Self defense in college

The unbreakable umbrella is your best bet for a SD choice that can be reasonably carried and that won't get your peers thinking you're weird (a la walking for a cane).

Situational awareness is indispensable, because if you simply APPEAR aware and are able to duck, run, evade, etc, you will not be seen as an easy victim. I'd bet dollars to donuts those 3 people were all oblivious before being attacked/robbed/etc. They were probably drunk, on a cell phone, texting, looking at the ground, or whatever. I know you were posting that as an illustration to say why you're worried, but I wouldn't worry much. The easy prey will get targeted. If you don't look like prey you likely won't.

It's amazing what making repeated, confident eye contact as your proximity to a potential threat increases will do. If you look confident/prepared you can walk right by someone who was initially thinking of victimizing you. Now, I'm not saying you should allow such a person to get close - I'm saying you should make confident, aware, obvious eye contact (and watch hands/waist line, body language etc) from say, 30 yards, 10, and 5. Not in a rude/staring or scared way, nor in a threatening way, just a confident and justified way - you have every right to assess your surroundings. IF you can pull this off confidently with every person you meet, you are way less likely to be targeted, and if you are, you are more likely to see it coming.

I like the umbrella idea...the metal point in the adams apple or eyeball should slow down an attacker. OC spray such as Bodyguard LE10 is devastating. I know LE people that have been sprayed in training, they say that they were miserable for hours after. It is marked LE use only on the packaging. Fox 5.3 is known to be another high powered spray w/o the LE packaging.

get a pepper spray

someone (kimber maybe) makes a small 2 shot model

backup can be the change in a small bag or old sock you carry for laundry that is in your jacket pocket

I went through/am going through the same thing while I'm in school. Keep in mind though, that YOU are the thing that's dangerous to criminals, not the weapon.

A pen/pencil to the eyeball, jugular, windpipe, or thrusted upwards into the body cavity through the scrotum outta take the fight right out of most mortals.

Look into how the Marines think about combat. They are true professionals when it comes to killing and disabling humans. They are completely savage, cruel, ruthless, and unforgiving when the chips are down. Their knife fighting manual can be found online. It will give you some good ideas on how you could use a pen if you ever had to. The idea of stabbing upwards into the abdomen through the scrotum and testicles came from that manual. It seems that the shock of it prevents enemies from screaming or fighting back much if they are surprised like that with a knife. Apparently they just breathe in sharply and go straight into shock for the most part.

I personally carry a Kershaw knife on me while I'm in class. I don't think knives are strictly illegal on college campuses because they have dorms and apartments. How else are you supposed to cook and eat if you live on campus? The clip on my knife is visible on the outside of my pants and no one has ever said a single word to me about it in over three years of college, including campus police and security. Just don't be a moron about it. Don't have it out unless you are legitimately using it.


Even without a pen or a knife in your hand, you've got two hands, two feet, two elbows, two knees, a hard skull, teeth, and fingers which will dang near touch someones brain if you put them through an eye socket.

If the criminal has a bludgeon type weapon, learn some grappling and close the distance. Baseball bats aren't effective if you are inside elbow range. If a pistol is pulled on you up close and personal, you might be able to get control of their wrist and lock up the cylinders if it's a revolver. Or pull/push back on the slide to take it out of battery if its an automatic. If it's a long gun, get closer to them than the barrel and keep that thing pointed away from you. Keep in mind that most of the advantages of a gun only apply when at greater than contact distance. Inside that and a knife/pen/pencil can be an equal or even better weapon with the right mindset.

Knives are supposedly more tricky to handle without a weapon of your own. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program(MCMAP) has some good suggestions, but personally I don't know if I'd have the guts to try it unless they were already stabbing me.

Keep in mind, I've never done any of the measures I just mentioned(except grappling/boxing/rolling/submission wrestling). However I do know that combat is all about controlling distances to your strengths and their weaknesses. Just remember that humans are the top predators on the planet and we didn't have guns until recently in our history. A human being is a dangerous animal even unarmed.

First, avoid the situation. Having a club or knife or nice pen isn't a substitute to not being in a bad situation. Going to Johns Hopkins is like going to Columbia - nice schools in dangerous parts of town.

Second - fake wallet. Keep your valuables either in a wallet hanging from your neck, or a jogging belt.

Third, donate to the Second Amendment Foundation - they are suing now to start the fix to Maryland's bigoted carry law.

Fourth, become a lawyer or a physician (medical doctor, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner), since they among the professions currently eligible for concealed carry permits in Maryland.

Maryland state law, section 4-101 Dangerous weapons explicitly states that "a penknife without a switchblade" is not a weapon. (http://www.michie.com/maryland/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=). However, it is illegal to transfer by sale or barter "a knife or a penknife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife, commonly called a switchblade knife or a switchblade penknife." Case law has upheld 5 inch folding knives as not being weapons.

many colleges in your area teach RADS

http://www.rad-systems.com/md.html

I HIGHLY recommend it

You should really get a bicycle to ride around campus, and get a kryptonite U Lock. Your bike wont get stolen, and there are 3 different sizes to choose from. All of these are easily swingable and hit like a small steel baseball bat.

You carry it in your belt like this.

I would expect that if you aren't able to avoid a situation-- in a city like Baltimore anything you use 'can and will be used against you.' I would keep that in mind. Some of the suggestions(screwdriver) might look rather condemning sitting in a plastic bag on a DAs desk in front of a jury.

Weigh the pros and cons of each. Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness and all that.. but don't land yourself in prison or thrown out of school to save yourself a five dollar bill

Rusty Shackleford said:

I personally carry a Kershaw knife on me while I'm in class. I don't think knives are strictly illegal on college campuses because they have dorms and apartments. How else are you supposed to cook and eat if you live on campus? The clip on my knife is visible on the outside of my pants and no one has ever said a single word to me about it in over three years of college, including campus police and security. Just don't be a moron about it. Don't have it out unless you are legitimately using it.

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GA law prohibits carrying any "knife designed for offense or defense." Knives of 2 or more inches are banned on GA college/university campuses. Hillariously enough, possessing a butter knife in a Georgia dorm appears to actually be a fellony.

See post number 30 again.

GA law prohibits carrying any "knife designed for offense or defense." Knives of 2 or more inches are banned on GA college/university campuses.

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While we continue to fight for gun and knife rights, the reality is, here in the USA, we have restrictions, just as our members from other countries have.

So, yes, if your jurisdiction and location, and laws allows for conceal carry of firearms, or "weapons", or knives, etc., do make these part of your "tool-kit", but not the "tool-kit".

-Define Self Defense.
-What concerns do you have, that you might have to defend against?

i.e. Fire. While colleges have excellent fire detection, alarms, emergency lighting, and required extinguishers, the reality is, Smoke kills.

Now while it may seem silly to many to share a Bandanna is a weapon, they are proven in being "non-firearm" weapons, in defending against smoke, and other dangers to respiratory systems.
These also are proven in first aid situations, and in more "hand-to-hand" situations against attackers. Anything from using a padlock, apple, keys, stapler, etc.,in conjuction with the bandanna and using as a impact weapon.

One could "tie" a door shut, be this a classroom door and the way it opens and closes, and even then, sometimes the "door closer" mounted up top, can be "tied" shut, to keep a door shut that opens the "wrong way".

Kids.
Now I come up with things as a kid. I am not the only kid that was raised one was not dressed without a handkerchief/bandanna. (and pocketknife, and means to make fire, which doubled as light.)

So kids cannot have CCW, nor take knives to school and so much more. So three thoughts come to mind: (a) teach your kids, get them training and take training with them,making sure they have bandanna/handkerchief, small flashlight ( even if just a key chain one) ,(b) think like a bad guy, and (c)think like a kid.

It is way too easy, especially today, to default to gun and knife as the only means to deal with every serious situation.

It is way t0o easy, especially today, to "default" to the only knives "we have to have" are one-handed opening, with locking mechanisms, made of "super steels", with "scary sharp" edges, done so by "uber-sharpening-gidgets-n-gadgets".

Bull Chips!

1. I had some "interesting" mentors, and they had been there, and done that, and it would scare you to know what all a person with Mindset, and Skill-Sets can do with a small penknife. Even smaller than a Case Peanut, like a Victorinox Classic SD.

2. Surgeons are not the only ones that know what a "little bit of sharp steel" can do, ask anyone that has been in Med School, Nursing, Radiology and other medical fields.

[i.e. Oklahoma City Bombing. A small penknife, ( and I think it was a Case Peanut) was used by the head of Department of Orthopedic to amputate a leg, to save a lady's life. The ortho tools were too big, to work effectively in the cramped and dangerous environment]

So while you, may not have these skill sets, a Classic SD for instance might be used by someone that does have the training (Nursing student for instance) to do a emergency trach.
You are defending against that person not being able to breath.


Light.
Now everyone today, seems to talk ill of the two AA Mag-lite. I happen to have one on me today. Oh I have a Ray-O-Vac, one watt, LED, but have taken to carrying a AA Mag-Lite everyday again. I go way back with these.
Yes, these make good impact weapons. I have used mine for light, leaving a hotel, from an upper floor, during a fire alarm, down the stairwell, and assisting others. The emergency lighting was NOT working on all floors down the stairs.

Another thing light does, is show criminals you have your act together. Those flashing blue lights, on campuses, where the call boxes are, are only good if you can get to one.
So easier prey is the student walking way out there to their vehicle, after evening classes, and in dark areas, instead of the student with a light, even the often ill spoke of two AA Mag-Lite.

Bandanna: $1- $2
Victorinox Classic SD: $9 - $12
Mag-Lite, two AA: $9- $12

So with mindset,and skill-sets, one can effectively use twenty six dollars of equipment to deal with situations on a College Campus.

You kids are worth $26, as are your spouses on "school grounds", and they are worth whatever the cost of training the mind, and body with skill sets.

It may not be a school shooting, or attempted robbery, or sexual assault, instead fire, or tornado, you might have to "defend" against.

Kids are not the only ones that are comforted, by light, when the power goes out, or lighting is diminished by smoke, and having to exit the premises.

.

I guess I take my size for granted. I think being 6'5 290 is my best defense. I don't think too many people would see me as being a target for robbery.

I work in a county jail and just a note to those who carry pepper spray. Be careful how you use that stuff. Especially in an enclosed area like a train you had better pray the pepper spray works on the guy trying to rob you. If it doesn't I bet it works on you and you are now blind coughing and losing your belongings.

On a side note if all you are losing is 5 bucks put your pride aside and give that stuff up.

Really elete
what is a little sex
what is your car
wife
child
baby


when do you fight, you have to 'ready to kill' to effectively fight, it's training, S&T moderator keep pointing out MINDSET SKILLSET EQUIPMENT

Wonder which one you are blowing off...

Your letter was very polite and sensible. When you don't hear after a couple more weeks, copy it to the student newspaper as a letter to the editor. College is a place for people to think about issues and have discussions.

As for what to do, realize that there is a difference between state law and campus policy. I wouldn't violate state law, but you probably could bend campus policy some if you are a non-trouble-making student.

I don't know your state law, but if none of these violate, I would carry in this order:
1) a cell phone
2) a tactical flashlight (like Fenix L1T)
3) a small folding knife (like Spyderco Byrd Robin)
4) pepper spray

If you are ever in a situation to use 3 or 4, then you're going to need 1 and 2. You might as well get used to carrying a phone and light if you think you may want to CCW someday.

I think it's likely that if you are an involved student who gets good grades, has good relationships with your faculty, and who doesn't cause trouble, you will be able to apologize if the pepper spray should become an issue. I'd recommend you think about it sort of like a CCW, concealed means concealed. At the very least, be very discreet about it.

Pepper Spray

The "self defense" part starts at timestamp 00:42

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV6In1K8zKk

"Light.
Now everyone today, seems to talk ill of the two AA Mag-lite. I happen to have one on me today. Oh I have a Ray-O-Vac, one watt, LED, but have taken to carrying a AA Mag-Lite everyday again. I go way back with these."

They get even better with the Nite- eyes drop in LED conversion for 4.95 from Walmart. Double the run time with a nice white flood light. Plus the LED's are more rugged in case of an "impact".

I carry an Inova X5 all the time, quite useful, from just checking out my motorcycle, to if the lights go out at work, etc. As a guy who ride a bike, I really do frequently carry tools in my pocket, and when I was in school (recent grad) sometimes sat down in class, only to realize I had forgotten locking pliers in my pocket, or a screwdriver, or whatever.

Find something you can excuse as an everyday item, and make it a habit to pocket it every morning as soon as you get out of bed and put your pants on. Heck, if I'm wearing the same pants the next day, I won't even take anything out of my pockets the night before. If you prep the night before, and everything is automatic, even if you are surprised by something strange where you live, before you know it, you can be fully dressed, ready to go.

Let me second sm's bandanna suggestion. I almost always carry one with me and it is the second most used tool I carry, after my pocket knife.

Usually, just to clean my glasses. Sometimes to blow my nose. When out & about and your kiddo scrapes their knee, it comes out.

I would suggest awareness and to carry a decent amount of cash on you. At Fsu there were 3 cases of a student being shot for simply not having anything to offer to a mugger.

I believe No matter where you are and how old you are Self defense is a right everyone is born with and nobody should take that right from you....

Somewhere recently I read a suggestion to carry a sturdy, plastic pen with a removable cap. The pen is worn around the neck with a cord through the clip on the cap. More accessible than anything carried in your pocket, and more effective than poking them with your fingers. A pen like this one, for example.

Big stick is ideal. It can be used to jab and smack. The U-Lock is heavy but has limited reach and can be grabbed easily by the other guy. I've actually used my walking stick several times to fend off charging dogs. Works great without the need for more violent defense. A mugger I would shoot, but without that option a good fencing thrust to the solar plexus should do wonders. Jab, then run.

JShirley said:

I see you mention the GA law forbidding a class of knives. Which law forbids knives over 2" blade length?

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Take a look at § 16-11-127.1, which prohibits all knives over 2'' on campus, but not in general. For general carry restrictions, see §16-11-125 and § 16-11-126, which define weapons and restrict their carry, respectively.

I carried = kubotan key ring, solid aluminum 'ink pen', sizeable can of pepper spray concealed in cell phone holster, slim profile stun gun in back pocket, and a 4" spear point CRKT hammond cruiser. There were two rapes (one a broad daylight abduction in the middle of campus) and several assualts (muggings and the like) during my time at college. 300 miles from home with a useless cdw license, on top of a bug out bag I carried in my backpack I was as prepared as I could be.

LkWinnipesaukee said:

I am a Freshman at a school in Baltimore, MD ("The Greatest City in the World"), where I live on campus.

Today on the way back from the airport on a small city train (the "Light Rail" if anyone knows B-more), I had an encounter that could have ended very badly. Long story short I lost a $5 in my pocket.

But it got me thinking. All I had was a small can of pepper spray on me, which I "stupidly" had in my jeans out of access.

Obviously for several reasons I can't have a handgun with me. And I generally don't just hold pepper spray in my hand openly. Perhaps there is some self defense device that I can have in my hands that doesn't draw attention? Any suggestions?

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i carry my mace in my jeans, and it's never unavailable. if i'm alone, or in a very limited group of people, i usually keep my hand in my pocket. keeping your hands in your pockets can be seen as a sign of low self esteem to some, but to me, it's the knowledge that i'm always ready whether or not i'm touching my blade, my mace, or my .38