yguy

In terms of raw firepower you are correct, but you fail to take into account the mindset of a government that would "snap", which is that of a bully - and all bullies are cowards. No way in the world would an attempt to subjugate a unified and armed populace be anything but a pyrrhic victory. Likely they would try to pick off a few people at a time; some have thought that the Koresh thing was a test run for something like that. It's why the first amendment is as indispensable as the second.

Theli

Yes, let's all arm ourselfs to the teeth with household items. Self defence with a kitchen knife and a bottle of pepsi. Atleast it's a better idea than "self defence" with guns.


yguy...
Did they teach you that in school too?
"The bravest person is he who lies under his bed crying while the other kids are out playing soccer, because he has the courage to admit he's afraid." :notworthy
Are you saying that guns should only be used on government employees?

Daleth

Disagree. Shocking, isn't it?

All bullies are cowards, huh? That's why the powers responsible for starting WWII tucked their tails betwen their legs and ran off as soon as anyone faught back, right? Many bullies may be cowards, but they are bullies because they know damned well that they are more powerful than the other guy. Let's not address national or global abuse of power by talking playground politics, OK? Anyway, this is another whole thread we're talking about.

Vandrare

back on the original topic, how about pepper spray?
its effective up to quite close, and last for up to 40 mins without causing longterm health problems. it wouldn't be much good if he's already on top of you, but if you act slightly preemptively it wont be a fatal mistake.

Daleth

Pepper spray seems like a better choice than some of the other suggestions (the info I posted on Tasers was right out of the user's manual). I can think of a few negatives for pepper spray...

You've got a smaller target to aim for. You need to hit them right in the face. If you can't, it will still have some effect but probably not enough.
If you're quite close to the target, you're going to need to close your eyes and turn your head away to avoid getting the effects yourself, and there's a vulnerability in that moment of having your eyes shut.
If you're in a small enclosed space (back seat of a car) you're going to get some of the effects no matter what. In a space that small, the effects you get could be enough to prevent you from escaping. Having been in a tiny bar where someone accidentally sprayed some, ouch!

Other than that, you just have to be sure that you replace it as often as required (and I can't remember how often that is) because it does go bad and not leave it floating around the bottom of your handbag. Like anything, it's not flawless, but it seems like it would be a good defense to me. There's some company that sells a device that is a pepper spray dispenser on one end and a stun gun on the other, which might be a good combination. If you can spray someone first, you're more likely to be able to disable them with the stun gun. Interesting idea at any rate.

I haven't looked this up though. Just my thoughts. I've no idea whether the facts would prove me wrong.

Theli

I think the best possible solution is for every person to have their own personal forcefield protecting them from the world. It's the selfdefence of the future. In the meantime, pepperspray looks better.

Amen-Moses

How about just grabbing a handfull of testicle and twisting till he passes out?

Or pretend to go along with him and then bite his dick off, or tell him you are HIV+ or carry a 120db alarm, there are many things you can do not least of which is to never go into dangerous situations in the first place, even I a fully grown 40 year old male do not go out alone if I can help it.

Amen-Moses

Jackalope

I have the clips on my walkers. Got 'em from the local wheelchair dealer. One of the repair guys is a genius at fixing things with makeshift parts. I have learned the wisdom of using zip ties from him. He told me the clips are used in broom closets to hold equipment. Apparently he gets them from a janitorial supply place. On this new chair, I just finished making a leather sling. The cane handle hooks over the push handle of my chair, and the cane itself rests in this leather tube that's (you guessed it) zip-tied to the back of the chair frame. It's like having a holster.

Being invisible can actually be dangerous. When I was still staggering around, I found that I was the only person who could actually see the wheelchair users. So I was usually the one who helped them get out of ditches or right an upturned chair. I began to wonder if most of the middle-class folks would even see a mugging in progress right in front of them.

If your chair has anti-tip bars on them, it's safe enough to practice. The chair just tips back on those tiny wheels. If you don't have anti-tips, definitely wear a helmet when you first try it. A lot of chairs have an adjustable axle plate. By moving the axle farther foreward, more of your weight is behind the axle. This can make the chair tippy, but can also make it easier to push and wheelie.

Yes. I try and use the same user name everywhere if possible.

MzNeko

Hey! You're making light of this... FEAR the Might of my Office Supplies of Doom, puny Mortal!

I know some of the things I mentioned do sound pretty silly (and I'm not tremendously likely to be assaulted in my office - that's just the room I was in at the time), but I DO think that looking around a room and sizing up potential weaponry is a good self-defense habit, right along with trying not to get into dangerous situations in the first place.

If caught without a gun, you could be stuck wasting time going "oh-my-god-I-don't-have-my-gun" and not noticing the tire iron/frying pan/pipe wrench/kitchen knife that's handy (depending on where you are).

I've never been assaulted, I have had a few decidedly nervous-making situations. I hope it never comes to having to physically defend myself. However, if it were to happen, I have NO moral issues with using any and every dirty trick that I've ever heard of. If the only weapon at hand is a can of bug spray, the bastard'll by-god get it right in the eyes. If all I've got is a sharp pencil, it's going somewhere tender, and then I've still got my fists, feet, teeth to do whatever else it takes to get away.

Anyway, just my two cents.

Theli

I'm guessing this assault takes place in the kitchen, not in the streets. If that was the case you would probably just grab the nearest object and wave it at the aggressor (or jehova's witness), but to grab a frying pan and a pair of bottles when you're going out with your friends seems abit screwy.
Hasn't anyone mentioned the most basic strategy for avoiding a predator, stay with the flock? Bringing a group of friends with you, that works better than any can of old spam.