Non Weapon-Weapon

[ToughTimes]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but figured it was a non weapon-weapon.

If you don't have a gun for protection, here's a more humane and legal way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. 

Wasp Spray

A receptionist at a church in a high risk area  was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection.
 
She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote.  She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. It's as easy as putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

It is inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home,  "spray the culprit in the eyes". That's going to give you a chance to call the police or go get your gun to hold them until the police or help comes.  Maybe even save a life. Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

[CX]

An excellent idea, thanks for that.

Being from the UK, it is great to get tips like this, obviously everything you can name is banned here, so alternatives are always welcome.

I went to buy some kinitting needles today, and found that many charity shops can't sell them now as they can be used as weapons! 

CX.

[phuttan]

Nice posts. Wasp spray is good. Knitting needles would work in a pinch. I generally think of my cane because it's usually close at hand.

Pat

[40Cal Joe]

Good post. Never would have thought about using it. A 2 for 1 product

[DBRideout]

It goes through screen doors too! It's even good for... wasps. Hate those little buggers.

Knowing folks that did not have firearms, this has been an alternative that I have thought would be a good idea for them for years... It's great to hear that a police department would support it too... Wonderful, I wish more departments gave advice like this, rather than just to "call them" if you had a problem. The police department cannot (always) be there in time for an emergency, we have to think and act for ourselves. BRAVO!

[Jackpine Savage]

I used to work as a store detective catching shoplifters.   One of the chain stores I worked for had a "NO WEAPONS" policy for all employees.   What I and some of my partners used to do was keep a hand full of pennies and dimes (small coins) in our front pants pocket.   When thrown in the face of an aggressive thug, it distracted them long enough to either control them or advance in the opposite direction if they pulled a weapon.   

While it wasn't as effective as pepper spray, it was very discrete and bought enough time to either run or win.  At the cost of less than a cup of coffee.

Take Care and Stay Safe.

[Todays Survival Show]

Flashlights are a good non weapon - weapon, too.  If they are bright enough, the beam will blind your attacker long enough for you to bolt in the opposite direction.  If it's the type that has teeth on the bezel, it's a great device to jab them in the head, throat or sternum and hurt them enough to slow them down a little bit.  If the flashlight is heavy enough, it's a good club.  Either way, a flashlight is not considered a weapon and legal for anyone to carry, anywhere. 

[Jackpine Savage]

I'm also partial to a cane.   They can be taken anywhere, even on an airplane, or in a courtroom because they are mobility aids.   I carry one, I mean walk with one when I'm out for a walk to fend off dogs.   People get upset when you shoot their pets.   Also if you have to use one for self defense, it looks really good to responding officers when the bad guy is laying there with cane marks on them.   Obviously someone who needed a cane had to be the victim.   

When asked why I carry a cane, i usually say that i don't always need it but sometimes it's necessary.   I just neglect to finish the sentence with "for self defense."   People just assume I had an old injury and don't think twice about it.   YMMV

[40Cal Joe]

Car keys between the fingers are very effective when you can strike the attacker in the face or groin. I like the "cane deception" you have going on Jack.

Those big Mag-Lites do make a very good club when necessary and the butt end where the batteries go will usually stay intact for several blows.

Pull the pen out of your pocket and use it to jab the face, eyes, ears, throat, stomach or groin.

Shoe laces, ties and belts can be used in various ways to neutralize the attacker. Almost anything you can find on the ground like a hand full of sand, rocks/pebbles, glass bottle can certainly be employed to inflict a wound or create a distraction long enough to stop or slow the attack.

When all else fails, a good fist to the throat puts them down EVERY time.

[phuttan]

Almost anything can be pressed into service in a pinch, Mag lites are great. Short ones can be used like dan bong. Longer ones can be used like a baton. I like canes for the same reasons as Jackpine Savage. Plus I'm a cripple so minie is almost always at hand. It is correct that the cane would help with police. I can run, so I can't run away. It makes a selfdefense claim pretty obvious.

Learn to use every day items to defend yourself and you will always be armed.

Pat

[openeyes]

When my girlfriend and I were taking a "refuse to be a victim" class at the local gun range the instructor recommended wasp spray for keeping in a car when you're passing through various states that may not allow pepper spray. One potential concern would be leaving an aerosol can in a hot car, but maybe on a short term, traveling basis it'd be manageable.

I keep a mag-lite by my seat. A brighter, tactical flashlight and/or a taser could be nice.

[40Cal Joe]

Check these lights out. Cheaper than SureFire's and just as good.
http://www.fenixlight.com/product.asp?classid=2

[40Cal Joe]

Whoops, just realized I responded to an april post. My bad. But check oat Fenix Flashlights anyway.

[midge]

Where I am, anything carried as a weapon is illegal unless you have a permit for it. But it's all in the wording. "Carried as a weapon" is what gets you in trouble. A baseball bat in the car is a weapon until you toss in a glove and ball. A golf club while taking a walk is a weapon until you stop now and then to pop the tops off some dandilions to practice your swing, or lean on it as a cane as Bob Hope used to do. Absolutely, if you're carrying pepper spray, don't let police or anyone else refer to it as a "weapon" without correcting them. It's protection! A stun gun is Protection. A Glock is protection.  The right to protect yourself was guaranteed by the supreme court back in 1801.

[Todays Survival Show]

Almost anything can be a weapon.  Each has it's own range of effectiveness.  My son's martial arts instructor teaches them how to improvise and make weapons out of almost everything, including your hands and feet.  midge, where you live, what if I came through and told them I was carrying my hands and feet as a weapon?