Not everyone is able to, or wants to, carry a personal defense firearm for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you live in an area where concealed carry is extremely difficult or not possible to get, maybe your CCW application was denied for some reason, maybe you just don’t want to carry.
However, if you are anything like me, you probably feel safer knowing that even without a firearm you have something that might give you the upper hand in a potentially violent confrontation.
Here are some of the things that I carry. Not all at once, mind you, but depending on the situation. I have also listed what I see are some of the advantages and disadvantages of these choices. Please use the comments below to add your own thoughts about self-defense choices without a firearm.
1. Knife.
OK, this is pretty obvious. A good quality folding or fixed blade knife makes an excellent defense tool with PROPER TRAINING AND PRACTICE! Using a knife for self defense can be tricky–if you don’t know what you are doing, the weapon can be taken away from you and used to body pierce your own bits and pieces, so if you are going to carry one, at least make the effort to take a training course of some type.
Advantages:
- Doesn’t require a permit or paperwork to own and carry
- Easily concealed and carried
- Very effective if you know how to use it
- Can be used for other everyday chores like opening boxes and picking your teeth
- Generally inexpensive, although my wife would kill me if she knew how much I have spent on knives
Disadvantages:
- As I said above, can be turned back against you if you are not skilled
- Requires very close contact with your aggressor
- You may be facing someone better armed than you. Remember the old saying “don’t bring a knife to a gunfight”.
2. Pepper Spray
I like pepper spray. It allows me to keep an amount of distance between myself and the bad guy. But once again, it takes some skill and practice to be used effectively.
I have two types of pepper spray, a small canister that I carry when I am walking my dogs early in the morning–good defense against other aggressive dogs, coyotes, and maybe even a mountain lion if I could only keep my knees from shaking. Have I mentioned that I live in a very rural neighborhood?
The other pepper spray that I carry almost everywhere is the Kimber Pepper Blaster II. I like this because it delivers two high speed “shots” of gel that are not as affected by wind as a spray. But you only get two shots, so make sure you aim.
Advantages:
- Legal in most states
- Easy to operate
- Gives you plenty of time to get away from the threat
- Keeps some distance between you and your aggressor
Disadvantages:
- Most are difficult to use in moderate to strong winds and can end up back in your own face
- Limited shelf life requiring regular replacement
- One time use
- Cannot be safely used in very close face-to-face conflicts.
3. Stun guns
I did buy one of these recently at a gun show, more out of curiosity than necessity, and I’m not convinced that for most people they are an effective deterrent. I have no personal experience with using one, so if you are more informed than I, please let us know.
Advantages:
- Sound scary, which may be a deterrent in itself (like racking a pump shotgun).
- Relatively easy to use
- Rechargeable, so can be used multiple times
- Can be very effective if used on the right body part
Disadvantages:
- Very close contact with the bad guy needed
- Can possibly be taken away and used against you
- Definitely need training and practice to use one correctly
- Scares the crap out of your dog (personal experience–don’t ask).
4. Tactical pen
These pens have some great advantages that I list below, but again require training and practice to use effectively.
Advantages:
- This is the only one listed so far that you can bring on a plane in your carry-on luggage. It is, after all, just a pen, although a very strong one. This is the main reason why I bought mine. Some guy tries to set his shoes or underwear on fire next to me on a plane and he’s going to know the true meaning of the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword”!
- Obvious advantage–you have a nice pen when you need one.
Disadvantages:
- Like some of the above, requires knowledge of close quarter fighting skills
- Expensive if you only ever end up using it to write with.
5. Big rock and pointy stick
OK, I’m being somewhat glib here, but remember that in a pinch, almost anything harder than a hamburger can be used as a weapon. Remember, you may be fighting for your life, so there are no rules, no Marquis of Queensbury boxing regulations. Fight hard, fight dirty, and refuse to be a victim.
Advantage:
- Free, just bend over and pick them up
Disadvantage:
- Who want to walk around carrying a big rock and a pointy stick?
6. Running shoes
“He who turns and runs away, will live to run another day.”
‘Nuff said.
7. Common sense
Staying aware of your situation and surroundings, keeping a confident manner when walking, crossing the street to avoid something that “just doesn’t feel right”, don’t go drinking at a bar and start mouthing off at the big guy… these are all common sense things that we have been told many times to avoid getting into bad scenarios. And yet, it is so easy to forget and walk down the street chatting on your cell phone completely oblivious to what is happening around you, isn’t it?
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