Non-Lethal Self-Defense Options
Non-Lethal Self-Defense Options
Yes, we are a firearms loving group! Yes, we want to keep building our skills with them:) But, you might want to consider learning about and incorporating a non-lethal option in addition to your firearms. Why?
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Does a purse snatcher need to be shot? I would argue most definitely not. Are they a dirt bag and low life? Yup. Should they be dead for it? Nope. If someone is trying to unalive you right now, take care of it and protect yourself! But, there are lots of times where another option is very effective. Pepper spray is a great option for deterring people AND dogs while out walking with yours. Tasers and stun guns are very effective at close range and really hurt! Byrna self-defense launchers are legal in almost every state (even non-permissive ones) and launch pepper spray balls or a very hard projectile that breaks skin and hurts a lot.
Pepper Spray, gels and foams are used by law enforcement agencies all over the country because they work! Spray is for much closer range, and good for multiple attackers but the chance for cross contamination is very high. Don’t use it in an elevator, for example, or you will be just as incapacitated as the perp. Gels and foams have a further reach but require a bit more accuracy. And they aren’t nearly as susceptible to cross contamination for you. There are specific places you want to aim for based on what type you carry. Most people just buy pepper spray and carry it around. Have you ever practiced with one? It’s not as easy as it seems. While I was learning in a class, I kept getting my index finger in front of the stream because of how I had to grip the canister! Luckily it was inert but it brought the point home. And, if you (or your women folk) have some, have you checked the expiration dates on them? The pepper spray part doesn’t expire, but the propellant does! Deployment of pepper spray is tricky under pressure and I highly suggest that people get training on it so you understand the type you choose and how to disengage the various types of safeties on them BEFORE you ever need it.
Taser products are also used by law enforcement all over the country. These products are designed to bring about pain compliance! Law enforcement tasers give a 5-second jolt. Compliance? good, here are the silver bracelets. Civilian products are designed differently. They give a 30-second jolt so that you can set the device down and get away. Taser has a guarantee that if you need to deploy your device, and get an incident report from the police, they will replace your unit! That’s pretty amazing and shows their commitment to civilian safety. And with those devices running over $200 it’s good to know that Taser stands behind it’s products. Taser also has a stun gun/flash light combo called the strike light. It’s pretty sweet! Great flashlight, it has enough weight to bonk someone really hard and it has a stun gun as well. Just the sound of that thing going off makes me jump back instinctively! This is a great option if you are walking your dog and other dogs are off leash and getting aggressive with you.
The Byrna self-defense launcher is a really neat device. It has training rounds, pepper spray balls and impact projectiles. It’s powered by a CO2 cartridge and therefore not classified as a firearm which is why it’s legal in lots of non-permissive states. Law enforcement use these too. They fire them into a car when the perp won’t come out. Once that car is filled with pepper spray, they come stumbling out and give up. Since it looks like a pistol, it’s pretty instinctive what you need to do with it. It has magazines and a safety as well as a traditional sighting system.
As all of these devices are considered “a use of force” there are legal implications that need to be understood. Luckily in Texas we can use the maximum strength pepper spray unlike some other states that only allow a weaker version by law. If you choose a non-lethal option, please get training with it. Talk to your Group Guyde about these options. If the ladies in your family carry pepper spray, they need a class about it.
Stay safe and keep training!
