Every day I more readily accept that concealed carry laws are the right thing to do for law abiding citizens. A pipe can't stop a bullet, but a bullet can stop an attacker.

I'm with you there Paul. We gays need to defend ourselves more aggressively. If one isn't comfortable with carrying a gun, then SOMETHING! This cat/mouse game needs to get more elaborate. I would like to see gays fighting back, and anti-gay attackers be the ones left mutilated or dead for a change.

Glad to see two commenters saying what I've been saying for years. Arm all gays; martial arts training for the kids. Enough is enough. It's time to take responsibility for defending ourselves.

Oh, give me a break! thre's no way this guy could have gotten a gun out in time to stop this beating. This is a terrible crime, but to use it to justify hidden firearms is beyond asinine.

Did you even read the linked article, nystudman? The guy accosted the victim on a bus, got off at the same stop and followed him to his apartment. Plenty of time to pull a gun.

If you want to rely on the Mac Holcombs and Roy Moores of the world to protect you, it's your funeral.

Even if you don’t want to arm yourself at least take a self defense class or something to become more aware of how to get out of a situation. Stalking is a common occurrence for gay people.

You know, you can follow some one without being seen. You can even hit them with a pipe without being seen.

Yes, Mr. Cat, this is true. However, if one feels uncomfortable with the line of questioning a person takes, one need only point out to one's potential attacker either verbally, or with a visual demonstration, that one is carrying a gun. Most attackers will back off. That's the point; making sure the attacker reconsiders their plans.

this is where i live and work, detroit is my hometown...i am not going to comment on whether the gays should arm themselves or not, though i do think it is important to remember that mr. anthos was 72, even if he was packing (which from every account of the man that i have heard; jubulient, friendly, caring and dedicated: he had spent years trying to get the state government to light the capitol dome on independence day for some odd, patriotic reason doesn't fit into the idea of a armed elderly man) it wouldn't have made much of a difference...i just wnated everyone to know that mr.anthos passed away last night due to his injuries...its not just a hate crime (which we don't have here in michigan) anymore, it was murder (or at least manslaughter).

What needs to be done is for gays to tell do money grubbing, do nothing "advocacy" organizations like HRC and Detroit's Triangle Foundation to lead or get out of the way(not contributing to these ineffective charlatans is one way, speaking out agianst them is another). As a resident of the Detroit Metro area, I can attest that the Mayor of Detroit, that fatass thug, Kwame Kilpatrick, and crack ho looking mother who was recently elected as Chair of the US Congessional Black Caucus are virulently homophobic. What was HRC's response to Kwame's remark that he didn't want his "sons to grow up next door to gays?" HRC asked him to be their keynote speaker at their Detroit chapters fundraiser.
The homophobia in Detroit is so bad, that the ineffective local gay organizations have the Motor City Pride event in Ferndale, Michigan- in the next county over from Detroit's Wayne County. Detroit has no pride event. I don't think the recent spate of homophic remarks from Isaiah Washington and Tim Hardaway or the overrepresentation of HIV cases in the black community spurred in part by the down low phenomenon is a fluke.
Detroit, having the largest concentration of African Americans on sny urban area in the country voted oferwhelmingly for Michigan Proposal 2 in 2004 that altered the state constitution to bar gay marriage. Let's begin calling things what they are.

Very interesting information! Thanks!

Very interesting information! Thanks!