now since the battle of Gunners Lake, and it's been quiet. No other bad bunch has moved into the woods where the path goes across a nice little wooden bridge. No more graffiti on the bridge, no more beer cans laying around. Oh, there's been a few loiterers, but they moved on, maybe feeling not welcome when a bunch of seniors with rough looking walking sticks, 9 irons, and shovel handles comes around.
Even today, I see people walking with a stick of some kind in hand. Joggers, walkers, carrying something. Maybe it's for stray dogs, maybe other things. But if the open carry of a stick maybe sends a message. maybe younger guys shouldn't worry about carrying a stick, but just do it. If anyone says something, just tell them 'Hey, there's mean streets out there.'
In another post, I made mention of the guys in my V.A. group session all carrying very stout walking sticks on the street of Washington D.C. If that good for the citizens of our nation's capital, openly carrying a stick for the subject of self defense, then it should do for all of us. Why give a hoot if some nosy busybody asks why you have that stick. For one thing, it's none of their business, the other thing, its perfectly legal to do so. In fact, given that, if asked why you have that stick, tell them 'because I can!'
I think the open carry of a stout stick, the rougher and gnarlier the better, sends a definite message to a criminal thinking of giving you an interview. A stick in a man's hand, ready to go, sends a message of "Don't even think about it." Kind of like the little lady pulling a box cutter. Better to leave them alone, there's other game easier to take.
In these days of draconian political correctness, I'll take any advantage I can get.
But maybe not.
Is there a good side to carrying a stick when it may be obvious you don't have need of one?
As an example, I live in one of those nice little planned communities with the landscaped common area's and little parks. There's a nice little lake with an asphalt path around it that people like to use as an exercise walk. It's marked on the asphalt with mileage and it's a mile and a quarter around. Part of it goes through some woods and it's a little isolated back in there, and sometimes a less than desirable element hangs out in the woods at night. Then they took to robbing the old folks who like to walk in the evening. Their mistake. Never underestimate cranky old folks who don't like being pushed around.
We have this one neighbor John. John is a retired state department guy, and has been stationed all over the world. One evening, while walking with his wife, two little punks try to relieve him of the nice big expensive looking watch on his wrist. Never mind that he is carrying this strange looking stick thing in his hand. One flashes some Hollywood flip knife, and tells John to "give it up!" John keeps his watch and the young punks get a few broken bones, and a ride in a nice police car. Ends up John is packing some African war club thing made out of an iron hard wood. Having being stationed all over the world, John is adapt at use of a club/stick/cane to good effect. Gotta watch those state department guys.
A meeting is called at our little rec center to discuss the problem of having a bad element move into our lake and prey on us. A decision is made. Within a few nights, everyone is walking around the lake carrying a club of some type. Canes, walking sticks, golf clubs, large hammer handles, cut off section of shovel handles, broomstick, large Maglights. People are walking in pairs and couples instead of alone. No more lone ships for the U-boats, but armed convoys. A tactic was worked out, with the menfolk packing hickory, (or ash, hornbeam, or whatever) and the women folk packing the pepper spray and cell phones primed with 911 on speed dial. Since this is Maryland, no firearms. It seemed to work out well, as most street punks use a knife for intimidation. Guns seem to be reserved for the older punks robbing 7-11's and pizza delivery guys.
There's a few incidents, but on the most part, Gunners Lake was taken back, and after a few arrests and ER visits, the bad element moved on. A bunch of senior citizens with a great variety of sticks made them leave. Criminals, being cowards by nature, backed off from a bunch of retirees with clubs. Okay, there was a can or two of pepper spray got used to good effect as well by a couple of the women folk.
It's been a bit over two years now since the battle of Gunners Lake, and it's been quiet. No other bad bunch has moved into the woods where the path goes across a nice little wooden bridge. No more graffiti on the bridge, no more beer cans laying around. Oh, there's been a few loiterers, but they moved on, maybe feeling not welcome when a bunch of seniors with rough looking walking sticks, 9 irons, and shovel handles comes around.
Even today, I see people walking with a stick of some kind in hand. Joggers, walkers, carrying something. Maybe it's for stray dogs, maybe other things. But if the open carry of a stick maybe sends a message. maybe younger guys shouldn't worry about carrying a stick, but just do it. If anyone says something, just tell them 'Hey, there's mean streets out there.'
In another post, I made mention of the guys in my V.A. group session all carrying very stout walking sticks on the street of Washington D.C. If that good for the citizens of our nation's capital, openly carrying a stick for the subject of self defense, then it should do for all of us. Why give a hoot if some nosy busybody asks why you have that stick. For one thing, it's none of their business, the other thing, its perfectly legal to do so. In fact, given that, if asked why you have that stick, tell them 'because I can!'
I think the open carry of a stout stick, the rougher and gnarlier the better, sends a definite message to a criminal thinking of giving you an interview. A stick in a man's hand, ready to go, sends a message of "Don't even think about it." Kind of like the little lady pulling a box cutter. Better to leave them alone, there's other game easier to take.
In these days of draconian political correctness, I'll take any advantage I can get.
