Personal Defense for Women

Womn at Gun Point

It is no secret that in today’s world, the need for people to defend themselves grows with every crime that is committed against another person . The same is true for women, who make up the majority of victims for crimes such as rape, sexual assault, and various forms of domestic abuse. This is why women should consider carrying a firearm as a necessary and life-saving tool.

Alternatives:

To start, let’s go over why other self-defense tools, such as a person self-defense training, pepper spray or taser, are not as effective as carrying a handgun.

Close Quarters Empty Handed Skills

When attacked, a great start of defense is to know how to protect yourself by using training in a self-defense skillset like karate, kickboxing, jujitsu. This skills are useful when you have no other tools with you, or if you can not reach your tools. It is ALWAYS better to have some self-defense training no matter what tools you may use. The downside, of course, is that this is very close quarters work, and sometimes just the physical size of the attackers can overcome you, or the attacker may have tools (knives, guns…) and they chose to use them first. 

Remember this!! Your attacker always have the upper hand, as they know they are attacking and when, you will always be at a disadvantage, since you are responding to their actions, so the more skills and more tools you have, the better recovery from the time deficit your started with.

Pepper Spray

While pepper spray, also known as OC spray, since its content is oleoresin capsicum,is an inexpensive and very concealable tool derived of natural chemicals and is generally legal to carry and use in the proper context. For clarity, don’t confuse pepper spray with tear-gas, which is derived from chemicals and is generally illegal to possess or use. Pepper spray has quite a few notable disadvantages. For one, pepper spray simply does not work on certain groups of people. Those under the influence of drugs or adrenaline may simply shrug it off. Some are naturally resistant to its effects, and others can fight through a burst of spray to reach a victim. Even if one isn’t resistant to the spray, he/she can greatly reduce its effects by wearing glasses. There are also cases of pepper spray having the opposite effect of making an assailant angrier, consequently making the situation more dangerous. Indoors, the spray will stick to surfaces and furniture, which may be harmful and irritating to pets and young children after the situation is over. If the spray gets into your hair, it may run down your face into your eyes during a shower. You may also become victim to the wind as it pushes the spray back in your face, further reducing your ability to fight off an attacker. The wind can also guide the spray into the eyes of an innocent bystander, which could lead to legal trouble.

Stun Gun / Taser

While stun guns, a handheld instrument that produces a high voltage shock when in contact with the attacker, pack more of a punch and can produce more immediate results, they are not without their flaws. Most stun guns require very close contact to work, which puts you at great risk of harm. They also need contact to the skin and have a very hard time piercing heavy clothing, such as coats, jackets, and even sweaters. They are generally small handlheld devices that can easily be taken by your attacker, and then used against you… all because you need to be very close to the attacker to attempt to you it. The battery needs to be recharged regularly, and in some cases may fail in a self-defense situation. Similar to how some people are not affected by pepper spray, many do not feel or register the effects of a stun gun. If you are using a taser gun, which shoots prongs hoping to imbed into the skin of the attacker, both prongs must hit the target that is within 10 feet to be effective. If the prongs are too close to each other, or if only one prong makes contact, then the taser will not be effective. Generally, the taser is a one shot gun, although a reload is possible, it is not something that can be easily accomplished in a high-stress close combat situation. The taser has an advantage over the stun gun, because you gain distance, keeping you safer, and are effective 80% of the time, when the user is properly trained.

Handgun

While a handgun and concealed carry permit can be more difficult (and expensive) to acquire, the advantages they have over other self-defense equipment is something to consider. Unlike a taser or pepper spray, your gun will still be effective dozens of yards away. You will have a much more intimidating element of surprise, as most suspects will either surrender or run off when presented with the threat of being shot. Of course, nobody is naturally resistant to bullets; therefore, if you ever have to use your weapon, your suspect will most definitely be incapacitated if your rounds land on target. Unlike pepper spray, you will not have to worry about the wind putting your shots off target. Provided you follow all rules of gun safety and all gun laws in your area, a firearm is the best self-defense tool an average woman can possess. A handgun does not come without its disadvantages, though. Depending on where you live, obtaining the right to carry a firearm for self-defense can be difficult. Even then, some states limit where you can go, and how many rounds you can carry in your magazine. In California, you may not possess a magazine that holds over ten rounds. This goes for a concealed carry permit holder as well. While this may not be much of a problem for a pistol small enough to be concealed, many handguns that are easily concealable yet hold over ten rounds. On the bright side, some states do not require a concealed carry permit to carry a hidden firearm. In Arizona, you can open carry (here the gun is visible to others at the age of 18, and at the age of 21 carry it discreetly. This brings on another issue: ammo count. Because the majority of concealable pistols are small, they can only carry so much ammunition. Finding the right gun and holster can also be a challenge, but a trip to your local gun store can help get you sorted out for the equipment that works for you best. The best fit come with trying the gun prior to purchase. This is generally accomplished best by visting a gun range that has rentals.

Remember, carrying a concealed firearm is an enormous responsibility not to be taken lightly. There are moral, legal and psychological effects if you need to use your gun to protect yourself. You must be prepared to take a life if needed. You will be liable for the maintenance and security of your firearm. If you use your weapon illegally, the repercussions will be severe. You may lose your firearm, your freedom to ever own one, and even end up imprisoned. If you can handle the responsibility, then a handgun is the finest and most effective self-defense tool for any woman wanting to protect herself.

Summary

No matter what tool you choose to have with you for protection, training is the most important part of that tool.  All of the above need training to enhance the effectiveness of the tool and to protect yourself or innocent parties.  So, if you decide that a handgun is the best protection for you, alternative tool or and additional tool… then you need training. The gun is the most lethal, and deserves the most respect. A handgun in un-trained hands, is even lethal to its holder. There are many places to start your learning. online, in classes and on the range. Defense Tactical Training (DTT) puts an emphasis on training new gun owners by using NRA and USCCA certified trainers that understand how to communicate to the new user. Check out some of the various intro courses, including the SimCo class that teaches all the fundamentals - safety, stance, grip before going to a live-fire range using simulators.