In NYC (well, the Bronx) Home Defense

[DT Guy]

As far as learning the rules for using force against an intruder---a ball bat or Viking axe are both liable to inflict deadly wounds, meaning you are using deadly force when you strike someone with them. If you're not sure when you could justifiably shoot someone, you won't know when you could whack or cleave them, either.

Might be a little homework could clear that up.


Larry

 

[jmbg29]

As far as learning the rules for using force against an intruder---a ball bat or Viking axe are both liable to inflict deadly wounds, meaning you are using deadly force when you strike someone with them.

The beauty of the baseball bat is the high probability that the jury morons will be baseball fans.

If you shoot the punk, they'll tell you what a shame it is that you have to get gang-raped in prison for using the animal force of a gun. But hey, the law's the law.

If you pulp the scumbag's head with a bat, they'll call you a hero for standing up to a guy with a gun or a knife while armed only with a ing baseball bat.

Heaven forbid you end up in front of a jury, but if you do, try to figure out what players the slack-jawed-mouth-breathers in the jury worship. Then say stuff like "I saw him there with the pistol, but I figured that if I gave him a 'Mr. October' special, he'd go down like a sack a' potatoes." The imbeciles will probably give you a parade.

 

[Baron Holbach]

With NY's gun restrictions, I wonder if even air guns are permissible? How about some .177 pellet shooters at around 400 to 800 fps?

 

[Gordy Wesen]

I used to live in the Bronx...Woodlawn next to Yonkers. The best thing I ever did for home defence was to leave NY for the West.
However, if I was stuck in that rat hole again I'd carry 10% pepper spray outside. In the house I'd have a safe room. Many intruders first go to the kitchen for a knife so whats to say you didn't also go there for a first class meat cleaver? I really do not want to close on someone with a fish whacker. Maybe a hawk but the suddenness of a home invasion gives me pause, especially with out a gun. I think I would buy a working male Malenois and get used to the responsibility of having a dog. Why a Mal? Nobody really knows what the dog IS...it looks like a mutt. They will go from 0 to 60 on command without stimulation. A working GSD would be my second choice. I dearly love Rotts but they are prey dogs and aren't what they used to be.
Hey, go out and have an egg cream for me.

 

[seeker_two]

I have one of these that I once used as a backup to my firearms (more limited in my early post-college days). Is very effective as a stabbing/slashing/hacking weapon. Go w/ the short shaft for more manuverability in tight spaces. Check to see if legal first...



Kwan Dao

Very wicked...

 

[Arcli9ht]

Air guns are illegal, ASPs are too, I think. Paintball guns are.

Paintball would actually be my first choice, I think. I have a full auto Tippmann, and when its loaded with proball paint (thickest shell, and the most painful paint in my experience) and I crank up the velocity, I can actually use it to kill crows and squirrels. Maybe that would be a good solution, aside from a baseball bat. It gives a good distance between me and the attacker, hurt the hell out of whoever gets hit 50+ times in the face with no mask, and it would be hard for a jury to think it was lethal force.

/Arcli9ht

 

[rugersbro]

LETHAL BUT LEGAL

12 Gage Flare gun. Any boat store.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

I imagine if you live in the Bronx that you probably live in a modestly sized place.

In my opinion, pepper is only good outside. Spraying pepper inside a small room will overwhelm you too.

Since a firearm is off-limits, A good strong Surefire light, large Bowie knife, and access to cell phone will probably solve most immediate problems.

Keep them all in your bedside table and make a habit to put your gear on quickly if alerted in the middle of the night.

I would suggest a nylon/kydex shoulder harness made to carry the knife under your weak arm, light, and some flex cuffs, and maybe a cell phone under your strong arm. That way if you wake up in the middle of the night in your skivvies you can throw the harness on and have all of your kit, or in a big hurry just grab it and go.

www.survivalsheath.com
is the place to have a harness like this made.

Learn some rudimentary knife technique for the large blade, again Cold Steel has some excellent tapes on this subject.
You may want to consider a large, shiny bowie like a Cold Steel Trailmaster or something similar.

 

[JShirley]

Full-auto paintball at close range would be a SERIOUS dissuading force for an attacker! Ow, ow, and ow again!

Bat would probably be my next choice. A fairly short and light bat, and learn the 9 attack angles, instead of just using baseball swings.

 

[brownie0486]

I would prefer a small 1 " dowel about 20" long.

Takes on a couple of aggressors much better than a bat. The bat may lead to swinging it as we were taught. In close, that may be detrimental to survival and effectively thwarting an attack where you may not have the room to manuever efficiently.

A kali or escrima stick works wonders when combined with a few hours of training. Holds off the knifers real well and if they have a gun when they intrude into your domicile none of the responses will be viable in all liklihood.

Mace/pepper spray in the house is not the best idea. As another posted, you'll be just as affected as the perp along with the responding officers who enter. From personal experience I can tell you the LE's would rather not have to deal with it indoors.

I would also be packing a knife with the stick while confronting the perp in my house. All the above would be suggestions for your particular set of circumstances.

I can carry, and do, so they will be shot in my situation most likely.

Brownie

 

[VictorLouis]

and if legislation to ban firearms in the city or elsewhere passes, I don’t want the city knocking on my door expecting me to turn stuff over.

Emphasis mine How about you ask anyone who owned a registered 'assault weapon'. There is no IF.

 

[Arcli9ht]

Ok, I took a bunch of the suggestions here and put together a little kit. In the pic, everything is spread out, but it all fits, with the exception of the tippmann, on an lbv belt. Sure its heavy, but it will get the job done.



2 D cell Maglite, to blind the intruder.
Fully automatic Tippmann with 220 round hopper, full auto kit, flatline barrel, 24oz CO2 tank, and 300 rounds of Proball paint in JT speed tubes. - at close range, this thing draws blood.
21" ASP Tactical Baton - smack smack
KABAR in Kydex sheath - I can shave with it.
Standard rusty-but-sharp machete.

I'm about ready to take on the mongolian hordes that await outside my door.

What will probably happen, if anything ever happens, is ill grab the machete and flashlight and leave the rest, but you never know.

Thank you all for the input.

/Arcli9ht

 

[Preacherman]

I'd go for a good Zulu assegaai... I've seen these used in combat (and I mean real, blood-and-guts combat!), and they're absolutely deadly if you know how to use one. I've got one, and would unhesitatingly take on any knife- or baseball-bat-armed enemy if I had to (although I'd probably have emptied my Glock into him first! ).