Non-Lethal Self Defense Options
Maybe you think that carrying a firearm just isn’t your cup of tea. You might not be able to handle it for religious, ethical or moral reasons. Or maybe you frequent places that you wouldn’t be able to carry your Glock, Springfield XD, Smith & Wesson, or another brand of handgun. These types of places could be college campuses, in school zones, or in business offices that forbid the carrying of firearms. Just because you can’t carry lethal options, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carry another form of defense. Here’s a look at some non-lethal options that you may be able to legally carry.
Taser (~$300)
Resembling a firearm, a taser ‘gun’ typically shoots out two wires that attach to the perpetrator and passes electricity through their body, causing their muscles to contract, thus they fall to their knees and lay down in pain. This gives you enough time (roughly 30 seconds) to scream, run away, and call the police. Tasers in today’s marketplace even spray the perpetrator with a UV type dye that can be traced back to the taser used, allowing police to identify the individual later. Once drawback to tasers is that they can be fired only once at your target, and if you miss, you’re out of luck. There’s no firing again – Though some tasers have stun guns build in to the end so you can use it as such.
Stun Gun ($30+)
Delivers electricity to a person but without the wires that a taser uses. The stun gun is held in hand and applied directly to the perpetrator while pushing on a button. This causes the electricity to go through them and their muscles contract just like a taser would do. The downsides to a stun gun are, once you let of the button, or once the taser is no longer in contact with the offender, the shock wears off of them. Also, you have to be within arms reach of them in order to touch them with the device to begin with (not good).
Baton ($40-$100 depending on quality)
A baton is an expandable stick that is used to defend yourself by beating your attacker. Usually a six inch aluminum rod that expands to 18 inches or so, a baton can be used as a great non-lethal weapon or as a lethal one (head blows). The one caveat to using a baton is that you have to have somewhat good arm strength and be able to move effectively on your feet. If you’re the type of person who can get mad/defensive quickly and can deliver strong, forceful blows with a stick, the baton might be a good match for you.
Pepper Spray ($10+)
Popular on college campuses, pepper spray comes in various size containers and is used as an aerosol spray and directed towards the attackers eyes and facial skin area. Once in contact with skin, and especially the eyes, pepper spray causes a burning sensation like no other, causing the attacker to become more concerned with their own well being than with trying to keep up the attack. The good thing with pepper spray is that it can come in sizes as small as a keychain attachment or larger ones that you can carry in your pocket. The downsides are, you have to be within so many feet for the spray to reach the attacker, the wind can cause the spray to come back to your own face, and you may once get two to four chances to spray your attacker before you have to resort to some sort of physical means of defense.
Car Keys & Pens (Free)
Items that most people have with them all the time, yet seldom think of them as defensive weapons, especially college students. Car keys can be held, sticking out, tightly between your fingers, while making a first, to create a sharp and devastating blow to an attackers skin/face. It’s like punching with brass knuckles, but instead of a blunt object on your fist, you’ll have a few jagged/sharp keys sticking out. The downside is it will hurt the palm of your hand if you deliver a proper blow, but the good thing is that it will hurt them a whole lot worse. A similar concept can be used with a pen (preferably one with a metal shaft). Hold it in a fist and have your thump on top of it. Then use it to ‘stab’ your attacker. The downside to both of these items is you have to be in close contact with your attacker, so these are last resort items that you can use; though they’re better than just slapping an attacker away.
