Gun-toting Drivers Are More Prone To Road Rage

Amnesia Wes · August 5th, 2006, 01:55 AM

Following are excerpts from an article in Popular Science Magazine's May 2006 article titled:

GUN-TOTING DRIVERS ARE MORE PRONE TO ROAD RAGE

(The following is not the complete article.)

"After cold-calling 2,459 American adults with an anonymous questionnaire, researchers from the Harvard Injury Control Research Center discovered that directing 'indecent' gestures at other motorists was significantly more common among suburb-anites (sic), binge drinkers, Northeasterners, those who think most people can't be trusted and, yes, those who admitted that they keep guns in their vehicles."

Also...

"The implication is that if lethal weapons are more readily accessible, hostile driving incidents could turn ugly more often."

There is more, I just can't type all of it.

In addition they had a FULL-PAGE four-color graphic of an irate driver leaning out his window snarling, with three hunting guns in a rear window gun rack.

I find this poor journalism and will write to PS. I hope some of you will also.

Wes.

kd5nrh · August 5th, 2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnesia Wes

Following are excerpts from an article in Popular Science Magazine's May 2006 article titled:

GUN-TOTING DRIVERS ARE MORE PRONE TO ROAD RAGE

Thanks; I was thinking about getting a subscription, but this will save me a few bucks.

I'll spend that subscription cost on practice ammo instead.

P95Carry · August 5th, 2006, 09:44 AM

I have no link but IIRC this was quite deeply discussed in a thread some weeks ago.

''Skewed'' was one word that came to mind

ccw9mm · August 5th, 2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

... those who admitted that they keep guns in their vehicles."

It would be worth knowing whether they meant exactly this. Heck, folks keeping guns in their vehicles? Not a very mindful group, now, is it? Would have made a far better study had they polled folks that carried on their person while driving.

Quote:

"... the Harvard Injury Control Research Center discovered that directing 'indecent' gestures at other motorists was significantly more common among ... those who admitted that they keep guns in their vehicles."

It would be interesting to know if they controlled for various groups' characteristics, in order to determine whether the activity had anything to do with being a member of the group (ie, gun-toting lead head). "Harvard" center, so one might think so. Unknown. If not, likely unspecified for "shock" value.

Quote:

"The implication is that if lethal weapons are more readily accessible, hostile driving incidents could turn ugly more often."

The implication being: people should be disarmed for cause, despite the likely net gain in benefit due to folks being able to protect themselves from such predators.

Team American · August 5th, 2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Harvard Injury Control Research Center

Otherwise know as the "Boston Busy Bodies Bureau"

Stetson · August 5th, 2006, 11:01 AM

All I can say is I disagree with this article.If anything we are taught
to use more restraint because we carry so this is bull and written for
a good story.

sjones · August 5th, 2006, 11:32 AM

I am just the opposite,I know I can't be the one escalating the situation.I refuse to be baited into action I don't want to take,I will keep an eye on them just to see what they do,but not stare at them directly so they think I am pushing things.My wife says she has noticed that I'm more calm when I carry versus when I don't carry.I know the burden is on me when I carry. sj

Old Chief · August 5th, 2006, 01:42 PM

Contrary to the news medias preception, ccw tends to keep the lid on situations that would otherwise get out of control. CCW calms most peoples involvement in potentially volitile situations that involve emotionally inmature antagonist. After all it takes two to esculate a situation. I do not respond to the one digit salutes often displayed by the mentally challenged populace found in todays society. Ignoring ignoramuses incapacitates their inmature actions by allowing them to think that they won the confrontation when they should be thankful that the Good Shephard is conducting them through the vally of the shadow...

goawayfarm · August 5th, 2006, 02:12 PM

Anybody remember the old saying..............

"An armed society is a polite society"

There is a lot of truth in it.

Just ask yourself this one:

Am I more polite when I'm carrying a weapon than when I'm not carrying (or before I carried)?

We all know the answer is .....MORE POLITE. If you answer is less polite then maybe you should be rethinking your decision to carry.

We all know the ramifications of carrying & we should not want to escalate ANY situation. We also get a boost in our confidence, since we know we have a tool(s) at our disposal to deal with bad situations.

This so called 'survey' was conducted with a bias already built in. They got the results they wanted.

JD · August 5th, 2006, 04:05 PM

That's a load of BS if I've ever heard it, I drive 3000 miles a month and I have no more road rage than I did before I started carrying....

I've seen some of te worst traffic, stupidest drivers (Including myself sometimes) and craziest things ever. I just crank up the radio to cover my ranting and raving and only flick the finger out of sight....

August 5th, 2006, 01:55 AM	#1
Amnesia Wes Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 88	Gun-toting Drivers Are More Prone To Road Rage Following are excerpts from an article in Popular Science Magazine's May 2006 article titled: GUN-TOTING DRIVERS ARE MORE PRONE TO ROAD RAGE (The following is not the complete article.) "After cold-calling 2,459 American adults with an anonymous questionnaire, researchers from the Harvard Injury Control Research Center discovered that directing 'indecent' gestures at other motorists was significantly more common among suburb-anites (sic), binge drinkers, Northeasterners, those who think most people can't be trusted and, yes, those who admitted that they keep guns in their vehicles." Also... "The implication is that if lethal weapons are more readily accessible, hostile driving incidents could turn ugly more often." There is more, I just can't type all of it. In addition they had a FULL-PAGE four-color graphic of an irate driver leaning out his window snarling, with three hunting guns in a rear window gun rack. I find this poor journalism and will write to PS. I hope some of you will also. Wes. __________________ Always remember: 3 can keep a secret, if 2 are dead!

August 5th, 2006, 09:44 AM	#3
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	I have no link but IIRC this was quite deeply discussed in a thread some weeks ago. ''Skewed'' was one word that came to mind __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

August 5th, 2006, 02:12 PM	#9
goawayfarm VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fork Union, Virginia Posts: 2,003	Anybody remember the old saying.............. "An armed society is a polite society" There is a lot of truth in it. Just ask yourself this one: Am I more polite when I'm carrying a weapon than when I'm not carrying (or before I carried)? We all know the answer is .....MORE POLITE. If you answer is less polite then maybe you should be rethinking your decision to carry. We all know the ramifications of carrying & we should not want to escalate ANY situation. We also get a boost in our confidence, since we know we have a tool(s) at our disposal to deal with bad situations. This so called 'survey' was conducted with a bias already built in. They got the results they wanted. __________________ Quemadmoeum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est. "If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. If I have a gun, what do I have to be paranoid about?" -Clint Smith "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." -Jeff Cooper

August 5th, 2006, 04:05 PM	#10
JD Senior Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bedford County Virginia Posts: 9,015	That's a load of BS if I've ever heard it, I drive 3000 miles a month and I have no more road rage than I did before I started carrying.... I've seen some of te worst traffic, stupidest drivers (Including myself sometimes) and craziest things ever. I just crank up the radio to cover my ranting and raving and only flick the finger out of sight.... __________________ On "Vacation" till thing settle down with the little guy. Garrett Matthew _______, 8lbs 4oz. 21" 11-25-08

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August 5th, 2006, 11:01 AM	#6
Stetson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Augusta,Maine Posts: 882	All I can say is I disagree with this article.If anything we are taught to use more restraint because we carry so this is bull and written for a good story.

August 5th, 2006, 11:32 AM	#7
sjones Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: waxahachie,texas Posts: 332	I am just the opposite,I know I can't be the one escalating the situation.I refuse to be baited into action I don't want to take,I will keep an eye on them just to see what they do,but not stare at them directly so they think I am pushing things.My wife says she has noticed that I'm more calm when I carry versus when I don't carry.I know the burden is on me when I carry. sj

August 5th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#8
Old Chief VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southwest Tennessee Posts: 3,204	Contrary to the news medias preception, ccw tends to keep the lid on situations that would otherwise get out of control. CCW calms most peoples involvement in potentially volitile situations that involve emotionally inmature antagonist. After all it takes two to esculate a situation. I do not respond to the one digit salutes often displayed by the mentally challenged populace found in todays society. Ignoring ignoramuses incapacitates their inmature actions by allowing them to think that they won the confrontation when they should be thankful that the Good Shephard is conducting them through the vally of the shadow...