Are you equipped with a weapon?

[Saint Frankenstein]

I live in the United States of America. For those who don't know, every now and then (as in, sometimes several times a week), some loser will go to Walmart or some other public place and shoot it up. My town has had a couple "smaller" mass shootings, and America as a whole has taken a "fat L" in the department of public safety.

That brings me to my question... Are you armed? Do you carry around a means to defend yourself from these psychos?

I used to own a couple guns when I was 18-19, but I got rid of them. At the time, I was an angry fella and people were screwing with me. So, for their sake and my own, I got rid of my guns.

I went through a few years of anger management on and off as well as regular therapy and psychiatry. I am no longer that angry kid with a death wish.

I was grappling with the idea of getting a gun again, but, with the prevalence of mass shootings, I think I will get one. I trust myself with my life more than I trust strangers.

A gun is the best choice... Right? For self defense I mean. A sword would be awkward to carry around and, well, you'd have to close the distance. But a lot of shooters nowadays do it armored up. There will be cases where the store security guard or whatever dies because of that. So like, a sword I can just stab right through a vest.

Then there is the option to just run. In the employee orientation video at my work, there's a mass shootings preparedness part. It said to prioritize doing these things in order in the event of a mass shooting: 1. Run, 2. If you can't run, hide. 3. If you can't hide, fight back. So like, if I am armed, I might just skip to step three which could turn out good or bad. Being unarmed sorta forces me to run, which might be a good thing.

Pepper spray is an option too. I've been pepper sprayed before. It hurts sooooo much my gosh I never cried out for God's mercy more desperately than when I got sprayed.

I hate the idea of being a sitting duck every time I go out shopping.

I personally think everyone should be armed and well trained in self defense. I think we should be a society of lions, rather than sheep. People don't like the idea that we might need to all be armed and protected each time we go to Walmart, but it's the hard reality in my opinion. It'd be nice if we didn't have to protect ourselves, but psychos make it not so.

Anyways, are you armed? How do you go about it? What's your philosophy and tips when it comes to self defense?

If you are not armed, why not? Have you just resigned to running if there is a mass shooting? Or are you just having your fingers crossed that you won't be a victim of one?

No, I'm not legally allowed to have a weapon. I do think I should have the right to, anyway. The Constitution says I do, but of course the federal government loves taking away Constitutional rights. Things are getting more and more violent these days and it's pretty scary in cities now. You never know what's going to happen, especially if you work with the public. There's a lot of tension. I believe self-defense is a sacred right and duty.

A sword. Lol. Very classy, but too ridiculous. Lol.

 

[Viker]

No, I'm not legally allowed to have a weapon. I do think I should have the right to, anyway. The Constitution says I do, but of course the federal government loves taking away Constitutional rights. Things are getting more and more violent these days and it's pretty scary in cities now. You never know what's going to happen, especially if you work with the public. There's a lot of tension. I believe self-defense is a sacred right and duty.

A sword. Lol. Very classy, but too ridiculous. Lol.

Hey now. A sword never needs reloaded.

 

[John53]

I live in the United States of America. For those who don't know, every now and then (as in, sometimes several times a week), some loser will go to Walmart or some other public place and shoot it up. My town has had a couple "smaller" mass shootings, and America as a whole has taken a "fat L" in the department of public safety.

That brings me to my question... Are you armed? Do you carry around a means to defend yourself from these psychos?

I used to own a couple guns when I was 18-19, but I got rid of them. At the time, I was an angry fella and people were screwing with me. So, for their sake and my own, I got rid of my guns.

I went through a few years of anger management on and off as well as regular therapy and psychiatry. I am no longer that angry kid with a death wish.

I was grappling with the idea of getting a gun again, but, with the prevalence of mass shootings, I think I will get one. I trust myself with my life more than I trust strangers.

A gun is the best choice... Right? For self defense I mean. A sword would be awkward to carry around and, well, you'd have to close the distance. But a lot of shooters nowadays do it armored up. There will be cases where the store security guard or whatever dies because of that. So like, a sword I can just stab right through a vest.

Then there is the option to just run. In the employee orientation video at my work, there's a mass shootings preparedness part. It said to prioritize doing these things in order in the event of a mass shooting: 1. Run, 2. If you can't run, hide. 3. If you can't hide, fight back. So like, if I am armed, I might just skip to step three which could turn out good or bad. Being unarmed sorta forces me to run, which might be a good thing.

Pepper spray is an option too. I've been pepper sprayed before. It hurts sooooo much my gosh I never cried out for God's mercy more desperately than when I got sprayed.

I hate the idea of being a sitting duck every time I go out shopping.

I personally think everyone should be armed and well trained in self defense. I think we should be a society of lions, rather than sheep. People don't like the idea that we might need to all be armed and protected each time we go to Walmart, but it's the hard reality in my opinion. It'd be nice if we didn't have to protect ourselves, but psychos make it not so.

Anyways, are you armed? How do you go about it? What's your philosophy and tips when it comes to self defense?

If you are not armed, why not? Have you just resigned to running if there is a mass shooting? Or are you just having your fingers crossed that you won't be a victim of one?

I've owned rifles in the past but they were for hunting not protection. I doubt I will ever own another as hunting doesn't appeal to me any more.

The best way to protect yourself from a mass shooter is to not let the mass shooter have access to guns.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hey now. A sword never needs reloaded.

Very true. Can be something practical like a smaller katana. A machete would be great, as well. Combat knives, etc.

 

[Debater Slayer]

A sword. Lol. Very classy, but too ridiculous. Lol.

I prefer to challenge my enemies to a ladder match at WrestleMania. Tables and chairs work well, too.

 

[Quagmire]

Pepper spray. It's legal in most states in the US, you don't need a license for it, doesn't require training (although like anything else it doesn't hurt to practice with it), it's got a range up to 12 ft, you can use it on multiple attackers.

I think the biggest advantage to pepper spray though is that anytime you get into in altercation with someone you going to have to prove that your response was justified. For that matter your going to have to prove that the other guy was the attacker, not the victim.

In any case, you could wind up facing charges regardless of the weapon you use.

With a non-lethal weapon, most likely the only charges you'd be facing would be assault and battery. If you defend yourself with a gun or an edge to weapon like a knife or a sword, you could be facing charges for murder, manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon, or attempted murder.

Even if your response is deemed justified, with a knife or a gun or any potentially deadly weapon you'll still be required to demonstrate that the use of deadly force was justified. It's a hard thing to prove and it's usually left up to a jury to decide, and chances are most if not all of the people on the jury won't be familiar with what it's like to be fighting for your life. They won't understand the adrenaline rush or the way panic and your instinct for survival can take over and cause your body to go on autopilot.

To someone who's never been in a situation like that your reaction may well look like an overreaction.

The use of a nonlethal weapon eliminates most of those potential problems.

Also, except in very very rare instances, the use of a pepper spray or any other non-lethal weapon means you won't have to live with having killed someone or caused someone permanent harm.

 

[Laniakea]

Pepperball guns seem to be getting popular now as a "less than lethal" alternative. Looks like a gun, but is actually a high powered airgun that shoots plastic balls filled with pepper spray. They can also shoot solid projectiles for practice. Supposedly legal in all 50 states, even for people who can't legally own a firearm.

 

[Balthazzar]

I live in the United States of America. For those who don't know, every now and then (as in, sometimes several times a week), some loser will go to Walmart or some other public place and shoot it up. My town has had a couple "smaller" mass shootings, and America as a whole has taken a "fat L" in the department of public safety.

That brings me to my question... Are you armed? Do you carry around a means to defend yourself from these psychos?

I used to own a couple guns when I was 18-19, but I got rid of them. At the time, I was an angry fella and people were screwing with me. So, for their sake and my own, I got rid of my guns.

I went through a few years of anger management on and off as well as regular therapy and psychiatry. I am no longer that angry kid with a death wish.

I was grappling with the idea of getting a gun again, but, with the prevalence of mass shootings, I think I will get one. I trust myself with my life more than I trust strangers.

A gun is the best choice... Right? For self defense I mean. A sword would be awkward to carry around and, well, you'd have to close the distance. But a lot of shooters nowadays do it armored up. There will be cases where the store security guard or whatever dies because of that. So like, a sword I can just stab right through a vest.

Then there is the option to just run. In the employee orientation video at my work, there's a mass shootings preparedness part. It said to prioritize doing these things in order in the event of a mass shooting: 1. Run, 2. If you can't run, hide. 3. If you can't hide, fight back. So like, if I am armed, I might just skip to step three which could turn out good or bad. Being unarmed sorta forces me to run, which might be a good thing.

Pepper spray is an option too. I've been pepper sprayed before. It hurts sooooo much my gosh I never cried out for God's mercy more desperately than when I got sprayed.

I hate the idea of being a sitting duck every time I go out shopping.

I personally think everyone should be armed and well trained in self defense. I think we should be a society of lions, rather than sheep. People don't like the idea that we might need to all be armed and protected each time we go to Walmart, but it's the hard reality in my opinion. It'd be nice if we didn't have to protect ourselves, but psychos make it not so.

Anyways, are you armed? How do you go about it? What's your philosophy and tips when it comes to self defense?

If you are not armed, why not? Have you just resigned to running if there is a mass shooting? Or are you just having your fingers crossed that you won't be a victim of one?

I have my trusty plastic fork and my toothpick sometimes on reserve. They're hell on the eyeballs, let me tell you. The plastic fork is more for fun than anything. I can typically conjure up a laugh or a wtf look. It can help de-escalate a situation. If not, my toothpick might would come in handy, but they won't like it ... at all. I mean absolutely none. If I'm not close enough to use my little wooden toothpick, or can't deescalate the situation, I would typically get my *** kicked. The plastic fork to toothpick hoping to deescalate a bad day could very well lead straight to the hospital, but hey... I don't own a gun and I don't like violence. You can't truly run from a gun anyway, and if you have one and shoot someone, you best hope it isn't a movie set you stumbled up on by accident. People are crazy and the independent film industry aren't the safest known to make a film.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I have to strategize for my culture.

What's happening in your culture that would let a gun be a net safety improvement?

I've lived across the street from a drug dealer whose girlfriend once brandished a gun on the front lawn during an argument with some of his customers. When I was in high school, they banned spectators at basketball games because there were too many stabbings.

... but getting a weapon for "self defense" never seemed like a good idea to me.

 

[Laniakea]

What's happening in your culture that would let a gun be a net safety improvement?

I've lived across the street from a drug dealer whose girlfriend once brandished a gun on the front lawn during an argument with some of his customers. When I was in high school, they banned spectators at basketball games because there were too many stabbings.

... but getting a weapon for "self defense" never seemed like a good idea to me.

If someone came at you with a knife and attempted to stab you with it, a means of stopping them from doing so would come in handy.
In the home, if you woke up at night and discovered that someone had just broke into your house, having a means of self defense would be good against an intruder who decides that killing you would be preferable once he discovers you instead of leaving you to be a witness against him in court. Home intruders can't usually be counted on to make correct choices.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If someone came at you with a knife and attempted to stab you with it, a means of stopping them from doing so would come in handy.

Killing the person with the knife is probably Plan D in that situation, but sure.

Still, the problem of someone trying to stab me has literally never come up.

In the home, if you woke up at night and discovered that someone had just broke into your house, having a means of self defense would be good against an intruder who decides that killing you would be preferable once he discovers you instead of leaving you to be a witness against him in court. Home intruders can't usually be counted on to make correct choices.

Where I live, home invaders tend to target houses that keep a lot of illegal drugs. They also tend not to be worried about killing anyone to eliminate witnesses, since a drug dealer is unlikely to go to the police to complain about his drug stash being stolen.

Personally, I avoid the problem by not keeping illegal drugs.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Nope. Closest thing I have is a cheap claymore sword that's good for scaring away hoodlums trying to break into cars but not actually using.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

If someone came at you with a knife and attempted to stab you with it, a means of stopping them from doing so would come in handy.
In the home, if you woke up at night and discovered that someone had just broke into your house, having a means of self defense would be good against an intruder who decides that killing you would be preferable once he discovers you instead of leaving you to be a witness against him in court. Home intruders can't usually be counted on to make correct choices.

You have to have a gun to defend yourself?

 

[Secret Chief]

Of course not but then which country would be stupid enough to allow the general citizenry (of which some are headcases and some are morons) to own deadly weapons?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

"equipped" with a weapon?

I went through a few years of anger management on and off as well as regular therapy and psychiatry. I am no longer that angry kid with a death wish.

Apparently, instead of an "angry kid with a death wish," we've got "an anarchist" with a gun. Just great ...

 

[Secret Chief]

The best way to protect yourself from a mass shooter is to not let the mass shooter have access to guns.

Good grief, I can't believe no one has thought of that before. It's almost as if it's common sense.

 

[ChristineM]

I like it this way, I think it is good that only the police, the army, farmers, and criminals have guns

A friend of mine has a hobby of target shooting. In his car, locked in a safe are several rifles.

He had a car accident, police rolled up. As he is required to do he reported that he was carrying rifles and ammunition.
He was thrown to the ground, restrained, a helicopter showed up closely followed by 3 armed police vehicles and 2 dog units. The road was closed. Only then did they ask to see his license.

 

[Eddi]

A friend of mine has a hobby of target shooting. In his car, locked in a safe are several rifles.

He had a car accident, police rolled up. As he is required to do he reported that he was carrying rifles and ammunition.
He was thrown to the ground, restrained, a helicopter showed up closely followed by 3 armed police vehicles and 2 dog units. The road was closed. Only then did they ask to see his license.

I have an air-rifle that I brought on a whim several years ago

But that's totally legal as it is of only a certain calibre and can only propel projectiles with a certain degree of force

I actually want to get rid of it but I'm not sure how

I mean it's not going to be any good in a Zombie apocalypse so what's the point?

 

[Secret Chief]

So anyone who has a baseball bat should be regarded with extreme suspicion!

"There is no law prohibiting the ownership of baseball bats in the UK – however if brandished in a public place a baseball bat is categorised as an offensive weapon. Brandishment is defined as waving something aggressively, so merely carrying a baseball bat in a public park, for example, would not constitute an offence."

- What are the different types of weapon offences? | Lawtons Solicitors UK

 

[Kathryn]

For me, it's been about home protection. If someone were to break in and it came down to him or me, I'd definitely want it to be me.

Same here. I am a single woman, and I live alone. I have a security system and a gun but I don't anticipate having to use either. That being said, better safe than sorry.

Though I would probably do better with mace or even a can of wasp spray. Which I do have.

I have a seriously mentally ill and violent brother who has threatened me in the past and who knows where I live. I don't much like that. I would maim him but probably not kill him but then, who knows? I might, if he scared me enough. But I do think the alarm system would probably scare him off. Probably. But I'm not sure, so I have weapons to injure him with. And I'm fine with that.