Advice requested: on being a small woman in an anti-gun state

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If you can't get a carry permit at least get a target &/or premises permit for your home (could you possibly get one for your workplace being it's a university?). Don't specifically know CA law, but probably 2nd Amendment means they can't deny you a non-carry permit unless you have criminal or mental history.

At least that way if you had to use it you don't look soooo bad--you had at least SOME kind of license for it.

Make sure you take a training course and document it, so you can defend against negligence charges in an otherwise "good" shooting.

Good Luck,

Perp
 
Second, if open carry, with a handgun or long gun, is allowed, consider that... even if it means you have to leave a shotgun in the car.
Click to expand...
100% not allowed in San Diego.
Guns may not be carried openly. Guns may not be loaded in a vehicle. A handgun without the magazine inserted, but with the magazine and gun in reach of the driver is considered a loaded firearm.
Also, as stated, first offense for carrying a concealed firearm is not a felony, as long as you're not a gang member. Yes, I believe the law does specify the gang thing.
You could always move north a bit, to the Free State of Orange County.
Perpster, if she purchased a legal handgun, that's all the permit she needs for her home.
 
Hummm

You may want to consider pepper spray if that is legal to carry.

One other thing you can do is carry a personal alarm. You pull the pin on the alarm in it makes a hell of a racket .

Unfortunately you are legaly limited in your options.
 
Ellie,

You have a tough problem. Martial Arts are great but can get you only so far. Carrying illegally is a difficult choice. Trying to get a legal permit seems the best course...unless moving is something you feel could live with. There are places where it is not only easier to get a carry permit...but also less necessary to get said permit. I live in a shall issue state with low crime rates, low unemployment (at least locally), and high quality of life. You could too. Perhaps you could plan a vacation to a location more carry friendly to see if it would be someplace you would like to live.
 
I would suggest that the self-defense aspect is secondary.

If jobs in your chosen profession are ONLY available in San Diego at a specific University then you are stuck. However, by changing employers you will most likely move up in your career. Every time I changed employers I moved up.

Look for areas where you, man, and barking dog would like to live. Investigate the job market. You might be pleasently supprised.

Then, eliminate the areas with bad gun laws (state and local).

The hardest part of a change is comming to the decision "We're outa here!". Everything's easy after that.
 
Even if pepper sprays are illegal, a squirt of anything in the eyes may buy time - e.g. wasp spray. (You'd hate to get attacked by flying insects on campus, wouldn't you?) Some kinds of fire extinguisher can be good multipurpose car accessories too.

Also consider getting deputized in another California county - search on this board and you'll find discussion of that.
 
Fox Labs Pepper Spray

I'm surprised no one mentioned this prior to the last few posters.

Get pepper spray! No, it won't keep someone from shooting you from 50 yards away... but how often does that happen? The most likely threat is a close quarters confrontation, whether with a gun, knife or strongarm tactics.

Some pepper sprays depend on inflicting pain on the target. You don't want these, they're not dependable against someone enraged, insane or on drugs. Fox Labs Pepper Spray works differently. The active ingredient (capsaicin) is carried in a penetrating fluid that is designed to soak in, instantly, on contact. It's very much like Liquid Wrench vs regular motor oil. Since it is absorbed immediately, it can't be wiped or rinsed off, it simply has to wear off. Also, although it does inflict a blinding pain, there's more - it actually causes the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat) to become so inflamed that the target will have limited ability to see or even breathe. For pete's sake, don't get any on yourself!

My wife and I were on the verge of giving up going to a funky neighborhood theater we enjoyed in Oakland because of our concerns about being accosted after dark. Instead, we got Fox Labs Pepper Spray and regained our peace of mind.
 
San Diego is pretty nice in terms of beaches, mountains, jobs, good weather, etc. So staying could be good...maybe start reading Black Belt magazine every month for worthwhile ideas concerning self-defense. It's availble in the Malcolm A. Love library of San Diego State U, or was when I was there.

A good folding knife in pocket or purse would conceal easier than a sharp screwdriver and would be less likely to make a hole in your pocket, imho.

Pepper spray can also be easily carried concealed. A cane in hand is a calming influence too, but I admit even I don't bring mine to work, and I'm getting to be a little old man.

Or move, as many have suggested. This could be an exciting adventure. And it doesn't have to be permanent; try a vacation, as someone mentioned, or maybe some kind of regular migration like birds do...San Juan Capistrano in the winter and someplace north that honors the Second Amendment in the summer.

In any case, good luck to you and your family.
 
Ellie,

From a fellow Californian that struggled with this dilemma for quite a long time, I recommend the following:

1) Wing Chun

2) Fox Labs Pepper Spray

3) Benchmade Griptilian

4) Concealed means concealed

HTH,

Sawdust
 
Ellie, from the title of this thread I take it you're a petite female.

Here's a question for you: how often have you been stopped and frisked by police?

If, as I suspect, the answer is "Never" then that's a pretty good indicator of the likelihood of your being caught should you decide to commit the misdemeanor(per fjolnirsson) of carrying a concealed firearm without one of those carry permits issued to politicians, campaign contributors, and celebrities whose safety is so much more important than yours.

If you have to use it on a bad guy who's assaulting you, well, he probably checked to make sure there are no police around to nab him. If there are no police around to nab the bad guy, then there are no police around to nab a victim who fights back.

Not recommendations, just observations. Do what you have to for your own safety.
 
My first thought is move the hell out; there are many fine pro-gun states in the US to consider that would be glad to have you. Virginia, my state, is pro-gun, unlike the communist MD and DC not so far from me.

But there is something to be said for standing and fighting. I like the idea of moving to a county in CA where it is easier to get CCW.

I wonder if the anti-gun bigot pols in CA and elsewhere ever considered that their laws make women like Ellie more vulnerable to rape, murder and robbery?
 
A useful idea that doesn't entitle moving....

A Surefire E2D. Very small, very bright, and it has a crenellated bezel that can be used for striking. $105 from most places.
 
JAG2955 said:
A Surefire E2D. Very small, very bright, and it has a crenellated bezel that can be used for striking. $105 from most places.
Click to expand...
Forget crenellations. You want a Tactical Impact Device. I have one on my Aviator (I got it to amuse myself, mostly), and the tips are sharp. I think they'd easily cut someone open, taking a nice DNA sample if nothing else.
A Surefire of some sort is certainly the first thing anyone interested in preparedness/safety should get. Get a pouch, stick it on your belt, and you're all set. Solves all sorts of problems, and nobody will complain about a flashlight.
 
Come to Pennsylvania. Go to your local Sherrif's office, fill out a form, have your picture taken and have your permit that day. : -)

Stay out of Philadelphia and Bucks County though, screwy places.
 
Contact Jim March and ask him.

Sawdust has some good advice.

Add a 4-5" folder and Brownie's or South Narc's training to that list.
 
WWW.packing.org addressing all weapon carries

I ran across this web site www.packing.org that addresses all state and law issues. Give it a try. It could arm you with valuable information.

T.
 
Since you work at a University, and they ARE required to provide you a safe workplace, notify IN WRITING the security coordinator or safety administrator of your awareness of the lack of security provided to you. Believe it or not, OSHA mandates a safe workplace. Carrying a weapon on school property in Oklahoma is a state felony, K-12, Vo-Tech,University. Knives, mace/pepperspray, tazers and stun guns are spefically included. Hairpicks are not mentioned, nor is a small can of "wasp and hornet spray"( which is alot better than pepperspray- my granny used it on my brothers and me once :evil: it burns EVERYWHERE.) Under the circumstances a security guard would be more than willing to escort you to your car. Breaking a (FEDERAL!!!) law is a stupid thing for a person in your capacity to do.
 
options

The over whelming advice is move. Don't throw out the career. We have Universities in Tex. Don't know what the husband does but there are manly jobs here too. As far as dogs, we have them that hunt, pet, & guard here too. Many Texas women carry. Wife & Mom in this family. Study long study wrong. MOVE.
 
I would like to move out of here as soon as I can afford it and have somewhere specific to go. I don't want to spend $500k on a regular-sized house(no exaggeration). Cost of living is high, tax is high, (obvious) gun issues, the fact that (for example) gay marriage was voted on by the people and the people said no, but I heard it's legal in some parts because that's what the courts said. That is why they call it the Republic of California. It's just too much for me. But I'm stuck here until I'm 18 or emancipated.

Besides, look at the United States (the country to our right with a bit above us), there's lots of nice places to go there.
 
I believe you can keep a fire arm in your dash or glove compartment, not under your seat as common people think.

And by the way, if you have a shotgun in your car, by law you have to have the breach open, and no shells in the gun, and in the trunk only. Now, that's not going to do you much good, " Could you hold on while I load and pop the trunk real quick? "

I suggest, a knife, I carry a knife everywhere I go, get a good serrated, or straight edge, lock blade, around 3.5'' blade, Gerber makes great knives, so does Buck.

Let me give you a piece of advice though, if you're going to carry a gun be prepared to use it, if you do move or whatever, on a side note, because if you do pull a gun, be prepared to use it, otherwise, you're only making the situation that much worse.

EDIT: Did you ever consider Bear Mace, or maybe an Taser?
They're affordable concealable, and you don't have to shoot the criminal, just get away.

EDIT:
One more thing, with a Stun gun, not only do you not have to worry about killing them, you don't have to worry about aiming either, you just have to hit them with it, and get a mini 900,000 volt one, and you'll be fine, just shock him and run away
http://store.mystunguns.com/stunguns.html
 
Ellie said:
What do you suggest? Carry a legal weapon? Screw the careers and move to another state? Hire a bodyguard, who IS legally allowed to carry? (just kidding - if I had that much money I wouldn't be worried about my career).
Click to expand...
Move to another state.
 
utahminirevolver said:
It's availble in the Malcolm A. Love library of San Diego State U, or was when I was there.
Click to expand...

tee hee - I work at State. I'll have it routed to my office before it goes to the public. That'll raise some eyebrows.
 
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