weapons in self defense

[firecoins]

I am not sure which area this should be in because it covers both weapons and self defense.

In NYC if you use an unlicensed gun in a situation where you were clearly defending yourself, you will be arrested.

If you use a knife in self defense you will be arrested. It is hard to explain that you were carrying a knife for other reasons than self defense after you use it for self defense. I guess if your a woman, it might work but if your a guy, less so. Gang violence is the reasoning behind this. knives are the weapon of choice.

Nunchucks are technically illegal but I don't think they are that useful anyway.

I am getting into escrima so sticks are more viable but not convienant as a knife. The sticks are an obvious weapon.

Carrying a bat around is also not conveiant and weird.

Forget carrying around a sword.

A cane would probably be the best weapon for self defense. It is easier to explain to cops after an incident. You can get it on a plane. Canes are in no way illegal anyway. Like the sticks and bat it ain't conveinant but it works with formal wear. It can work with an umbrella.

your thoughts?

[Giver]

That's pretty interesting actually. With a knife, I can't see myself carrying that around unless I lived in a really rough neighborhood, which I don't. If I did though, that'd be very logical. Or a licensed gun would be logical in a rough neighborhood as well.

Nunchakus aren't very practical, but I can see how if you were very skilled you could pull it off. I mean, I wouldn't carry them around randomly but...yeah. Escrima is a little more practical, but still awkward to carry around. A bat is weird, as you said. A sword is very very cool, but also very very unpractical.

I think that you had it right with a cane being one of the best choices. If it was truly from for defense, I probably wouldn't mind carrying it around all the time.

I think I have another one though: yuwara. In my kobudo class my professor taught us about the yuwara, and how you could technically just use an unsharpred pencil(or sharpened, though painful) as a weapon. It's basically just hitting different nerves in different ways.

To me, that'd be even more convenient than a cane, and could take your attacker by surprise as well.

[Pyro]

You carry any weapon for self defense here in Australia you are the criminal, every time, no matter what the situation. Sucks but our laws put the criminals first and victims last here.

[Giver]

You carry any weapon for self defense here in Australia you are the criminal, every time, no matter what the situation. Sucks but our laws put the criminals first and victims last here.
Really? Oh wow. Guess weapons don't do any good then.

[firecoins]

The problem in NYC is they will not give you a license to carry a concealed weapon. I am not sure about nonconcealed hand guns stored at home but proabably not.

The knife is legal if it is under 4 inches. But if you use it in actual self defense you will be arrested.

Escrima sticks, swords, nunchucks are all illegal weapons because that is the only purpose they serve.

The cane does serve a medical purpose, could be a fashion statement with certain formal wear. Nobody thinks 2x about it. Hapkido, Tai Chi seems to have certain stuff for it. If you are attacked and successfully use it, you could explain it away somewhat easier to police hence reducing the chance of being arrested yourself in self defense.

I am not familiar with the yuwara. Seems interesting.

[Punchy]

Hi Pyro,

In Australia, if you use an everyday object like a mobile phone or umbrella in self defence do you know if you are still liable under the law?

[firecoins]

I unfortunately don't. I would hope that you could. I would assume yes. :confused:

I have never been to Australia but i believe you when you say weapons are completely illegal, especially for self defense. I guess they think people with legal weapons will just be cowboys :woo: This has proven not to be the case. Most gun crime in the US occurs from guns purchased illegally already. Legal gun owners tend not to commit crimes. :Angel:

[Giver]

I am not familiar with the yuwara. Seems interesting.
Oh, I didn't know that. That's interesting though.

Hm...then the knife is kind of useless, yes?

Oh. *lol* I didn't think about that.

Ah, fashion statement. That's a good thing for formal wear. Like the top hat type of thing with the dinner suit. That definitely would make lots of sense.

Yuwara is definitely interesting. You should look into it. If you can use it correctly, I'm certain that the cops can't arrest you for carrying around a PENCIL.

[Pyro]

Hi Pyro,

In Australia, if you use an everyday object like a mobile phone or umbrella in self defence do you know if you are still liable under the law?

No that is ok. What I mean is the items you carry cannot be only for a self defense purpose. Like you can't carry a hunting knife in your handbag even mace isn't allowed here. If it's expressly a weapon then that's a no-no unless you have a work related reason (ie: security guards, even then they have to be licensed for the weapons).

[Pyro]

I unfortunately don't. I would hope that you could. I would assume yes. :confused:

I have never been to Australia but i believe you when you say weapons are completely illegal, especially for self defense. I guess they think people with legal weapons will just be cowboys :woo: This has proven not to be the case. Most gun crime in the US occurs from guns purchased illegally already. Legal gun owners tend not to commit crimes. :Angel:

Yes you are right, most of the gun crime here is illegal firearms too. I am a sporting shooter (registered) and the ammount of red tape we have to go through now is a joke. But the politicians like knee jerk reactions to problems rather then thinking out a viable solution. At the end of the day all they are doing is taking weapons off decent citizens so the criminals have even softer targets.

NOTE: All the laws in the world isn't stopping me from keeping a aluminium softball bat under the bed :)

[Jesh]

If you're considering something stick-like, then an extendable baton would be the thing for you. However, these things are highly illegal where I'm from...

[firecoins]

I only mention the upscale clothing thing because if you are going to a black tie affair, your clothing might attract a mugger looking for some easy cash. Yet you can carry a cane with you as a "fashion" statement, you know, not because you have a leg injury.

Part of why i bring up this topic is because I would want to think of weapons I could use legally and yet inexpensively and train with it.

[Matt_Bernius]

One thing to consider, especially if you are taking FMA, is that the purpose of a weapons based art is to teach weapons theory, not necessarily specific weapons (though you do learn them as a by product). Thus, for example, once you learn knife, you essentially learn how to use slashing and stabbing weapons, and can transfer those skills to anything that fits that category. So for example, a pen becomes a quickly deployed stabbing tool.

Not that I'm advocating attacking people with a pen. But flexibility is one of the key components of surviving any form of attack.

- Matt

[firecoins]

One thing to consider, especially if you are taking FMA, is that the purpose of a weapons based art is to teach weapons theory, not necessarily specific weapons (though you do learn them as a by product). Thus, for example, once you learn knife, you essentially learn how to use slashing and stabbing weapons, and can transfer those skills to anything that fits that category. So for example, a pen becomes a quickly deployed stabbing tool.

Not that I'm advocating attacking people with a pen. But flexibility is one of the key components of surviving any form of attack.

- Matt

A pen is mightier than the sword. Slashing with the pen doesn't really work while stabbing might but your point is well taken.

[Matt_Bernius]

A pen is mightier than the sword. Slashing with the pen doesn't really work while stabbing might but your point is well taken.Note also, that slashing scares people, but stabbing does the real work.

- Matt

[firecoins]

people carry around cellphones, pens, keys, coins, pieces of clothing. I wonder if any of these could be used as weapons in sd?

[Matt_Bernius]

people carry around cellphones, pens, keys, coins, pieces of clothing. I wonder if any of these could be used as weapons in sd?Yes, yes, yes and well yes. Again the benefit of weapons theory is that you understand about how to turn anything into a weapon. You learn the stick to learn other things.

All that said, the first line of defense is awareness and a good basis in a good reality based self defense program. As many have said, the best defense is not being there or making someone walk by talking.

- Matt

[firecoins]

Of course. Its always better not to fight. Assume you have exhausted all possibilities. You MUST fight for your life, or someone else's. Now I am not a strong overpowering person. I will not win a strength versus strength contest. My training accounts for this but even so the help of a weapon could be needed to quickly end a bleak situation for myself. Most weapons, with successful use have expensive legal results. :woo:

If a druggie attacks you, the standard punches, kicks and grappling may not stop him. The drugs may numb his sense of pain. Shooting or stabbing an unarmed man will seem unreasonable, even if the gun was completely legal and your life was really in danger.

[Pyro]

Yep, the innocent are always screwed by the law. Gotta love the world we live in.

[WeeMonkeySparky]

Don't forget the various sizes of hefty metal flashlights. From the small kuboton sized that fits easily in the pocket and can be attached to your keys, to the gigantic six battery monstrosities that look like a police baton.

[firecoins]

Don't forget the various sizes of hefty metal flashlights. From the small kuboton sized that fits easily in the pocket and can be attached to your keys, to the gigantic six battery monstrosities that look like a police baton.

yes I did forget about mag lightes, they work.

[murphyg]

Hey
Round my area there are a load of lads that would mug you for the fun of it. People ave tried to mug me a while ago, but i ran and wasnt caught. I was fedup with running from them so i always carry round my Brass Knuckels. It keeps them all at bay and is easy to hide on or behind your belt.
try it
cheers

[firecoins]

Brass Knuckles certainly work well in a SD situation. The problem I have isn't its effectiveness but it legalities. Never been to Middlesex, but its illegal to have them in NY. Nunchucks and various folding knives are illegal in NY. Can't even order them on the internet. THe Attorney Genral of NY is litigating everybody. At least here its difficult to get and proabably not wise to carry around.

[Matt_Bernius]

On a side note, anyone who carries nunchucks as a weapon needs to have thier head examined. They're a historical footnote with little practile application, and minimal historic role in kobudo. None of us would even talk about them if it wasn't for Bruce Lee.

- Matt

[firecoins]

On a side note, anyone who carries nunchucks as a weapon needs to have thier head examined. They're a historical footnote with little practile application, and minimal historic role in kubudo. None of us would even talk about them if it wasn't for Bruce Lee.

- Matt

This is true which makes the law making nunchucks illegal absurd.