General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Man, 65, shoots motorcyclist in road rage incident [View all]spin
(17,493 posts)I became a much more polite driver.
I've talked to many others who have concealed weapons permits and they have also agreed that they became far less aggressive drivers.
Before I started carrying a gun I was willing to get in a fist fight if I felt it was justified. Now I will walk away from a heated argument even if it makes me look like a coward.
Those who oppose the concealed carry of firearms suggest that carrying a handgun makes a person far more aggressive but the statistics on concealed carry tend to show that this may be a totally false assertion. The same people often said that allowing concealed carry in the many states that have allowed it would lead to a "return to the Wild West with shoot outs at every intersection and at high noon on Main Street." It never happened.
The OP says that an incident happened in traffic and quite possibly the older individual was at fault. Even good drivers can make serious mistakes. Does that mean that the old fart deserved a beating?
Obviously we don't know all the details but the report does say that the motorcyclist assaulted the older individual.
Let's assume that the report is accurate. Let's even go so far as to say that the older individual was not apologetic and instead was argumentative. Does that give the motorcyclist the right to assault him?
What excuse can you offer for the motorcyclist? He was not armed. Why was he so aggressive? Is it perfectly O.K. for him to be aggressive but totally wrong for the older individual to defend himself?
edited to add comment