Thoughts on pepper spray?

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Replies

  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    I am amazed and alarmed that ordinary folk feel the need to carry firearms on a daily basis, let alone pepper spray.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    this is my running defense:

    mean-dog-8.jpg


    tho, he usually looks like this:

    article-2241821-164FEBCC000005DC-717_634x424.jpg


    in a less silly answer, while I do run with my dog, I also trained in martial arts for 5 years and there's a thing or two most non-trained folks (especially women) can learn from taking a self defense course.


    it is also good exercise.

    ETA: one of the things I learned in my martial arts was to consider before carrying a weapon whether or not you could defend yourself against that weapon if it is taken from you. Also, from my experience with guns, don't carry if you aren't skilled, willing, and prepared to use it.
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    The problem with that is - in the UK at least - if you best friend set about an attacker, he or she would most likely have to be put to sleep. That's a risk I won't take with my own dog.

    There's also the possibility that in the heat of an attack your dog may turn on you.

    ETA: the best defence - and awesome exercise - was attending Aikido classes and yes, we did learn the dangers of carrying and having a weapon turned back on us. Any weapon can be used against you by an attacker.
  • Mother_Superior
    Mother_Superior Posts: 1,624 Member
    It works for hot sauce in a pinch, and it gives the added security of no longer being afraid of the burritos I'm eating.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Pepper spray is no joke. If carrying, practice with exposure. And enclosed spaces are lol.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    The problem with that is - in the UK at least - if you best friend set about an attacker, he or she would most likely have to be put to sleep. That's a risk I won't take with my own dog.

    There's also the possibility that in the heat of an attack your dog may turn on you.

    ETA: the best defence - and awesome exercise - was attending Aikido classes and yes, we did learn the dangers of carrying and having a weapon turned back on us. Any weapon can be used against you by an attacker.

    He is actually a deterrent. In the event of an attack, I expect to be the one defending him. He's just a puppy!

    also ETA: where I live dogs have to bit more than once to be put down. And they are always given a chance to move out of the jurisdiction. This is based on laws that are just about dogs biting. I'm looking to see if there are any laws that recognize if a dog is fighting off an attacker.
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    I'm in the UK, so firearms are illegal to carry for civilians, as is pepper spray. However, when I arrived at university the female students were given rape alarms (I'm in a really safe city, so most of us found this unsettling). A good rape alarm should be enough to disable your attacker as the noise actually stops people in their tracks. As you're expecting it, it would give you time to run, and the noise would be enough for a cowardly attacker to run away once they've recovered from the paralyzing noise! Just an alternative option!
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    The problem with that is - in the UK at least - if you best friend set about an attacker, he or she would most likely have to be put to sleep. That's a risk I won't take with my own dog.

    There's also the possibility that in the heat of an attack your dog may turn on you.

    ETA: the best defence - and awesome exercise - was attending Aikido classes and yes, we did learn the dangers of carrying and having a weapon turned back on us. Any weapon can be used against you by an attacker.

    He is actually a deterrent. In the event of an attack, I expect to be the one defending him. He's just a puppy!

    also ETA: where I live dogs have to bit more than once to be put down. And they are always given a chance to move out of the jurisdiction. This is based on laws that are just about dogs biting. I'm looking to see if there are any laws that recognize if a dog is fighting off an attacker.

    I think you're right. If you can train your dog to bark on command and stop on command the deterrent would be enough in the majority of cases - and he looks the part!
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    BOOM!

    RCW 16.08.060. Provocation as a defense

    Proof of provocation of the attack by the injured person shall be a complete defense to an action for damages.

    ....

    if any mofo hurts me and my dog bites, my defense is right here. I <3 Washington state!

    xxxxxxx
    eta: this is in the Washington state law section addressing dogs and dog bites. Also interesting to note that a dog biting a trespasser is not illegal under the RCWs
  • Penfoldsplace
    Penfoldsplace Posts: 159
    Carrying weapons is illegal here in the uk so I have never considered it myself. I do live in a city though, I can understand feeling more vulnerable in the middle of nowhere. I think if you would feel more safe with it then see if you can find a self defence course that includes training with pepper spray. I would be more worried it could be turned on me, and your sight is paramount to getting away from someone. If I am going somewhere alone and late I carry an alarm with a long strap that can go around my neck so I don't have to find it in my bag if something happened. It's no guarantee, but it would be off putting to an attacker. Keep to well lit, populated areas if possible.
  • 9thChakra
    9thChakra Posts: 141 Member
    I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail by myself with no pepper spray or weapons. I read up on how to break arms and legs and I took a self defense class.

    Conditions have to be just right to have the pepper spray work in your favor...like, it has to be ready, you have to not panic and make sure you aim properly, the wind has to be right and you can't let it be used against you.

    Women in our society are taught to be victims. Statistically, more people are hurt by people that know them and even supposedly "love" them rather than perfect strangers.

    I highly recommend educating yourself on crime statistics in your area, taking a self-defense class (as that is one of the steps people can take that actually help) and letting a safe person know your running route/plan as a back up if you feel the need.

    Best to you!
  • corridor7f
    corridor7f Posts: 17
    I'm a bit wary of any tool or offensive weapon being used against me... plus, all the attacker has to do is pin your arms against your body and whatever you have can't be reached.

    Better to train yourself in self-defense moves - kicking the shins / groin or a palm to the nose.
  • willrun4bagels
    willrun4bagels Posts: 838 Member
    It's not legal here in NY but I do like the idea of it. I take my 55 lb pit bull running with me, attackers don't need to know that she's a certified therapy dog and loves everyone and is a total spoiled baby :glasses:.
  • ArchyJill
    ArchyJill Posts: 548 Member
    I should have noted in the original post that I run as part of my commute to work so taking a dog or a gun (I work on federal property) aren't options for me. The inspiration for the post was three drunk frat boys cat calling me at 4:30am on this morning's run. I think the common thread is a self defense class, which seems like a necessity whether you run with a dog (or a horse!), spray, gun, or just your wits.

    You would use a pepper spray for street harassment? I'd run out of pepper spray - I get cat called/harassed almost every day.
    I don't actually think that in the eyes of the law, pepper spray is an appropriate response to cat calling.

    I said that incident was the inspiration for the post, not that I would use it for "street harassment". And keep in mind harassment at 4:30 am from a group of drunk men on an otherwise empty street is a little different than cat calls running past the construction site at a busy intersection in the middle of the day. The potential for things to turn ugly is much greater in the former case than the latter.

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