chaim
Member
I am a teacher. Under federal law, no weapons of any kind are legal (even pepper spray) unless your state's CCW permits allow you to carry in school (in which case a gun would be legal, but many permits don't cover knives and pepper spray). MD of course does not allow guns to be carried in school under our carry permits. I hate being unable to equip myself to properly defend myself and those in my charge (30 middle school students), especially as I get older (52) and against a teenage or young adult school shooter my hand to hand skills would be pretty useless.
For years, my response has been a nice sturdy metal pen (like a Waterman) and/or a sturdy cane style umbrella.
Recently, I finally broke down and bought a tactical pen. One came with my welcome package from USCCA when I joined after finally being able to get my MD carry permit. That one has a glass breaker and I wanted a more traditional looking pen so I also bought one from 5.11. However, these have some very sharp and pointed ends other than just the writing end. They seem to be designed to puncture. This may be good in an actual defensive situation, but being marketed as "tactical," with videos all over the internet on using them as weapons, and designed with a blunt but very pointed striking end, am I really any more legal than if I carried a (likely more effective) knife and pepper spray and just kept them hidden? If not and there is a strong (legal) argument that they are weapons, I'm increasing my chances of getting in trouble since I might end up using it as a pen and people may see it.
So, would I be better off going back to the sturdy all metal pen? Something like the Waterman pens and similar thicker pens are relatively heavy and sturdy. Not nearly as heavy or sturdy as these tactical pens, but more than the typical $20 metal Cross pen or similar.
As for umbrellas, I only have a small collapsible right now as my good cane umbrella disappeared a couple years ago and I haven't yet replaced it. Anyone have any ideas on what brand I should be looking for these days? Something sturdy enough to use as an improvised weapon so I have something more effective than my hands if there is an attack (i.e. not one of the common brands that may only hold up to one or two hits/stabs). I like to keep one in my classroom at all times more than carrying it back and forth so it is there even on sunny days, but that does increase its chances of disappearing, so one that isn't too expensive is better (preferably <$50, and certainly <$100).
For years, my response has been a nice sturdy metal pen (like a Waterman) and/or a sturdy cane style umbrella.
Recently, I finally broke down and bought a tactical pen. One came with my welcome package from USCCA when I joined after finally being able to get my MD carry permit. That one has a glass breaker and I wanted a more traditional looking pen so I also bought one from 5.11. However, these have some very sharp and pointed ends other than just the writing end. They seem to be designed to puncture. This may be good in an actual defensive situation, but being marketed as "tactical," with videos all over the internet on using them as weapons, and designed with a blunt but very pointed striking end, am I really any more legal than if I carried a (likely more effective) knife and pepper spray and just kept them hidden? If not and there is a strong (legal) argument that they are weapons, I'm increasing my chances of getting in trouble since I might end up using it as a pen and people may see it.
So, would I be better off going back to the sturdy all metal pen? Something like the Waterman pens and similar thicker pens are relatively heavy and sturdy. Not nearly as heavy or sturdy as these tactical pens, but more than the typical $20 metal Cross pen or similar.
As for umbrellas, I only have a small collapsible right now as my good cane umbrella disappeared a couple years ago and I haven't yet replaced it. Anyone have any ideas on what brand I should be looking for these days? Something sturdy enough to use as an improvised weapon so I have something more effective than my hands if there is an attack (i.e. not one of the common brands that may only hold up to one or two hits/stabs). I like to keep one in my classroom at all times more than carrying it back and forth so it is there even on sunny days, but that does increase its chances of disappearing, so one that isn't too expensive is better (preferably <$50, and certainly <$100).
