Author Topic: Protection in the city (Read 8848 times)

74cb750 · « **on:** March 07, 2009, 12:43:14 PM »

Ok, looking for suggestions here.
My little daugher, (5 foot, 94 pounds) is moving to Needham, Ma to work. As she will be working late nights in/around Boston, Ma. I am concerned about some of the neighborhoods she'll be in.

Any suggestions how she should protect herself from nefarious individuals/situations? I used to teach self-defense, but no matter how good you are, when someone outweighs you by 100+ pounds, and has the advantage of surprise....well, I just want her to feel safe.

peace,
michel

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:23:01 PM »

One of those loud air horns in the purse is a good idea. Those suckers are loud and probably a good deturant.

We have a hoity toity city here called Edina, it has a mall called Southdale. There is now "gang turf" INSIDE the damn mall and there was a small shoot out the other week. That was enough for me to go down to the county and apply for my permit to carry.

Thank god for guns.

I personally believe if you use a gun to inflict fear or violence on another human being that you are a yellow piece of crap. However, I'm not going to let some bastard pull a gun on me or worse my sister and niece.

74cb750 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2009, 05:55:16 PM »

That might be a good idea. I don't believe you need a permit for that in Massachusetts, but I could be wrong as that state has laws against almost everything.

boatsdickson · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2009, 06:09:07 PM »

Quote

Thank god for guns.

+100. IMO, but I believe there are other options. I found a stun gun for my wife while the conceal carry paperwork was pending. It straps to a purse or backpack strap or a belt loop or whatever. The description is below and copied from sportsmansguide.com. They vary from 150,000 to 500,000 volts. Good luck with the decision Michel.

Tiny, with a HUGE protective punch! New, patented Black Cobra™ Pen Stun Guns!

Each is a mere 6 3/8 x 1 x 3/4" and just 3 ozs.... the creep attacking you is 6'3" and 230 lbs. But guess who's gonna win? These self-defense Stun Guns fit in a shirt pocket or purse but deliver an immobilizing "zap" in just a half-second.

Their new capacitor design makes them uniquely powerful, using just 2 AAA batteries (not included) to deliver power like a much larger unit. Safe, easy to use, with on / off switch and safety cap.

heffay · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2009, 06:14:19 PM »

"i used the stun pen on him... but the safety cap was still on... so i got my ass kicked and all my money's gone."

boatsdickson · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2009, 06:31:58 PM »

.

Actually heff, I drilled 2 holes in the cap, then stiched a snap buckle to it. Snap the buckle around a belt loop & it will pull off when you grab the stun gun. The cap it good enough that the gun can even dangle by the cap buckle. Yep thought that myself when I ordered it.

fuzzybutt · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:03:36 PM »

not totally sure but i think massachusetts is pretty difficult to even be able to own a handgun let alone carry one.

BobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:38:16 PM »

MA has a tougher gun laws than NY. I would suggest a good pepper spray. Legal or not, it can be dismissed easier than a gun or knife. With the spray u can keep your distance.

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2009, 12:34:40 PM »

That is true Bobby, except that a lot of these pepper sprays are weak as hell. Yeah they will buy you a couple seconds, but all in all, in my opinion, I wouldn't go for them.

BobbyR · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:04:10 PM »

Quote from: Caaveman82 on March 08, 2009, 12:34:40 PM

That is true Bobby, except that a lot of these pepper sprays are weak as hell. Yeah they will buy you a couple seconds, but all in all, in my opinion, I wouldn't go for them.

True, You will need to get a spray from a Police supply store. The same type the Cops carry. That will make them close there eyes at the least. The problem with stun guns is you have to touch the person.

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:14:14 PM »

Bobby, I agree with that. Maybe the combo, police grade spray and a fog horn. Stun them with the spray and run around hooting that horn and some one will eventually call the cops for annoyence reasons.

Not to turn this into a one time at band camp story but, while I was enlisted we had this bull crap called MCMAP, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. They had different belts and everything. In order to get your green MCMAP belt you had to do like 120 hours of training and then pass the "test" which was to get sprayed in the face, point blank, with police grade pepper spray and then go through this obstical course where you fight the instructors and climb the rope and all this, I was worried at first. I stepped up got sprayed and it burned for about 30 seconds but I could see what I was doing, and I got my crappy green belt.

We used to joke that MCMAP was a program to teach us how to get our @$$ wooped. HAha

alltherightpills · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:19:04 PM »

I am pretty sure someone makes a pepper spray for hikers and outdoorspeople who are in bear country. I'm not sure what the legality of carrying it is, but that might be an option as well. If it works on a charging grizzly, it would probably work on people pretty well.

mcuozzo · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2009, 05:39:52 PM »

The best protection is to be observant and prepared.

If she is going to be working late, make sure she parks in a well lit area near something that will be open late, ie a 24 hour mcdonalds, etc. Most public areas in big citys these days are also covered by some type of video camera, be it from a bank, gas station, entrance to stores, etc. If she stays out in the open she should be pretty safe.

I've lived in big citys and smaller suburbs and believe it or not, in a lot of regards the big cities are safer. Less guns, less % of people are actually affected by crime etc.

Search the internet for safety tips for women and make sure she knows\follows them.

AK Cafe · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2009, 06:22:20 PM »

In her situation, she is not trying to Kill an attacker, just disable him/her enought to escape or find help. If she is not willing/able to invest the time/effort to train and practice how to handle or use a gun then she will want to use some form of non-lethal force.
You might want to have her look at one of these. http://www.pepperblaster.com/ They are relatively cheep and can be carried most places without anyone knowing its there. It uses the same concentration of OC that the cops use, and believe me it does work when used correctly. And you can get practice cartridges so she will feel more confident using it.

AK Cafe

Frankencake · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2009, 07:05:02 PM »

You live in Vermont. We can buy just about anything here. I am near the Mass. border and from what I hear from folks down there is that it is pretty difficult to obtain a CCWP much less a handgun and you don't want to get caught with an illegal weapon. The best bet is for you to move down to Needham and follow her everywhere. I might suggest going through all of the necessary paperwork in mass. and outfitting you SUV with a mini gun that pops out of the roof. They are legal to buy in the states with a class III license.
Another good way for her to be safe is to befriend all of the Irish guys that that she can meet. They are a ferocious and protective bunch when it comes to their women especially when they have been drinking which is all of the time.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2009, 07:30:16 PM »

I think it would would be wise for her to have some of the weapons mentioned maybe and the idea of parking in a well lit area is good but the best would be to have someone with her also. I wouldn't like the idea of my daughter being in that situation alone.

gregimotis · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2009, 08:24:31 PM »

Locate the IMPACT (or equivalent RBSD) organization in her area and buy her a weekend course. A short self-defense course should address awareness, avoidance strategy, and response (EG: kicking and screaming).

bender01 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2009, 08:31:14 PM »

I would rather defend my(alive) offspring in court than hope to persecute later. Know your curtilage and be ready. If shes 21 or older cant she buy a handgun? Mass is that strict? (lawyer) "She had been at the indoor pistol range that afternoon. Luckily for her she kept the arm near her and was able to retrieve it !" She doesnt have to tell anyone shes packing! Arm her with the most firepower shes comfortable with and a huge dose of common sense.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2009, 08:36:51 PM »

Quote

Thank god for guns.

Are you kidding!!!!!!!!! wasn't this the cause of the problem in the first place...

Mick

TwoTired · « **Reply #19 on:** March 08, 2009, 11:29:37 PM »

Quote from: bender01 on March 08, 2009, 08:31:14 PM

I would rather defend my(alive) offspring in court than hope to persecute later. Know your curtilage and be ready. If shes 21 or older cant she buy a handgun? Mass is that strict? (lawyer) "She had been at the indoor pistol range that afternoon. Luckily for her she kept the arm near her and was able to retrieve it !" She doesnt have to tell anyone shes packing! Arm her with the most firepower shes comfortable with and a huge dose of common sense.

I did a little digging about firearms in Massachusetts, wondering if it had gotten better or worse since I last made some investigation. (more about that latter)
Massachusetts has enacted one of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, imposing a mandatory one-year jail sentence for anyone illegally possessing a firearm, loaded or unloaded, "on his person or under his control in a vehicle."

Massachusetts requires all gun owners to be licensed. You have to have "permission to own a gun in Massachusetts, called an FID (Firearms Identification Card). You need this card to buy ammunition, too. And then a class A permit that allows carry (LTC, License to Carry Firearms) which the police "may" issue if you can convince them...
"The license "may" be issued by the same issuing authority as for a card to a person at least 21 who is eligible for a card and demonstrates he is a "suitable person" and "has good reason to fear injury to his person or property, or for any other reason, including...sport or target practice only." Restrictions may be placed on the license."
(Better have an "IN" with the police, politicians, or entertainment industry.)
You need an LTC to have a handgun in your own home where it must be "stored" in a specific way (rendering it pretty much useless for "unplanned" emergencies).
"The law requires guns to be stored in a specific manner. All guns, including machine guns, must be stored or kept in a "locked container or with a tamper resistant mechanical locking device" to prevent unauthorized use."
I happened to find this, incidentally, about the effect of these laws? (I'm sure someone will contest it...)
http://www.goal.org/news/truth.htm

I was offered a very lucrative Job in Massachusetts several years ago. I turned it down BECAUSE of the gun control laws in that state.
If you are targeted by a thug. The thug has more rights than you, if you prevail in the encounter, and the State will prosecute you. If the thug prevails, the news media has fodder for sensational broadcasts, and the police will curse you for the extra paperwork they have to do, because you were stupid enough to be targeted.

I liked a *lot* of people that lived there. But, I'm highly reluctant to even visit that state, even though I have done that on occasion.

FYI

TwoTired · « **Reply #20 on:** March 08, 2009, 11:33:15 PM »

Quote from: retro rocket on March 08, 2009, 08:36:51 PM

Quote
Thank god for guns.
Are you kidding!!!!!!!!! wasn't this the cause of the problem in the first place...

Mick

No.

Evil resides in men/women, not inanimate objects.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:13:25 AM »

Quote

Evil resides in men/women, not inanimate objects.

Correct but without said inanimate objects you wouldn't have the problem in the first place.

Mick

tramp · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2009, 04:48:57 AM »

from the video's i saw pepper spray and shock guns just piss of the person
they still get what they want
a good self defense course is probable the best decision
even a 100 pounder can dole out some good damage
the thing is she has to become junkyard dog mean to really hurt someone

azuredesign · « **Reply #23 on:** March 09, 2009, 05:18:12 AM »

Well, I live in Needham, and have for 30 years. There is not really any crime here, mostly local kids getting picked up for pot.
I don't know where your daughter will be working in Boston, or whether she is taking public trans to get there, but having a friend to accompany her to the bus/train at night is probably a cool thing to do. The commuter train to Needham shuts down early, I think at 10 or 11, and as that is the only public trans here, I don't know if that coincides with her schedule.

If you're concerned get her a can of mace or whatever, but that response seems similar to how I felt when I lived for 10 years in western Mass, and had to go into Boston or NYC. The city seemed overwhelming, and I wouldn't go to either place willingly.
If you come over to Needham, you're welcome to pm me, I'll be glad to show you around.
All best,
Ben

Demon67 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 09, 2009, 05:56:45 AM »

What about the self defense spray with dye? Most bad people don't want to be visible to law types.
Bill the demon.

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Author Topic: Protection in the city (Read 8848 times)

fuzzybutt

AK Cafe