Self defense for elders—general discussion (engage, teenagers, benefit, city)

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

you can get whats called a belly band which is an elastic band that can hold a wallet and small firearm under your shirt.

i was working in brownsville brooklyn for 6 months . its so bad the local precinct covers only 1 square mile.

i carried a dummy wallet with some expired credit cards and some cash. my real wallet was tucked away in the belly band.

I this something you can get in stores?

[46Barb]

You could look online or contact a local gun store to see if they carry belly bands.


Just wanted to say I like the idea of the fake pocketbook. You could always have a wallet with just a few dollars in it to make it look authentic.

[Umbria]

I gave up carrying a purse some time ago - it's nice not lugging that around. I have a credit card holder - the size of a cr. card or drivers license and it slips deep into my pocket. I've had women comment, while in somewhere in line, "I'm going to start doing that". I think the bad guys would just move on to an easier target. If I need cash, I wear a money belt.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Umbria

I gave up carrying a purse some time ago - it's nice not lugging that around. I have a credit card holder - the size of a cr. card or drivers license and it slips deep into my pocket. I've had women comment, while in somewhere in line, "I'm going to start doing that". I think the bad guys would just move on to an easier target. If I need cash, I wear a money belt.

That's the way I see it, too--especially the part I bolded. I also do the wallet deep in the pocket idea. I can't quite see myself going to the bother of carrying a faux purse just for the purpose of having something to fool a robber someday, although it's an interesting idea. It's just more effort than I'm willing to do. I'm more the type to walk in low crime areas, blend in with the crowd, and avoid looking like an easy target.

[Umbria]

Why do I get these images in my head? Take your fake purse and fill a couple balloons with sand (they get very heavy) and then throw the purse and clunk them in the head - score - one down

OK - back to work~~~~

[BlackShoe]

Being old and pragmatic and with good street smarts, not much in agreement with many of the suggestions. Do agree that awareness is highly important, being aware of surroundings and avoiding dangerous areas and situations is the first line of defense. First of all, being old and relatively feeble, unless we are a near Chuck Norris clone (age 72), a martial art skill likely will be almost useless against a thug or thugs one third our age. Next, a couple of posts mentioned cell phones and 911. What the hell good does that do you, you have seconds to respond to the threat, not minutes. Do you expect a pair of armed policemen to instantly pop out of the bushes next to you? More likely they would arrive 10-15 minutes later and find your battered or dead body.

Talking your way out of the situation? Sorry, but I do not have the people skills, and in fact, have an "attitude" that would escalate, not defuse the situation. An earlier post stated that losing a wallet was not a life or death situation, not worth risk taking. Again disagree, for me it most certainly is. The perp is attemping to carry out a felony against you with the threat of great bodily harm, and you are justified both morally and legally to resist him with any means possible, including deadly force.

Perhaps the best defense for most women and for men that do not wish to acquire shooting skills is bear spray. Reputed to be able to stop a 600 pound grizzly in his tracks, a faceful at close range would sure discourage a thug. The problem could be multiple foes and getting a facefull of the stuff yourself.

That leaves the self defense firearm. Being resonably skilled and experienced in the use of the handgun, this is my choice. Training and practice is imperative, and a person must have the mindset to instantly use deadly force when it becomes an absolute last resort necessity. If you feel that you would be unable to take a human life, justified though it might be, then a gun for defense is not for you.

[biscuitmom]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

you can get whats called a belly band which is an elastic band that can hold a wallet and small firearm under your shirt.

i was working in brownsville brooklyn for 6 months . its so bad the local precinct covers only 1 square mile.

i carried a dummy wallet with some expired credit cards and some cash. my real wallet was tucked away in the belly band.

Putting aside the firearm issue, I make it a habit to do the "dummy wallet" while travelling. I also wear a zircon wedding ring in place of my real diamond one. Why doesn't everyone do this?

[mathjak107]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

I this something you can get in stores?

Belly Band Holster - The Original Bellyband - Concealment Holsters

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keyw...y%20band%20ccw

[Happy in Wyoming]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

I can see where this might work well with one potential accoster (is that a word? ), especially spoken by a male, who can impart some kind of authority and fatherly kind of figure (to probably a male accoster). I wonder if that would work if spoken by a woman, esp a younger woman. I also wonder how that would work if there were more than one accoster, who are intent on a mugging.

I'm male and large although I do have white hair. But I wouldn't have bet my life on this when I was thirty. That's what it is: betting your life.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

I can see where this might work well with one potential accoster (is that a word? ), especially spoken by a male, who can impart some kind of authority and fatherly kind of figure (to probably a male accoster). I wonder if that would work if spoken by a woman, esp a younger woman. I also wonder how that would work if there were more than one accoster, who are intent on a mugging.

Some time back I was taking a very early morning (like 2:00 a.m.) walk in a city (not here) because I couldn't sleep. Three young men lounging on the sidewalk saw me approaching and from their looks at/to one another and then toward me my instinct was that they saw me as an easy mark. Figuring I couldn't outrun them and doing a 180 to walk away from them or crossing the street would serve only as a trigger, instead I strode confidently up to them, engaged them in pleasant conversation (the bars had just closed) and after a short chat, went on my way. It took them totally off guard, they were pleasant in return and no harm was done on either side.

Would that work for a woman? Probably not as well. It's one reason I've always advocated having a male escort them to their cars in the evening and after dark - either that or be armed, where legal, and proficient. But street smarts come in handy too.