Avoiding Assault (Or Lowering the Odds)

[o hey tyler]

Forget about a gun. Get a dog. There much more fun and some breeds are very easy to train.

skieur

Awful idea.

Yeah, they're much more fun and one more thing you have to worry about at a public photo shoot. Plus, why would you want to put a dog in harms way?

 

[skieur]

Forget about a gun. Get a dog. There much more fun and some breeds are very easy to train.

skieur

Awful idea.

Yeah, they're much more fun and one more thing you have to worry about at a public photo shoot. Plus, why would you want to put a dog in harms way?

Just the opposite. Pick the right breed and no one will get close to you or bother you in any way. Standard or large size schnauzers for example protect family and property without any training being necessary. I had 2 of them, scare the daylights out of a custom guy at the border, who was being a little too arrogant. He backed off immediately and sent us through.

skieur

 

[table1349]

Forget about a gun. Get a dog. There much more fun and some breeds are very easy to train.

skieur

Awful idea.

Yeah, they're much more fun and one more thing you have to worry about at a public photo shoot. Plus, why would you want to put a dog in harms way?

Just the opposite. Pick the right breed and no one will get close to you or bother you in any way. Standard or large size schnauzers for example protect family and property without any training being necessary. I had 2 of them, scare the daylights out of a custom guy at the border, who was being a little too arrogant. He backed off immediately and sent us through.

skieur

Now there is a good idea, take a potentailly vicious animal or two with you out in public in a situation where your attention is not on the animals. That is a classic recipe for a nice big lawsuite at the least and an a criminal charge or two at the most.

 

[FireGirl_Photography]

Thanks for the tips, all. I didn't suspect this would generate so much discussion.

Ottor in particular, thanks. I've had to draw more than once on bears and wolves (from Montana) and had to shake my head at your dog story. Some people...! I do carry a small pepper spray but am looking for something larger. Manufacturers need to come up with something between a pocket spray and a full-on bear spray.

 

[behanana]

ottor's post (#37) is brings up several good points. I have a carry permit, but I personally don't find it neccessary to carry very often at all, I would perfer to loose my gear than have to make the decission to pull the trigger. His post points out a good time to carry however, when you are out taking pictures of nature when you think you are alone and you biggest threat becomes an animal. Even when you talk to hikers and campers often reasons for carry are because of animals rather than people.
As for the OP, I'm not going to tell ya what to do, that's your decision, but I will point out that Kimber firearms makes a wonderfull little device called the Peperblaster, it shoots hot, gooey, peper spray 13ft @90mph...just a thought

 

[FireGirl_Photography]

Hot and gooey at 90 mph sounds good to me; thanks for the tip behanana! I'll be sure to check it out.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

...take a potentailly vicious animal or two with you out in public...

Although I think Skieur's suggestion is ridiculous I would hate for anyone to think that Schnauzers are dangerous dogs because of your post. They are not. Which, by the way, is why the giants were picked by several european countries police departments years ago when the German Shepherds were found to be just too darn inbred. Aside from the fact that they are highly trainable and intelligent.

 

[skieur]

Awful idea.

Yeah, they're much more fun and one more thing you have to worry about at a public photo shoot. Plus, why would you want to put a dog in harms way?

Just the opposite. Pick the right breed and no one will get close to you or bother you in any way. Standard or large size schnauzers for example protect family and property without any training being necessary. I had 2 of them, scare the daylights out of a custom guy at the border, who was being a little too arrogant. He backed off immediately and sent us through.

skieur

Now there is a good idea, take a potentailly vicious animal or two with you out in public in a situation where your attention is not on the animals. That is a classic recipe for a nice big lawsuite at the least and an a criminal charge or two at the most.

Not viscious, just protective and your attention is not required. Pretty hard to justify a charge or law suit against a "scary" dog that does not touch anyone.

skieur

 

[skieur]

...take a potentailly vicious animal or two with you out in public...

Although I think Skieur's suggestion is ridiculous I would hate for anyone to think that Schnauzers are dangerous dogs because of your post. They are not. Which, by the way, is why the giants were picked by several european countries police departments years ago when the German Shepherds were found to be just too darn inbred. Aside from the fact that they are highly trainable and intelligent.

Not ridiculous at all, if you know how to handle dogs. Obviously some here know absolutely nothing about dogs.

skieur

 

[skieur]

...take a potentailly vicious animal or two with you out in public...

Although I think Skieur's suggestion is ridiculous nt.

No more ridiculous than carrying a concealed weapon and less likely to get arrested.

skieur

 

[patrickt]

I definitely think weak, frightened little people should carry a gun. That way, when someone steals their camera they'll get a gun in the deal, too.

For the OP, make sure your equipment is insured and be prepared to abandon it without hesitation. We had a flood near my home that killed around 160 people. Almost all had warnings but need to save their car. Things can all be replaced.

If possible, go with associates. There's a reason press people travel in packs, aside from their shark tendencies.

Things to avoid. Do not go to a meeting of angry men with unresolved issues with women. Do not go to a beer chugging contest sponsored by AA. Do not go to hockey games. Do not go to any peaceful demonstration sponsored by a union.

If you're going anywhere as a photojournalist, stay neutral. Do not carry a camera and wave a sign saying, "I'm with these guys." If they're burning a bus, do not help toss gasoline bombs. Very unprofessional.

 

[AustinPhotographer]

Sorry to hear that happened. That's terrible. I do a lot of shoots in downtown Austin, and am always walking around with my camera bag/backpack/etc. I'm a fairly big guy, so I guess it's more rare that I get into those types of altercations, but I usually try to bring an assistant or friend on shoots with me. If you could get one or two of your friends to tag along (especially if its a cool event they'd be interested in going to anyway) you'd definitely be more secure. I try to bring my friends to a lot of events I shoot if I think they'd be interested in going. It makes things a little easier on me, and they usually get free food - which is all my friends really want anyway. That's my two cents. Also, don't forget about low blows.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

No more ridiculous than carrying a concealed weapon and less likely to get arrested.

skieur

Yes it is. And that shows YOU know little about dogs. Unlike guns, dogs have a mind, a brain and they sometimes decide to use it their own way. Even with a very good trainer/owner. A gun, on the other hand, only does what its owner tells it to do.

Btw, I own 2 giants. Trained ones.

 

[SNBniko]

Product: Model 60LS

Its simple, compact and it gets the job done.

That gun shoots like ****. It kicks hard. Get the Ruger LCP, it's easier for a woman to carry and it doesn't kick... it's actually pleasant to shoot.

 

[SNBniko]

Oh, I see this has switched to dogs. Well, 99% of people are incapable of handling a protection trained dog. 99.999% of people are incapable of properly training one. 99.99999% of dogs are not mentally able to be one. Buying an already trained protection dog is pricey. You can also be charged with assault with a deadly weapon if your dog bites someone, as they are trained to do it at more psi than an untrained dog.

That being said, I love schutzhund and French Ring dogs.

You can train any dog a fake 'watch' command, which in schutzhund is to snap and snarl and act aggressive towards a potential threat without biting. If a dog knows the command 'speak', get some friends to come over, put your dog on a leash, and have them stand at a distance. Say 'Watch!' and have your friends ask him/her to speak. When he/she does, praise. They key is getting them to bark not facing you... it's almost impossible to teach without a target. With a friendly dog, he/she'll be 'watching' and barkbarkbarking, but the tail will be wagging and it will be a deterrent more than anything.

Overall, I think maybe you should start going places either armed or with a friend.