How to Choose a Weapon for Self-Defense

Safety is more often than not a person's primary concern. No matter the efficiency of the police force or the reputation of the neighborhood, people are only as safe as they decide to be. For many, that means carrying some kind of weapon. The real question, though, is what fits a person best?

Instructions

1. Ask yourself what type of weapon you would be comfortable in carrying with you. Many people consider pistols too deadly or unreliable, for instance. This is a decision that can only be made on an individual basis.

2. Assess your personal capabilities. If you are physically stronger or have a longer reach, carrying a knife or other blade might be enough to keep you safe. If on the other hand you are slighter or not as physically powerful, another weapon might make a better choice. In that case a Taser, can of Mace or a pistol might be more appropriate.

3. Find out the laws regarding your weapon of choice. If you want to carry a handgun, a permit is required and is usually only honored in a single state. The length of a knife's blade is also a matter of legality, and it changes from one city and state to another. Even Mace and pepper spray, depending on its grade and spray method, might be the subject of local ordinances.

4. Determine your budget for the weapon you want. Pistols, Tasers and Mace are all fairly expensive and may require ammunition, battery changes or extra canisters. Weapons like knives, short defense sticks or even a walking cane are all much cheaper.

5. Make certain that you can bring your weapon of choice with you wherever you go. Pistols should be worn in a concealed holster, Mace carried in a purse or pocket, and knives should be kept hidden under a shirt or in a boot. If you cannot have your weapon of choice with you, then it won't do you any good, so you should make a habit of always carrying it.

Tips & Warnings

• If at any point in this selection process you find that the weapon you found won't do, start over again. Often it means selecting a different type of weapon in a certain category such as a smaller caliber gun or a knife with a shorter blade, but sometimes you have to change your choice entirely, particularly with regards to the law.

• Take into consideration the worst-case scenario. If you aren't comfortable with the possibility of doing serious harm to an attacker, then don't carry a firearm or a knife. Other acceptable items such as Mace or a walking stick may work just as well; there won't be any hesitation to use them when the time comes.