| If you are thinking of purchasing a gun, or other | | | | else's guarantee is only a false sense of security |
| "self-protection" device such as pepper spray or | | | | that will only have bad results! |
| an alarm, then you are obviously concerned about | | | | If you are serious about Self-Protection, your |
| your personal safety. You know it is essential to | | | | best self defense weapon is your mind . If you |
| learn how to defend yourself, now more than | | | | think about what has just been discussed, you will |
| ever! Today, not only do you have to worry | | | | realize that 'weapons' will only help you in ideal |
| about criminals, but now terrorists as well! What is | | | | situations, and even then, you need to keep a |
| this world coming to? Would you know what to | | | | clear head to be able to use them properly. |
| do? | | | | But, crime doesn't happen in ideal situations! |
| You may be thinking, "Well, I'll just get a gun!" | | | | Being able to think clearly, and knowing what to |
| Unfortunately, real-world tests have shown that | | | | do, is your best weapon when it comes to |
| overall , weapons (or other "self-defense" | | | | self-defense. Second best is being able to use |
| products) are often ineffective when it comes to | | | | your feet. Now, that doesn't mean to start |
| self-defense. Why? | | | | kicking! It means that at the first sign of trouble, |
| There are many factors that contribute, but the | | | | you need to RUN! Escape is always a much better |
| main reason weapons are ineffective is, if the | | | | self-defense tactic than getting into a struggle or |
| weapon is not in your hand at the moment of | | | | a fight. |
| attack, you will never get the chance to use it! | | | | However, if you can't get away, your body is |
| But, the law does not allow you to walk around | | | | your best self-defense weapon! Since you cannot |
| with a gun in your hand, and most studies show | | | | always have a weapon in your hand, it is essential |
| that people soon forget to carry the various | | | | that you know how to defend yourself without |
| types of self-protection devices they purchase. | | | | weapons. But mindless flailing against an attacker |
| Even if you have a stun gun or pepper spray in | | | | does you no good at all. You need to learn the |
| your purse or pocket, if caught by surprise, you | | | | most vulnerable points on the human body. But |
| won't have a chance to get it out before you get | | | | even that isn't enough if you don't know the |
| decked! Mace does you no good if it is still in the | | | | most effective ways to strike them. You need to |
| purse that just got snatched out of your hand! | | | | learn how to kick, not just where to kick. |
| Tests prove that 90% of the time, you will never | | | | Everyone should at least take a basic self-defense |
| get the chance to reach for your weapon before | | | | course . |
| you are hurt too severely to use it. | | | | What about Martial Arts? |
| FBI statistics and Police reports from all over the | | | | Traditional Martial Arts are great for disciple, |
| country show that in more than half of all | | | | self-confidence, and exercise. They can help to |
| instances where the victim was able to get to a | | | | produce the correct mindset needed when faced |
| "weapon" (usually sprays are mentioned), the | | | | with a self-defense situation. But it usually takes |
| attacker knocked it out of their hand before they | | | | several years to become proficient in the more |
| could use it. Police files are filled with tens of | | | | complex techniques. |
| thousands of incidents of weapons taken away | | | | If you have the time to commit to a long-term |
| from the victim and used against them! It is | | | | training program, by all means, a martial art will |
| estimated that almost one third of all gunshot | | | | provide the most comprehensive training. |
| victims are shot with their own gun! The figures | | | | However, just as in choosing a self-defense |
| are even higher when it comes to stun-guns and | | | | weapon, you must do your homework before |
| sprays. | | | | choosing a martial arts program. Many don't |
| This doesn't even include all of the incidences | | | | deliver the comprehensive training they promise, |
| where the victim shoots themselves! Accidental | | | | and most don't train you for realistic self-defense. |
| discharge is the leading cause of gunshot wounds | | | | Far too many martial arts programs focus greatly |
| in both crime and non-crime reports. You may | | | | on sports and competition. Sports and competition |
| think that wouldn't happen to you, but the reports | | | | oriented martial arts are worthless as |
| prove that it happens to even experienced gun | | | | self-defense. They teach you to follow rules, and |
| owners. | | | | for the most part, there are no rules in a street |
| I know of a Police officer, even after extensive | | | | fight. If you are conditioned to follow the rules, |
| training , the first time he tried to use Mace | | | | you can't do what is necessary in a dangerous |
| against an unruly suspect, ended up spraying | | | | situation. In fact, you will probably do the wrong |
| himself. | | | | thing, and get yourself hurt or even killed. |
| Unfortunately, most people have little or no | | | | Seek out a training program that focuses almost |
| training as to the safe and proper use of the | | | | exclusively on realistic self-defense scenario |
| weapons in their possession. Inadequate, or even | | | | training. |
| improper training is the leading cause of accidental | | | | Knowing how to handle yourself when confronted |
| discharge involving guns, stun-guns and sprays. | | | | with violence is your only insurance against |
| What do you think will happen when they attempt | | | | becoming a victim, or just another statistic in a |
| to use that weapon under the stress of a real | | | | police report. You have car insurance, |
| attack? | | | | home-owner's insurance, life insurance, health |
| There are literally millions of incidents reported | | | | insurance... |
| where the victim couldn't get the weapon to | | | | What insurance do you have against being the |
| work at all, mainly because of inadequate training! | | | | victim of a violent crime? That type of insurance |
| Even the most basic principles of weapon usage | | | | is only available through proper training. A |
| are often overlooked by owners. The figures are | | | | long-term self-defense program offers the most |
| stunning (pun intended) of the number of incidents | | | | comprehensive training, and therefore, the best |
| of stun guns that didn't work when needed | | | | opportunity to learn to handle almost any situation |
| because of dead batteries! | | | | that may occur. However, if you don't have the |
| There are thousands upon thousands of reports | | | | time to commit to a long-term program, at least |
| of guns that wouldn't fire because the safety was | | | | some form of weaponless self-defense training is |
| on, and the user didn't know, forgot, or was too | | | | better than none. |
| panicked to figure it out in time. In at least one | | | | Summary |
| incident I am aware of, the victim couldn't get his | | | | If you are serious about self-protection, your best |
| weapon to fire before the criminal took it away | | | | bet is to first learn weaponless self-defense. Then, |
| from him. Lucky for him, the criminal couldn't | | | | if you still want to purchase a weapon, do your |
| figure it out either. | | | | homework before choosing the best weapon for |
| Defective or Fraudulent Products | | | | you, and don't just read the instructions that |
| I'm sure you have purchased products that didn't | | | | come with it and think you are ready to use it. |
| quite work as advertised. How can you be sure | | | | - Take a class on how to use it effectively, how |
| that the pepper spray you buy will work as well | | | | to handle it safely, and how to maintain it so it |
| as advertised, if at all? How will you test it? Spray | | | | works when you need it. |
| yourself? Spray a friend? We're not talking about | | | | - Take regular refresher courses so you don't |
| perfume! I doubt you will get any volunteers to | | | | forget anything about the weapon. |
| help you. | | | | - Follow all maintenance procedures on a regular |
| When the criminal attacks, it is too late to find out | | | | basis. |
| that the pepper spray is really just vinegar, or | | | | Your best bet is to learn weaponless self-defense |
| that the 10 million volt stun-gun doesn't deliver | | | | and get the best weapon for you. Remember, |
| much more of a shock than shuffling across the | | | | you will never feel safe until you have all the tools |
| carpet and touching a doorknob. | | | | necessary for self-protection. And the most |
| If you buy a police radar detector that is | | | | important weapon of all is your own mind and |
| guaranteed to work, but doesn't, the result is a | | | | body! |
| speeding ticket. If you buy "self-protection | | | | Resources: |
| weapons" that don't work, the result can be | | | | Strong, Sanford - Strong on Defense ; Simon |
| severe injury or even death. Relying on someone | | | | & Shuster, Inc. |