Avoiding Assault (Or Lowering the Odds)

[Josh66]

How about open carry of a deadly weapon on your belt? Seriously. In most US states and municipalities, a non-felon is allowed to openly carry a weapon like a knife or handgun as long as it is not concealed.

That's a good point... and being that she's in Texas, they might be used to it... but I know that if *I* carried a non-concealed weapon, I'd probably have trouble doing my job *anyway*, because people would freak out, call the cops and I'd be getting stopped every 5 feet to show the authorities that I have my license to carry.

People freak out when they see a gun strapped to someone not wearing a blue suit, unless you're wearing orange, it's a riffle, and you're heading into the woods during hunting seasons. :lmao:

I'm pretty sure open carry is illegal here. Handguns anyway. Open carry of long guns *might* be legal (not sure). Handguns - 99% sure that's illegal though.

If it is legal, it is extremely rare.

Texas isn't the wild west anymore.

 

[e.rose]

Texas isn't the wild west anymore.

But... but...

 

[Josh66]

Texas isn't the wild west anymore.

But... but...

But - I hear Arizona still is.

Open carry is very common there, from what I hear.

 

[table1349]

=molested_cow;2205728]Pepper spray sounds good.

Gun - Can't carry it on to the plane if you are traveling far to cover events.

Easy to carry on a plane in your checked luggage, not in a plane. I travel with one all the time. From TSA

Knife - If you don't know how to use it properly, it will end up hurting yourself.

Never bring a knife to a gun fight. If you do you will loose. Not a primary self defense weapon. It is a secondary or fall back weapon.

Martial arts/ self-defense - Sure it's good, but it takes time to learn and be good at it.

While time consuming, if a person does not have the ability to use deadly force this is the best option.

I'd say it will be hard to use gun or knife because both requires you to be free of burdens to use it, meaning you cannot be carrying your gears otherwise you will just be hampered. It will be good to learn self-defense techniques no matter what, but always be prepared to come across someone who is too strong or quick or armed.

Easy to use and get to. If it is a life or death situation you drop what ever is in your hands to save your life. Camera gear can be easily replaced. My 3913 is always on me and easy to get too. Even when I have my duty weapon on me, I have a 3913 at hand. It's a better backup than a knife.

Pepper spray is effective if you have it ready. It's easy to use, doesn't require precision application like knife, gun or tazor and is pretty maintenance free. Just make sure you point the nozzle at the right direction. The spray also doesn't cause permanent damage. If you injure a person with a gun or knife out of self defense, it's still possible that you can do to prison for it. All you need is to stop your attackers, no need to cause injury.

If it was that effective Law Enforcement would not have switched to Tazers. Some people have a natural or sometimes drug or alcohol induced resistance to pepper spray. Haven't found anyone yet that has a natural resistance to 50,000 volts. Even drunk it will lock their muscles up and they will drop.

Best firearm for the non firearm crowd is a revolver. Simple and requires little care. Semi-auto's while carrying more rounds need more routine care to assure proper function. Personally I would look at something in the 38/357 range max. The 44/40 can be too much in a close combat situation and is way too much if the first shot misses. 90% of combat situations are within 15 feet. One consideration that always has to be addressed with the use of a firearm is what is behind the intended target. Dropping an assailant is good, dropping grandma a block away from a miss or over penetration is not good. That is why a lot of LEO agencies are leaving the 40 cal and going back to 9mm for sidearms and issuing patrol rifles when real firepower is needed. The 9mm P+ or +P+ is a good close combat round and has all the stopping power of a 40mm. Not what I would put through my firearm on a regular basis for practice, but if it is needed you can rely on what it will do.

 

[table1349]

A firearm is great if you have the skill and balls to use it .......otherwise use caution and stay aware of your surroundings.

Yup, a firearm is great. You don't use it in a difficult situation and you end up dead. You do use and you end up in prison. Great options!:lmao:

Only in Canada since the weapon can't be made to go bang in English and French at the same time.

 

[molested_cow]

gryphonslair99, your reasoning on gun usage is with the assumption that the person is not only well trained to use it, but also well trained to react to the unexpected.

Cops receive high amount of training to use both firearm and tazor. In most cases, they are the ones approaching an incident with brief information from the dispatch on what they may be dealing with, so they are mentally prepared to react and use their tools. It is their job.
Preparing one's self for self-defense is a very different situation. You never know who what when how this will happen, if it does, let alone knowing what's the best way to deal with it. I really don't think carrying a gun or any weapon is going to make one any safer. The point is, if the aggressor can be discouraged to make contact, that's the best option. Weapons or even self-defense skills are used only when you are being confronted, which means **** is going to hit the fans anyways. No good. So the advice on knowing the environment, being smart about your moves or having someone being with you are still the best things one can prepare him/herself with.

 

[ottor]

As a former Army Special Forces Viet Nam Vet, and past Law Enforcement officer, I carry wherever I go - I know how to use a weapon, and I dont' mean that I know how to aim and pull a trigger.. I've been trained "and tested" under conflict senarios, and am confident I know what to do if ever needed. What worries me these days is to get a Carry Permit all you need to do is take a couple hour class and pass a written test.. You're TOLD what to do, and tested on what you remember from the class, and then you get to carry your new stainless 44 Mag to WalMart to shop on the weekend.. If someone doesn't think that's scary, then they're a little misguided..

For the original poster; First - get to know the area and venue you'll be covering. If you don't feel " 100% " confident of your safety, either don't go, or take someone with you. Second; after listening to all this bravado and tough talk, I'd recommend a good Pepper Spray. Easy to carry, more often than not it's legal, and it'll be a cold day in hell you'll find someone that would be totally immune to it.. All you need is time - time to get away and get some help. You dont' need to kill someone if you dont' have to, and odds are, you could take 50 Carry classes, and couldn't do it anyway - I mean either mentally or physically.. You're just gonna get hurt - probably more than what the Perp would do.. Stay away from guns if you're not totally and fully trained, and with some experience handling conflict situations!!

Good luck - I actually had to pull once and it wasn't against a human.... I was out in the desert near a populated area - by myself (I thought) and here comes 2 extremely large Rotweilers running and snarling at me down the path..... They kept coming, and about 20' in front of me I had to fire 3 rounds in front of the first one, kicking up some dirt right in front of them, which stopped him/her in their tracks... Followed closely by the girl running yelling "Dont shoot my dogs!".. She didn't feel safe with her aggressive dogs walking them in town, so she brings them out to the desert............ with me.

 

[Trever1t]

well said and great advice.

 

[table1349]

gryphonslair99, your reasoning on gun usage is with the assumption that the person is not only well trained to use it, but also well trained to react to the unexpected.

Anyone, LEO or not should never be carrying a firearm unless they are well trained. Or any other weapon for that matter. The key here is preparation, not desperation. Preparation is just that, being prepared in what ever manner a particular person chooses. Desperation is what happens to those who fail to prepare.

Cops receive high amount of training to use both firearm and tazor. In most cases, they are the ones approaching an incident with brief information from the dispatch on what they may be dealing with, so they are mentally prepared to react and use their tools. It is their job.

Yep we are.

Preparing one's self for self-defense is a very different situation.

WRONG! Failure to be prepared to defend oneself is the problem. The typical Head up @$$ syndrome of most people is what gets people into trouble and at that point they are in no position to defend themselves. If you are prepared you will rarely end up in a situation where self defense is needed.

You never know who what when how this will happen, if it does, let alone knowing what's the best way to deal with it. I really don't think carrying a gun or any weapon is going to make one any safer.

If you choose to go into harms way it is never good to go empty handed.

The point is, if the aggressor can be discouraged to make contact, that's the best option.

This is where we fundamentally disagree. You think like a victim instead of a survivor. Those that would knowingly and willfully do harm to others are not easily discouraged. To these sort of people there is little to no fight or flight instinct. Their instinct is Fight, with flight as a final option for some to save their life. That is why you never carry a weapon that you are not prepared to use to it's fullest potential. They will fight, you have to be prepared to fight harder and win.

Weapons or even self-defense skills are used only when you are being confronted, which means **** is going to hit the fans anyways. No good. So the advice on knowing the environment, being smart about your moves or having someone being with you are still the best things one can prepare him/herself with.

While I agree that your plan A is a good one, with out plan B you are still a potential victim if you choose to put yourself in harms way. The lamb never knowingly walks into the lions pride, but we humans sometimes aren't as smart as our animal cousins.

 

[table1349]

As a former Army Special Forces Viet Nam Vet, and past Law Enforcement officer, I carry wherever I go - I know how to use a weapon, and I dont' mean that I know how to aim and pull a trigger.. I've been trained "and tested" under conflict senarios, and am confident I know what to do if ever needed. What worries me these days is to get a Carry Permit all you need to do is take a couple hour class and pass a written test.. You're TOLD what to do, and tested on what you remember from the class, and then you get to carry your new stainless 44 Mag to WalMart to shop on the weekend.. If someone doesn't think that's scary, then they're a little misguided..

For the original poster; First - get to know the area and venue you'll be covering. If you don't feel " 100% " confident of your safety, either don't go, or take someone with you. Second; after listening to all this bravado and tough talk, I'd recommend a good Pepper Spray. Easy to carry, more often than not it's legal, and it'll be a cold day in hell you'll find someone that would be totally immune to it.. All you need is time - time to get away and get some help. You dont' need to kill someone if you dont' have to, and odds are, you could take 50 Carry classes, and couldn't do it anyway - I mean either mentally or physically.. You're just gonna get hurt - probably more than what the Perp would do.. Stay away from guns if you're not totally and fully trained, and with some experience handling conflict situations!!

Good luck - I actually had to pull once and it wasn't against a human.... I was out in the desert near a populated area - by myself (I thought) and here comes 2 extremely large Rotweilers running and snarling at me down the path..... They kept coming, and about 20' in front of me I had to fire 3 rounds in front of the first one, kicking up some dirt right in front of them, which stopped him/her in their tracks... Followed closely by the girl running yelling "Dont shoot my dogs!".. She didn't feel safe with her aggressive dogs walking them in town, so she brings them out to the desert............ with me.

:thumbup:

 

[Village Idiot]

Traveling with a firearm can be a real pain. Just because you can take one on a plane doesn't mean that the destination you're shooting in allows weapons. In WV he have CCW permits that aren't extremely difficult to get, but once a person crosses the border into MD, that's completely illegal. Seeing as how the Eastern panhandle of WV might be equal to about a square that's 25 miles on each side and to go to any decent stores, you have to go to MD, it makes it a pain. It's just not an option you can take everywhere with you.

 

[Hollywoodgt]

How about open carry of a deadly weapon on your belt? Seriously. In most US states and municipalities, a non-felon is allowed to openly carry a weapon like a knife or handgun as long as it is not concealed.

In my opinion very bad idea for a small person without enough training. I was in Law Enforcement for 3-4 yrs. Carrying a weapon not concealed is asking for trouble. In this case her being a young lady it could be easy to over power her, now they have a weapon and a camera and god know's what happens from there. In my opinion being very aware of where your at and knowing your exit point is very important.Peper spray, handy cell phone with the number pre-dailed, flash on full charge, keys in hand for car door are all very good idea's. A teaser can be another very good way to drop someone. Krav Magra is a very good self defense tool also. Honestly the biggest thing is crowd awareness and exit plan, said to say but you have to be on guard.


Ottor advise is pretty much spot on. I do not have as much traing as he does, but handle, carrying and knowing when to use a firearm has to be second nature. In alot of case a trained unarmed man can disarm a non trained attacker. Proven case many times.

 

[spacefuzz]

I agree that you shouldnt need to carry a concealed or unconcealed gun to a photo event. If its dangerous, stay home. Your best self defense is an awareness of your surroundings.
And for everyone with a gun, I have 10+ yrs of martial arts training from some of the best in the world. If I am in arms reach I CAN take your gun. So dont get cocky and remember its always better to avoid a situation than escallate it. If someone presses the issue blind them with your flash, smash their balls with your tripod, and run.

 

[mikehaugen]

If someone presses the issue blind them with your flash, smash their balls with your tripod, and run.

What if it's a woman attacker?

 

[spacefuzz]

If someone presses the issue blind them with your flash, smash their balls with your tripod, and run.

What if it's a woman attacker?

Then I wouldnt resist