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Weapons/Self-defense implements primer
5 years ago
Recent events have a lot of people thinking about self-defense implements. That’s understandable. So, I thought I would do a short talk on the subject. We will begin with some disclaimers:
First, I am not an expert on self-defense, but a researcher. This thread represents a distillation of points made by other people who ARE experts. That said, you should never just take someone’s word for it. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
Second, always be sure you have a thorough understanding of the pertinent laws before you begin carrying any type of weapon or self-defense implement. Failing to do so can land you in serious legal trouble.
Third, no self-defense implement is a substitute for training. No matter your plan, you need to practice the techniques until they become second nature. One saying in the self-defense community is, “You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.” Keep this in mind.
Finally, if your motivation for carrying is “so I can kill people,” then you shouldn’t have a pair of safety scissors, let alone a weapon. The aim here is to guard your life and the lives of others, not to fulfil some base sadistic urge or self-glorifying phantasy.
Firearms: Let’s get this one out of the way. Guns are pretty effective at what they do. If someone is trying to kill you, punching holes in their vital organs will tend to make them stop doing that. Simply revealing a firearm may sometimes be sufficient to defuse a situation (although this can also go the other way and should never be relied upon as a tactic).
Carrying a gun is not for everyone. Reasons against may be financial, medical, legal, ethical or involve some other practical concerns. Many people are not emotionally equipped to pull the trigger on a human life, however dire the need.
It also bears pointing out that there are few options for making one’s use of a firearm proportional to the threat one is facing: shooting at someone generally entails a high likelihood of killing them. For this reason, some gun owners choose to carry a less-lethal tool in addition to their firearm(s).
Note that firearm law in the US varies not just from state to state, but county to county and municipality to municipality. Always do your research and, if in doubt, consult a professional. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Knives: These have a few things going for them and a whole lot going against. First, the pros: a serviceable knife can be had for little money. They are portable and easy to maintain. A well-designed knife is also very quick to deploy. They’re versatile, too, and have many day-to-day applications apart from self-defense.
On the negative side, knives necessitate getting in close to the attacker, exposing one to danger. They are another tool with a high likelihood of killing the intended target and are not appropriate for low stakes engagements. Some people may be outright unable to bring themselves to use a knife on another human being. Finally, a single knife wound, even a mortal one, may not disable an attacker for some time, during which they will still be dangerous. Indeed, it may take many wounds, delivered in rapid succession, to nullify a threat. How is that going to look to a jury?
In a life-or-death situation one does what one must, but knives are just not ideal self-defense tools. A weapon of last resort.
Pepper Spray: Pepper spray has a lot going for it. It’s cheap, easy to use and readily available. It’s not regulated all that much (but always check your local laws) and can be carried by just about anyone. It is reasonably effective, while at the same time unlikely to kill or cause permanent injury to an attacker (although it may, in rare instances).
There are downsides, however. Pepper spray is not 100% effective, despite any claims to the contrary. It has limited range. Cannisters lose pressure over time and must be periodically replaced. Strong winds can cause it to miss or even blow back towards you (for this reason, I recommend gel rather than spray). Used indoors, it can get into the ventilation system or otherwise linger and cause problems. Note also that not all pepper spray is created equal. I personally recommend Saber Red pepper gel, which has a good reputation. (DO NOT use bug spray instead, thinking it is “just as good.” It isn’t. Additionally, at least in the US, using bug spray for this purpose is a violation of federal law!)
Stun Gun: [Not tasers. Tasers have their own entry.] A stun gun is a handheld device which produces current between two electrodes for the purpose of incapacitating or discouraging an attacker. They produce a loud noise and a bright flash. Getting hit by that current is painful and causes involuntary muscle contractions at the point of contact. All this may frighten off a half-hearted robber but is unlikely to dissuade someone dead set on doing you harm. Police who were issued stun guns for use in the field have reported them as being broadly ineffective at subduing targets.
Not recommended, though they are probably better than nothing.
Taser: Tasers shoot out electrified spikes which stick into the target. Originally these spikes would be trailing wires which led back to the power source in the “gun” part of the device, but wireless tasers now exist and are likely to become more common in the future. Like with stun guns, the current from a taser is very painful and causes involuntary muscle contractions. But tasers are much more powerful.
Law enforcement tasers have a range of up to about 35 feet. Civilian models generally have less range, closer to 15 feet. Owing to the nature of their design, most tasers can only fire one shot. While they are usually effective at incapacitating an attacker, they aren’t always (I have heard it said that tasers are effective about 75% of the time, though take that with a grain of salt). Tasers can be thwarted by heavy clothing. They are ineffective against groups.
Against a single attacker in light clothing, a taser will probably work most of the time. Don’t miss, and have a backup plan if you decide to go this route.
Kubotan: Kubotan, if you didn’t know, are small (pocket-sized) rods, sometimes with a blunt point on one end or both ends. These may be sold attached to keyrings or not. The idea is that you use this to strike or push into the attacker’s vulnerable spots: eyes, pressure points, etc.
Frankly, if you’re good enough at fighting to use a kubotan, you don’t need a kubotan. If you want something like this, get a sturdy flashlight or “tactical pen” of about the same size. You’re far more likely to get use out of it that way. I guess there are situations where one of these might come in handy, but there are better options. It certainly shouldn’t be your first line of defense.
Batons, collapsible batons, canes, bats: These are clubs. A sharp blow with one of these stands a good chance of killing someone or causing permanent injury. I’m not saying you shouldn’t carry/use one, but don’t have any illusions about what you’re doing. Clubs were used in war for thousands of years. They haven’t gotten any safer since then. Laws can vary wildly from place to place, so do your homework before carrying. And if you decide to use a bat, have a glove as well.
Slungshot/Monkey Fist/Blackjack: A specialized subcategory of club. These were used in the past for attacking people from behind. They’re weapons, but not defensive in nature. One might find some use for these in a fight, but I would suggest looking elsewhere. Legality is dubious in many places, often these are outright illegal.
Brass knuckles/Knuckle dusters: Ill-fitting brass knuckles can break your fingers. The heavy plastic/polymer ones you see nowadays can have poor durability and may shatter on the first strike. None of this is mentioning the questionable legality. I can’t recommend these for anyone.
Hand-to-hand training: Learning a martial art is a good idea no matter your self-defense plan. It helps keep the body fit while cultivating the sort of mindset a person needs in a self-defense situation. One cannot expect to always have weapons/tools at hand, and one may become disarmed in a confrontation, so there is always a chance it will come down to brawling. The only caveats to this are that you need to study a real martial art that teaches proven, effective techniques. Be wary of mystical mumbo-jumbo; you’re there to learn fighting, not witchcraft. You should also be prepared to research your instructors’ credentials, as the martial arts industry is rife with frauds and conmen.
So there you have it. If I missed anything, or if you have thoughts/questions/corrections, feel free to share them.
First, I am not an expert on self-defense, but a researcher. This thread represents a distillation of points made by other people who ARE experts. That said, you should never just take someone’s word for it. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
Second, always be sure you have a thorough understanding of the pertinent laws before you begin carrying any type of weapon or self-defense implement. Failing to do so can land you in serious legal trouble.
Third, no self-defense implement is a substitute for training. No matter your plan, you need to practice the techniques until they become second nature. One saying in the self-defense community is, “You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.” Keep this in mind.
Finally, if your motivation for carrying is “so I can kill people,” then you shouldn’t have a pair of safety scissors, let alone a weapon. The aim here is to guard your life and the lives of others, not to fulfil some base sadistic urge or self-glorifying phantasy.
Firearms: Let’s get this one out of the way. Guns are pretty effective at what they do. If someone is trying to kill you, punching holes in their vital organs will tend to make them stop doing that. Simply revealing a firearm may sometimes be sufficient to defuse a situation (although this can also go the other way and should never be relied upon as a tactic).
Carrying a gun is not for everyone. Reasons against may be financial, medical, legal, ethical or involve some other practical concerns. Many people are not emotionally equipped to pull the trigger on a human life, however dire the need.
It also bears pointing out that there are few options for making one’s use of a firearm proportional to the threat one is facing: shooting at someone generally entails a high likelihood of killing them. For this reason, some gun owners choose to carry a less-lethal tool in addition to their firearm(s).
Note that firearm law in the US varies not just from state to state, but county to county and municipality to municipality. Always do your research and, if in doubt, consult a professional. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Knives: These have a few things going for them and a whole lot going against. First, the pros: a serviceable knife can be had for little money. They are portable and easy to maintain. A well-designed knife is also very quick to deploy. They’re versatile, too, and have many day-to-day applications apart from self-defense.
On the negative side, knives necessitate getting in close to the attacker, exposing one to danger. They are another tool with a high likelihood of killing the intended target and are not appropriate for low stakes engagements. Some people may be outright unable to bring themselves to use a knife on another human being. Finally, a single knife wound, even a mortal one, may not disable an attacker for some time, during which they will still be dangerous. Indeed, it may take many wounds, delivered in rapid succession, to nullify a threat. How is that going to look to a jury?
In a life-or-death situation one does what one must, but knives are just not ideal self-defense tools. A weapon of last resort.
Pepper Spray: Pepper spray has a lot going for it. It’s cheap, easy to use and readily available. It’s not regulated all that much (but always check your local laws) and can be carried by just about anyone. It is reasonably effective, while at the same time unlikely to kill or cause permanent injury to an attacker (although it may, in rare instances).
There are downsides, however. Pepper spray is not 100% effective, despite any claims to the contrary. It has limited range. Cannisters lose pressure over time and must be periodically replaced. Strong winds can cause it to miss or even blow back towards you (for this reason, I recommend gel rather than spray). Used indoors, it can get into the ventilation system or otherwise linger and cause problems. Note also that not all pepper spray is created equal. I personally recommend Saber Red pepper gel, which has a good reputation. (DO NOT use bug spray instead, thinking it is “just as good.” It isn’t. Additionally, at least in the US, using bug spray for this purpose is a violation of federal law!)
Stun Gun: [Not tasers. Tasers have their own entry.] A stun gun is a handheld device which produces current between two electrodes for the purpose of incapacitating or discouraging an attacker. They produce a loud noise and a bright flash. Getting hit by that current is painful and causes involuntary muscle contractions at the point of contact. All this may frighten off a half-hearted robber but is unlikely to dissuade someone dead set on doing you harm. Police who were issued stun guns for use in the field have reported them as being broadly ineffective at subduing targets.
Not recommended, though they are probably better than nothing.
Taser: Tasers shoot out electrified spikes which stick into the target. Originally these spikes would be trailing wires which led back to the power source in the “gun” part of the device, but wireless tasers now exist and are likely to become more common in the future. Like with stun guns, the current from a taser is very painful and causes involuntary muscle contractions. But tasers are much more powerful.
Law enforcement tasers have a range of up to about 35 feet. Civilian models generally have less range, closer to 15 feet. Owing to the nature of their design, most tasers can only fire one shot. While they are usually effective at incapacitating an attacker, they aren’t always (I have heard it said that tasers are effective about 75% of the time, though take that with a grain of salt). Tasers can be thwarted by heavy clothing. They are ineffective against groups.
Against a single attacker in light clothing, a taser will probably work most of the time. Don’t miss, and have a backup plan if you decide to go this route.
Kubotan: Kubotan, if you didn’t know, are small (pocket-sized) rods, sometimes with a blunt point on one end or both ends. These may be sold attached to keyrings or not. The idea is that you use this to strike or push into the attacker’s vulnerable spots: eyes, pressure points, etc.
Frankly, if you’re good enough at fighting to use a kubotan, you don’t need a kubotan. If you want something like this, get a sturdy flashlight or “tactical pen” of about the same size. You’re far more likely to get use out of it that way. I guess there are situations where one of these might come in handy, but there are better options. It certainly shouldn’t be your first line of defense.
Batons, collapsible batons, canes, bats: These are clubs. A sharp blow with one of these stands a good chance of killing someone or causing permanent injury. I’m not saying you shouldn’t carry/use one, but don’t have any illusions about what you’re doing. Clubs were used in war for thousands of years. They haven’t gotten any safer since then. Laws can vary wildly from place to place, so do your homework before carrying. And if you decide to use a bat, have a glove as well.
Slungshot/Monkey Fist/Blackjack: A specialized subcategory of club. These were used in the past for attacking people from behind. They’re weapons, but not defensive in nature. One might find some use for these in a fight, but I would suggest looking elsewhere. Legality is dubious in many places, often these are outright illegal.
Brass knuckles/Knuckle dusters: Ill-fitting brass knuckles can break your fingers. The heavy plastic/polymer ones you see nowadays can have poor durability and may shatter on the first strike. None of this is mentioning the questionable legality. I can’t recommend these for anyone.
Hand-to-hand training: Learning a martial art is a good idea no matter your self-defense plan. It helps keep the body fit while cultivating the sort of mindset a person needs in a self-defense situation. One cannot expect to always have weapons/tools at hand, and one may become disarmed in a confrontation, so there is always a chance it will come down to brawling. The only caveats to this are that you need to study a real martial art that teaches proven, effective techniques. Be wary of mystical mumbo-jumbo; you’re there to learn fighting, not witchcraft. You should also be prepared to research your instructors’ credentials, as the martial arts industry is rife with frauds and conmen.
So there you have it. If I missed anything, or if you have thoughts/questions/corrections, feel free to share them.
Given I've also used mine for gardening, I imagine even in a life or death scenario I'd hesitate to use it for fear of giving someone sepsis. I advise screaming. I think the human voice has been downplayed as a self-defense weapon, but its something that is taught in certain martial arts that screaming can demoralize your opponent. It can help draw attention and the fear of a scene being caused may make an attacker retreat as in most scenarios they'll worry about getting caught.