Spectrum of Self-Defense, Page Two
Note: Most of the links and resources posted here are relevant to visitors in the United States.
Information, services and laws may be different in other countries.
Consult your local resources if you live outside the United States.
Information, services and laws may be different in other countries.
Consult your local resources if you live outside the United States.
Physical Self-Defense - There are a lot of fight techniques posted to websites and YouTube. I believe these things are best learned in a class, or one-on-one with an expert. Many communities have self-defense instructors and studios. Look into classes which are recommended by law enforcement. You don't have to commit to years of Karate, Jiu Jitsu or Krav Maga. That being said, I have never met a martial arts student who is disappointed with his or her discipline. Studying martial arts comes with many benefits and I completely support it. Self-defense classes, on the other hand, teach techniques you can use right away. They don't have to be expensive. You can find many affordable classes offered at community fitness centers, college campuses, gyms, YMCAs and the like. Look for mixed gender classes so that you practice what you learn against a wider range of opponents, approaches and levels of aggressiveness. I personally believe it is just as important to learn verbal and behavioral tactics, situational awareness and unarmed techniques as much as it might be to improvise weapons or master a weapon. It's also good to learn about self-defense laws in your state and community. Even stun guns, tazers and pepper spray are banned in some states. Learn what is acceptable and what is excessive force. The goal of self-defense is to stay alive and get away. It is not to play vigilante, threaten people or end up arrested.
Handguns - Carrying and defending yourself with a handgun is legally more complicated than carrying something like a keychain weapon or kubotan. Due to the Brady Bill, you need to pass a background check. There's a waiting period. You need to know when and where you are legal to fire your weapon. Some states have laws about how you transport, carry and store your weapon. You need to know how to act around law enforcement, especially if you have a concealed carry permit. You need to keep your gun away from or disabled around children. You also need to know how to take care of your weapon and your ammunition. Bullets have a shelf life, especially if they are stored improperly. Firing bad or stuck ammo can injure you and ruin your gun. While you can buy and own a gun without taking any classes, I recommend taking classes both for skill and safety. At least learn the basics. Local gun shops often offer classes or they keep a list of instructors and classes you can sign up for. You don't even have to buy a gun to take a class. You can often rent them, which gives you to opportunity to see which features you like, which ones feel best in your hand and which ones are easy to maintain. The best gun to own is the one you can best control.
Concealed Carry/CCW - A concealed carry permit allows someone to carry a concealed weapon. Not all states issue them and some don't require them. Not all states recognize permits from other states. To get a concealed carry permit, you typically need to take a class and get familiar with your state's CCW laws. You can search for classes online or ask at a local gun shop. Even if you have a permit, there are still places you cannot possess your weapon, whether it's concealed or not. In some places, having a permit puts you into a law enforcement database, which means you may need to follow different protocols during traffic stops and other police interactions. You also need to be very careful about printing, spotting and brandishing. In any situation, do not reveal your weapon unless you're going to use it and your life is in immediate unquestionable danger.
Concealed Carry/CCW - A concealed carry permit allows someone to carry a concealed weapon. Not all states issue them and some don't require them. Not all states recognize permits from other states. To get a concealed carry permit, you typically need to take a class and get familiar with your state's CCW laws. You can search for classes online or ask at a local gun shop. Even if you have a permit, there are still places you cannot possess your weapon, whether it's concealed or not. In some places, having a permit puts you into a law enforcement database, which means you may need to follow different protocols during traffic stops and other police interactions. You also need to be very careful about printing, spotting and brandishing. In any situation, do not reveal your weapon unless you're going to use it and your life is in immediate unquestionable danger.
Surviving a Shooting - Okay, so you're now in the vaunted position of 'good guy with a gun.' I have some bad news for you. You are no more likely to survive a shooting attack than an unarmed citizen. Unless you are the shooter, there are too many variables working against you. Advanced warning is one. Did the shooter tell you he or she was going to shoot the place up at lunchtime? Not likely. Do you walk around with your gun drawn all the time? No. Do you wear body armor all the time? No. How do you know you're not going to be the first one shot? Are you going to know right away if a shooting is happening, or are you going to waste valuable seconds you need to escape? In a crowded situation, like a subway, or a public event, concert, or a movie theater, how do you know you won't take innocent lives? There is no such thing as acceptable collateral damage. Harming bystanders makes you an additional assailant. Even if you make it, even if you're successful, how do you know law enforcement isn't going to fire at you? Did you flash your 'good guy' card? Police don't know the difference. All they see is a suspect with a weapon.
It's perfectly fine to own a weapon, train to use it well and keep it for the purpose of self-defense, but vigilante fantasies about protecting the public aren't realistic. If you really want to help people survive an attack, look for ways to escape, shelter, hide or fight if escape is not possible. Help others make it to safety and get certified in CPR and First Aid.
It's perfectly fine to own a weapon, train to use it well and keep it for the purpose of self-defense, but vigilante fantasies about protecting the public aren't realistic. If you really want to help people survive an attack, look for ways to escape, shelter, hide or fight if escape is not possible. Help others make it to safety and get certified in CPR and First Aid.
Defending the Home
Dogs - My father was always quick to say that the best home security is a good dog. In several ways, I agree. Some personal situations don't easily allow for dogs, and you should never bring a pet into your life unless you are willing to love and care for it for life. A dog is a family member who wants to be with you. He or she is not a thing to be tied up and neglected outside or shut up in an apartment all day and all night. They need to be exercised, played with, loved, groomed, fed healthy foods and taken to the Vet for exams and vaccines.
Some people also believe you have to teach a dog to be mean. This is absolutely not true. A dog in a defense situation knows what to do. He loves you. You are his family. He will alert you and defend you. Even a teacup poodle will put its life at risk. Many breeds make excellent companions and home defense dogs. They don't have to be a stereotypical defense/guard dog. They don't even have to be a pure breed. Mutts are just as good and loving. Make sure to visit a few shelters and breed rescues while considering your options. Don't contribute to shelter overcrowding by forgetting to spay or neuter your dog.
Security Systems - Wireless technology has made alarm systems much more flexible and easier to install. Even if you aren't allowed to permanently mount anything where you live, you can still set up a good wireless alarm system. You can opt for a system which is a simple deterrent (noisemaker) or one which is remotely monitored. One of the plusses of a remotely monitored system is that you can also have it monitored for several different types of events: intrusion, flooding, fire, carbon monoxide, gun and safe room breaches, medical emergencies and even keeping track of when your children or other people enter your home. Some systems even come with cameras and home automation devices like remote thermostats and light switches you can access with your smartphone.
While alarm systems are a great addition to a home, there are certain caveats to keep in mind. In case of an event (except fire), your monitoring company will respond to your alarm by calling you first. Make sure your alarm company has your most current phone number. Additionally, make sure you answer your phone and remember your password. Some cities mandate an intrusion alarm cannot be dispatched on if the homeowner cannot be reached. Several cities also require a current alarm permit on file in order to respond to an intrusion alarm. Excessive false alarms will result in expensive tickets and a police department who is reluctant to react to your alarm. Another caveat relates to systems which transmit over a POTS landline. If you get rid of your analog phone service, add DSL, or if your phone line is ever cut, your alarm system will no longer communicate with its monitoring company. This is especially important if you use your system for fire, medical or carbon monoxide monitoring. Help can't respond if they don't get the message. You can fix this by switching its communicator to a cellular primary.
Some people also believe you have to teach a dog to be mean. This is absolutely not true. A dog in a defense situation knows what to do. He loves you. You are his family. He will alert you and defend you. Even a teacup poodle will put its life at risk. Many breeds make excellent companions and home defense dogs. They don't have to be a stereotypical defense/guard dog. They don't even have to be a pure breed. Mutts are just as good and loving. Make sure to visit a few shelters and breed rescues while considering your options. Don't contribute to shelter overcrowding by forgetting to spay or neuter your dog.
Security Systems - Wireless technology has made alarm systems much more flexible and easier to install. Even if you aren't allowed to permanently mount anything where you live, you can still set up a good wireless alarm system. You can opt for a system which is a simple deterrent (noisemaker) or one which is remotely monitored. One of the plusses of a remotely monitored system is that you can also have it monitored for several different types of events: intrusion, flooding, fire, carbon monoxide, gun and safe room breaches, medical emergencies and even keeping track of when your children or other people enter your home. Some systems even come with cameras and home automation devices like remote thermostats and light switches you can access with your smartphone.
While alarm systems are a great addition to a home, there are certain caveats to keep in mind. In case of an event (except fire), your monitoring company will respond to your alarm by calling you first. Make sure your alarm company has your most current phone number. Additionally, make sure you answer your phone and remember your password. Some cities mandate an intrusion alarm cannot be dispatched on if the homeowner cannot be reached. Several cities also require a current alarm permit on file in order to respond to an intrusion alarm. Excessive false alarms will result in expensive tickets and a police department who is reluctant to react to your alarm. Another caveat relates to systems which transmit over a POTS landline. If you get rid of your analog phone service, add DSL, or if your phone line is ever cut, your alarm system will no longer communicate with its monitoring company. This is especially important if you use your system for fire, medical or carbon monoxide monitoring. Help can't respond if they don't get the message. You can fix this by switching its communicator to a cellular primary.
IP Devices - Thank goodness for smartphones and home wifi. With these tools, you can add extra layers of protection to your home. Even if your alarm system isn't compatible with cameras, you can still add cameras you can view and control with your smartphone, from anywhere. You can install IP camera doorbells, so you can answer your door at any time, from anywhere. You can make video records of visitors and intruders to cloud services so that no one can cover their tracks by stealing your cameras or destroying a hard drive. You can also install IP accessible switches to run lights, TVs or radios when needed.
Neighborhood Watch - This goes back to situational awareness. Notice someone hanging around your neighborhood who doesn't belong there? Is someone watching you come and go from your home? Are you seeing strange things going at a house that's supposed to be empty or that's been bought, but never moved into? Don't keep it a secret. Talk with your neighbors and see if they know anything. This does two things. It alerts them to a potential problem, whether it's someone casing the neighborhood or bringing other unwanted activity. It also allows them to look out for you. If a neighbor sees something concerning while you're not home, that's someone else who can call for help. You should look out for your neighbors and community as well. If you see something, say something.
Neighborhood Watch - This goes back to situational awareness. Notice someone hanging around your neighborhood who doesn't belong there? Is someone watching you come and go from your home? Are you seeing strange things going at a house that's supposed to be empty or that's been bought, but never moved into? Don't keep it a secret. Talk with your neighbors and see if they know anything. This does two things. It alerts them to a potential problem, whether it's someone casing the neighborhood or bringing other unwanted activity. It also allows them to look out for you. If a neighbor sees something concerning while you're not home, that's someone else who can call for help. You should look out for your neighbors and community as well. If you see something, say something.