Protection Advice for my sister and nephew

[tank mechanic]

I would like to start this off by saying that my sister is very mechanicly inept. With that said, I need to figure out a way for her to protect herself. She lives in a super seedy part of town with her four year old son. I keep trying to get her to move but it is just not possible. I have taken her shooting and she really enjoys it, but she is light years away from having her own weapon and being capable in an altercation to stop a threat. So nonlethals will have to used. But she also has my four year old nephew who loves to get into everything and the last thing I want to see, is my nephew with a face full of OC. So if anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate them.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Stun gun. Something that requires contact makes it hard to miss.

 

[tellner]

A good self defense course wouldn't be a bad thing. If it turns into a long-term interest in a practical martial arts program that would be even better.

I don't like stun guns except for certain narrow uses in law enforcement. According to the ones we have they require "four to five seconds" of continuous contact against "the eyes, throat or genitals" to be effective. I submit that if you can stay in continuous contact with someone's eyeball for five seconds you aren't in a fight

 

[crofrog]

Why is she light years away from having her own gun?

If it was my sister, I'd help her get the gun even if it means I've got to scrounge, teach her how to use it, and let her move in with me if that's what is required to get her out of a bad part of town.

There is nothing closer than blood, you should always be there for your family and they should always be there for you...

Chris

 

[tank mechanic]

When I say light years away I mean that she is not the most responsible person in the world. Not breaking the law or anything, jut ditzy. I wish I could be with her more but I am stationed two states away so I only see her once a year or so. If I felt she was ready for a gun I would just give her one of mine and all of the accessories to go along with it. I am trying to get her to move out with me but she doesn't want to leave. I just don't know what to do so I thought I would ask around. Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[DesertShooter]

Where is her husband, or whoever is the father of her child? He should assume some sort of responsibility, even if it's only monetary!

Where are your folks? Do they fear for your sister and nephew the way you do?

What I'm getting at is, even with some sort of defensive tool, she's STILL going to be living in a super-seedy part of town, and about the best overall solution would be to get her out of there to a safer place.

I had to laugh, for this story reminded me of something that a "good ol' southern boy" told me when we were in the military. "If you live on a 'floater', but you don't mind the smell, you're still living in a toilet....and run the chance of being flushed!"

 

[ZeSpectre]

This is probably going to sound pretty rude but you just can't protect some people. Is she even the kind of person who could pull the trigger? If not then a gun is not the answer. Even if a gun was the answer it sounds like there are some much larger issues at play.

 

[tank mechanic]

Her husband is AWOL from the relationship, and she lives with my mom. My dad who lives in a far better town has repeatedly asked for her to move in but she won't. I do see what you are saying ZeSpectre, but I still have hope that I can help her in some way even though she won't help herself.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

I Know That Sister

I used to have that sister.

I tried for years. Even had her move in with us (with her son) for most of a year.

When you hear "you just can't save some people" it is entirely true.

People, even family, have their own volition. When they insist on engaging in activities or "lifestyle" that puts them at risk, eventually the only thing you can do is unplug, or bring those risks into your own life.

I finally had to cut her loose. I did what I could. My younger brother went through it with her, too. Mom and Dad put in their time. Among us, we invested some six years into the attempt.

In the end, a person owns his own life.

You do what you can, but even it it's solid gold, swimming with an anchor will get you drowned.

(BTW, the effort wasn't a complete loss. Her son has gone on to be quite productive and now directs the IT department of a small airline.)

 

[tegemu]

I'll bet PAX could provide some great advice. Her site is www.corneredcat.com .

 

[VacuumJockey]

Also, have your sis read what the Animal has to say about personal protection -- especially the parts about property crime prevention. His main page is here.

 

[Boom-stick]

For your sister, if she likes shooting buy/give/lend her a gun in a gunvault so little fingers can't fiddle.

For your nephew a Fox 40, at four he's can't do much in the way of SD/HD but make a noise and at least with a Fox 40 he'll be able to make a lot of it

 

[hso]

Is the crime rate high or is it just an older neighborhood that's a little run down?

Is it possible for her to move? Not has she thought of it, but is it possible for move her and your mom to a safer area?

If she lives with your mom, what is mom's opinion?

If she's a "ditz" then she's unlikely to follow any safety protocols. Make sure that both she and your mother have large OCs handy.

 

[gunsmith]

go with oc

the kid may get into it...once...he will learn not to do that again.

 

[Ryder]

A husband or live in boyfriend would make a great defense tool for a woman and small child. Get her a date.

(I am not volunteering)

 

[pax]

*blink*

Never mind.

pax

 

[How you gonna get down that hill]

I like Darwin

Move......It won't eliminate risk but it might better her odds. If she won't/can't move then I would say ZeSpectre is right and what will be will be.

If she is a little spacey or a lot spacey then chances are her mind ain't gonna be right when the &*^% hits the fan. OC or something nonlethal if kids getting into it are a concern....might better the odds....if she remembers it and can or will access it under stress.

Maybe a doggie for the home.....

good luck

 

[Fawkes]

If she is too "mechanicly inept" to handle a handgun in a defensive situation, what makes you think that she'll be able to employ OC or some other non-lethal means?

Is she willing to get the proper training? If so, a good H2H course, and good defensive pisola classes would be in order. However, if there's no fight in that dog, well, there's not much you can do.

 

[carnaby]

Speaking of PAX and the cornered cat, I love that bit on how to make your wife hate guns. My wife likes it too. I only check off a couple of items on the list, thank God, mostly in the past. I think I'm clear of all of them now.

Sorry for hijacking the thread. Maybe she needs a good dog?

 

[CWL]

Dog.

Your sister lives with your mom in a bad part of town but you don't seem too concerned about her. How does your mother protect herself?

 

[telomerase]

If she's irresponsible the dogs will just bite the mailman and/or neighbor children. At least OC won't chase little kids down the street by itself. Dogs can be really useful, but they're expensive... a couple years of vet bills saved up and she could move to a better slum.

Maybe a panic button hooked to a really massive outdoor speaker? At least someone will call the cops to arrest her for noise ordinance violation.

Good luck... you aren't the first person with the same problem

 

[tnieto2004]

Big dog .. pepper spray .. and stun gun ..

 

[expvideo]

Get an air taser (M26). They have a 95% efficiency rate (http://www.theiacp.org/research/CuttingEdge/SeattlePDTaser.pdf) regardless of intoxication (alcohol or any drug) because it attacks the nervous system, which is much better than firearm efficiency rates. It also sports a built in laser sight, and a built in stungun. They're easy to use, since they have 2 moving parts (trigger, safety switch) and just as easy to conceal as a handgun.

There's no perfect weapon, but in the described situation, I'd say that an M26 air taser would be your best bet. If you really want to spend some money on her, an X26 is much more compact, and very nice. Our police officers here in Lynnwood, WA use the X26, while King County Sheriffs Department uses the larger M26. Both are very effective and can be used through up to 2 inches of clothing, which is a substancial increase over the M18. I wish I could provide a better source than the above, but I can't find the origional study that I read. My above statements should be somewhat covered by the above link, but there is a better study somewhere on the internet, I just can't seem to find it right now.

 

[CalamityJane]

I can understand your concern for your sister; it's hard to see those we love in situations that we wish were better. Does your sister have concerns about her neighborhood? Does she have concerns about her own and her son's safety, or is it your concern alone?

IMO, from conversations I have had with family members and friends, one must first and foremost have an awareness that one needs to protect oneself, before any thought can be given as to which tool(s) to use. Those around us and close to us who don't seem to have an inkling that something could happen to them just aren't receptive to or interested in suggestions as to how to prevent and/or fight such things.

Whether suggesting a gun, OC, or a baseball bat, the first thing the other person has to have is an awareness of the danger, and a willingness to fight it.

Good Luck.

 

[Sheldon J]

Take her to the range more

and I suggest the KISS theory for a new shooter, Revolver only, N if it is her aim try the one that fires the .410 shot shells, I have fired one of these with 3" rounds and recoil was very manageable.