Good Weapons Worth Considering

Part of defending yourself sometimes requires a weapon. Fortunately, there are a number of decent weapons that should be considered for your personal self-defense. For our purposes, we’re looking at the ones that are small, light, and can be carried with little to no problem. In some cases, they are even recommended by local authorities. The key is to figure out which one works best for you and carry it with you at all times.

We’re specifically looking at non-lethal weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, and collapsible batons: Weapons that may cause some damage but leave the target alive. The idea is to give you options to survive, preferably by giving you a chance to escape. None of these items will transform you into a Viking warrior, but they should give you that extra second or two to get out of dodge while making it hard for your attacker to pursue you. So here are some things to consider.

Everyday Carry

When you’re looking at potential weapons, you need to consider training, size, and speed of deployment. Training is the debatable one here; most non-lethal weapons require little to no training, usually just point and shoot. This makes size and deployment paramount. Nonetheless, you should be at least familiar with how your weapon works and how to cause the most potential damage with it.

Size is going to be important because it’s something you need to carry with you at all times. While this is the advantage of carrying a purse (as it allows you to carry larger weapons), size is still important as you don’t want a weapon that’s too large or heavy, as it can get hung up in other items or be too hard to pull out. Conversely, a weapon that’s too small is going to get easily lost in the purse, especially if there are lots of other items; you want to get in, grab it, and use it as quickly as possible. A keychain weapon is not a bad compromise, as it’s small and, due to the keys attached, easy to find.

[Helpful Hint: A piece of duct tape can make finding anything a lot easier.]

Deployment is the fun one. Ideally, you need to be able to get the weapon into action as soon as you get your hands on it. Tasers and pepper spray are the winners here as they are quick to deploy with little prep. Brass knuckles are at the other extreme as they need to be put on properly, something difficult to do in a rushed situation; knives are even worse. Collapsible batons are smack in the middle as they need to prepped by swinging them hard, but they get the job done.

[Some places have specific weapon bans; government offices, for example, ban knives and even non-lethal weapons. As such, if you are planning to visit such places you need to allow for these bans; this means either leaving the weapons behind in your car or simply leaving them at home if you don’t drive to the location. As usual, know the appropriate laws and regulations, and plan appropriately.]

Here are eight weapons to consider:

1. Tasers: Easy to use, quick to deploy, usually easy to find. However, they tend to be one-shot weapons that are difficult to reload
2. Pepper Spray: Same advantages as tasers, but they need to be replaced every few months to maintain their strength. They can also be messy. However, even at diluted strength they can be used to distract attackers.
3. Collapsible Baton: Easy to use but do take an additional moment to prep. They can be difficult to collapse, but that’s a minor issue. Extra training (such as through a martial arts studio) is advised.
4. Monkey Fists: Usually attached to keychains, they are quick to find and deploy. However, check local laws.
5. Brass Knuckles: Easy to find in a purse but slow to deploy as they need to be put on. They are also usually outlawed.
6. Knives: Easy to find but generally need to be unsheathed and/or otherwise prepped before use. There are also potential legal issues. Training is advised.
7. Tactical Pen: Quick to deploy, but can be difficult to use. However, they can be easily hidden among the usual items in a purse.
8. Police Flashlight: This is sort of a weird one, as you are more likely to carry it in your car than your purse. Yes, this refers to the extra-large flashlight usually carried by police and security. Nonetheless, when you grab it it’s carried in hand, so it’s ready to go. You can get some advanced training in clubs, so it works trained or untrained.

The Firearm Question

This is always going to be the elephant in the room. Ignoring the certification required and local rules and regulations (you need to look into that yourself), this is something that needs to be seriously debated. You need to ask yourself five questions before even thinking about a firearm:

1. Are you ready to take a human life? Every time you fire a firearm against another person, it’s possible that someone may lose their life, so this is the paramount question.
2. Can you secure the weapon so that it is both secure and easy to deploy? You need to make sure that the weapon is not only difficult to steal but also to use when it needs to be used.
3. Do you have somewhere at home where you can securely place it? The ideal place would be in your bedroom (to facilitate home defense), but it does need to be securely stored between uses.
4. Are you ready to commit to the training required, including maintenance training? Firearms require a lot of training, as well as going to the range every so often to keep your skills sharp. You also need to keep abreast of current relevant laws and regulations.

5) Is this a decision based on logic? Too many people choose to purchase based on emotional response; no matter how valid that emotion is, it could lead to a dire situation that you’re not really prepared for.

If you can answer “yes” to all four questions, then you should feel free to at least look into owning a firearm. Owning a firearm should be more than just “something to fit into the crowd with”; it needs to be a choice made to fit your needs and outlook. If you’re being pressured into gun ownership, then you need to seriously debate friendship with those pressuring you. While firearms are the ultimate self-defense weapon, owning one will complicate your life in ways you may not imagine; it’s thus important to consider all of the issues before purchasing one.

[One other issue that needs to be debated is whether or not you’re ready to for someone to take the firearm from you. While this applies to any other weapon, even non-lethal ones, the inherent deadliness of a firearm makes this a major consideration. If you can get the weapon back SAFELY, great, but otherwise the suggested tactic is to either forget the weapon or surrender to whoever ends up possessing your firearm. Yes, there are lot of other issues to consider, but this should give you a lot of food for thought.]

Make Sure You Know Local Laws

This is where things really get fun. Honest. Before you even consider purchasing a weapon, you should look into local laws because the seller sure aren’t going to; they’ll sell to anyone who can afford their wares. Different countries have different rules on which weapons are allowable (Britain having a major issue with martial arts weapons being an interesting example) while states, counties, and even cities can have their own very specific rules. An obvious example is the monkey fist (especially a weighted one), which is considered illegal in numerous states but is perfectly legal.

[Word For The Day: Slungshot. This is the “proper” name of the monkey fist, and knowing that may make searches easier.]

Knives are another area to consider. Some areas limit how long a blade can be, while others limit types of knives; the gravity knife (AKA the balisong) is an example of a knife that is frequently illegal. Some non-lethal weapons may have specific age or other restrictions; pepper spray may be illegal based on the composition of the spray, for example. Brass knuckles and other knuckledusters are also frequently forbidden. As mentioned, sellers don’t care, especially if you’re purchasing the weapon across state lines, where a weapon may be legal where it’s being sold but not where the purchaser is; it is thus incumbent on the purchaser to know the rules.

In short, once you’ve decided on a weapon, it’s a good idea to do at least a quick internet search on the legality of your chosen weapon. It may save you from doing time and/or paying fines.

In Other Words….

A weapon can be a valuable asset on a number of levels, especially when it comes to self-defense. However, choosing and subsequently purchasing a weapon is not an easy choice, and there may be issues that complicate things. However, for the right person in the right situation, a weapon can be a valuable aid to self-defense. Make sure that you have weighed your options and debated the possible issues and you should be okay.