SELF DEFENSE

[owl]

What do you have on hand and are prepared to use?

 

[Kaylee]

Excellent qualifier ("prepared to use")!

In order of willingness to use:

• semi-high-powered flashlight with a "combat" bevel (just a sharp turret-like set of edges, I have porn if anyone's interested)
  I would have zero hesitation to flash the light into the eyes of someone, but have no idea if I'd really grind the bevel into an attacker (it mostly just makes me feel warm&fuzzy knowing I have it as an option).
• whistle
  Useless to defend, but I would have no hesitation to deploy.
• pepper spray
  Would probably use.

I carry the flashlight with me almost everywhere, the whistle is in my cargo pocket emergency kit so is always on me.
The pepper spray is in my jumpbag, so it's intermittently available.

I do have plenty of sharps, but they're all tool centric, and I don't know if I'd use them.


P.S. For 3 of the last 11 nights, a Great Horned Owl has hooted solemnly behind my motel room, to my great enjoyment.

 

[Dingfelder]

When I started in jiu-jitsu, it was extremely traditional. I was required to carry a weapon at all times. But growing up in racially hostile environments, most everyone I knew, of every race, carried something. Or more than one thing. You had to, because fighting one on one, or with someone remotely your size, or honorably in any way, was for the movies and had no relation to real life. It was what it was.

Now I don't carry anything anymore. I know to use my keys to scrape and grind, but probably wouldn't likely resort to that as I don't want to keep my keys constantly in my hands or let people suspect my car was near. I haven't gotten a concealed carry yet, but would probably carry constantly if I did.

I've always prided myself on situational awareness. My first and best defense is to scout the possibilities, look for the outs, and stay out of trouble, and my second is to divert into a considerable crowd, a guaranteed safe place, or to run.

After that, I would rather use my environment as a weapon than carry one. I am a single white middle-aged male, and therefore nobody will be on my side. I am the blameworthy, the weird, the ghastly privileged, the depraved uncle, and the enemy. I am the insupportable and the politically outre. I cannot intercept a crying child and lead him or her to the sales counter so a clerk or manager can help him or her find mommy. I cannot take a photograph involving humans, much less children, and not expect an argument or much worse. And, sometimes, even buildings. I cannot defend myself against a female no matter how crazy, drunk, aggressive, or all of the above and more. I am always suspect. I am always guilty as charged.

But you cannot charge me with carrying the wall or railing I bang you up against, or a countertop I can slam your head into or whack a bone or joint against. It just is, and is there. That's not very much defense at all. But it eliminates a charge of malice aforethought.

My main weapon is my awareness and my willingness to, and constantly practiced development of, the ability to fade away. To be the grey man. Just grey enough not to register, but not so welcomingly beige as to invite attack, or consideration. I am a man of the crowd. The cashier may even recognize me. You might smile at my friendly but forgettable comment to her that may make me even more forgettable. You may remember her.

Y'all do your crazy crap. Good luck to you. You might need it. I just try to stay out of your way.

 

[lenny flank]

I always prefer a W-88 warhead with a 200kt yield. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[ckelly78z]

My EDC items that I keep in my pocket are;
-COHIBA 3 place leather cigar holder as a pocket protector. (left pants pocket)
-Bushnell black tactical LED flashlight (2 AAA batteries)
-Black tactical writing pen/glass breaker.
-9" folding TAC FORCE tactical knife.

I have my CCW, and have my 9mm with 2 clips in my car (I don't generally carry it though) unless i'm in a sketchy area.

I try to have situational awareness, and notice things others don't, with a skeptical eye towards those who are where they shouldn't be, when they shouldn't be there.

I keep a fully loaded "get home bag" with all sorts of short term survival items (and more sharps) in my car that is small enough to carry with one hand, or over the shoulder. I refuse to be a victim !

 

[Gr8ful]

Dingfelder, I admire your skill but you reminded me of what happened years ago. My friend Terry was at the local pub & him & his large family loved to fight. He got into it with a guy who said he had to be legal & inform him he was a black belt in something & drew back in some stance, Terry coldcocked him in the face & knocked him out cold as a stone. Not sure if the guy was bluffing but it was a funny moment cause like Ali Terry was always saying how good looking he was, great fighter, etc & he never did get a mark on his face. Ali had his estate that just sold near here. My wife worked in OB & caught 2 or 3 of his kids. I was in the lumber business & suppied everything for any construction & had the gate code. Was in the asement when he & Foreman we upstairs talking.

 

[LoupGarou]

A Key Whip and a good pair of running shoes.

https://madeintrexico.com/shop/key-whip/

 

[Van-Tramp]

Two 40 caliber handguns, a 12 gauge shotgun, and an AR-15 all ready to rock-'n'-roll in a heartbeat

 

[bigskybob]

I just rely on my pleasing personality.

 

[GraceinMotion]

1) two feisty corgis 
2) the "Impaler", a sharp ended stick
3) if it's the right time of day, morning breath (mine or the feisty corgis)
4) spray au poivre or anti-ours
5) "Pinky", a .380 Beretta Pico

 

[flying kurbmaster]

If I carried a weapon I immediately become a threat to others, when others feel threatened they attack,

 

[Kaylee]

flying kurbmaster: If the weapon is concealed or non-threatening (feisty Corgis FTW!), that often would not be an issue.

 

[Gr8ful]

That's why the call it "concealed carry" it's concealed or said another way hidden.

 

[RoamerRV428]

do ya want to be the one with the gun or not the gun out in a secluded place and alone with a nut job on your tail?
I know which one I will pick
tho if you choose gun you must learn/know/train on use. simple as that. a gun in a hand with no knowledge is bad.

 

[Van-Tramp]

If I carried a weapon I immediately become a threat to others, when others feel threatened they attack,

Over the years that I have carried a pistol on my hip, I have found that - while I carry - I am MUCH less confrontational to others. I smile more, am more social, and basically just an all around nicer person to be around. Heck, I even dress nicer. This is true with either concealed or open carry. 

I figure it stems from knowing that if some petty argument got out of hand and got physical, that it could end very poorly for the other person, and I do not want that.

 

[ckelly78z]

If I carried a weapon I immediately become a threat to others, when others feel threatened they attack,

I don't usually have my CCW on me, but will if I am in a threatening looking area. I always have my flashlight, and knife with me, and I can't count the number of times I use each of them every day for projects other than stabbing someone.

I have been in situations before where the lights went out, and no one could move, I have also been in situations that I have been followed, and I feared a hand-to-hand confrontation....i'm not going to be the hospitalized victim that wished he had a knife.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

If I carried a weapon I immediately become a threat to others, when others feel threatened they attack,

Someone who's response to a perceived threat is attack is a problem.  It is also assault.

 

[Kaylee]

I always have my flashlight, and knife with me, and I can't count the number of times I use each of them every day for projects other than stabbing someone.

Yes! Bravo!

I love multi-purpose gear, and both of these serve far more than "merely" defense.
On my key chain, I have a small squeeze light, and a (small) "Classic" Swiss Army Knife that has a stealthy pattern that's non-threatening/non-obvious to Muggles so safe for the workplace. They're both enormously handy, though too small for defense.

Normally I carry my high-ish powered combat-bevel flashlight in my jacket pocket, or in my daypack.
You can buy designated "tactical" flashlights, but they're usually expensive. The one I carry was around $3, and I chose it by checking the bevel on several flashlights at a major hardware store. I just ran my thumb over each, until I found the sharpest.

In my daypack, I carry a multitool with a blade that's large enough to upset Muggles, but is "obviously" a tool.
I do not have any training in knife fighting, and doubt I'd use it as a weapon, however I do feel safer caring it.

I have practiced shining my high powered flashlight into eyes (using a bathroom mirror), so I have the muscle memory, and would have zero hesitation using it.
In a remote context, it would only buy me time, but that's better than nothing.
As ckelly78z points out, a flashlight is enormously helpful in spotting potential problems. Not just human - when I first started carrying one, I often used it to spot nocturnal critters, in particular, raccoons.

I feel sheepish that I didn't think to carry one until about 11 years ago. My only defense is they used to be much more expensive. You can pick up an adequate one (single AA battery) for about the cost of a fast food burger. No license required, and even the most anti-weapon paranoid won't be upset by it. Win-win.

 

[Dingfelder]

Dingfelder, I admire your skill but you reminded me of what happened years ago. My friend Terry was at the local pub & him & his large family loved to fight. He got into it with a guy who said he had to be legal & inform him he was a black belt in something & drew back in some stance, Terry coldcocked him in the face & knocked him out cold as a stone. Not sure if the guy was bluffing but it was a funny moment cause like Ali Terry was always saying how good looking he was, great fighter, etc & he never did get a mark on his face. Ali had his estate that just sold near here. My wife worked in OB & caught 2 or 3 of his kids. I was in the lumber business & suppied everything for any construction & had the gate code. Was in the asement when he & Foreman we upstairs talking.

I just don't go into pubs anymore.  We used to be a big lumber town and there are lots of stories around here of people running out to their trucks and getting their chainsaws.  One place I went into once or twice was the site of an axe battle a few years back.  Bars have got to be one of the most likely places to get into trouble with psychos or just people who love to give themselves permission once they get drunk.  Or half drunk.  Or are thinking about getting drunk ...

I'm too old for that kind of stuff now anyway.  Closing in on 60, the bones get much more brittle, and everything takes so much longer to heal.  I've never been a violent guy, but I'm well aware that the stakes just keep getting higher as you get older.  Plus I fear the legal system, and people bearing false witness against me for fun or profit, almost as much as getting an injury I can't walk off.

That guy you mention was probably bluffing.  You don't have to do anything like that, by my understanding.  You are likely to be held to a higher standard if anyone finds out, though, so the best thing to do is keep your mouth shut.  Besides, why help someone be more prepared or amp up the hostility?

 

[Gr8ful]

I'll e 60 on St Patty's Day & I was always too cheap to drink in a bar & to be honest never cared much to drink at all. Nothing against it & I had my share of Guiness when in Ireland. I do care & just renewed my CCW. I like 10mm, 44mag, 9mm & 12ga Ksgs with my own 1.5" mini shell which holds 25 & is 26" long. If I can't do the job with the KSG & a 21 shot CZ & extra mag I'm in way over my head. I believe in not messing with anyone & expect the same & could be an easy target with my mobility issues. I've also carried for 30 years a NAA 22lr with a 1.125" barrel loaded sith stingers. I've since added a laser & folding grip but even stock I could but all 5 in a pie tin at 15 yards. It fits perfectly in the watch pocket on blue jeans.