Posted: 2/13/2008 12:02:40 PM EDT
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do you all know anywhere in arlington/alexandria where I can get Fox Labs 5.7 or Sabre Red pepper spray? thanks |
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Long time lurker, first post. I've a question to pose on pepper spray. I'm hesitant to prescribe it to a female most of the time because of the possibility of it being used on its owner. If they're confronted by a situation, what good is fumbling around for pepper spray when they could be better served by screaming/lashing out/running away? Not intended to be accusatory or saying my opinion is full proof, but just soliciting others' opinions on this. Thanks Edit: also particularly versus commercially available taser/stun guns as well. |
nothing does anyone any good if they don't know how to use it. If she intends on carrying it in a method that allows her to consistently draw it properly, and she know how to use it correctly, then she should be good to go. and as for effectiveness, it's not 100% effective, but it usually messes up most people pretty badly, spray yourself for an idea of the effects, have some baby shampoo handy. |
You are exactly right. Training, and regular, recurring practice should be at the top of any self-defense strategy. The carry position of any defensive tool should be such that immediate access is available. It is very common for someone to have OC, but it "lives" in the bottom of a large and cluttered purse, at the bottom of a pocket, or some other location where it cannot be readily retrieved. Both of these things above can help serve as constant reminders that the world is not a friendly place, and, as a benefit, help raise the mental awareness of the person who is carrying. Being aware of your surroundings so that you may avoid an encounter is so much better than whatever kind of defensive tools you may have available. One thing to be particularly aware of when dealing with OC is that when you deploy it, you are going to contaminate yourself. The proper time to discover how you react to OC contact is not while you are trying to escape from an assailant. There's no substitute for training. Regarding the TASER and stun guns.... The typical "contact" type of 'stun gun' isn't particularly effective. It is simply a pain compliance device and the pain it generates isn't that severe. You also must be at contact distance with your assailant in order to use it. The threat that you might use it would be enough for some to cease their actions, as it does make a menacing CRACK CRACK CRACK sound. Some of them even have strobe tubes for a light show. The TASER is a much better tool than the 'stun gun', at least from the standpoint of effectiveness. The weak link here is that the probes make appropriate contact. It also offers another advantage in that you don't have to be within contact distance to deploy it. Randy |
Oh, and i recently was talking with a Comm. Attorney, who said that there was significant case law in virginia where apparently using a stun gun, or other electrical control device (not a taser) was considered assault and people were charged and convicted for using stunguns on others. Mostly these stemmed from people using stungun offensively however, such as security guards, bouncers, or people robbing others in alleys. So stun gun is defnitely not a good idea in the Commonwealth. |
I did not interpret that paragraph as saying that a stun good is a bad idea, but rather that using a weapon, on the offensive, is a bad idea. Assailting someone is generally bad, and made worse by the presence of a weapon. Virginia is IN GENERAL pretty lenient on the DEFENSIVE use of most weapons... shooter |
true, i meant that it wasn't a good idea more in that it's honestly a crappy weapon for self-defense. The whole coming within arms reach thing is a bad idea, not to mention that most of the stunguns you find for sale are crap and break, or have inconsistent voltage which means it may or may not be effective on the attacker, who is now in choking distance. |
I will give you every one of those. My wife will never be trained or equipped to let someone get within arms reach with hostile intentions. I am also not a HUGE fan of pepper spray, but it can work pretty well when used right, and at the very least create a disparity in the event that hostilities do not cease. If I have to pick between fighting someone who can see and breath and fighting someone who can't, the choice is pretty obvious. |
definitely, besides, pepper spray is great when you run out of Texas Petes for your scrambie eggs! |
I like to think that if I heard someone yell help I wouldn't turn and walk the other way... shooter |