There is no one ideal physical object to be employed as weapon - period.
The faster folks accept this, the faster they can start on the journey of being responsible for their safety.
Un-clutter the brain, and use that brainpower as you travel along this journey.
If you, or anyone else ever announces they have "arrived" , they have broadcast instead they have never taken the first step on the journey being responsible for their safety, or much of anything in their life - period.
Instead of doing an internet search for gun, knife, OC , cane, or martial art, one might be wise to conduct a search on what has happened in a shooting and how folks responded and survived.
Virginia Tech, is a good one to look up, and read.
Another thing to assist in un-cluttering the brain. You are dying. You started dying the split second ou drew your first breath.
There is nothing you or anyone else can do to prevent death. No weapon exists to prevent this death from happening. When you are scheduled to die, you die.
I have been in a college class, and the threat was a bomb, more than once.
Now what in the world can I purchase to be the ideal weapon against a bomb?
I have been on my campus, and campuses besides my own at the time, where shots were fired.
Let me share what my thoughts were on the most recent.
I took prudent steps for my safety before I went onto that campus, and while on campus.
In the real world there is no start buzzers, no timers, no classifications, qualifiers, rankings, trophies, or some hot babe in a bikini that will kiss me on the cheek and present my winning prizes.
The start buzzer is real deal gunfire, incoming has right of way, and I don't give a rip what kind of gun, caliber, or type of ammo.
Since I have been shot at before, and have seen gunshot wounds , worked in a OR, seen folks both survive and die from gunshots, been in on organ harvests, read Virginia Tech reports of various perspectives, including the gunshots, where placed, and how folks survived-
I used cover, and kept moving to better cover. My start buzzer was real gunfire, and screams.
I also had a very distinct sound that only incoming has.
It might be my day to get shot, injured, maimed, or dead, Mentors said for this to happen on my terms, not evil.
Armed with Knowledge gleaned from living as long as I have, life experiences and observations , I kept moving, using cover, and this includes the heavy backpack I have.
Don't quit , until the miracle happens , or until you have been dead for 5 minutes
Lady Luck is always welcome and has a standing invite to show up anytime.
I am heading to the parking deck, and there is a younger lady, with her foot in a cast and on crutches. You talk about grit, that lady had grit!
She was using cover best can, to get distance too.
She had a few rounds of incoming, her way, and while she winced, cussed out loud, she kept taking an action, the best she could.
The lady actually just dropped like a rock one time, and got behind cover.
She just picked up her crutches and dropped like a rock.
Like I said, grit.
Shots died down, and I took off for that deck, and at full tilt boogie, my game plan was to assist that lady and take her with me, to safer cover.
Shots started up again...plans are like this, they go "kaput" the moment implemented.
To heck with the rules of a guy hitting on a gal, or being inappropriate, or even hands on another without asking.
I am a southern gentleman, I know about this stuff, I also know when serious situations hit, rules fly out the window and the name of the game is to survive.
My responsibility is to me first, because if I don't , I cannot be of any good to anyone else.
I become part of the problem, a hindrance, and can impede first responders by doing something I should not.
I am over 50 years old , with a backpack and in dead run, I picked up that lady, with her backpack, and crutches and kept on going inside the parking deck where there was more distance, concrete, and vehicles for cover.
"Sorry ma'am" - I said with sincere apology in my voice, and body language.
"No apology needed and thank you sir" she replied.
My hands went onto her person without permission first off, and second they went places inappropriate. We are adults and in a situation such as this, this is what happens.
I had no gun, and I cannot recall what pocket knife I had. Case Peanut, SAK Classic, Bantam, Case Slimline Trapper...?? I forget. I can share my thoughts did NOT run to some physical thing to keep me safe, or that lady.
This was multiple persons shooting multiple guns. I could not only hear where they were, there were times I could see them, or know where they were based on the incoming to me, that lady, and structures around me, and reactions of others.
Bomb Threats?
I have no frigging idea where a bomb is. Or if there is more than one, where they are.
I do not know if bomb(s) are to set off with a timer, or will be set off by remote.
More than one of these bomb threats I have been "exposed to". Some at night.
I do not own a Surefire, or any similar light. Just me, still if I am outside in the dark when the word a bomb threat was called in, I do NOT want a bright light to signal where I am.
I do not know if someone is watching and if I get near where a bomb is, (a) they are going to set off the bomb by remote, or (b) have a rifle and will shoot me to prevent me from finding it.
My role is to take care of me first...
First Responders have their respective roles.
My take:
One ideal weapon is Knowledge.
It is not a physical object.
I do believe in good shoes to allow one good footing, so there is an example of something "physical" and in essence is a "weapon".
Oh I know about things such as using a patch cord to assist in dealing with evil.
I can tie a door shut, or use a stapler with a patch cord to have something in which to hit someone with.
Fire extinguishers may not be ideal either, still they can and have been used to stop threats.
Door Stops.
If folks are set on buying a physical object to assist in staying safe, buy a $1 rubber door stop.
Not very glamorous, hip , slick or kewl, still it "might" be the ideal tool for the task to keep a door that opens "in" from being opened.
Knowledge is a cornerstone in staying safe.
Which way does the door open for your classroom, and the restroom down the hall?
Again, that door stop might be ....only if you have the knowledge to know which way the door opens.
-s
