chaim
Member
OK, something that happened on my lunch break last week has had me thinking. I posted much of the background on another thread so I'll cut and paste the background:
I recently encountered a neo-Nazi near work. I noticed the Nazi tatoos on his forearms (along with forearms the size of tree trunks) and he noticed my yarmulke on my head. I was thankful that all he hurled at me was the word "k*ke" about a dozen times (prefaced with a profanity meaning the act of procreation, and the phrase meaning procreation with one's mother) and Nazi salutes. Unfortunately, he got a good look at my car (he was craning his neck to see where I went when I left) and saw my work badge so he knows where I work and what I drive. It is possible this guy may be back and I'm in a near total victims disarmament zone living in MD (MD doesn't allow CCW so no guns) and since I was at lunch coming from work, and where I may encounter the guy again will be around work, my work policies do the rest of the job (no weapons of any kind- including pepper spray and pocket knives).
This situation brought to mind how vulnerable we are coming out of work (and I do suspect this guy will be back). Unfortunately, most non-weapons that can be used as weapons effectively will be pretty suspicious for someone to be carrying around at an office job (screw drivers, various chemical sprays, baseball bats, etc.). About the only thing you could actually carry around without drawing suspicion is a cane (I may consider it). The other things, one would find a knife and pepper spray (or a gun for that matter) easier to conceal, and if you just carried it around they'd draw a lot of unwanted attention.
----
(start of new post)
Now, I know it would be irresponsible to carry a handgun in MD with no possibility of getting a CCW, so I'm not really asking that specific question. However, how far would you go to carry banned weapons in the face of a very possible danger or at least threat (the guy only hinted to me that I personally was going to have any problems or that he might be around again).
Would you carry a perfectly legal knife and/or pepper spray to a job that bans it? After two unemployment periods in the last 4 years (long story) I can't really afford being caught and fired. However, if the guy does come back and decides to do more than yell threats and insults at me I can't afford to be unprepared.
Hypothetically, if this threat was more specific (had he more specifically threatened me) would you consider breaking the law? In MD it is theoretically possible to get a CCW, however it takes a threat where witnesses are willing to stand up for you (everyone tried real hard to mind their own business, though there were around half a dozen to a dozen people there) and the threat documented by police. It also has to be a very specific death threat (he didn't specifically say he was going to kill me, and most threatening behavior and words were a bit more general/implied/etc.- i.e. he wasn't stupid). Heck, even with a direct and specific death threat, witnesses who aren't just minding their business but stand up for you, and a police report (none of which I have) there is nothing automatic about MD's CCW law- if I had all that the state police might grant a permit. So, hypothetically, if things were more clear cut, but say I was denied a permit, would you carry? Note, I would never consider carrying without a permit long term (with a very specific threat I might for a day or two, but we aren't even talking that situation).
Last, I don't need any "just quit, why work where they won't allow you the tools to defend yourself" advise. I can't just quit until I get another job (not if I don't want to have to declare bankruptcy). Also, it is not 100% for certain this guy would be back (if I did know he would come back armed to get me, I'd certainly be armed and/or quit on the spot and declare bankruptcy). Anyway, I am on the lookout for a new job.
I recently encountered a neo-Nazi near work. I noticed the Nazi tatoos on his forearms (along with forearms the size of tree trunks) and he noticed my yarmulke on my head. I was thankful that all he hurled at me was the word "k*ke" about a dozen times (prefaced with a profanity meaning the act of procreation, and the phrase meaning procreation with one's mother) and Nazi salutes. Unfortunately, he got a good look at my car (he was craning his neck to see where I went when I left) and saw my work badge so he knows where I work and what I drive. It is possible this guy may be back and I'm in a near total victims disarmament zone living in MD (MD doesn't allow CCW so no guns) and since I was at lunch coming from work, and where I may encounter the guy again will be around work, my work policies do the rest of the job (no weapons of any kind- including pepper spray and pocket knives).
This situation brought to mind how vulnerable we are coming out of work (and I do suspect this guy will be back). Unfortunately, most non-weapons that can be used as weapons effectively will be pretty suspicious for someone to be carrying around at an office job (screw drivers, various chemical sprays, baseball bats, etc.). About the only thing you could actually carry around without drawing suspicion is a cane (I may consider it). The other things, one would find a knife and pepper spray (or a gun for that matter) easier to conceal, and if you just carried it around they'd draw a lot of unwanted attention.
----
(start of new post)
Now, I know it would be irresponsible to carry a handgun in MD with no possibility of getting a CCW, so I'm not really asking that specific question. However, how far would you go to carry banned weapons in the face of a very possible danger or at least threat (the guy only hinted to me that I personally was going to have any problems or that he might be around again).
Would you carry a perfectly legal knife and/or pepper spray to a job that bans it? After two unemployment periods in the last 4 years (long story) I can't really afford being caught and fired. However, if the guy does come back and decides to do more than yell threats and insults at me I can't afford to be unprepared.
Hypothetically, if this threat was more specific (had he more specifically threatened me) would you consider breaking the law? In MD it is theoretically possible to get a CCW, however it takes a threat where witnesses are willing to stand up for you (everyone tried real hard to mind their own business, though there were around half a dozen to a dozen people there) and the threat documented by police. It also has to be a very specific death threat (he didn't specifically say he was going to kill me, and most threatening behavior and words were a bit more general/implied/etc.- i.e. he wasn't stupid). Heck, even with a direct and specific death threat, witnesses who aren't just minding their business but stand up for you, and a police report (none of which I have) there is nothing automatic about MD's CCW law- if I had all that the state police might grant a permit. So, hypothetically, if things were more clear cut, but say I was denied a permit, would you carry? Note, I would never consider carrying without a permit long term (with a very specific threat I might for a day or two, but we aren't even talking that situation).
Last, I don't need any "just quit, why work where they won't allow you the tools to defend yourself" advise. I can't just quit until I get another job (not if I don't want to have to declare bankruptcy). Also, it is not 100% for certain this guy would be back (if I did know he would come back armed to get me, I'd certainly be armed and/or quit on the spot and declare bankruptcy). Anyway, I am on the lookout for a new job.
