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(I also agree that a knife is a bad idea - I used to carry one until I realized how easily it could be used against me...I have pepper spray now)...
...if somebody was genuinely attacking you, and you seriously wounded them, maybe even killed them, could you get in trouble for that, if it was in self-defense?
It varies from state to state, but the easy way around that is to not fight someone unless your life depends on it. Then the law doesn't really matter. I'm all for following laws, but since I know that I won't fight unless my life depends on it, I won't ever have to worry about going too far.
I'm also very surprised to read that so many people are scared of their weapons being used against them. First of all, if someone could take your knife away from you, couldn't they take your pepper spray away? Wouldn't it be easier to retain a bladed weapon than a spray?
I'm also very surprised to read that so many people are scared of their weapons being used against them. First of all, if someone could take your knife away from you, couldn't they take your pepper spray away? Wouldn't it be easier to retain a bladed weapon than a spray?
Except that the spray can be used from out of reach of an attacker. Even if this is just a few steps away, which should put you outside of their immediate reach. A knife though, you have to be close enough to touch the attacker, and thus well inside their reach.
Second, if someone takes your pepper spray away and uses it on you, it's going to suck. It'll burn like hell and be extremely unpleasent but in the end likely survivable. If someone takes your knife away and uses it on you, it's likely be lethal. More so because quite likely the attacker will now be extremely pissed off that he's been stabbed or cut by his intended victim.
I won't comment on whether or not I think it's a good idea to carry a knife, that's up to you. But if you are going to get a pocket knife for defense or anything really make sure you get one that's worth a damn. CRKT makes quality folders in different sizes and variates, including some with full hilts and locks. Benchmade also makes some nice knives and they have a few assisted opening knives if you're worried about not being able to get it open quickly. Quality knives will cost you a fair bit, maybe $50-$150, but it's worth it if you plan to use it regularly or think your safety may depend on it.
Except that the spray can be used from out of reach of an attacker. Even if this is just a few steps away, which should put you outside of their immediate reach. A knife though, you have to be close enough to touch the attacker, and thus well inside their reach.
Even though your reach with a knife would indeed be longer than an unarmed opponent, that's a valid point. But personally, I'd be running if I had that much room.
Second, if someone takes your pepper spray away and uses it on you, it's going to suck. It'll burn like hell and be extremely unpleasent but in the end likely survivable. If someone takes your knife away and uses it on you, it's likely be lethal. More so because quite likely the attacker will now be extremely pissed off that he's been stabbed or cut by his intended victim.
If I throw my valuables on the ground and run, and the guy chases me until I'm trapped, just what do you think his intentions are? The list of things that he could want is short and violent. You're assuming that he wants to merely administer a savage beating or rape, but I think that's a lot of trust to put into someone that has chased you down, trapped you, and disarmed you. Instead, I'd rather have the most deadly weapon possible to deter the attacker, and defend myself if it came to that.
If I throw my valuables on the ground and run, and the guy chases me until I'm trapped, just what do you think his intentions are? The list of things that he could want is short and violent. You're assuming that he wants to merely administer a savage beating or rape, but I think that's a lot of trust to put into someone that has chased you down, trapped you, and disarmed you. Instead, I'd rather have the most deadly weapon possible to deter the attacker, and defend myself if it came to that.
After reading through the thread I was actually starting to agree with people about not using a knife, but after reading this post, it's changed my view.
As a woman, I would want the most deadly thing I could have to protect myself. If a knife is the deadliest thing I can have legally, so be it.. But it's better than spraying (with pepper spray) them, running, being unable to get away, and being defenseless. That'd be a true horror.
Don't carry a knife. Just don't, it's a terrible idea. Do you really think you could hold onto that knife if attacked? You're just putting yourself at a lot of risk of your potential (and unlikely) attacker taking it off you and stabbing you with it. Go for the spray and self-defence option. And like the Cat said you need to change your attitude and demeanour, if you look comfortable, confident and like you know where you're going people are less likely to pick you out, of course this isn't fool-proof, but carrying a knife will just convince that you need to carry it and end up making you more nervous.
Good point, Ebz123, whichI feel needs more discussion...the best defense against getting attacked it not getting attacked in the first place, and the best way to do that is to not look like a victim. You need to practice how you present yourself to the world. Even if you're scared shitless, if you appear confident and at ease, the vast majority of baddies will walk right by you.
Head up, chest out, arms free. Brisk walk...you know exactly where you're going. Slow breathing. If you really are scared, don't stop until you're somewhere relatively safe, meaning light and people. Don't stop on some random corner to root around in your purse. If possible, don't talk on the cell, don't use an IPod if you're in a dangerous area. And trust your instincts...if something feels wrong, if a situation or person sets off your Spidey-Sense, act on it. Better to go two blocks out of your way than walk by the wrong alley.
Remember that the vast majority of people out there don't don't want to harm you in any way.
Also, something my aikido instructor mentioned along the way...going for the crotch kick is a bit risky, because the crotch is largely surrounded by the thigh muscles. If you miss, you've just kicked someone in the thigh, which will hurt but not incapacitate. In some cases it's better to go for the nose, throat or solar plexus. Or rake at the eyes. A pepper spray-eye rake combo is particularly nasty. Or you can kick at the knee. If you're lucky you can dislocate it.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't most police forces consider a switch blade a concealed weapon? Isn't that illegal? Anyway a knife would be useless to you if you don't know how to use it properly and this suggestion that you want a gun worries me even more. It sounds like your letting your grandmothers paranoia get the better of you, if I did that I'd be outside attacking immigrants. Pepper spray is by far the best thing for you it has a range of a few feet and if you hit that bastard square in the face he's going down instantly, a result that may well take four or five well placed stab wounds to achieve. On top of that I would recommend self defence classes they would give you confidence and knowledge that would be far more useful in a dangerous situation than a knife you don't know how to use. Also please please please don't get a gun, guns plus paranoia isnt a good combination.
Sure, bad things happen. But anecdotes aren't data. The actual odds of being attacked in public by a stranger are very low. Although they are much higher for young men than young women. It makes very little sense for a female to be frightened in public space. Note that in pointing this out I'm not saying don't protect yourself (one still needs to be able to do so at home and at parties); I'm saying learn to assess the threat level appropriately. That's a big part of keeping yourself safe.
In environments where this is true, it is often because women are already being more safety conscious (i.e frightened of being attacked) than men, who are dumber.
Well, its also good old tribal bullshit on the part of the attackers, who are more likely to perceive a strange man as a threat. But yes, blokes reading this thread, take a look at the stats. Males are the most likely to commit violence in public, but its almost always against other males who are perceived as a threat to the attacker's social status, a la 'he looked at me funny'. Be aware of the local norms for conducting oneself in public; monitor your body language so as to present yourself neutrally (nb this is not about looking vulnerable!), be aware that answering some idiot's insecurities by arcing up in turn will get you hurt unneccesarily.
OP, you need to confront your grandmother about her behaviour. It is not reasonable, and even more so because she knows you have a panic problem. She's not being fair to you by indulging herself emotionally with these behaviours. Don't answer her calls with anything other than 'stop doing this', shut her down when she starts with the scare tactics. Just walk away every time she does it, and repeat the fact that she's not acting in a balanced fashion.
I'm not going to run out and just stab someone, but I'd take the time to get trained in defense with knives at least (if there are classes out there)
So for those opposed to the idea of the knife because I'm not trained to use it, you know that I said I would get trained to use a knife for my defense.
Now someone else mentioned that if I had a knife it could so easily be turned against me. I realize this, and I also want to mention that anyone can turn anything I have on me against me. I do not have upper body strength. If someone wanted my pencil badly enough they could just take it from my hand by simply twisting my wrist. Yes, I know that's neither here nor there and you're probably thinking I'm throwing that out as to be silly or a smart ass or what have you but I'm not. I'm simply pointing out that whether it be a maglite, a knife, pepper spray (definitely pepper spray that doesn't have a rub holder for better grip; I imagine it gets a little slippery even if its one spray or not) or a remote control, my upper body strength sucks and I could easily be with a knife...or a remote control.
I also think I'm giving off the impression that I'm going to suddenly whip out a knife and go "BOOYA MUTHA FUCKA CAN'T GET ME NOW!!" on the next suspicious looking person that comes my way. I'm not. The knife is a backup of a backup of a backup. Here is my thinking:
1.) Give them my shit by tossing it to them and run (by the way, I've mentioned this before: Despite the over abundance of purses I have in my closet [I have a problem] I do not carry a purse with me in my day to day routine)
2.) Oh shit they followed me, whip out the pepper spray and a kick to the groin
3.) Get somewhere well lit. Convince someone to call 911 to help me. I live in Philadelphia, so that last part probably wouldn't happen unless I ran into a store or something.
4.) Fuck they're still after me, persistent bastards, time to whip out the weaponry (whether that be a gun or a knife)
So again, I reiterate, I'm not going to think I'm the grand master of ninja-dom I'm just saying if all else fails, I'd like to know that I have a step 4 and not just a step 1, 2 and 3. Because where I'm at, those three don't always help. So please, do not think I am doing this to be cool or as my first line of defense, it really is just a last line of defense that would be good to have and something I KNOW I'd need to be trained in using.
I live in a place where the law is pretty much just fancy words written on paper.
My school campus has this thing that we call a "rape whistle". It's handed out for free and it's basically a referee's whistle except a bit more louder and more shrill. It might not be that much effective in the area where you live. My campus/city is really good on helping other people out.
Yeaaaaah, while I believe that YES this is a good thing to have (and today I will run out to get a whistle on top of the flashlight I'm going to get) I live in a place where some guy got beaten with a hammer on the train with ample lighting with numerous people around and no one helped him. Not one. No one even pulled the alarm to call the cops. So at best I'd just be making an annoying sound that someone would turn up their radio/tv to block out.
Um, it sounds like you already have a pretty good layer of protection right there. I feel like two aggressive dogs who bark at strangers would do way more to protect you than anything else.
I get for when you're not with them though. But I really wouldn't worry about the dogs, it sounds like they can take care of themselves (and you).
My dogs are not big. I have an overweight dachshund and some...yorkie..mix...thing (I got her from a pound). They bark a lot but if I let them go to run up to the person, they'd be begging for belly rubs and licking them like they knew them all their lives. Plus, they're easy to kick. If I were to be attacked, they wouldn't attack the attacker they'd attack me because they think its a game. This has been proven several times with my sister and I fighting each other to where one of us is on the ground and getting bitten/licked by the dogs.
Also, someone mentioned stun guns, I can't have them in Philadelphia (which is odd). I could........smuggle them in as everyone else smuggles in drugs, guns, and knives though. I saw a really neat stun gun pen that has an LED flashlight attached to it. I think I sense a Christmas gift coming on.
I already do the basics in self defense as I mentioned before. I look like I know where I'm going, and I look secure and non fidgety and I try to keep in tune with my senses. I do all of that. The fancy self defense stuff, the pepper spray, kubotan, flashlight, knife, they're all back ups. While I would like to say that my senses are top notch, I will admit that they're not the best. I can't tell when people are hitting on me for example. I'm freaking clueless to it. If some guy came up to me and started doing that, naturally I'd just walk away and assume he's drunk or something, but if he's an aggressive attacker who doesn't like to be ignored, I'm fucked.
Thank you to the three posters who suggested the kubotan, the pepper spray gel (I saw this and said "OH FUCK YEAH 8D") and about the knife having to be worth their salt. Any more suggestions whether it be flash light types (I don't know if I can carry a maglite everywhere can I?) more pepper spray or even a martial art (karate, judo, what have you) then that's appreciated.
Mim on
BlueSky: thekidwonder Steam: mimspanks (add me then tell me who you are!)
I know it's been said before. But listen to what The Cat is saying. She's made excellent points.
If you need to do something go take a martial arts course before you start carrying things like knives around. Not only will you develop some great skills but MA also tends to build confidence in general. It's healthy, and a great place to meet people too. You might find that you may not feel the same paranoia with some proper training and education.
Look into some of the disciplines people have mentioned and see what's available. I'd suggest staying away from the branded "Weekend of Defense for Women" Although they'll teach some moves, there's much more to it and you must have the constant practice to keep up the skills.
Everywhereasign on
"What are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman!"
OP, you need to confront your grandmother about her behaviour. It is not reasonable, and even more so because she knows you have a panic problem. She's not being fair to you by indulging herself emotionally with these behaviours. Don't answer her calls with anything other than 'stop doing this', shut her down when she starts with the scare tactics. Just walk away every time she does it, and repeat the fact that she's not acting in a balanced fashion.
Actually, she doesn't know. I mean, she knows that mental illness on her side of the family runs through the generations she doesn't know that I've been diagnosed with it. I don't take medication or seek therapy as my parents are against it and just think it's because I'm unable to handle reality and need to grow a pair and do so and handle my problems plus I'm not too great with seeking help. I know I could do it on my own, but I become self conscious when going to therapy so I sit in my room going "Should I? Shouldn't I?" over and over again.
My parents called her last night and told her to cut it out though (they're visiting my sister). I do think about transferring out of here so that would give me more room to actually go out and force myself to get help without my parents knowing. Just while living with them I think I'd feel as if I were betraying them if I got help right under their noses.
Mim on
BlueSky: thekidwonder Steam: mimspanks (add me then tell me who you are!)
You're being really really silly, then. I mean its fairly obvious to us all that at best you're overly paranoid, overthinking and misjudging how dangerous situations are. I guarantee the students and cubicle monkeys on your train are not 'sizing each other up' en masse, for instance. Your parents shouldn't be holding you back from getting this sorted.
Look, at least go spend some time with MoodGYM. It'll give you an idea of what cognitive behavioural therapy is like, which is probably what you need most. Its just a structured way to unteach bad mental habits.
4.) Fuck they're still after me, persistent bastards, time to whip out the weaponry (whether that be a gun or a knife)
You've gone from saying knife to knife or gun.
Look, I still don't think you understand that in 9 times out of 10 a stungun will knock someone on their ass for a prolonged period of time, without the threat of rageful, slightly bloodied attacker murdering you for cutting them.
That 1 time out of 10 involves a very obese attacker, which I assume you can outrun.
A knife/gun is the worst possible self-defense item for you to be running around with.
Everyone (except for 1 or 2 dudes, whose advice about training are reckless, considering your mental state) has told you not to get a knife. There is a reason behind this. I'm starting to get worried about you.
4.) Fuck they're still after me, persistent bastards, time to whip out the weaponry (whether that be a gun or a knife)
You've gone from saying knife to knife or gun.
Look, I still don't think you understand that in 9 times out of 10 a stungun will knock someone on their ass for a prolonged period of time, without the threat of rageful, slightly bloodied attacker murdering you for cutting them.
I cannot have a stun gun in Philadelphia, unless willing to break the law. I most likely cannot have a major knife unless willing to break the law. I also mentioned having a gun way earlier in this thread. I do understand that a stungun is very useful (hence I mentioned having it at a Christmas gift) but it does me nothing if I cannot legally have it. I can have a gun if I register for it though, hence mentioning having a gun.
I'm not sitting in my room with a tinfoil hat on my head rocking back and forth going "they're coming to get me, they're coming to get me" ok? I'm not into physically harming myself, never had a history of suicide attempts or attacking people. I don't go around picking fights or looking nervous. I've stated before I cover the basics of self defense in the "Looking like I know where I'm going" sense.
I only mentioned the "people looking at each other" thing because I saw someone else mentioned it on some other forum and I had been noticing it too so I figured it was a humorous thing to point out.
I'm trying to make it clear I'm not someone who ducks under a table at the first sound of a car or foot steps or anything. I'm interested in self defense and sometimes just running and screaming "FIRE" doesn't do much. I'm not shutting down rape whistles, or pepper spray or flash lights. I didn't say I was going to run out with a knife without proper training.
So please, do not think I'm unstable and ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble. I said it before and I'll say it again, the knife (or gun BUT more likely knife) would be a absolute backup. Absolute. Obviously other things would come into play before hand. I know this. I went from being very scared to now thinking about all lines of defense. I think we can all agree there is nothing wrong with wanting to defend yourself so I'm just asking about various methods, that's all.
Mim on
BlueSky: thekidwonder Steam: mimspanks (add me then tell me who you are!)
When I was attacked I had nothing that could be used as weapon except for a plastic mug (seriously). There were tow of them and they attacked me from behind. One put a towel over my face and the other tried to grab my purse and run. I didn't even notice the purse at first because when someone attacks you from behind and covers your face as a woman you're not worried about your bag you're worried about being raped. Which is just about the scariest feeling in the whole world. Using my free hand with the mug in it I threw my arm back and knocked the person holding the towel really hard in the nose. They were startled so they let go and the towel fell. Now I didn't have my glasses on though. I see that the guy who was behind me is now a few steps in front of me and his coked up gf is still trying to take my purse. So she gets wacked in the face because its wrapped around my arm and starting to hurt. Her nose started to blled so she lets go. I step back a few steps and big man punches me in the face and tries to run off. By tries I mean I chased after him shouting 'Help, that guy just mugged me.' An off duty Philly cop is driving by with his wife heard me yelling and they stopped. the cop got out of the car and grabbed the guy and shoved him against a fence until the Wildwood cops came. Then I realize wtf just happened and flip out. In the end she plead but skipped town and he went to state for 4 years. I carry
I was very, very lucky that the people who tried to mug me were just a couple of losers who thought that a chubby white girl was going to be an easy mark. That being said, a knife would have been completely useless. I would not have had time to get to it and there is no way I was thinking straight enough to use one properly. Digging it out of a jean short pocket would have taken too much time and my strong arm, the right one, was the one tangled up in my purse strap. Digging a stun gun out of my pocket would have been no easier. You admit anything you carried like that would easily be turned against you if they wanted to take it so I don't know what good you think it would do. You pull out knife, get close enough to use it, they take knife and are already close enough to use it is not a very good sequence of events.
Once again, a small pocket knife (legal) is not going to do anything but piss someone off.
No one will have a problem with a woman carrying a stungun around in her purse as long as you don't go waving it around and zapping random people on the street.
I never said you were unstable, but you are setting yourself up for bad news.
Anything is better than a knife. It's a horrible idea. I wouldn't advise any of my friends to carry around a knife, even if it was a pocket machete and he was a bodybuilder.
Pepper spray or a zapper would be your best course of action.
I wont harp anymore, just know that a knife would be a mistake.
Ok, so having checked out the pepper spray (which I guess I'll have to order that brand offline) and stun gun (for when I move/if I find a legal loophole/ need a permit to carry it and get one) what kind of martial arts should I take? Does the Filipino style martial arts that train with weapons also work to defend against weapons?
Mim on
BlueSky: thekidwonder Steam: mimspanks (add me then tell me who you are!)
Your plan for a knife is: I've maced/tazed him, am running away, he is still chasing me, I stop and wait for him to get close enough to stab him? If you've already done the above, a knife won't scare someone who is on god knows what to have withstood the previous. How much training do you think you will need with a knife in order to, in a state of high anxiety and stress, be able to quickly open the blade, hold it well, and know how to use it? I have a black belt myself, I love the martial arts, but to get to a point where you learn about weapons and disarming is going to take some time. I'm not tying to tell you to not get into it, just be aware of the commitment needed to get what you want.
Yes, anything can be turned against you, but if you are confronted from the front, you step backwards and use the mace. With a knife, you need to step closer which is always a bad idea. People have cited professional fighter after professional fighter saying that the best course of action is to run. I know you are saying that the knife would be last hope, but I would warn against carrying it because you would then know it is an option in whatever weird circumstance might happen. Stopping to confront an attacker when you were just running away should never, never happen.
You should start running more. Get your speed and endurance up.
I don't think tazers are illegal in Philly, the website I quoted from earlier talks specifically about stun devices. Since they have tazers seperatly on the website, I'd assume they are different.
Edit: http://www.taser.org/laws.html
They say they don't ship to Philly, but their chart of states list PA as being legal for electric weapons.
Improvolone on
Voice actor for hire. My time is free if your project is!
This worst-case-scenario you've got where you've pepper sprayed someone, run away, and they keep chasing you (I guess if you didn't pepper spray them in the face?) and you need to stab them rather than take another shot with the pepper spray is pretty much fantasy. Seriously, you'd be better off worrying about being hit by lightning. Random violence by strangers against women is incredibly low (statistically, you're in much more danger around your male acquaintances, not to give you something else to be paranoid about), and random violence where the attacker doesn't just want your stuff but to chase a running victim after being pepper sprayed? Don't let Grandma watch so much Law and Order.
I've trained with knives for a very long time, and I'd still never carry one around with me.
My GF is off the deep end a bit on personal security as well, and still prefers a knife. I haven't been able to talk her out of it. It's something primal I guess, like a sharp set of claws. It makes her feel better, so I guess thats something, but really, she doesn't get that its just put her in more danger.
My advice is to go for the jujitsu, actually. Rape whistle, small dogs, flashlight- all good. Small dogs are awesome because they are noisy little bastards who just don't give a shit if they get hurt. They were bred for just that reason. Big dogs invoke the 'fighter' response, which is to say, you square off and treat it as a threat. Small dogs tend to invoke the 'fuck off' response, and they just don't give up as they bark their yappy little alarms. Thats not good for somebody trying to keep things on the low, and really, it makes you much less likely to be selected as a target.
Two things about using a knife; firstly, it's an extension of your hand. If you don't know how to use your hands to fight, having sharp fingers or a 'cutting fist' isn't going to do anything for you. As mentioned, it's just going to elevate the aggression against you, because it elevates the threat even though you still don't know what you are doing. So they go harder, but you're still the same.
Secondly, knives in combat are generally meant to 'bleed out' and position your opponent, making them weaker for the fight, not really to take them out. If you have no followup game, you'll still get your ass kicked. You need to be strong and somewhat skilled to do anything. Go poke a pot roast sometime with your 'defense weapon' and see how much damage you've actually done. Even someone with no training will instinctively block, dodge, and shift in ways to take the least amount of permanent damage. You can use these movements to your advantage- if you know how to fight. But you don't. So don't.
Ya ya.. blah blah still want one. Look for something with a heavy grip that has a metal nub extending past your pinky. Now you have a weighted fist, a leading edge, and a kubotan. A defense weapon should be properly gouted (a groove cut into the blade near where it is thickest) otherwise you wont be able to get it back out again after you connect. Shorter knives are best for beginners, no longer than the width of your hand. Sure, you wont be able to flash your razor penis quite as effectively, but you need to be able to handle the leverage at the tip; and with basic hand strength, longer knives will twist out of your grip as you 'stab' towards your target. Cloth or wound handles are best, sweat and blood are both very slippery, and smooth handles, though nice to touch, will slide out of your hand, weakening the strike. Keep it sharp, and practice on a real piece of meat sometime, you will be amazed at how little you're actually going to accomplish without good technique.
Did I say 'run' enough times yet? The only positive thing is that a heavy bleeder isn't going to be able to run as far or as fast as he would otherwise. That isn't to say that its still not longer and faster than you.
I liked the taser idea (for a weapon) best. From what I hear they make good 'gettaway' weapons. That sounds like something useful to use to get away. Knives are 'closing' weapons. They are for getting in close and engaging something personally. This is the opposite of what you want to do. Fists, knees, shins, elbows- all good get away weapons. Learn to use those first, otherwise you'll just get into more trouble.
You're living in a paranoid world. Someone gets randomly attacked on the subway so you ride the bus until the attacker is caught? That is a paranoid response that is completely disportionate to the risk. Check out the statistics of getting attacked, mugged, etc. and compare them to getting struck by lightning, suffering a household accident or a car accident. If you're determined to be that paranoid, take a good contact/sparring heavy martial art.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't most police forces consider a switch blade a concealed weapon? Isn't that illegal? Anyway a knife would be useless to you if you don't know how to use it properly and this suggestion that you want a gun worries me even more.
I don't get all these comments about a knife being useless if you don't know how to use it. Obviously, any kind of training would help a great deal. But if anyone here was attacked by a smaller person with a knife, would you really be thinking "Oh, they're obviously not trained to use that knife as a weapon. I'm not in danger! I'll easily disarm them and any minor wound I may receive will merely anger me and help me win the fight." In that scenario, the fight would last for several minutes, with the knife trading hands several times, with whoever had it being at a disadvantage because the other person would be angrier. But anger doesn't win fights. Knives do.
Though I would use a knife as a last resort, and I do carry one at all times, it's way down my list for protecting myself and that's not why I carry one. Situational awareness has kept me from being attacked in the last 10 years or so. Paired with shoes you can run in, and deciding what you would do in a situation before it happens, you'll most likely never need to use a weapon.
Those of you that think this talk of protecting yourself is paranoia, I hope that you are able to think that for the rest of your lives, honestly. But I've been beaten by several guys at once, my brother has been mugged at gunpoint, my father has been mugged, my house has been broken into twice and my car twice, my family's car was stolen, and I've seen a man jumped by several guys and beaten and robbed. Now, that stuff that was stolen is just stuff and not worth dying for. But what if I had been home, or come home when someone was robbing my house? Or if I had gone to my car while someone was breaking in to it? Or what if I get mugged at gunpoint? Being prepared isn't paranoid, it's common sense.
When you're ready to get a gun, please realize that you need a lot of training and practice with it. Unlike other options, when you use a gun, you put innocent people at risk. I'm not saying that you shouldn't carry one, just make sure that you are prepared for the awesome responsibility. Isn't it odd that you can get a concealed carry permit for a gun, but not any other weapon?
Edit: Somehow I missed over a dozen responses... anyway, when I'm talking about using the knife in a fight, it's as a very last resort, when you're trapped and can no longer run away. If you don't have a gun, and you can run, it's always, always the best option.
Edit2: Er, running is the best option. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Drew_9999 on
0
acidlacedpenguinInstitutionalizedSafe in jail.Registered Userregular
edited September 2008
if you can't have a STUN GUN in Phili what makes you think you'll be able to get a carry/concealed weapon license? Chances are if it's even possible for you to get a CCW, it'd probably be an order of magnitude easier to get a license for a stun gun.
as for your original story, what makes you think for any reason those 2 guys weren't just walking over to ask you if you knew if the gate was open, then spotted your grandma on the way and asked her instead?
Pardon my personal and borderline inflammatory opinion, but
fuck, it's crazy people like you who would pull a gun or any otherwise deadly weapon and injure or kill someone who was just approaching you to ask for the time or something.
well anyway, if you're dead set on owning a weapon I'd recommend a Ruger Mark III, they're nice and light, hardly any recoil because of their .22LR ammo, and with a 10 round mag you can afford to miss a few times or fire warning shots.
The best I can recommend though, is to learn a martial art and do weight training. Don't worry about getting too muscley, to get to be like a female body builder you have to take a lot of 'roids and hormones. With a martial art and some upper body strength you'll be a whole hell of a lot safer than with a knife or gun with the added benefit of not risking taking a life.
to Drew, what makes you think someone wouldn't have DIED if you pulled a gun on a mugger who also had a gun? Unless you're the quickest draw in the west or have a kevlar vest the odds are stacked against.
Those of you that think this talk of protecting yourself is paranoia, I hope that you are able to think that for the rest of your lives, honestly. But I've been beaten by several guys at once, my brother has been mugged at gunpoint, my father has been mugged, my house has been broken into twice and my car twice, my family's car was stolen, and I've seen a man jumped by several guys and beaten and robbed. Now, that stuff that was stolen is just stuff and not worth dying for. But what if I had been home, or come home when someone was robbing my house? Or if I had gone to my car while someone was breaking in to it? Or what if I get mugged at gunpoint? Being prepared isn't paranoid, it's common sense.
No offense, but if you scroll down you'll see that I have been attacked and I'm still not stupid enough to carry a knife that I would have no idea how to use properly. Having a two-three inch pocket knife isn't going to keep me from getting mugged, it would get me a worse beat down. If you get jumped by three guys do you think your pocket knife is going to scare them away? Also, having a knife isn't going to help you if you get robbed at gun point. Neither is a gun, what are you going to do have a shoot out on the street? When you go to your car and see someone breaking in you call the police, not confront them like some kind of tough guy. Being prepared doesn't mean carrying the biggest arsenal just because.
She's probably going to buy a knife against everyone's advice and I doubt she's going to get training in how to defend herself with it. She'll carry it in her pocket and most likely never get mugged but in her own mind her 2" blade will keep her safe. As long as she doesn't get into the situation and find out her knife is useless she'll be find.
to Drew, what makes you think someone wouldn't have DIED if you pulled a gun on a mugger who also had a gun? Unless you're the quickest draw in the west or have a kevlar vest the odds are stacked against.
Being mugged at close range with a gun when you have a concealed gun is an entirely different set of circumstances that I haven't commented on.
to Drew, what makes you think someone wouldn't have DIED if you pulled a gun on a mugger who also had a gun? Unless you're the quickest draw in the west or have a kevlar vest the odds are stacked against.
Being mugged at close range with a gun when you have a concealed gun is an entirely different set of circumstances that I haven't commented on.
Yes you did, in your prior post you talked about how being prepared isn't being paranoid then listed a litany of reasons as to why you need to arm yourself. One of them being what if you get robbed at gunpoint.
Nothing makes me sadder than the thought of some girl loading up on tazer, rape-whistle, flashlight and knife so she can walk her dogs in broad daylight. You are paranoid. Maybe your grandmother and the media made you paranoid, but its still your problem. You need to find a way to deal with your paranoia.
Nothing makes me sadder than the thought of some girl loading up on tazer, rape-whistle, flashlight and knife so she can walk her dogs in broad daylight. You are paranoid. Maybe your grandmother and the media made you paranoid, but its still your problem. You need to find a way to deal with your paranoia.
The irony is that Philly isn't that bad of a city where that's even vaguely necessary.
If someone is following you and get get scared you are just going to pepper spray them and then kick them in the groin? That doesn't seem like the best plan...
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acidlacedpenguinInstitutionalizedSafe in jail.Registered Userregular
edited September 2008
alternatively you could just carry a fleshlight around and just give it to whichever rapist pops out the bushes and tries to rape you.
If someone is following you and get get scared you are just going to pepper spray them and then kick them in the groin? That doesn't seem like the best plan...
After I was mugged I was paranoid of people walking behind me. I had to step aside and let people walk around me because I was afraid to have people behind. Granted, I had already been mugged and this only lasted a couple months immediately after.
If you attempt to use a weapon on someone more capable than you when you are scared and untrained the only real effect it is going to have is that they are going to use the weapon right back at you.
Having a two-three inch pocket knife isn't going to keep me from getting mugged, it would get me a worse beat down. If you get jumped by three guys do you think your pocket knife is going to scare them away? Also, having a knife isn't going to help you if you get robbed at gun point. Neither is a gun, what are you going to do have a shoot out on the street? When you go to your car and see someone breaking in you call the police, not confront them like some kind of tough guy. Being prepared doesn't mean carrying the biggest arsenal just because.
I've responded to similar comments before in this thread. If you think being armed will get you a worse beating, you are trusting the people who chased you after you threw down your valuables and fled until you were trapped or exhausted. You're trusting them to merely beat the crap out of you or rape you, at best. You're free to do that, but my opinion is that anyone who has gone through that trouble intends to kill me. They've simply left me with no other rational conclusion.
If I was jumped by three guys, had already run and had nowhere to go, when I pulled my knife out it wouldn't be to scare anyone. And no, I wouldn't expect to win. But when fighting for my life, I'll take any advantage I can get.
You are correct that a knife will not help you if you're robbed at gunpoint. Toss your valuables to the ground and haul ass. If they chase you and you get trapped, a knife is better than nothing, but you will most likely be killed.
If you think a handgun would not help in any way when you're fighting for your life, I don't even know how to respond to that argument. It's a small, long range, deadly weapon which has been proven in combat for a couple of hundred years at least. That doesn't mean that I advocate trying to whip it out while you're standing in the middle of the street like you're starring in a spaghetti western. It's just another tool that can be used for protection. As I said before, make sure you get training and lots of practice. Use it intelligently and only as a last resort.
I never suggested attacking anyone that was breaking into my car or house.
to Drew, what makes you think someone wouldn't have DIED if you pulled a gun on a mugger who also had a gun? Unless you're the quickest draw in the west or have a kevlar vest the odds are stacked against.
Being mugged at close range with a gun when you have a concealed gun is an entirely different set of circumstances that I haven't commented on.
Yes you did, in your prior post you talked about how being prepared isn't being paranoid then listed a litany of reasons as to why you need to arm yourself. One of them being what if you get robbed at gunpoint.
I apologize for not making myself clear. At that point, I don't think I had commented on tactics for that particular situation. If I did somewhere and forgot about it, I apologize.
If you attempt to use a weapon on someone more capable than you when you are scared and untrained the only real effect it is going to have is that they are going to use the weapon right back at you.
That being said, if you ARE trained, having a weapon when you need it can save your life.
However, if you aren't, the easiest way to stay safe is just to stay in safe areas and situations. Avoid bad places.
as for your original story, what makes you think for any reason those 2 guys weren't just walking over to ask you if you knew if the gate was open, then spotted your grandma on the way and asked her instead?
Pardon my personal and borderline inflammatory opinion, but
fuck, it's crazy people like you who would pull a gun or any otherwise deadly weapon and injure or kill someone who was just approaching you to ask for the time or something.
Hmm, I'm thinking you didn't read the story as closely as you should have OR I didn't make it clear (if the latter, then I apologize). I didn't think the guys were going to attack me. My grandmother did. I thought they were harmless, and didn't really mind them. I've had people ask me the time before, and approach me before and as stated before I've never attacked anyone.
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Personal safety is *personal*. It's a choice, a prefrence. And we all manage the risk levels differently. Like the carlin joke about how people driving slower than you are morons but people driving faster then you are maniacs.
a good pair of running shoes will protect you far better than any knife or spray. Are you always going to wear them everywhere now? i'd guess not.
Be aware, trust your gut, and do whatever makes *you* feel comfortable enough to go about your normal life.
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It varies from state to state, but the easy way around that is to not fight someone unless your life depends on it. Then the law doesn't really matter. I'm all for following laws, but since I know that I won't fight unless my life depends on it, I won't ever have to worry about going too far.
I'm also very surprised to read that so many people are scared of their weapons being used against them. First of all, if someone could take your knife away from you, couldn't they take your pepper spray away? Wouldn't it be easier to retain a bladed weapon than a spray?
Second, if someone takes your pepper spray away and uses it on you, it's going to suck. It'll burn like hell and be extremely unpleasent but in the end likely survivable. If someone takes your knife away and uses it on you, it's likely be lethal. More so because quite likely the attacker will now be extremely pissed off that he's been stabbed or cut by his intended victim.
If I throw my valuables on the ground and run, and the guy chases me until I'm trapped, just what do you think his intentions are? The list of things that he could want is short and violent. You're assuming that he wants to merely administer a savage beating or rape, but I think that's a lot of trust to put into someone that has chased you down, trapped you, and disarmed you. Instead, I'd rather have the most deadly weapon possible to deter the attacker, and defend myself if it came to that.
After reading through the thread I was actually starting to agree with people about not using a knife, but after reading this post, it's changed my view.
As a woman, I would want the most deadly thing I could have to protect myself. If a knife is the deadliest thing I can have legally, so be it.. But it's better than spraying (with pepper spray) them, running, being unable to get away, and being defenseless. That'd be a true horror.
Head up, chest out, arms free. Brisk walk...you know exactly where you're going. Slow breathing. If you really are scared, don't stop until you're somewhere relatively safe, meaning light and people. Don't stop on some random corner to root around in your purse. If possible, don't talk on the cell, don't use an IPod if you're in a dangerous area. And trust your instincts...if something feels wrong, if a situation or person sets off your Spidey-Sense, act on it. Better to go two blocks out of your way than walk by the wrong alley.
Remember that the vast majority of people out there don't don't want to harm you in any way.
Also, something my aikido instructor mentioned along the way...going for the crotch kick is a bit risky, because the crotch is largely surrounded by the thigh muscles. If you miss, you've just kicked someone in the thigh, which will hurt but not incapacitate. In some cases it's better to go for the nose, throat or solar plexus. Or rake at the eyes. A pepper spray-eye rake combo is particularly nasty. Or you can kick at the knee. If you're lucky you can dislocate it.
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Well, its also good old tribal bullshit on the part of the attackers, who are more likely to perceive a strange man as a threat. But yes, blokes reading this thread, take a look at the stats. Males are the most likely to commit violence in public, but its almost always against other males who are perceived as a threat to the attacker's social status, a la 'he looked at me funny'. Be aware of the local norms for conducting oneself in public; monitor your body language so as to present yourself neutrally (nb this is not about looking vulnerable!), be aware that answering some idiot's insecurities by arcing up in turn will get you hurt unneccesarily.
OP, you need to confront your grandmother about her behaviour. It is not reasonable, and even more so because she knows you have a panic problem. She's not being fair to you by indulging herself emotionally with these behaviours. Don't answer her calls with anything other than 'stop doing this', shut her down when she starts with the scare tactics. Just walk away every time she does it, and repeat the fact that she's not acting in a balanced fashion.
So for those opposed to the idea of the knife because I'm not trained to use it, you know that I said I would get trained to use a knife for my defense.
Now someone else mentioned that if I had a knife it could so easily be turned against me. I realize this, and I also want to mention that anyone can turn anything I have on me against me. I do not have upper body strength. If someone wanted my pencil badly enough they could just take it from my hand by simply twisting my wrist. Yes, I know that's neither here nor there and you're probably thinking I'm throwing that out as to be silly or a smart ass or what have you but I'm not. I'm simply pointing out that whether it be a maglite, a knife, pepper spray (definitely pepper spray that doesn't have a rub holder for better grip; I imagine it gets a little slippery even if its one spray or not) or a remote control, my upper body strength sucks and I could easily be with a knife...or a remote control.
I also think I'm giving off the impression that I'm going to suddenly whip out a knife and go "BOOYA MUTHA FUCKA CAN'T GET ME NOW!!" on the next suspicious looking person that comes my way. I'm not. The knife is a backup of a backup of a backup. Here is my thinking:
1.) Give them my shit by tossing it to them and run (by the way, I've mentioned this before: Despite the over abundance of purses I have in my closet [I have a problem] I do not carry a purse with me in my day to day routine)
2.) Oh shit they followed me, whip out the pepper spray and a kick to the groin
3.) Get somewhere well lit. Convince someone to call 911 to help me. I live in Philadelphia, so that last part probably wouldn't happen unless I ran into a store or something.
4.) Fuck they're still after me, persistent bastards, time to whip out the weaponry (whether that be a gun or a knife)
So again, I reiterate, I'm not going to think I'm the grand master of ninja-dom I'm just saying if all else fails, I'd like to know that I have a step 4 and not just a step 1, 2 and 3. Because where I'm at, those three don't always help. So please, do not think I am doing this to be cool or as my first line of defense, it really is just a last line of defense that would be good to have and something I KNOW I'd need to be trained in using.
I live in a place where the law is pretty much just fancy words written on paper.
Yeaaaaah, while I believe that YES this is a good thing to have (and today I will run out to get a whistle on top of the flashlight I'm going to get) I live in a place where some guy got beaten with a hammer on the train with ample lighting with numerous people around and no one helped him. Not one. No one even pulled the alarm to call the cops. So at best I'd just be making an annoying sound that someone would turn up their radio/tv to block out.
My dogs are not big. I have an overweight dachshund and some...yorkie..mix...thing (I got her from a pound). They bark a lot but if I let them go to run up to the person, they'd be begging for belly rubs and licking them like they knew them all their lives. Plus, they're easy to kick. If I were to be attacked, they wouldn't attack the attacker they'd attack me because they think its a game. This has been proven several times with my sister and I fighting each other to where one of us is on the ground and getting bitten/licked by the dogs.
Also, someone mentioned stun guns, I can't have them in Philadelphia (which is odd). I could........smuggle them in as everyone else smuggles in drugs, guns, and knives though. I saw a really neat stun gun pen that has an LED flashlight attached to it. I think I sense a Christmas gift coming on.
I already do the basics in self defense as I mentioned before. I look like I know where I'm going, and I look secure and non fidgety and I try to keep in tune with my senses. I do all of that. The fancy self defense stuff, the pepper spray, kubotan, flashlight, knife, they're all back ups. While I would like to say that my senses are top notch, I will admit that they're not the best. I can't tell when people are hitting on me for example. I'm freaking clueless to it. If some guy came up to me and started doing that, naturally I'd just walk away and assume he's drunk or something, but if he's an aggressive attacker who doesn't like to be ignored, I'm fucked.
Thank you to the three posters who suggested the kubotan, the pepper spray gel (I saw this and said "OH FUCK YEAH 8D") and about the knife having to be worth their salt. Any more suggestions whether it be flash light types (I don't know if I can carry a maglite everywhere can I?) more pepper spray or even a martial art (karate, judo, what have you) then that's appreciated.
If you need to do something go take a martial arts course before you start carrying things like knives around. Not only will you develop some great skills but MA also tends to build confidence in general. It's healthy, and a great place to meet people too. You might find that you may not feel the same paranoia with some proper training and education.
Look into some of the disciplines people have mentioned and see what's available. I'd suggest staying away from the branded "Weekend of Defense for Women" Although they'll teach some moves, there's much more to it and you must have the constant practice to keep up the skills.
Actually, she doesn't know. I mean, she knows that mental illness on her side of the family runs through the generations she doesn't know that I've been diagnosed with it. I don't take medication or seek therapy as my parents are against it and just think it's because I'm unable to handle reality and need to grow a pair and do so and handle my problems plus I'm not too great with seeking help. I know I could do it on my own, but I become self conscious when going to therapy so I sit in my room going "Should I? Shouldn't I?" over and over again.
My parents called her last night and told her to cut it out though (they're visiting my sister). I do think about transferring out of here so that would give me more room to actually go out and force myself to get help without my parents knowing. Just while living with them I think I'd feel as if I were betraying them if I got help right under their noses.
Look, at least go spend some time with MoodGYM. It'll give you an idea of what cognitive behavioural therapy is like, which is probably what you need most. Its just a structured way to unteach bad mental habits.
Look, I still don't think you understand that in 9 times out of 10 a stungun will knock someone on their ass for a prolonged period of time, without the threat of rageful, slightly bloodied attacker murdering you for cutting them.
That 1 time out of 10 involves a very obese attacker, which I assume you can outrun.
A knife/gun is the worst possible self-defense item for you to be running around with.
Everyone (except for 1 or 2 dudes, whose advice about training are reckless, considering your mental state) has told you not to get a knife. There is a reason behind this. I'm starting to get worried about you.
I cannot have a stun gun in Philadelphia, unless willing to break the law. I most likely cannot have a major knife unless willing to break the law. I also mentioned having a gun way earlier in this thread. I do understand that a stungun is very useful (hence I mentioned having it at a Christmas gift) but it does me nothing if I cannot legally have it. I can have a gun if I register for it though, hence mentioning having a gun.
I'm not sitting in my room with a tinfoil hat on my head rocking back and forth going "they're coming to get me, they're coming to get me" ok? I'm not into physically harming myself, never had a history of suicide attempts or attacking people. I don't go around picking fights or looking nervous. I've stated before I cover the basics of self defense in the "Looking like I know where I'm going" sense.
I only mentioned the "people looking at each other" thing because I saw someone else mentioned it on some other forum and I had been noticing it too so I figured it was a humorous thing to point out.
I'm trying to make it clear I'm not someone who ducks under a table at the first sound of a car or foot steps or anything. I'm interested in self defense and sometimes just running and screaming "FIRE" doesn't do much. I'm not shutting down rape whistles, or pepper spray or flash lights. I didn't say I was going to run out with a knife without proper training.
So please, do not think I'm unstable and ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble. I said it before and I'll say it again, the knife (or gun BUT more likely knife) would be a absolute backup. Absolute. Obviously other things would come into play before hand. I know this. I went from being very scared to now thinking about all lines of defense. I think we can all agree there is nothing wrong with wanting to defend yourself so I'm just asking about various methods, that's all.
I was very, very lucky that the people who tried to mug me were just a couple of losers who thought that a chubby white girl was going to be an easy mark. That being said, a knife would have been completely useless. I would not have had time to get to it and there is no way I was thinking straight enough to use one properly. Digging it out of a jean short pocket would have taken too much time and my strong arm, the right one, was the one tangled up in my purse strap. Digging a stun gun out of my pocket would have been no easier. You admit anything you carried like that would easily be turned against you if they wanted to take it so I don't know what good you think it would do. You pull out knife, get close enough to use it, they take knife and are already close enough to use it is not a very good sequence of events.
No one will have a problem with a woman carrying a stungun around in her purse as long as you don't go waving it around and zapping random people on the street.
I never said you were unstable, but you are setting yourself up for bad news.
Anything is better than a knife. It's a horrible idea. I wouldn't advise any of my friends to carry around a knife, even if it was a pocket machete and he was a bodybuilder.
Pepper spray or a zapper would be your best course of action.
I wont harp anymore, just know that a knife would be a mistake.
Yes, anything can be turned against you, but if you are confronted from the front, you step backwards and use the mace. With a knife, you need to step closer which is always a bad idea. People have cited professional fighter after professional fighter saying that the best course of action is to run. I know you are saying that the knife would be last hope, but I would warn against carrying it because you would then know it is an option in whatever weird circumstance might happen. Stopping to confront an attacker when you were just running away should never, never happen.
You should start running more. Get your speed and endurance up.
I don't think tazers are illegal in Philly, the website I quoted from earlier talks specifically about stun devices. Since they have tazers seperatly on the website, I'd assume they are different.
Edit: http://www.taser.org/laws.html
They say they don't ship to Philly, but their chart of states list PA as being legal for electric weapons.
My GF is off the deep end a bit on personal security as well, and still prefers a knife. I haven't been able to talk her out of it. It's something primal I guess, like a sharp set of claws. It makes her feel better, so I guess thats something, but really, she doesn't get that its just put her in more danger.
My advice is to go for the jujitsu, actually. Rape whistle, small dogs, flashlight- all good. Small dogs are awesome because they are noisy little bastards who just don't give a shit if they get hurt. They were bred for just that reason. Big dogs invoke the 'fighter' response, which is to say, you square off and treat it as a threat. Small dogs tend to invoke the 'fuck off' response, and they just don't give up as they bark their yappy little alarms. Thats not good for somebody trying to keep things on the low, and really, it makes you much less likely to be selected as a target.
Two things about using a knife; firstly, it's an extension of your hand. If you don't know how to use your hands to fight, having sharp fingers or a 'cutting fist' isn't going to do anything for you. As mentioned, it's just going to elevate the aggression against you, because it elevates the threat even though you still don't know what you are doing. So they go harder, but you're still the same.
Secondly, knives in combat are generally meant to 'bleed out' and position your opponent, making them weaker for the fight, not really to take them out. If you have no followup game, you'll still get your ass kicked. You need to be strong and somewhat skilled to do anything. Go poke a pot roast sometime with your 'defense weapon' and see how much damage you've actually done. Even someone with no training will instinctively block, dodge, and shift in ways to take the least amount of permanent damage. You can use these movements to your advantage- if you know how to fight. But you don't. So don't.
Ya ya.. blah blah still want one. Look for something with a heavy grip that has a metal nub extending past your pinky. Now you have a weighted fist, a leading edge, and a kubotan. A defense weapon should be properly gouted (a groove cut into the blade near where it is thickest) otherwise you wont be able to get it back out again after you connect. Shorter knives are best for beginners, no longer than the width of your hand. Sure, you wont be able to flash your razor penis quite as effectively, but you need to be able to handle the leverage at the tip; and with basic hand strength, longer knives will twist out of your grip as you 'stab' towards your target. Cloth or wound handles are best, sweat and blood are both very slippery, and smooth handles, though nice to touch, will slide out of your hand, weakening the strike. Keep it sharp, and practice on a real piece of meat sometime, you will be amazed at how little you're actually going to accomplish without good technique.
Did I say 'run' enough times yet? The only positive thing is that a heavy bleeder isn't going to be able to run as far or as fast as he would otherwise. That isn't to say that its still not longer and faster than you.
I liked the taser idea (for a weapon) best. From what I hear they make good 'gettaway' weapons. That sounds like something useful to use to get away. Knives are 'closing' weapons. They are for getting in close and engaging something personally. This is the opposite of what you want to do. Fists, knees, shins, elbows- all good get away weapons. Learn to use those first, otherwise you'll just get into more trouble.
Though I would use a knife as a last resort, and I do carry one at all times, it's way down my list for protecting myself and that's not why I carry one. Situational awareness has kept me from being attacked in the last 10 years or so. Paired with shoes you can run in, and deciding what you would do in a situation before it happens, you'll most likely never need to use a weapon.
Those of you that think this talk of protecting yourself is paranoia, I hope that you are able to think that for the rest of your lives, honestly. But I've been beaten by several guys at once, my brother has been mugged at gunpoint, my father has been mugged, my house has been broken into twice and my car twice, my family's car was stolen, and I've seen a man jumped by several guys and beaten and robbed. Now, that stuff that was stolen is just stuff and not worth dying for. But what if I had been home, or come home when someone was robbing my house? Or if I had gone to my car while someone was breaking in to it? Or what if I get mugged at gunpoint? Being prepared isn't paranoid, it's common sense.
When you're ready to get a gun, please realize that you need a lot of training and practice with it. Unlike other options, when you use a gun, you put innocent people at risk. I'm not saying that you shouldn't carry one, just make sure that you are prepared for the awesome responsibility. Isn't it odd that you can get a concealed carry permit for a gun, but not any other weapon?
Edit: Somehow I missed over a dozen responses... anyway, when I'm talking about using the knife in a fight, it's as a very last resort, when you're trapped and can no longer run away. If you don't have a gun, and you can run, it's always, always the best option.
Edit2: Er, running is the best option. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
as for your original story, what makes you think for any reason those 2 guys weren't just walking over to ask you if you knew if the gate was open, then spotted your grandma on the way and asked her instead?
Pardon my personal and borderline inflammatory opinion, but
well anyway, if you're dead set on owning a weapon I'd recommend a Ruger Mark III, they're nice and light, hardly any recoil because of their .22LR ammo, and with a 10 round mag you can afford to miss a few times or fire warning shots.
The best I can recommend though, is to learn a martial art and do weight training. Don't worry about getting too muscley, to get to be like a female body builder you have to take a lot of 'roids and hormones. With a martial art and some upper body strength you'll be a whole hell of a lot safer than with a knife or gun with the added benefit of not risking taking a life.
to Drew, what makes you think someone wouldn't have DIED if you pulled a gun on a mugger who also had a gun? Unless you're the quickest draw in the west or have a kevlar vest the odds are stacked against.
No offense, but if you scroll down you'll see that I have been attacked and I'm still not stupid enough to carry a knife that I would have no idea how to use properly. Having a two-three inch pocket knife isn't going to keep me from getting mugged, it would get me a worse beat down. If you get jumped by three guys do you think your pocket knife is going to scare them away? Also, having a knife isn't going to help you if you get robbed at gun point. Neither is a gun, what are you going to do have a shoot out on the street? When you go to your car and see someone breaking in you call the police, not confront them like some kind of tough guy. Being prepared doesn't mean carrying the biggest arsenal just because.
She's probably going to buy a knife against everyone's advice and I doubt she's going to get training in how to defend herself with it. She'll carry it in her pocket and most likely never get mugged but in her own mind her 2" blade will keep her safe. As long as she doesn't get into the situation and find out her knife is useless she'll be find.
Being mugged at close range with a gun when you have a concealed gun is an entirely different set of circumstances that I haven't commented on.
Yes you did, in your prior post you talked about how being prepared isn't being paranoid then listed a litany of reasons as to why you need to arm yourself. One of them being what if you get robbed at gunpoint.
The irony is that Philly isn't that bad of a city where that's even vaguely necessary.
After I was mugged I was paranoid of people walking behind me. I had to step aside and let people walk around me because I was afraid to have people behind. Granted, I had already been mugged and this only lasted a couple months immediately after.
If I was jumped by three guys, had already run and had nowhere to go, when I pulled my knife out it wouldn't be to scare anyone. And no, I wouldn't expect to win. But when fighting for my life, I'll take any advantage I can get.
You are correct that a knife will not help you if you're robbed at gunpoint. Toss your valuables to the ground and haul ass. If they chase you and you get trapped, a knife is better than nothing, but you will most likely be killed.
If you think a handgun would not help in any way when you're fighting for your life, I don't even know how to respond to that argument. It's a small, long range, deadly weapon which has been proven in combat for a couple of hundred years at least. That doesn't mean that I advocate trying to whip it out while you're standing in the middle of the street like you're starring in a spaghetti western. It's just another tool that can be used for protection. As I said before, make sure you get training and lots of practice. Use it intelligently and only as a last resort.
I never suggested attacking anyone that was breaking into my car or house.
That being said, if you ARE trained, having a weapon when you need it can save your life.
However, if you aren't, the easiest way to stay safe is just to stay in safe areas and situations. Avoid bad places.
Mace Gel, 18ft range
Knife, 3in range
Hmm, I'm thinking you didn't read the story as closely as you should have OR I didn't make it clear (if the latter, then I apologize). I didn't think the guys were going to attack me. My grandmother did. I thought they were harmless, and didn't really mind them. I've had people ask me the time before, and approach me before and as stated before I've never attacked anyone.
a good pair of running shoes will protect you far better than any knife or spray. Are you always going to wear them everywhere now? i'd guess not.
Be aware, trust your gut, and do whatever makes *you* feel comfortable enough to go about your normal life.