cyclist shot

Wow, it shocks me to hear of anyone being shot like that. To think there are people, in this case, young people who are so senseless and uncaring to do something like that. I do hope they are charged with assault and charged with a felony that they must carry on their record for the rest of their lives. It is only the luck of chance that there wasn't a more serious injury.

For something like that I hope they get charged with attempted murder.

What is the world coming to when kids open fire on someone without even knowing why?! I agree that they should have the book thrown at them!

Kevlar tires AND jerseys for me from now on.

Take what you like but my take on it is this. You spend years in front of the TV shooting people while playing video games. You watch TV and you see people shooting each other. You listen to music and hear how people shoot each other. You live in a house were guns are left around and not properly respected. What do you think is going to happen. Isn't this the thing to do. There are no consequences, so whatever. Throw into the mix some pre adult thinking of I will never die or get caught you have a good recipe for some gratuitous violence.

I say put them on bikes and let me take a few shots at them. Chances are they won't be traveling very fast for long. See how they like it. My hope is they will have trouble finding a soft place to sit their sore ass in some fine jail somewhere.

gubaguba said:

Take what you like but my take on it is this. You spend years in front of the TV shooting people while playing video games. You watch TV and you see people shooting each other. You listen to music and hear how people shoot each other. You live in a house were guns are left around and not properly respected. What do you think is going to happen. Isn't this the thing to do. There are no consequences, so whatever. Throw into the mix some pre adult thinking of I will never die or get caught you have a good recipe for some gratuitous violence.

You sound like the politicians and knee jerk reactionaries.

I'm pretty sure there was some pretty rough violence before TV and video games and rap music. TV and video games don't cause kids to shoot other people with pellet guns. Poor parenting does. I grew up with violent TV and I play violent video games at times. I've never shot anyone.

-Matt

mattjf said:

You sound like the politicians and knee jerk reactionaries.

I'm pretty sure there was some pretty rough violence before TV and video games and rap music. TV and video games don't cause kids to shoot other people with pellet guns. Poor parenting does. I grew up with violent TV and I play violent video games at times. I've never shot anyone.

-Matt

Same here. Nobody's to blame for anything these days. Maybe if the polititians brought back harsh punishment instead of the softly softly approach, many forms of crime would take a nose-dive.

jrstevens said:

As reported on cyclingnews.com today...🙁

Ratkovic shot while riding

Former professional cyclist and current professional triathlete/duathlete, Andrea Ratkovic, was shot on Monday October 10 while riding her bike. Ratkovic, who rode for The Bicycle Store team in this year's Redlands Classic was on a bike path when a car in the road lane closest to her opened fire with a small calibre (lead pellet) gun, firing several shots but only hitting her once in the lower back. "All I heard was TAT, TAT, TAT, TAT, and I knew what was coming. I was hoping I wouldn't get hit, but then I felt the fire and sting, and I knew that I'd been hit," said Ratkovic.

From that point on she tried to monitor her bodily functions. "Afterwards I felt like I was going to be okay and not pass out or something; I prayed for a red light up ahead, and I got it." Ratkovic then jumped off the bike path and rode up to the passenger side of the car which was stopped at the red light. "I was afraid I might get shot in the face, but at the same time I felt that I had to be able to identify the shooter." She said she yelled at the boys inside who were around 16 or 17 years of age. "I asked them why they shot me, and they said they didn't know. They apologised. I told them I was going to report them to the police."

Ratkovic got the car's registration number and filed a police report before being transported to the Norman Regional ER where she was treated and released. "Everyone there was so wonderful because my roommate told everyone what had happened. She works in radiology there, and so do I. We're like a big family up there, so when something like this happens it's pretty traumatic."

Ratkovic was told that her clothing helped to keep the bullet from entering her body. "I have a hole in my back over my left kidney, but the bullet itself I think glanced off of my jersey, plus I also had another shirt under that. If the bullet had hit an inch lower then it would have been a straight on shot - and there could have been problems as it may have penetrated me pretty good," said Ratkovic. "I'm just glad they didn't hit my neck or my eye!"

Ratkovic is expected to make a full recovery, and although she rides hard, she says, "It's funny because everyone was so surprised that I didn't yank those kids out of the car. I might race aggressively, but I'm not that way in my every day life."

BTW, this happened in Norman Oklahoma but I imagine it could have happened anywhere.

I've had that happen to me as i walked out of the gym it seems that it is happening more often and it is always by joy riding kids. the kid who was driving should have his license revoked. Yeah sure, throw the book at em!

jrstevens said:

As reported on cyclingnews.com today...🙁

Ratkovic shot while riding

Former professional cyclist and current professional triathlete/duathlete, Andrea Ratkovic, was shot on Monday October 10 while riding her bike. Ratkovic, who rode for The Bicycle Store team in this year's Redlands Classic was on a bike path when a car in the road lane closest to her opened fire with a small calibre (lead pellet) gun, firing several shots but only hitting her once in the lower back. "All I heard was TAT, TAT, TAT, TAT, and I knew what was coming. I was hoping I wouldn't get hit, but then I felt the fire and sting, and I knew that I'd been hit," said Ratkovic.

From that point on she tried to monitor her bodily functions. "Afterwards I felt like I was going to be okay and not pass out or something; I prayed for a red light up ahead, and I got it." Ratkovic then jumped off the bike path and rode up to the passenger side of the car which was stopped at the red light. "I was afraid I might get shot in the face, but at the same time I felt that I had to be able to identify the shooter." She said she yelled at the boys inside who were around 16 or 17 years of age. "I asked them why they shot me, and they said they didn't know. They apologised. I told them I was going to report them to the police."

Ratkovic got the car's registration number and filed a police report before being transported to the Norman Regional ER where she was treated and released. "Everyone there was so wonderful because my roommate told everyone what had happened. She works in radiology there, and so do I. We're like a big family up there, so when something like this happens it's pretty traumatic."

Ratkovic was told that her clothing helped to keep the bullet from entering her body. "I have a hole in my back over my left kidney, but the bullet itself I think glanced off of my jersey, plus I also had another shirt under that. If the bullet had hit an inch lower then it would have been a straight on shot - and there could have been problems as it may have penetrated me pretty good," said Ratkovic. "I'm just glad they didn't hit my neck or my eye!"

Ratkovic is expected to make a full recovery, and although she rides hard, she says, "It's funny because everyone was so surprised that I didn't yank those kids out of the car. I might race aggressively, but I'm not that way in my every day life."

mattjf said:

You sound like the politicians and knee jerk reactionaries.

I'm pretty sure there was some pretty rough violence before TV and video games and rap music. TV and video games don't cause kids to shoot other people with pellet guns. Poor parenting does. I grew up with violent TV and I play violent video games at times. I've never shot anyone.

-Matt

While I agree that poor (or no) parenting has a lot to do with how children act in public, their TV viewing and video playing habits also have something to do with the problem.
There is an excellent book titled: "On Killing," by David Grosman, that has opened more than a few eyes.

But, I don't care how many times you watch 'killing' movies or games, YOUR finger is on the trigger, YOU are responsible.

Thankfully, this was not a serious injury.

Will this renew our September debate on carrying a gnu while cycling?

PAck and shoot back. How hard would it be to adapt something inside the bullhorns?

mattjf said:

You sound like the politicians and knee jerk reactionaries.

I'm pretty sure there was some pretty rough violence before TV and video games and rap music. TV and video games don't cause kids to shoot other people with pellet guns. Poor parenting does. I grew up with violent TV and I play violent video games at times. I've never shot anyone.

-Matt

Well, it takes all sorts I guess. I didn't play video games or watch telly and I've shot and killed 7 people (though I haven't "done in" any cyclists, yet).

cyberlegend1994 said:

For something like that I hope they get charged with attempted murder.

🙄

wheelist said:

Well, it takes all sorts I guess. I didn't play video games or watch telly and I've shot and killed 7 people (though I haven't "done in" any cyclists, yet).

UH, What? I'm hoping you are either a police officer or soldier. Either way, that's gotta way heavy on you.
As for kids shooting people because of t.v and video games, it's [censored]. I grew up in the post vietnam 70's and 80's, with a father who is a disabled vietnam vet, and I saw every violent war movie made. I also played violent video games when they came out. I've never shot at anyone for no reason. My friends and I did have bb gun wars though.
The reason I never shot at anyone, my parents. They first of all taught me to respect any weapon, be it a gnu, a knife, or a bat. Secondly I knew that they would kick my ass if I ever was stupid enough to shoot at someone. Finally, I have a brain of my own, and can distinguish right from wrong! Music, video, and games are just forms of entertainment. They don't make anyone do anything.
When my kids are old enough they will be taught to shoot, like i was, and they will also learn that gnu's aren't toys, like I did. They will also learn that even though I don't believe in spanking, I will beat there ass if they don't treat weapons with caution, and respect for what damage they can cause.
Ok, sorry about the soap box but I feel very passionately about this subject.

cali-largeguy said:

UH, What? I'm hoping you are either a police officer or soldier. Either way, that's gotta way heavy on you.
As for kids shooting people because of t.v and video games, it's [censored]. I grew up in the post vietnam 70's and 80's, with a father who is a disabled vietnam vet, and I saw every violent war movie made. I also played violent video games when they came out. I've never shot at anyone for no reason. My friends and I did have bb gun wars though.
The reason I never shot at anyone, my parents. They first of all taught me to respect any weapon, be it a gnu, a knife, or a bat. Secondly I knew that they would kick my ass if I ever was stupid enough to shoot at someone. Finally, I have a brain of my own, and can distinguish right from wrong! Music, video, and games are just forms of entertainment. They don't make anyone do anything.
When my kids are old enough they will be taught to shoot, like i was, and they will also learn that gnu's aren't toys, like I did. They will also learn that even though I don't believe in spanking, I will beat there ass if they don't treat weapons with caution, and respect for what damage they can cause.
Ok, sorry about the soap box but I feel very passionately about this subject.

You were one of the lucky ones, as are your kids. You had parents that talk to you and show you the way. In recent history, more and more kids are 'latch-key' kids. No one is around to show them right from wrong. Their baby-sitters are the TV and the video games. Couple the lack of guidance with amount of time these kids spend watching violent TV and playing violent video games, you get kids who are desensitized to the ramifications of their actions.

@cali_largeguy

he is joking

Insight Driver said:

with a felony that they must carry on their record for the rest of their lives. .

People like you make me sick! i hope you never have to serve jury duty! you have to be a female to write such a stupid remark, they are teen agers!!!!

zaskar said:

People like you make me sick! i hope you never have to serve jury duty! you have to be a female to write such a stupid remark, they are teen agers!!!!

Who shot at someone! How hard is that to understand. You don't shot at people. If it was me or you that "teenager" would have gotten the ass beating of a lifetime. Why? Because A. you dont shoot at people with guns
B. You don't shoot at people with guns
C. Let that be your wife, girlfriend , daughter, mom they were shooting at and see how all this changes.
D. I didn't realise being a teenager = being a moron who can't understand the difference between right and wrong.
E. What is wrong with you people

To prove that this isn't just an American problem......

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_objectid=16263317%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=suspended%2djail%2dterm%2dfor%2dpair%2dwho%2dfired%2dtoy%2dguns%2dat%2dcyclists%2d-name_page.html