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So I started taking the bus last month and let's just say I've seen some sketchy people and saw some illegal things. I wasn't in any danger or anything but DH suggested I get some pepper spray. I do travel in the city and sometimes it's at night so it's something good to have.
We went to the store to pick up some pepper spray and the store (Walmart) didn't have it. DH then saw some pocket knives and said I should get one of those. I said I don't think I could handle a knife.
Anyway, it got me thinking, what do you use for personal protection?
I do have pepper spray now and I did take a self defense class a couple months ago. I have considered getting a Kubotan.
Note: In the poll, I mention guns. I know the use of guns and whether or not people should carry them can be a controversial topic. Please try not to debate ones decision to carry a gun or not to. Thanks!
Nothing. BUT I live in a really small town. My husband & I do have guns in our home though & knifes.
If I lived in the city & traveled on the bus I would at least want some pepper spray in my purse.
I don't carry anything, but I think if people do choose to carry personal protective equipment, they should learn how to handle it properly. You should be trained and regularly practice with that item, in order to be effective when using it against an attacker and avoid accidentally harming yourself.
When I worked downtown and wouldn't leave until after dark; or when I was still in college and had to walk home from class after dark, I always had pepper spray on my key chain. Now I pretty much never go anywhere I'd have to walk alone at night except like... from target to my car in the parking lot lol. So I don't keep it with me anymore (also because I'm a lawyer and I go in/out of court a lot so I'd have to constantly be taking it off my key chain every time I went to court.
I have a gun (with permit to conceal and carry) and my phone and I do have a kubotan on my keychain but I also have a wrench which would probably be just as effective.
My DH is highly experienced in Ninjutsu. He's taught me a few things to do in certain situations. however, if ever in the situation, I'm not sure if i'd remember. So technically i have nothing but my cell phone.
However, he has taught me that it's very important to know HOW to use the weapon you have. It's really nice that your FI wants you to be protected, but I think advising you to get a knife could be dangerous. If you ever ran into someone who knew how to use a knife better than you, they would take it away from you and use it against you.
Taking a self defense course is good, but also make sure you're always alert, aware of your surroundings and don't listen to music while you're walking anywhere by yourself.
I work downtown. I park in a garage and have to walk to work. I carry pepper spray and a cell phone when I'm alone. They also have these people (men) you can call and they will walk you to your car if you work late and want an escort.
I thought the answers were going to be condoms, bc pills, IUD, etc. LOL! Misinterpreted the title
@.twist.: Yeah, good advice. I did learn a lot of useful info when I took the self defense class. When I do listen to music, I only have one ear bud in. I have an iphone, too, and I know those are high on the theft list. So I always try to be aware of my surroundings and try to be very cautious when and where I use it.
I do agree that a knife can be dangerous and that's why I wouldn't get one. I don't think I would use it properly. I would be probably afraid of hurting myself or doing something stupid with it. Yeah, just not a good combination.
I am a black belt in karate, although I received the actual certification several years ago. I carry my keys in my hand when I walk, if possible. I've never bothered with pepper spray, because I feel like by the time I fumbled it out of my purse, it would be too late. I've also heard horror stories of it spilling/opening in your purse.
I live in NYC in a neighborhood that can be sketchy at times. I walk outside by myself on an every day basis in the dark, in the morning and at night. I ride public transportation daily, and take cabs home by myself at night.
I'm always aware of my surroundings, and have my keys ready when I reach my door. I pull it closed behind me so that no one can follow me in. To be honest, I almost never feel scared or nervous.
The only time I walk alone at night is when I walk my dog, and I always make sure to be on the phone with my SO or parents. The night walk (usually around 8 or 9) is very quick (under 3 minutes), just on my street where I know all my neighbors and in a safe neighborhood, but you never know when a crazy person is going to be around! I feel comfortable knowing that if something happened that someone would immediately call 911 for me. In my house, I keep a knife in my nightstand. I've taken self-defense classes as well, and that's where I learned some effective knifing techniques.
@BayStateBride: haha. That's funny. I can see that. I changed the title to be more clear.
I have a gun but not for home protection. I have it locked up so it is safe from anybody who is untrained or... not me. Mr. Hedgie has his with a seperate clip loaded just incase and is a blackbelt so I think we are okay!
Whenever I'm in a stuation where I feel vulnerable I usually pretend to talk on my cell phone (or I actually call someone) and I put my keys between my fingers in my coat pocket. I figure people are way less likely to attack or mug someone when they're on the phone because the person they're on the phone to would immediately know and call for help. The key thing I learned in a self defense class. No one wants a key to the eye.
@hotchildinthecity: I always have my keys ready to go before I leave any vehicle or before I reach my vehicle in a parking lot. Even in the grocery store, where there are lots of people, I always get my keys out of my purse before I leave the store.
I don't ever want to be fumbling through my purse (it's a big purse!) looking for keys and giving a bad guy the chance to ... do whatever he's gonna do to me. I also carry them between my fingers when I walk!
@hotchildinthecity: Same, sans the black belt in karate part :) I put two keys between my knuckles if its late and I have any sort of nervous feeling about my surrounding. Mostly, I am just very aware of my surroundings, making sure to keep my head up and look confident and alert.
I'm surprised that you listed a bunch of weapons, and not some of the devices that they actually encourage you to carry in self defense classes.
I carry a personal alarm with me. It has a flashlight, and if I pull out a string it makes a loud noise. I don't see how it could be used against me. I use salfwalk/security late at night on campus. I also usually have my keys out ahead of time.
I have a pepper spray on my keys that I have and always carry my phone. Also in college they offered a few seminars on self defense which were interesting and helpful. It's good to feel empowered.
Nothing but a cell phone, I basically never go anywhere without someone else or where others are around, so I have never considered it. Plus I live in Canada, we can't just carry weapons because we feel like it, and that includes pepper spray.
I don't carry anything. I live in a small town, and generally don't go out at night alone, I am terrified of the dark! If I am feeling the need, I will carry my keys between my fingers. My dad taught me how to fight/box when I was little, so I feel pretty comfortable in my ability to throw a punch and inflict some pain ;) We junt so we have multiple guns at home so if someone came in, we would be covered! I thinkI might have a knife in my car too..... and if I travel I have a gun, but more for if I hit something and have to put it down!
@.twist.: This is something they taught in class! You should hold your keys in your hand with the top of the key sticking out of your fist. That way if someone attacks you you punch them in the eye with the pointy key :)
We have guns in our home but I personally don't have anything other than my cell phone!
We are looking into getting me some mace or pepper spray because I run all the time and lately it's been in the dark. I don't feel completely secure.
a Taxi. my friends and SO won't let me walk through my neighborhood alone at night, so I have to take a taxi home. it sucks, I hate it because *I* think it's not that dangerous and I wish they would let me do what I want to do. (@yrret107: this is near capitol hill in seattle if you're curious)
for those of you who rely on cell phones for protection- for the love of god, keep it tucked away. the most common crime in my neighborhood is being mugged for your cell phone-- and most of the victims had them out at the time. keep it hidden. also, talking on your phone or using the MP3 player means you are not paying enough attention to your surroundings. at night, put it away and be aware of what's around you.
My main source is my mostly black german shepherd, who we do Schutzhund [protection dog sport] with. The only time I'm really ever alone is when out on runs or walks, so I just bring him with me.
My grandma bought me mace but I don't carry it out ( i think its expired)
and I also own a "cellphone" that really is stun gun. and we keep a baseball bat in the car.
I'd like to get a permit to conceal and carry as well.
@AB Bride: Oh, I'm sorry. What did I miss? In the self defense class that I took, they suggested getting a kubotan. I forgot about using keys so that's why it's not in the poll. I think 'other' is a good catch all for anything I missed.
The personal alarm or whistle. Safewalk used to actually hand out whistles whenever you used them.
Every self defense class I have taken has discouraged the use of weapons. They are too likely to be used against you. A noise making device doesn't have the same disadvantage.
Keys and cell phone. I would love to take a self-defense class though. Just in case.
@autumn865: Yea it's a good trick! My DH says that even without your keys, a finger in the eye can be just as effective!
@Gemstone: I actually found a free self defense class through one of my meetup groups. I have a feeling I wouldn't have done it, if it wasn't free or low cost.
@AB Bride: Oh, I think this probably has to do with you being in Canada. I think someone (@Genuine513) mentioned about the rules in Canada being different from the US. I didn't know that. That's good to know when I do go in to Canada.
@yrret107: Good thought! I may look around. I agree -- it'd need to be cheap or free. :)
We have a dog, a loaded handgun within arm's reach of our bed, and our cell phones. I'm rarely in precarious/worriesom situations without either my dog or my husband and honestly I don't give it a whole lot of though. Maybe I should?
@janie-janie: Really? Capital hill, doesn't seem too bad. I'm still fairly new to Seattle. I moved here 3 years ago. (I don't live in the city so that's why.) The thing that prompted me to get the pepper spray last night was that I heard about that snipper that was downtown a few days ago. Although, I don't think pepper spray would help in a snipper situation. haha.
I have pepper spray in my purse. I don't really need it anymore but I used to work in the city and would sometimes be walking to the train by myself at night so it is still in there from then. I have guns in my home, as does my SO. We both have our ltc so I know how to use it if ever needed but they are mostly for going to the range.
Also if I am walking to my car alone in the dark I always have my keys and cell phone in my hand.
How timely! I just went to my local running store yesterday, and while there (for headbands and socks) I picked up a small canister of pepper spray that velcros around your hand for while you run. While I'm not concerned about getting jumped, if I ever got attacked by a person or an animal, it's good to have something to defend myself!
I don't carry any items intended for defense like a knife or pepper spray. If the person attacking me is stronger and faster than I am, then I'm basically just handing them a weapon to use against me if I don't manage to disarm/disable them on the first try.
I've had basic training in self-defense and it's fairly reflexive for me. A friend once saw me walking home after dark and thought it would be funny to sneak up behind me and grab me. I almost broke his nose. So my body and my cell phone are my weapons of choice.
@yrret107: It's not just based on the rules. It's based on statics that they have. A gun or knife can be used by your attacker. By the time you know you're being attacked they are probably close enough to grab the gun from you. Pepper spray/mace falls into a more grey area is it is likely to harm yourself AND the attacker. We didn't discuss tasers or batons. We were just encouraged to use whatever we could get our hands on at the time, and to not carry an actual weapon. Keys in between fingers were encouraged. Any noise (car alarm, shouting, personal alarm, whistle) was also encouraged.
@yrret107: Yeah the rules are way different. You can get in huge trouble for carrying any sort of weapon, including pepper spray, tazer, knives (depending on size), bats, baton, and many other things, it doesn't matter if it is for protection purposes. You can only carry a licensed gun between your house and the shooting range or hunting ground, if you are caught outside of the Point A to point B zone you are in big trouble, if it is in your house it has to be locked and unloaded. Of course you have to be licenced to own one, which is not easy to obtain.
I don't have anything specific other than my super-spastic ninja skills.
DH has become acquainted with them after his numerous 'funny' attempts to sneak up and scare me. A flying fist into his face or groinal region usually gets him.
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