Personal Carry: Less than lethal options

[h20hunter]

I'm looking for options and suggestions or ideas for less than lethal carry options. I'm looking to help provide some information and options to the wife for ideas on a daily carry option. Spray? Taser option? If I had it my way she would get her permit, take a few classes, and choose a new shooter for her...but....not quite ready for that.

[headshot5]

Crocodile Dundee sized bowie knife...   

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Spray.  Get her a homemade WASP spray can holder for her purse.

[bhawley76]

Nunchucks

[CP]

Pepper Spray – its shoot and forget, or rather shoot and leave your assailant behind.  Stun guns require physical contact as do various batons and other devices. 

[h20hunter]

I've been looking at the Pepperblaster2 by Kimber. Shoots a gel. Pretty nifty.

[ELKBURGER]

Spray.  Get her a homemade WASP spray can holder for her purse.

[Mongo Hunter]

I would have to put +1 for a Taser. if the barbs don't stick you can pull that off and it can still be a stun gun. and get a black one, at a glance it would look like a gun and that might be enough to make the guy turn tail and run (not that you should count on it). but above all else I think a firearms is best but if shes not ready than this might be a good alternative.

[WARHORSE]

Spray is neat and i guess if it makes you/her feel better to have somthing rather then nothing. That being said most over the counter sprays that i have seen over time wont work when discharged. Also the over the counter stuff and even the bear spray isnt the ouch factor of law enforcment spray and law enforcement spray is a great deterent but can also have little effect on a determined bad guy.

[ELKBURGER]

Spray is neat and i guess if it makes you/her feel better to have somthing rather then nothing. That being said most over the counter sprays that i have seen over time wont work when discharged. Also the over the counter stuff and even the bear spray isnt the ouch factor of law enforcment spray and law enforcement spray is a great deterent but can also have little effect on a determined bad guy.

The WASP spray can shoot to 25' with a fat stream and is plenty potent. Should keep a can within reach of the bed as well.

[WoodlandShooter]

saw this post and was like, What's the point?


buf if I had my druthers, it would be Aqua Net and a Zippo.

[h20hunter]

I thought the point was fairly clear?  Less than lethal. She is not ready to carry a firearm but we agree that something is better than nothing.

[ELKBURGER]

saw this post and was like, What's the point?


buf if I had my druthers, it would be Aqua Net and a Zippo.

I Like It!

[huntinguy]

check with someone in the legal field...

But, I do believe pepper spray under a certain amount... and I don't recall what that is, is not considered a weapon, under Washington state law, and does not fall under any weapon restriction... in short you can carry it almost anywhere.

If it has an edge or is for impact it is a weapon according to the law and it can be restricted.

[pianoman9701]

Sounds like this is the self defense weapon for her: http://www.wildbillwholesale.com/swpftd8500rb.html

StreetWise Police Force Triple Defender 8500 Tactical Pepper Spray/Stun Gun/Flashlight Combo

[huntnphool]

 I pray that your wife is never put in a situation that she is in fear of her life and needs to use any kind of weapon to protect herself.

 That being said, in that unlikely situation, why would you have her risking her life, taking a chance and hoping that all that was needed was a taser/pepper spray/non lethal method?

 IMO, if you both are seriously concerned that this situation could become reality, then get her a firearm and training to truly understand if the situation warrants pulling it out, and how to use it if she does.

 I don't think I could live with myself if I had suggested "non lethal" means of protection and it didn't work in that situation.

[ghosthunter]

Here you go. All the women in my family and myself carry one of these. Lots of Youtube videos to watch on it.

Better than spray with 13 ft. range.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MG63X6/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=84459059352&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7563970260716166375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8un49jabgb_b

[h20hunter]

 

Ghost...that's what I'm looking at currently as a good option.

[ghosthunter]

I pray that your wife is never put in a situation that she is in fear of her life and needs to use any kind of weapon to protect herself.

 That being said, in that unlikely situation, why would you have her risking her life, taking a chance and hoping that all that was needed was a taser/pepper spray/non lethal method?

 IMO, if you both are seriously concerned that this situation could become reality, then get her a firearm and training to truly understand if the situation warrants pulling it out, and how to use it if she does.

 I don't think I could live with myself if I had suggested "non lethal" means of protection and it didn't work in that situation.

I get it.
But we have to face the fact that some folks will never be comfortable with a gun, regardless of training. And no amount of common sense will make them comfortable.
It is not just carry a gun and get training. You have to have a mind set to carry every day. You have to have a talk with yourself about when and where you will draw and fire.
A gun will do not good if the person will not carry it or use it if needed.
Some folks will never get there.

[ghosthunter]

Ghost...that's what I'm looking at currently as a good option.

Holiday Sports.

[runamuk]

We used to carry law enforcement pepper spray, (don't even ask I never did) I just learned to use it and kept it in my handbag or pocket.   My friend's father wanted us to carry guns but we refused, so this was the next option he came up with.  Apparently some men worry about 18-20 something girls working in downtown Seattle often in the evenings.   That stuff would kill me now but back then it was just a wretched burning coughing snotting please make it stop experience.

[huntnphool]

then get her training to truly understand if the situation warrants pulling it out, and how to use it if she does.

You have to have a talk with yourself about when and where you will draw and fire.

 

[ghosthunter]

I sent all the women in my family 6 To a handgun class. Provided 8 handguns for them. Paid for the class and dinner out for them before the class.
They all enjoyed the class. But only one has considered to carry a gun everyday. A gun just doesn't fit their life.
They all carry the KImber.

[huntnphool]

I sent all the women in my family 6 To a handgun class. Provided 8 handguns for them. Paid for the class and dinner out for them before the class.
They all enjoyed the class. But only one has considered to carry a gun everyday. A gun just doesn't fit their life.
They all carry the KImber.

 Good for you.

[wannabhntr]

I've been looking at the Pepperblaster2 by Kimber. Shoots a gel. Pretty nifty.

As someone stated above go with spray. You have the distance and don't have to make physical contact. I would suggest staying away from gels and sprays. They can actually be wiped off of the guys face and thrown back at the victim.

[runamuk]

I actually hate carrying its awkward doesn't really work with how I live my life.  So I have a cpl and all but I have yet to find a firearm that I would be able to carry all the time. 

I made it my first 40 years not even owning guns (exposure to them when I was little up to about 13) I am one who gets it not everyone needs or wants a gun. 

[ghosthunter]

We all hope our loved ones can react if needed in time. But in many cases they cannot.
A female manager of a popular Burger joint in Maysville was stabbed by a Homeless person she was trying to help in the business. She was inches away and no time to react even if she had the means.

You just never know. most folks cannot stay on alert that much.

[b23]

I'm not sure if this applies to your situation but my wife CAN NOT carry at her place of work.  She's not even allowed to carry mace or pepper spray so she's forced to leave it in the car which is parked in a multi level parking garage.

My wife was never around guns of any kind, never even handled one before me.  She didn't have any fears with them, which certainly helped, but her lack of knowledge about guns kept her confidence level low so you could obviously tell she was somewhat uncomfortable holding one because she was always very concerned about doing it right and would spend as much time looking at me and asking, "am I doing this right".  I've been around guns my entire life, before I was even born they were a part of my family so my comfort level around them was substantially greater than my wife's but I'm not a "trained professional" and my wife and daughter or no different than most others.  If I tell them something versus someone else telling them, chances are, depending on what it is, they'll listen to someone else before me and if that someone else happens to be considered an "expert" the more comfortable she'll be and the better she will listen.

After trying multiple different guns to find the one she felt the most confident with and shot the best, Ruger LCR 38+p, I signed her up for an all day class with Safe Insight.  The class made a huge difference in her confidence level.  She now handles a handgun very naturally and with confidence where before you could tell by the way she handled it she felt unsure of herself.

I think the mindset of being in a classroom setting with someone you view as a "professional" makes a considerable difference for some people and if that's all it takes to make someone feel more confident and comfortable with a handgun or just guns in general, IMO, it's money WELL spent.  It certainly made a world of difference with my wife.

[h20hunter]

We are in agreement. My wife is self employed and the areas she travels are mainly from building to building and parking garages. She has handled and fired a wide variety of guns but as mentioned, it just isn't for her at this time. We also both agree that if she decides to carry then professional instruction would follow, not just me saying do this or that.

[pianoman9701]

I actually hate carrying its awkward doesn't really work with how I live my life.  So I have a cpl and all but I have yet to find a firearm that I would be able to carry all the time. 

I made it my first 40 years not even owning guns (exposure to them when I was little up to about 13) I am one who gets it not everyone needs or wants a gun.

No one needs a gun...until they do. I hope that someone who doesn't carry will never have to say "Oh crap! I sure wish I didn't have to die begging for my life."

[Alchase]

Some good ideas in this thread, I would add have her take a self defense class specifically for women with an emphasis on situational awareness.
One of the best non-leathal defenses, is being aware of your surroundings.
That takes practice. Most people walk through lif totally oblivious to what is happening around them. A good self defense class will also promote situational awareness.
Lots of good books out as well.