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when we visited DC from the UK, we heard gunshots at night a couple of times. When we visited Florida, when we got to the Hard Rock Casino an area was cordoned

when we visited DC from the UK, we heard gunshots at night a couple of times. When we visited Florida, when we got to the Hard Rock Casino an area was cordoned off because someone had hijacked a golf cart and driven around and had a gun battle with the police. I hear Florida is a special case though.

anentropic 10y ago
> someone had hijacked a golf cart and driven around and had a gun battle with the police OMG everything I imagined is true!
- logfromblammo 10y ago
  Anywhere: someone steals a vehicle. America: the thief leads a chase and conducts a gun battle with police. Florida: the vehicle is a golf cart. I occasionally read the news and catch up on the exploits of legendary anti-hero Florida Man, and somewhat more rarely his intermittent girlfriend and permanent babymama, Florida Woman. Their stories can often be ended by the punchline, "The Aristocrats!" So yes, Florida does appear to be a special case, but the state does make a special policing effort to keep Florida Man away from the tourists. So as long as you stick to the mainstream areas, you are unlikely to encounter him during your trip. But stray too far from the beaches, parks, and tourist traps, and you might just catch a glimpse of him or his exploits. And sometimes, you can still see him whitelining past your rental car on a motorcycle at 90 mi/hour (145 km/hour) in a 50 mi/hour (80 km/hour) zone. And if you ever see a naked man throw a Burmese python at a police car, that's definitely him.
ensignavenger 10y ago
Being from the UK, do you really have confidence that you can tell the difference between a gun and a backfiring engine? I own and target shoot guns, and I still would not be 100% confident that I could tell the difference if I heard a loud bang. Might be true for DC- probably as much or more a special case than Florida, though :)
- beaconstudios 10y ago
  not for sure, no - and I used to regularly shoot rifles with the Air Cadets. I've never heard an engine backfire in the UK - is it common State-side?
  - ensignavenger 10y ago
    Somewhat common in (or near) poorer communities, due to bad maintenance. Of course, that is only one thing that can make a loud bang that sounds somewhat similar to a gun going off.

anentropic 10y ago

> someone had hijacked a golf cart and driven around and had a gun battle with the police OMG everything I imagined is true!

logfromblammo 10y ago
Anywhere: someone steals a vehicle. America: the thief leads a chase and conducts a gun battle with police. Florida: the vehicle is a golf cart. I occasionally read the news and catch up on the exploits of legendary anti-hero Florida Man, and somewhat more rarely his intermittent girlfriend and permanent babymama, Florida Woman. Their stories can often be ended by the punchline, "The Aristocrats!" So yes, Florida does appear to be a special case, but the state does make a special policing effort to keep Florida Man away from the tourists. So as long as you stick to the mainstream areas, you are unlikely to encounter him during your trip. But stray too far from the beaches, parks, and tourist traps, and you might just catch a glimpse of him or his exploits. And sometimes, you can still see him whitelining past your rental car on a motorcycle at 90 mi/hour (145 km/hour) in a 50 mi/hour (80 km/hour) zone. And if you ever see a naked man throw a Burmese python at a police car, that's definitely him.

ensignavenger 10y ago

Being from the UK, do you really have confidence that you can tell the difference between a gun and a backfiring engine? I own and target shoot guns, and I still would not be 100% confident that I could tell the difference if I heard a loud bang. Might be true for DC- probably as much or more a special case than Florida, though :)

beaconstudios 10y ago
not for sure, no - and I used to regularly shoot rifles with the Air Cadets. I've never heard an engine backfire in the UK - is it common State-side?
- ensignavenger 10y ago
  Somewhat common in (or near) poorer communities, due to bad maintenance. Of course, that is only one thing that can make a loud bang that sounds somewhat similar to a gun going off.