Carl Levitian
member
For quite a while now, I've seen these self defense items for sale, designed to slip by security by lookinng like something innocent. Things like the Comtech stingers, plastic daggers that won't set off metal detectors, re-enforced felt tip marking pens, keychain knuckle dusters made out of high tech plastic. Hairbrushes made out of plastic with a plastic/zytel spike inside it.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see a fly in the oinment?
I wonder at the marketing that makes a presumption that the security people never get any bullitins on this kind of stuff. As much as we may want to think of the various security personel as being low pay idiots, all its going to take is one of them who is a member of a forum like this, or has looked at a Cold Steel catalogue to ruin your day at the airport.
I wonder, why not take a really normal object, and learn to put it to good use? I see all these intricate molded impact kubotons, and I wonder why not just carry a AA minimag flashlight? For one thing, last time I checked, it still gets dark every night like clockwork, and a light sometimes is a handy thing to have. You can even buy LED conversions for your minimag, thus improving the amount of light as well as run time. Or you can buy a better light from Inova or other companies made with a metal body. Last couple times I flew on Southwest airlines, my minimag never got a second glance. After getting it out of the plastic tray with my keyring, cell phone and change, I walked right onto the plane with it. Thats kind of the ultimate security test, isn't it?
Or the all metal pen. Nobody ever questions a nice Cross, Parker, or Zebra pen. Its handy for signing things, filling out lugage tags. My old training sargent had some really dirty tricks to hurt somebody with a Cross pen.
I guess what I wonder, why bother with all these thinly disguised items that sooner or later will put you in an unfavorable light, when there's soooo many day to day items that really are innocent, but can be used for a defensive tool. Not to mention the liability. If one politically aspiring deputy D.A. chooses to make a case out of you to further his own cause, why make it easy for him by using some mall ninja disguissed weapon. It's going to be very hard for somebody to make a case out of a pen or fllashlight that is sold by the millions vs some item out a catalogue from a cutlery company that markets stuff your grandad in a lifetime of deer and squirrel hunting would never have used.
I guess I just like to keep a low profile. Why give them ammo to use against you?
I think in addition to planning your self defense, you have to plan on the aftermath of the cops filling out the reports that are going to be read somewhere up the line.
I like to use everday items that are designed for the real use and can be pressed into defense service, rather than a self defese item made to look like the everyday item.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see a fly in the oinment?
I wonder at the marketing that makes a presumption that the security people never get any bullitins on this kind of stuff. As much as we may want to think of the various security personel as being low pay idiots, all its going to take is one of them who is a member of a forum like this, or has looked at a Cold Steel catalogue to ruin your day at the airport.
I wonder, why not take a really normal object, and learn to put it to good use? I see all these intricate molded impact kubotons, and I wonder why not just carry a AA minimag flashlight? For one thing, last time I checked, it still gets dark every night like clockwork, and a light sometimes is a handy thing to have. You can even buy LED conversions for your minimag, thus improving the amount of light as well as run time. Or you can buy a better light from Inova or other companies made with a metal body. Last couple times I flew on Southwest airlines, my minimag never got a second glance. After getting it out of the plastic tray with my keyring, cell phone and change, I walked right onto the plane with it. Thats kind of the ultimate security test, isn't it?
Or the all metal pen. Nobody ever questions a nice Cross, Parker, or Zebra pen. Its handy for signing things, filling out lugage tags. My old training sargent had some really dirty tricks to hurt somebody with a Cross pen.
I guess what I wonder, why bother with all these thinly disguised items that sooner or later will put you in an unfavorable light, when there's soooo many day to day items that really are innocent, but can be used for a defensive tool. Not to mention the liability. If one politically aspiring deputy D.A. chooses to make a case out of you to further his own cause, why make it easy for him by using some mall ninja disguissed weapon. It's going to be very hard for somebody to make a case out of a pen or fllashlight that is sold by the millions vs some item out a catalogue from a cutlery company that markets stuff your grandad in a lifetime of deer and squirrel hunting would never have used.
I guess I just like to keep a low profile. Why give them ammo to use against you?
I think in addition to planning your self defense, you have to plan on the aftermath of the cops filling out the reports that are going to be read somewhere up the line.
I like to use everday items that are designed for the real use and can be pressed into defense service, rather than a self defese item made to look like the everyday item.
