Defending Yourself

[KitKatMatt]

Self-defense is not necessarily home defense. Besides the guy that forced his way in, all of these incidents happened outdoors. And if I had a stun gun or mace on that forceful entry guy, I could have gotten him way before he forced his way in (because he was following me as I walked home from work).

I don't think I'm liable to be jumped by a bunch of people. My concern is mainly against these few people who have done this to me before (who all acted alone). But mace is still a good idea that I need to rethink on because I do think it's effective.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Sometimes people can overcome the stun guns too. Not common but yeah, there is some variety in how effective that sort of thing is from person to person.

 

[Ana the Ist]

There is more than one form of bear mace, you think that people haven't thought up better ways to tackle the wind issue for a product essentially guaranteed to be used outdoors? Also, one might end up getting cornered and have no choice but to fight back.

Do they? I made a quick search on bear sprays and all I found is the conical fog. I would guess this is because bears have a lot of hair on their face and the last thing you want to do is be trying and failing to hit the eyes of a dangerous bear.

Let's be realistic too...you aren't hitting all three guys with a gel or foam before 1-2 get their hands on you.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Self-defense is not necessarily home defense. Besides the guy that forced his way in, all of these incidents happened outdoors. And if I had a stun gun or mace on that forceful entry guy, I could have gotten him way before he forced his way in (because he was following me as I walked home from work).

I don't think I'm liable to be jumped by a bunch of people. My concern is mainly against these few people who have done this to me before (who all acted alone). But mace is still a good idea that I need to rethink on because I do think it's effective.

You know the guys better than anyone else.. so if you think it would work go for it. I'd read up first though. I've been pepper sprayed 6 times now and frankly it's easier every time....though never fun. I've also never seen the sprayer avoid contact with it himself...ever.

I've given my wife a can of saber red but that's really for dogs outside the house. That stuff never leaves fabrics.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Do they? I made a quick search on bear sprays and all I found is the conical fog. I would guess this is because bears have a lot of hair on their face and the last thing you want to do is be trying and failing to hit the eyes of a dangerous bear.

Let's be realistic too...you aren't hitting all three guys with a gel or foam before 1-2 get their hands on you.

No, but realistically you aren't hitting more than one person with one stun gun either. Plus, that stuff works at a distance. But to be frank, if the assailants have a gun, non lethal weapons might not be effective to begin with. Worse, if you use a stun gun on someone who has a finger on the trigger it can easily shock them into firing off a shot since the electricity would make their muscles move uncontrollably.

I saw a video of people using a bear spray which was more like a controlled gel like spray (perhaps secretly intended for use on people?)

 

[Ana the Ist]

If I'm not mistaken you'd be able to buy cans of "practice" spray that just has a bitter taste. At least that would give you an idea of what it would be like. You could hold it out at arms length inside your home and spray it...if you get a bitter taste in your mouth and cough, expect it to be much worse with the real thing.

 

[Strathos]

The "problem" is that I still run into three men around town who have in the past stalked me (one of them for more than four years). Two have sexually assaulted me. One of those forced his way into my home twice.

During those times, I was terrified and didn't know what I could to do fight back (I am not very strong physically and hitting them did nothing). I will not be a victim again.

The stun gun is for when I'm not at home. For my home, I am looking into the legality and practicality of pepperball and beanbag guns. I don't want to permanently harm anyone, but I do want to make them wish they never tried to pull a stunt in the first place

Have you reported these people to the police?

 

[KitKatMatt]

Have you reported these people to the police?

I wasn't aware at the time that I could report them for anything they've done. By the time I realized what they had done were crimes (which was actually fairly recently) I think it was too late to report. It's been a few years since the crimes have been committed and the only evidence I have is testimony from my grandparents and myself.

I wasn't educated on how to handle any of these matters. I think that's an important thing to do for everyone, having lived through it.

 

[Fenny the Fox]

No, but realistically you aren't hitting more than one person with one stun gun either. Plus, that stuff works at a distance. But to be frank, if the assailants have a gun, non lethal weapons might not be effective to begin with. Worse, if you use a stun gun on someone who has a finger on the trigger it can easily shock them into firing off a shot since the electricity would make their muscles move uncontrollably.

I saw a video of people using a bear spray which was more like a controlled gel like spray (perhaps secretly intended for use on people?)

Bear spray is (generally) a larger container though, which wouldn't be too handy for carrying with you most of the time. Last time I saw a few ans of it they were roughly 8 inch by 2 inch cans - more like medium sized hairspray cans or something. Wouldn't want to carry that around all the time.

I would suggest going with something like the Mace pepper gel - effective from a distance (upwards of 25 ft, or so they claim) and pretty darned strong. And can be found in smaller containers (like 2 to 4 oz cans, which can be used on more than one occassion/person if need be and are small enough to carry normally).

Also, be careful what spray you buy if you are also carrying a stun gun/taser. Some of that stuff CAN ignite if the electric charge hits it. Which...yeah, would suck for both you and the other person.

 

[andy b]

Go to an good MMA GYM and get fit and learn some basic escape moves for confidence ...fight or flight is still the best advice but if you choose the fight option you have to get real violent real fast and if you have a weapon use it, if you haven't got that in you just be real smart .....good luck kitkat any man who harms a women is a scumbag who deserves no sympathy

 

[PsychoSarah]

Go to an good MMA GYM and get fit and learn some basic escape moves for confidence ...fight or flight is still the best advice but if you choose the fight option you have to get real violent real fast and if you have a weapon use it, if you haven't got that in you just be real smart .....good luck kitkat any man who harms a women is a scumbag who deserves no sympathy

Any person who wants to harm others is scum, they would be scum no matter who they attacked.

 

[andy b]

Any person who wants to harm others is scum, they would be scum no matter who they attacked.

i agree but on my scum o meter anyone who harms women and children get special justice thats just the way i was raised.

 

[Skybringr]

If a woman is concerned about personal safety, I would say just get a small gun. It doesn't have to be some huge hand canon, just keep a nice little 38. stashed away in your car or purse.

~Problemo solvoed~

 

[Inkachu]

I just got a tool to help me with personal self-defense. I picked out one particular tool (a stun gun) based on the fact that I wanted something to interrupt or temporarily disable. My friends recommended taking a concealed carry course and getting a small gun, but I see that as too much of a risk of permanently disabling or accidentally killing someone if I misfire (both of which are not my intent).

What are your feelings on self-defense?

What are your feelings on the different methods of self-defense? How effective do you think they are? Do you think all are moral or are there certain limits?

If you had to arm yourself with a tool to defend yourself against a crime, what would you choose and why?

I don't carry any weapons. I live in a pretty tame small town where it's really not necessary.

I used to carry a beautiful knife that I bought for myself years and years ago; I just kept it in my purse all the time. It came in handy a few times for non-defensive type things, like cutting something stubborn when I wasn't near a pair of scissors But with all the rampant security since 9/11, I was in a big city and going into a building with a metal detector, and they asked if I had a knife when I set off the detector, and I honestly wasn't even thinking about it, but I took it out and handed it over. Then they said they had to confiscate it from me. I asked if I could just leave the building and take it with me, and they said no. I was so upset, I'd had that knife for so long, and it was really special to me. I didn't think it was right for them to refuse to return it to me, even when I offered to just walk away and not even go into the building. It was a small, decorative knife, and I don't look anything like a criminal, so it was just stupid to me.

Anyway. I'd keep a knife on me as a weapon of choice. I'd be too scared to have a gun, and pepper spray is to easy to fumble with, drop, spray the wrong direction, etc. A knife can be in your hand within seconds, is easily concealed, and silent.

At home, I love a nice, aluminum bat. I have a great swing, and I wouldn't hesitate to go for somebody's head Having a dog with a good, loud bark is also a great home defense tool (and you get the awesome side benefit of HAVING A DOG ). Having solid locks on all doors and windows (and USING them faithfully) is a good step. Leave a light on in random rooms at night, so it looks as though someone might be at home and awake. Use bright front and back door porch lights, consider motion-detecting lights. Sleep with a phone within reach, so you can dial 911 if you hear anything out of the ordinary without having to get out of bed or move around and make noise. Have a "panic room" plan in place - somewhere you can quickly and quietly hide if you hear someone breaking in. Even tucking yourself into the bedroom closet or bathroom (make sure it locks from the inside!) can buy you valuable seconds and discourage and confuse someone who may be searching for you. Equip your cell phone with a LOUD alarm app and set it off if you hear an intruder, or you can buy personal rape alarms that do the same thing; ideally open a window so neighbors can hear it as well.

 

[PsychoSarah]

i agree but on my scum o meter anyone who harms women and children get special justice thats just the way i was raised.

Anyone who attacks people is scum. Again.

 

[KitKatMatt]

Anyone who attacks people is scum. Again.

Agreed.

 

[Devnet]

If a woman is concerned about personal safety, I would say just get a small gun. It doesn't have to be some huge hand canon, just keep a nice little 38. stashed away in your car or purse.

~Problemo solvoed~

If someone attacks me and a gun would do me any good, the gun would have to be in my hands or a holster, not in my purse or in my car.

There's a reason that police officers don't keep their guns in their bags or in their cars: the guns won't do any good there.

And this is assuming that having a gun on one's person is a good idea (i.e. setting asside all concerns about accidentally shooting oneself--especially if one keeps the gun in one's purse of all places--or the assailant getting a hold of the gun or of shooting someone whom you thought had bad intentions but did not in fact have bad intentions).

 

[keith99]

I don't carry any weapons. I live in a pretty tame small town where it's really not necessary.

I used to carry a beautiful knife that I bought for myself years and years ago; I just kept it in my purse all the time. It came in handy a few times for non-defensive type things, like cutting something stubborn when I wasn't near a pair of scissors But with all the rampant security since 9/11, I was in a big city and going into a building with a metal detector, and they asked if I had a knife when I set off the detector, and I honestly wasn't even thinking about it, but I took it out and handed it over. Then they said they had to confiscate it from me. I asked if I could just leave the building and take it with me, and they said no. I was so upset, I'd had that knife for so long, and it was really special to me. I didn't think it was right for them to refuse to return it to me, even when I offered to just walk away and not even go into the building. It was a small, decorative knife, and I don't look anything like a criminal, so it was just stupid to me.

Anyway. I'd keep a knife on me as a weapon of choice. I'd be too scared to have a gun, and pepper spray is to easy to fumble with, drop, spray the wrong direction, etc. A knife can be in your hand within seconds, is easily concealed, and silent.

At home, I love a nice, aluminum bat. I have a great swing, and I wouldn't hesitate to go for somebody's head Having a dog with a good, loud bark is also a great home defense tool (and you get the awesome side benefit of HAVING A DOG ). Having solid locks on all doors and windows (and USING them faithfully) is a good step. Leave a light on in random rooms at night, so it looks as though someone might be at home and awake. Use bright front and back door porch lights, consider motion-detecting lights. Sleep with a phone within reach, so you can dial 911 if you hear anything out of the ordinary without having to get out of bed or move around and make noise. Have a "panic room" plan in place - somewhere you can quickly and quietly hide if you hear someone breaking in. Even tucking yourself into the bedroom closet or bathroom (make sure it locks from the inside!) can buy you valuable seconds and discourage and confuse someone who may be searching for you. Equip your cell phone with a LOUD alarm app and set it off if you hear an intruder, or you can buy personal rape alarms that do the same thing; ideally open a window so neighbors can hear it as well.

For home defense there is nothing like a pair of big dogs that are part of the family

Dogs that are ONLY for defense can and often do become dangerous.

Dogs that are family members do not become involved in accidental failure to realize it is your teenage son sneaking in and harm him. Well unless you count ratting him out as harm.

Unlike alarms dogs do not wait until your home is broken into before going off.

And in a the darkness a dog will be upon you before you realize where he is coming from.

The pair I had were telepathically linked and everyone guessed wrong about which one was the real danger (to anyone who meant ill). A really nasty combination for someone meaning ill.

 

[theophilus777]

I just got a tool to help me with personal self-defense. I picked out one particular tool (a stun gun) based on the fact that I wanted something to interrupt or temporarily disable. My friends recommended taking a concealed carry course and getting a small gun, but I see that as too much of a risk of permanently disabling or accidentally killing someone if I misfire (both of which are not my intent).

What are your feelings on self-defense?

What are your feelings on the different methods of self-defense? How effective do you think they are? Do you think all are moral or are there certain limits?

If you had to arm yourself with a tool to defend yourself against a crime, what would you choose and why?

I have never fired a weapon, and am aging such that my reflexes are not what they used to be and neither is my strength. In most situations I could still take out any 3 attackers that meant me harm, maybe more, regardless of size or strength; but the chance I could fail and they gain the advantage is greater than it used to be. So I've thought about this, and talked to some very experienced gun experts, including a Viet Nam vet who was an elite assassin.

I don't think a gun is all that helpful in common real scenarios, unless you are REALLY good with it. I do think some form of taser or stun gun is likely to control the situation, and not likely to harm the owner by accident. It won't
help you against mutliple assailants, but would anything?

What I think is dangerous is the false sense of security some have with either CCW or a gun intended for their nightstand, if they lack adequate training. I include myself in that category, which is why I don't carry. (Or own) Someone who means you harm who knows what they're doing won't be bothered by your gun, but I personally would be distracted by having it.

 

[theophilus777]

The "problem" is that I still run into

That's horrible! You need restraining orders.