WHAT WEAPON SHOULD I CARRY FOR SELF-DEFENSE?

With the carrying of concealed handguns in Illinois becoming a reality this year, many people are considering getting licensed to carry a handgun.  This article is not addressing the pros and cons of carrying a handgun (although I have commented on that in a prior blog), but instead suggests some alternatives to carrying a gun.

When most folks think about carrying a weapon for protection the first things that come to mind are usually a gun or a knife, and while both are certainly viable weapons each with their own pros and cons, I would suggest that most people consider some less lethal options.

Pepper Spray - this is sold on-line and in many sporting goods stores, and is generally legal to carry most places.  Unlike mace, which is a chemical, pepper spray is made from very hot peppers and is not considered a chemical, so there are fewer restrictions on it.  Additionally, it has been found by some to actually be more effective on people than mace.

Pepper spray is a very good weapon because it works at a distance, causes immediate and severe irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, is effective on an attacking animal, and is easy to learn how to use; however, it does have a significant drawback.  While it is great if you hit the attacker in the face, if you miss because the attacker ducks or shields his face, you need to be ready with other options.  Also, you need to be conscious of which way the wind is blowing, as you could end up spraying yourself, and causing a bad situation to become worse.  Instead of the spray consider getting the gel version which is thicker and helps eliminate the problem of having it blow back in the wind.  I have also read that it is supposed to have a 4 year shelf-life rather than 2 years for the spray.

Small flashlight - this is another item which is not strictly speaking a weapon at all, so it should be something that you can carry almost anywhere - even on a plane or into a courthouse (however there are no guarantees on this - so check before you try and take it with you to avoid having it confiscated or being required to take it back to your vehicle).  The flashlight offers a few benefits - it is easily portable, can be easily concealed (depending on the size), and can be used to both blind and strike an attacker.  When considering what flashlight to buy, consider one that is made of metal and not plastic so that it works well if you need to strike someone with it.  You also want a flashlight that can be activated quickly with one hand in case you other hand is carrying something or blocking an attack.  When attacked you can shine the light (the brighter the better) in the attacker's eyes, and then strike the attacker repeatedly until you achieve the desired effect.

Finally, consider a cane or walking stick - again, this is a tool which is allowed into courts, planes, government buildings, etc., places you would never be allowed to carry a gun, knife or pepper spray.  The cane is an amazing defensive and offensive weapon considering its length and weight.  A separate article is needed to address the many uses of the cane as a weapon, and what types of canes are the best for self-defense, but suffice it to say that it can block attacks by clubs or punches, allow you to defend against a knife attack, and possibly give you the advantage to survive an attack against a trained fighter if you learn to use it properly.  There are many types of martial arts that explore the use of the cane, however, most are too complicated to be useful for the average person.  Instead, if you are looking to learn how to use a can quickly and effectively, find a copy of Michael Janich's DVD called Martial Cane Concepts - his approach is simple and makes sense.

There are certainly other things that can be used as weapons, and I hope to write another entry very soon about the use of improvised weapons - for those times when you don't have access to anything else.

If you are interested in learning about defending against weapon-based attacks, consider attending my upcoming seminar on June 5, 2014 from 6 to 7:30 pm, which I am teaching for Vernon Township.  I plan to address the basic concepts for dealing with club, knife and handgun attacks. Contact VT T (847) 634-1542 for registration details.

Until next time, remain vigilant and stay safe.