What's in your swimbag - deckbag?

Its got nothing to due with swimming swimmers or the pool. As I said the bags locked up in the locker. No one knows whats in it. Its about the parking lot after dark and choices in life. The choice between being a victim or not being a victim. I have carried a pistol off and on now for about 15 years. Florida has many things that are great, Hurricanes and winter drifters whom end up commiting crimes in the state are not two of them. In 1999 I was buying christmas wrapping paper and odds and ends at a close out store in January for thte next year, I parked out by a fence at the side of the store where the trash dumpsters were about 50 feet away. I came out and it was past dark, the light was dim , I had my purse in one hand, the shopping bag in the other , As I put my key in the car door lock my sixth sense was alerted I looked up and a man was walking directly at me in with rapid pace. he was looking directly at me. No one else was around, I dropped the shopping bag let go of the key and pulled the pistol I carried at the time from my purse , I dropped my purse as I pulled the pistol and held the pistol in both hands at a angle to the ground. He stopped about 8 feet away. "Its Ok..Ok lady" he said as he backed up back to the fence and then took off by the trash dumpster into the dark, now what did he want..my shopping bag? My purse? Or did he want to take me back behind that fence? I dont always carry the pistol, just when I feel its needed. USMSarah As citizens of the United States we live in a free country and have choices in life about our personel defense. You make yours..I'll make mine. And I would never mess with Texas! "wink" All that said I will give one piece of advise to all. Your sixth sense is your best protector. If I had not sensed the man was coming the pistol would have been useless as he would have had me. Be aware of where you are if its dark, coming out of work , shopping in the evening, ect. If you feel scared ask some one to walk out to the car with you. And you never know what in someones swim bag!

Well, I didn't know if you were serious. I can certainly understand personal safety issues and respect that. I learned proper firearms safety about 15 years ago and am glad that I did. You can never go wrong with learning to be aware and about possible situations and how to react/respond. My husband is a karate instructor and has taught me a great deal of self defense moves. So, I guess I always have a 'can of whoop a$$ in my bag too...the bag that is my body! Occasionally, I have dreams that someone is attacking me and I wake up and find myself in my bed, performing a self defense move...funny. :D

Lapswimmer... I completely understand that it is our given "right" to carry a gun, however, I did not mean to offend you in any way. I can understand that you have been shaken up over your situation in the parking lot, but you did mention the gun and your extra ammo like it was just a normal thing... like it was just another item in your bag, like your goggles or your pocketchange. Anyways, my question to you is... even though it is locked up in your locker... is it unloaded? If it's not... what if it ever went off? Yes, no one knows it's in your bag... BUT, I used to be a pool manager and people do break into lockers... what if a 16 year old got a hold of the gun in your bag? A lot of facilities have people who will walk you out to your car if it is dark at night, why not do that and leave the gun in your car? I'm sure that the pool where you swim at does not allow firearms in their facility... I know that is an extreme situation, but crazy things do happen. It is YOUR right to have your gun... I don't deny you that. I think what upset me about that is that it's not in your posession while you are swimming... that's all. I just don't like guns... that's my opinion and you have yours.

The town I live in is small with very little crime, but I still try to be aware of my surroundings. One evening, a year or so ago, after swimming, my sixth sense tells me there is someone following me to the parking lot beside the Y. That felt very odd because when I had stepped out of the building I had looked in both directions and there had been no one around. I looked back over my shoulder and there was a man following me. I didn't recognize him as someone I had ever seen at the Y, and he didn't look to be a member. I walked a bit faster and he walked a bit faster. When I got to the parking lot I was relieved to see a couple of other members standing at their cars in a far corner chatting, they were pretty far away though. Thinking back on it, I probably should have walked to them. By this time I had mannaged to put my keys in my fist/through my fingers with my thumb on the 'panic' button of my remote door openner. To get to my car I had to angle into the parking lot slightly and cut between two cars. I was hoping the man would go straight, keeping on the sidewalk, but he didn't. At that point I was one or two steps between the two cars I had to cut between. Thankfully I wasn't boxed in, but was afraid that if I 'stopped' to get into the car he would be able to catch up with me. I decided I should try to get back into the building, so I stopped, turned around, squared my shoulders and looked the man straight in the eyes. He stopped too, had a very stunned look on his face as he noticed the keys in my fist. I had to walk straight toward him to get past him and he didn't move an inch from where he was standing. He was probably thinking this chick is CRAZY. As I got to the sidewalk I glanced back over my shoulder to see where he was. He was walking between the two cars I had to cut between, then he turned around and headed back in my direction. I jogged the rest of the way back to the entrance. When I got inside and looked out, the man was gone. My wet bathing suit and my keys were all I had with me that day. What the heck did he have in mind.

Any thing from a innocent fellow, to big trouble for you. ..We can all seem like crazy chicks from time to time.. The sixth sense is right 99 99/100th % of the time. USMSarah. Yes the gun is loaded.. no good if it was not and its best with guns not to be handling them, unloading them is when things could happen with some guns like automatic types. Mine is a revolver and it will not go off by itself. Also handling it would let others know its there. Any way its the womens locker room and theres been no break ins in the lockers. Like I said too you never know whats in somebodys pocket purse or bag. A policeman told me that you would not belive how many cars have guns in them ..In Florida it was may still be legal to keep a loaded gun in the glove box with no conceled permit. I will have to check on that if thats still so as I have a permit and have not paid attention to the glove box carry thing without a permit. Most states in the US a gun in the glove box is unlawfull as its considered concealed (without a permit to carry concealed). anyway no offense taken you have your feelings and I can respect that. Misinformation, the media Hollywood, and political correctness make gun ownership the most muddled right in the USA. So now .. eveyone.. Be happy .. Dont Worry... and SWIM! "Smile"

all the usual pool toys, shampoo, etc. and pajamas... our workouts end at 10:00 pm...no point in getting dressed again afterworkout...thank god flannel pj pants are back in "style" (or at least acceptable) although I've never had the guts to wear them to a post-workout warm down session at the pub...

Originally posted by USMSarah Lapswimmer... Anyways, my question to you is... even though it is locked up in your locker... is it unloaded? I'm not one to carry a gun, but have had training in the military, I would think an unloaded gun would not be useful in an attack --besides trying to scare someone off. The safety should always be on and the gun should not be cocked. These are two safeties built onto the weapon so one does not accidentally discharge it.

I'm a gun owner - I hunt so I own rifles and shotguns. I also own a couple of pistols that were given to me as older family members passed away. I don't carry any with me on a regular basis, but then again being a man, I don't feel any need to. I do support your right to carry a gun - properly permitted of course. I also agree that for it to go off accidentally is impossible. You would have to have the safe off and the gun cocked. If you are doing that, it isn't an accident for it to go off - it would be stupidity that caused it to go off.

well, it just goes to show... you can't mess with swimmers. =)

LOL! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who carries a revolver! I haven't been swimming for a long time, but I'm going to start soon, and feel the need for some protection in the wee hours of the morning... (and mine stays seriously locked up in a locker, too, within a locked bag). Eliana