A few weeks ago i was walking my dog around 11pm, and a driver jokingly did a brake torque as we were crossing the street. He was maybe 3 feet away from us.
After yelling at each other, he threatened to kill me and my dog the next time he saw us. As I pulled my camera he peeled out and hurled a racial comment my way. Sadly, there was so much movement i couldnt get the plate, and i didnt get anything that happened before that on camera.
So I got a body cam to wear for all my walks. Unfortunately, this is not the only time people have been racist and threatened my life so I’m just tired of it and hoping it might encourage people to behave. Feels lame, but it does provide some comfort. Does anyone else do the same?
A camera’s cool, but you should probably also carry a weapon. Yes, even when you’re just walking the dog. What starts as a threat today can become an attack tomorrow.
Carrying a gun increases your own chance of getting shot.
Doesn’t have to be a gun.
What, carry a knife do you can stab a car?
Knife, pepper spray, taser, air gun, brass knuckles, monkey fist… There’s lots of options if you can’t or don’t want to carry a gun. But you unless you can fight, you shouldn’t go unarmed.
This is assuming OP is in the US. Right now they should be taking any racially-charged threats very seriously, as fascists are becoming more and more emboldened. If OP’s aggressor decides to escalate things and get physical, camera isn’t going to do much when the police and the courts are on the other side, anyway. Other than make for a really depressing snuff film.
Unless OP lives in a civilized country. In which case, maybe keep a really good flashlight with you on your walks, too.
til what a monkey fist is
And thanks, i’ve dealt with this my entire life watching others just walk by and say nothing. So, at this point, it’s just getting tiresome.
If the police and courts are stacked against you having a weapon is just going to increase your jail sentence.
Ask any minority in the US about that.
True. But it’s either that, or whatever the racist yokel intercepting you on your next walk has in store for you.
With one option, you get a public defender, at the very least. The other option, your next of kin gets a really somber phone call. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
I’m thinking of doing so concealed and only drawing it in self-defense. So they wouldn’t know I had one until they demonstrated lethal aggression first…for which the camera will provide evidence.
But tbh, even having the camera sort of takes me off edge so I don’t feel as argumentative. I’ll just post the video to the neighborhood app after walking away.
I think CCW is a pretty good idea if this is already a reoccurring problem. Definitely don’t plan on brandishing it, but the way you will feel while some asshole tries to degrade you is a special one. You also need to practice, regularly.
Not sure I would call it a weapon, but I carry pepper spray when I take my dog on walks. It’s mainly in case any other dogs decide to mess with us, but it’s something.