lesser degrees of force?

[mr_dove]

What are the ideas on what to carry/use when deadly force is not necessary/permitted?

Many members carry knives and/or batons but those are also considered deadly force in many jurisdictions.

Pepper spray of some sort would be the obvious choice. Are there other options?

Those of us who CCW are familiar with when deadly force is permitted but when is "less than deadly" force permitted? Is there any legal guidelines for when something like pepper spray can be used?

Or are these things just a lesser weapon that some people use when they should have used a gun?

 

[Josey]

I take a dog. If you are going to a courthouse, nothing is allowed. I discovered a LARGE "turnip" pocket watch on a chain makes an effective weapon at close range. They haven't looked twice at my watch and chain yet.

 

[Tierhog]

Try a booger. Seriously, I tried this once in one of my defensive tactics class. The instructor kept using me for the mat dummy, and I was tired of being tossed around so when he told me to defend myself I picked my nose and tried to poke him with my finger. He about fell over trying to get away from me! I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.

I do NOT recommend you try this in the real world though, its a good way to get hurt.

 

[TBeck]

Short of hand to hand, pepper spary (OC) is about the best choice for non-lethal force. Stunners and the like are not real effective once the current goes off. OC effects can last for nearly an hour.

Aerosols like OC are not always effective, especially in high winds or if the eyes and nose are obscured. But it is once less than lethal option that doesn't require hours in the dojo to perfect.

 

[Jay Kominek]

What are the ideas on what to carry/use when deadly force is not necessary/permitted?

super bright lights, pepper spray, stun grenades? hmm
A character in Neal Stephenson's "Zodiac" uses pure putrescine against bad guys at one point. Presumably cadaverine and some others would be similarly effective. I'm not sure how you'd go about getting some unless you were a chemist with the equipment necessary to synthesize it yourself. who knows what the FDA might decide to do to you?

Those of us who CCW are familiar with when deadly force is permitted but when is "less than deadly" force permitted? Is there any legal guidelines for when something like pepper spray can be used?

Here in Colorado, it is covered by C.R.S 18-1-704, I believe:

Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person is justified in using physical force upon another person in order to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and he may use a degree of force which he reasonably believes to be necessary for that purpose.

IANAL.