pepper spray

I think you are better off being aware of your surroundings and avoiding the situation altogether. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Besides weapons have a way of being turned on their owners.

A couple of tips which we offer in our Running Clinics

1. People will basically attack you for three reasons...Most assailants are after money. Carry what is called throw away money. A handful of cash you can fling in your assailants face which will dissorient and allow you to create distance. If they are after money... they'll go for the cash. Beyond money, the assailand is either trying to hurt or rape you.

2. Be aware of your environment and let others know where you are going and when you will be back. Avoid dangerous situations (i.e. don't run in alleyways at night) and allow your natural senses to work (can you see/hear people around you?)

3. Instinct is the most important tool we have to keep safe. If something doesn't feel right, chances are it isn't. Listen to your instincts.

4. Eye contact. You can often determine an individuals intentions via eye contact. It is also a deterrent as it shows confidence and reduces the element of surprise.

5. Use the buddy system. If someone is looking for trouble, they usually will pick on individuals rather than pairs. Especially if your buddy is Chuck Norris.

6. Avoid carrying items that may make you a target. (i.e. that new IPhone that you are so intently listening too... Thieves like those too (especially when your attention is on it and not your environment.)

7. If you are attacked... You have a right to defend yourself. Yell "No" loudly and continue to yell. Make as much noise as possible. Create an exit for yourself by attacking pressure points (knees, groin, armpits, throat, eyes, ears). Don't make it easy.

8. If you still cannot escape, make as much noise as possible and create as undesirable a situation for your assailant. Not my idea, but one of my students suggested that soiling yourself would derail a rapist quickly.

Its the middle of the afternoon... I could likely post more, but would still caution against carrying a weapon. Yes, its easy on paper to say how we'd blow someone apart with a 357 or beat them with a baton... the truth is that more people are harmed by their own weapons than those belonging to a criminal.

If I had to carry, it would be a .357. I think OC a .357
would keep the crazies away.

.357 beats the hell out of your hands (assuming you're using .357 magnum rounds and not .38 specials). Go with a .45ACP; lower velocity round, nice gentle recoil. :laugh:

Agreed on the kick of a .357. Tough to bring it back down quick enough to get off another round accurately if you need to (for us ladies, that is).

That said, I prefer the simplicity of a revolver for self-defense. Less to malfunction in the heat of the moment.

No, I don't carry pepper-spray. But I always recommend that you carry SOMETHING. Better safe than sorry is my thinking...

The .357 is a revolver, but is heavy as hell. Not
too bad of a kick because of the weight. Also not
ideal to go running with, unless you strap a brick
to the left hand side of your waist to even out the
weight. Ok, maybe 2 bricks. LOL
I use the local gym, so I'm not too worried about it.


Yes, I'm aware that a .357 is a revolver... Thus my clarification that even though it kicks I'd still rather carry it (a revolver) than a .45 ACP.

My .357 of choice is a Ruger 4" barrel. Not as heavy as the 6" (which still kicks like a mother, in my opinion) and fits in more places, but has even more of a kick. Just my 2 cents.

I carry dog mace. I wish a mother f*cker would.

the mace works...I was sprayed by a drunk mailman...it was brutal..that's all you will need....

I always have it on me and unfortunately have had to use it multiple time. Trust me, it's better to be safe than sorry! All the times I used it the attackers had no intentions of 'bringing me back safely'..... So I make an effort of having it with me at all times.

I carry bear strength pepper spray because I live in a pretty nature filled area... It's pretty common for me to take my dog for a walk and encounter coyotes taking themselves for walks in the other direction. I also have a bobcat that lives in my backyard. So yeah..necessary

Sadly I have to carry it to work too because I'm more afraid of the people I might encounter outside my building than the wildlife around my house. I work in a reaaaallllly bad area

Reminds me of a joke I heard when I was a kid:

The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.

On my usual path through the neighborhood, I don't carry pepper spray. There is a lot of people around walking dogs, pushing strollers etc so I'm not worried there.

If I venture to an unknown park or path, I do take my pepper spray. While running, I've been bitten by a dog (granted, a Chihuahua) but if a bigger dog/animal would come after me, I would use on them as well as an attacker.

What baffles me is the amount of people that run outside with headphones. How easy it is for someone to come up behind you when you can't hear them?!

If I had to carry, it would be a .357. I think OC a .357
would keep the crazies away.

.357 beats the hell out of your hands (assuming you're using .357 magnum rounds and not .38 specials). Go with a .45ACP; lower velocity round, nice gentle recoil. :laugh:

Agreed on the kick of a .357. Tough to bring it back down quick enough to get off another round accurately if you need to (for us ladies, that is).

That said, I prefer the simplicity of a revolver for self-defense. Less to malfunction in the heat of the moment.

No, I don't carry pepper-spray. But I always recommend that you carry SOMETHING. Better safe than sorry is my thinking...

The .357 is a revolver, but is heavy as hell. Not
too bad of a kick because of the weight. Also not
ideal to go running with, unless you strap a brick
to the left hand side of your waist to even out the
weight. Ok, maybe 2 bricks. LOL
I use the local gym, so I'm not too worried about it.


Yes, I'm aware that a .357 is a revolver... Thus my clarification that even though it kicks I'd still rather carry it (a revolver) than a .45 ACP.

My .357 of choice is a Ruger 4" barrel. Not as heavy as the 6" (which still kicks like a mother, in my opinion) and fits in more places, but has even more of a kick. Just my 2 cents.

We pretty much agree. LOL

Except I like the S&W .357 4" barrel. (CTG. HWY Patrolman)
The thing is really is easy to shoot with out the big recoil.

I carry a spring assisted knife when i'm off base. Once I leave the gates bam! i'm in a really really bad neighborhood. Mace is great, but you only get one try, and it's not always enough to stop someone.

As a Brit reading these comments I really can't imagine what it must be like living somewhere where people are so scared of the streets, parks and countryside that you'd feel the need to carry weapons around all the time. I think I'd end up staying indoors comfort eating

Nope.

I used to live in London and never carried anything.

I've been mugged and it hasn't changed my mind.

I don't carry anything. I'm more worried about the animals, I have seen bears, snakes, wild turkey and deer. I'm mostly scared of the bear though! I should get some bear spray.

learning how to look like you could **** someone up with one wrong look is invaluable. lol no one dares mess with me because of THE LOOK. plus i get into the mindset of "i frickin DARE you to mess with me because i've had a crappy day and if you even TRY i will twist each of your balls off and feed them to you!!" before i head out for a risky trip. it keeps me on the defensive and ready for anything.

i do, but only when i am in the city at my sisters place...she lives downtown and it is not the greatest location ever.