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Odin wrote:
Not to mention we managed to survive the last 6000 years without the things, I don't go into a panic when there's not a cell phone around.

Elotemuygrande wrote: You would never hear x is an integer if a reasonable person believes it to be an integer :)

Elotemuygrande wrote: As an adult, I haven't had anyone physically attack me, but on a number of occasions it has been close. On a couple of occasions I've had people follow me to a parking lot after inadvertently cutting them off in traffic or similar and begin screaming at me. These situations were diffused when I stepped out of the car, towered over them(I'm tall) and mumbled an apology. Most road rage situations would end like this but who knows if the next one will calm down when I start talking or start breaking through my windshield. In a situation like that(senseless conflict, with it unlikely that they are armed) I would prefer to spray them(if they were larger than I) or knock them down(if they were smaller) if they became threatening rather than threatening them with a firearm.

I've also run into a couple of situations where I was walking through a dark area and I heard something similar to "I hate white boys" along with a threatening look which thankfully did not escalate because my brother and I suppressed our reactions. Those kinds of people might not want to rob or kill you(you presume, but do not know) but might be looking for someone to beat up on. OC would be a nice option there too if you could not walk away from them as I have been able to before.

Odin wrote: When I'm walking around in my everyday street clothes I'm already carrying on my belt or in my pockets my car keys (required), a folding knife (used almost daily), sometimes a cell phone (used daily, carried sometimes), a holstered firearm and sometimes a spare magazine in a belt pouch.

The only item there that won't be used daily is the handgun, and the handgun is the only item I know of that in a worst case scenario if the a problem arises can be used to stop an immediate threat on and save my life or the life of a person with me.

I'm not saying that OC isn't a useful item, but how much stuff should I be reasonably expected to carry around on my person on a daily basis? I'm not discounting OC or other items as useful, but compromises must be made in the name of practicality (otherwise we'd all be carrying shotguns).

§ 9.22. NECESSITY. Conduct is justified if:
(1) the actor reasonably believes the conduct is
immediately necessary to avoid imminent harm;
(2) the desirability and urgency of avoiding the harm
clearly outweigh, according to ordinary standards of
reasonableness, the harm sought to be prevented by the law
proscribing the conduct; and
(3) a legislative purpose to exclude the justification
claimed for the conduct does not otherwise plainly appear.

§ 9.31. SELF-DEFENSE. (a) Except as provided in
Subsection (b), a person is justified in using force against
another when and to the degree he reasonably believes the force is
immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or
attempted use of unlawful force.
(b) The use of force against another is not justified:
(1) in response to verbal provocation alone;
(2) to resist an arrest or search that the actor knows
is being made by a peace officer, or by a person acting in a peace
officer's presence and at his direction, even though the arrest or
search is unlawful, unless the resistance is justified under
Subsection (c);
(3) if the actor consented to the exact force used or
attempted by the other;
(4) if the actor provoked the other's use or attempted
use of unlawful force, unless:
(A) the actor abandons the encounter, or clearly
communicates to the other his intent to do so reasonably believing
he cannot safely abandon the encounter; and
(B) the other nevertheless continues or attempts
to use unlawful force against the actor; or
(5) if the actor sought an explanation from or
discussion with the other person concerning the actor's differences
with the other person while the actor was:
(A) carrying a weapon in violation of Section
46.02; or
(B) possessing or transporting a weapon in
violation of Section 46.05.
(c) The use of force to resist an arrest or search is
justified:
(1) if, before the actor offers any resistance, the
peace officer (or person acting at his direction) uses or attempts
to use greater force than necessary to make the arrest or search;
and
(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably
believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself
against the peace officer's (or other person's) use or attempted use
of greater force than necessary.
(d) The use of deadly force is not justified under this
subchapter except as provided in Sections 9.32, 9.33, and 9.34.

Elotemuygrande wrote:The CHL class that I took was VERY weak on legal issues(IMHO) and the actual laws are a bit unclear to me.

Assuming that someone larger than yourself charges you with only fists and feet. Legally speaking only, would one be in trouble if the gun came out as a threat only? if it were used? If a person is larger than yourself and in better apparent condition then if you waited until you were losing the fight an in serious danger of harm you might be in no condition to pull a gun without it being taken.

I'm trying to figure out how best to carry OC where it can be quickly deployed in situations like this but I would also like to know the legality of the use of the pistol. I notice a large number of very large guys who seem to have a very healthy dislike for those not of their kind when I'm walking through the Walmart parking lot a few blocks away so I got to wondering about options if I were threatened by one of them... I also like going on long walks for exercise occasionally so I run into more of a mix of people.