Self Defense tool for traveling to the Dominican Republic

[1stmarine]

A) Bring the mother in law. LOL
B) I think a cane that is stout and with some weight could be great. Put a bit of a limp when you go trough TSA security.

The best weapon is really the human intelligence. There is nothing that can match that.
So if you stay in public areas, avoid certain areas and times, etc.. like others suggested, you will be fine.
If trouble finds you, distance is key. 5ft better than 1 thus the cane. 100ft even better, and 3000ft ideal. lol.

 

[RPZ]

A) Bring the mother in law. LOL

Was just re-reading the thread and this one came to mind - I almost posted it!!

 

[hso]

The DR Internet sites are decidedly silent other than the same question on other forums. Nothing about non-firearm stuff at all. A lot about stuff being confiscated by DR customs types though. Even the DR Tourism Ministry says to not go out at night.
French Common Law there. Means you're guilty until you prove yourself innocent. Although their law says otherwise according to the Canadian government. Also says you can be held for 48 hours with no charges amongst other stuff.

Good info there, especially the "do not go out at night".

Aerosol can of anything, but hair spray, being mostly lacquer, works like Mace. So does deodorant.

Debunked repeatedly. Lack of range, poor pattern, impractical size, unreliable contents, potentially illegal, potential permanent injury, etc.

 

[Jackal]

One of those "tactical" pens?

 

[Danoobie]

What I do, when I go to Canada, is get the strongest pocket Tac-light I can find.
They're up over 300 Lumens, now. They keep getting stronger, every time I
go, I get a stronger one. Canada may throw me in prison, for "temporarily
blinding a thug", but somehow I can live with that.

 

[Sunray]

"...to Canada..." Isn't the Dominican Republic.
"...potentially illegal..." Ain't no spray can of deodorant or hair spray that's illegal anywhere. And it's only debunked on the internet. Beats having nothing as well. Knives etc attract unwanted attention and will very likely be confiscated by Third World customs types.

 

[Danoobie]

"...to Canada..." Isn't the Dominican Republic.

Aw, CRAP! Are YOU sure? Dang, man I lost ANOTHER bet!
It's international travel, on a passport, to a country with restrictive weapons laws.
I'm sorry, what was I thinking? Because the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC has all these
restrictive flashlight laws, I forgot.

 

[hdwhit]

At the risk of making this sound like a "B" movie, just ask the concierge at the hotel to set you up with a paid bodyguard. It will be someone from the local gangs that would be robbing you anyway, so you're in essence paying to not be mugged. And in a place like the Dominican Republic it's not that expensive.

And however unsavory that might sound to you, having a paid bodyguard means that if there is an altercation, HE, rather than, YOU, has to explain it to the police. And it's a lot better than trying to use an extemporized self defense weapon that you have not trained with and have no experience using.

 

[hso]

just ask the concierge at the hotel to set you up with a paid bodyguard

Security personnel have been hired by the company I worked for overseas, but I'd never thought of it personally. I suppose the honest crook model would be applied and you might not worry about being mugged by your "security", but has your experience shown these guys won't leave you in the lurch if confronted?

debunked on the internet

Sunray, where else would it be debunked? I doubt there's a Box 'O Truth for hairspray, but I've been around enough of it in use to know that there's no stream and you'd have to be at contact range to use it. I'll have to check if there's travel sizes of the stuff like shaving foam otherwise the cans are too big. As to legality, using it and facing the intent issues of carrying a can of hairspray when there's no reason to can make explaining it a problem, but that's predicated on the large can vs. a small travel can being difficult to explain away.