No Gun Defense
When it comes to self-defense, consensus seems to show
that firearms are the most trusted form of protection.
It’s a good idea to keep at least one in the house if
you’re preparing for or anticipating a disaster scenario
wherein your need to defend yourself will likely
increase.
However, there may be times when you are forced to defend
yourself and there is no weapon around. Worse yet, your
weapon could be taken from you by your attacker and used
against you.
Many fail to realize exactly how much time and distance
(between you and your opponent) you will need to
effectively draw, aim and shoot your gun at an oncoming
attacker.
In many cases, attempting to draw your weapon is not
advised. You could be caught mid-draw as your attacker
closes the gap and be incapacitated before you have the
chance to fire a shot.
Furthermore, what happens when you venture outside your
home or shelter to replenish your supplies, including
ammunition? Unless you are capable of manufacturing your
own ammo in-house (chances are you aren’t), you will be
forced to revert back to empty-handed combat.
In which case, you need to have a backup weapon available
that you can rely on for self-defense. Unfortunately,
finding an alternate weapon is not always as easy as it
seems.
Many preppers agree that a knife is man’s best friend,
even more so than a rifle or handgun, and they carry one
on a daily basis for a variety of everyday chores and, if
need be, self-defense.
However, some knives over a certain length are illegal in
many areas, as are those with automatic opening systems.
In many jurisdictions, electric Tasers and even pepper
spray are illegal and unavailable for purchase by the
average consumer.
So, are you SOL when SHTF when it comes to self-defense in
the absence of traditional weapons?
The answer is NO, but you may have to get creative and
think outside the box. Some would say the mind is the
greatest weapon so you’re only as limited as your own
ideas.
Keep in mind a universal rule of combat: You should
and must avoid and/or defuse a confrontation before it has
a chance to escalate. You must always consider what can be
done to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
For starters, you can never go wrong by taking the proper
time and energy to train yourself in the martial arts. It
doesn’t matter what variety you practice; regular self-
defense training will equip you with the techniques,
ability, and stamina to take on an attacker, who in most
cases won’t be well-versed in fighting skills.
But your own fighting skills – however good or bad – are
only part of what can be considered a layered defense. You
must be able to identify and incorporate different options
into your self-defense regimen in the event of an actual
attack.
There is a plethora of alternative items that can serve as
a self-defense weapon in the event you must otherwise face
an attacker unarmed. Again, consider the fact that you could
find yourself in a fight with little or no time to react.
So in order to be prepared, you need to have (or find)
something concealable and easily accessible to be used as
a makeshift weapon to deter or incapacitate your foe.
If you can’t carry or don’t have access to a firearm or
Taser, consider carrying a less lethal type of gun.
For example, flare guns are legal for purchase in most
areas, are affordable, and can be discharged with
potentially lethal force. Their phosphorus rounds (which
are used for signaling for help at sea) can essentially
light a person on fire if pointed at the body.
Be careful, though. Just like a traditional firearm, it
may take some practice to effectively aim and hit a human
target with a flare. Also, the cartridges usually have a
shelf life and can only carry a charge for a certain
length of time (typically upwards of 3 years).
Another “gun” that you could use is a squirt gun. These
children’s toys are filled with water and used for
harmless fun in mock battles. But have you ever considered
the effect of replacing the water with bleach, ammonia or
another toxic chemical (acidic juice or oil from hot
peppers could have equal effect).
Even a small, handgun-sized squirt gun filled with one of
these liquids could be easily concealed and drawn against
an attacker. Just aim for the eyes and be careful not to
get any on your own skin or face.
Also, consider aerosol and spray alternatives to
traditional pepper spray. Most liquids that come in an
aerosol can have incredibly painful and dangerous effect
against the eyes, nose, throat and skin.
Think oven cleaner, wasp killer or other toxic chemicals
with a potentially long-reaching spray. If a handheld fire
extinguisher is lying about, even better.
Other less conspicuous items unlikely to arouse much
attention are things like spray deodorant, perfume or
cologne, which you may already carry on your person or in
your bag. These can have the same effect as household
cleaners and other spray chemicals.
In addition to human targets, these unconventional
deterrents could also be used against attacking animals in
a post-disaster world. Usually a dog can take one sniff of
a harmful chemical, sense danger, and flee.
While these items allow you to put some distance between
you and your target, nothing is foolproof, and your
attacker may still persist.
Though we’ve mentioned the importance of hand-to-hand
fighting skills and training, most people would like the
added security of wielding a makeshift weapon before the
fists have to come out.
To that tune, items that can cause blunt force trauma are
the next most viable go-to. One swing of a baseball bat,
golf clubs, pipe wrenches (or pipes themselves) or a
length of rebar can have devastating effect against your
opponent.
So too can something as simple as a Maglite flashlight,
which serves dual purposes as a temporary blinding agent
(the light itself) and a bludgeoning tool.
While these items may not be concealable, they are found
and/or can be stored in most households and car trunks.
After all, you never know when you could find yourself in
a physical altercation. It could be at the hands of a home
invader or car burglar, just the same as it could be a
stranger on the street.
For all intents and purposes, you probably want to stay
away from edged weapons altogether. This includes
decorative swords, axes, kitchen cutlery and everyday
pocket and survival knives.
Firstly, you never want to bring a knife to a gun fight
(as the saying goes), or to any conflict wherein you may
be outgunned, outnumbered or out-skilled.
Though these sharp objects can do serious damage to human
flesh, using them effectively takes serious practice and
skill. Knife fighting is an invaluable skill to possess,
but without it you are essentially involving yourself in
one of the most dangerous forms of combat.
Another commonly overlooked item is the walking stick. A
shoulder-height stick made of a hard and properly dried
wood can be a formidable weapon for self-defense and can
be carried about town without arousing suspicion.
However, a pool cue, tree branch, fire poker or other
long and hard item can also do the trick. These will give
you a degree of control over your attacker by keeping them
at a distance and are ideal for hitting, swinging and
jabbing at your target’s weak spots.
Ultimately, it’s an unchangeable notion that the majority
of us will be involved in a violent altercation at some
point in our lives. This is especially true when SHTF.
You may not always be able to determine your fate, but you
can always change the way you prepare. Weapons, however
obscure and improvised, are mere extensions of your body
and can serve to enhance your self-defense skills,
especially with proper training.
Always be equally vigilant and creative. Study the
everyday objects that surround you and think of how they
could serve you in the event of an attack.
So, would you be able to defend yourself
without a gun?
If not, then you need to go here and learn how. Start out
now with the Street Fight Academy:
==> https://survivalventure.com/go/streetdefense
All the best
Victor
https://survivalventure.com