40
homemade weapons you already own
The
results are in: Gun sales on Black Friday were off the charts. Matter
of fact, they sky-rocketed as soon as Obama won the election.
For
those of us who have been victims of it, there’s almost nothing
scarier than suddenly realizing an intruder is, or has been, in your
house or apartment. You don’t know what this person’s intentions
are – theft, rape, kidnapping, murder? – but you know they’re
not good. I've entered my own apartment after a theft and I was first
on the scene several times after a home invasion, a theft and a rape
of two roommates. “Demonic” is the only word that describes the
atmosphere in those moments.
Following
information is taken from an article by Frank Bates. I hope it
helps...
If
someone breaks into your home while you are there, your window of
opportunity for reacting effectively to protect yourself and your
family will probably be very small. You have to make every second
count in this situation, and you will only be able to accomplish this
if you are fully prepared.
If
you have a gun and can access it quickly, that’s obviously the best
answer to a home intruder. But if you don’t own a gun, or are
unable to get to it swiftly, you may find yourself in the position of
needing an improvised weapon. This type of object is any device that
was not designed to be used as a weapon but can be put to that exact
usage in an emergency. Right now, you may be thinking of four or five
items you have sitting around the house that could double as a weapon
if necessary. By the time you finish reading this, your list will
have grown to about 40!
Get
Out If You Can
It’s
possible that your best self-defense weapons against a home invader
will be your legs and hands. If there is an escape route, take it.
Use your legs to get out as quickly as possible and use your hands to
knock things over behind you to slow down or perhaps trip the
attacker, especially if it’s dark. Run to a neighbor’s house and
call 911. Maybe you’ll have your cell phone in your pocket and be
able to place the call even faster. Of course, if you have other
people in your home who you need to protect, you’re not going to
run away. But if you’re alone, escaping might be the most prudent
thing to do. That’s not being a coward. It’s being smart.
Stay
Alive in Your Living Room
If
you’re sitting in a living room or dining area when an intruder
enters, you need to think fast. There should be a number of items you
can grab to use as a club, including tall vases, candleholders,
statuettes, large bowls or large ashtrays. Tall lamps can also be
used as clubs, but they’re more effective as spears, as are
fireplace pokers. With a dining room chair in your hands, you can go
on the offensive by charging your attacker. Make sure to hold the
chair so that the legs are facing him in a diamond shape rather than
a square. If you can get it around his neck, a laptop cord could
prove very effective in subduing him.
If
He Can’t Take the Heat, Stay in the Kitchen
Nobody
wants to face a home invader, but if it had to happen, the kitchen
would probably be your best bet. Talk about an arsenal. Your first
choice would be to grab two sharp knives and start swinging them in
the direction of your assailant. Other options are frying pans or
rolling pins for bashing, scissors or broken glassware for gouging,
and canned goods, plates or a nice, thick tumbler for throwing. A mop
or broom handle could also do the job, especially a broken one with a
jagged edge. If you keep a can of high-powered wasp killer in your
kitchen pantry, you might be able to spray it in his eyes and really
ruin his day.
Bathroom
Brawling
The
bathroom would seem like a bad place to be confronted by an intruder,
especially if he’s bigger than you are. [On the morning those two
girls were raped, the first victim was attacked when she got up to
use the bathroom]. But you might be able to use a shower curtain rod
or a towel rack as a spear, or hairspray to slow him down while you
try to escape. A ceramic toilet tank lid could also do some serious
damage if you have room to maneuver.
Other
Weapons
There
are probably plenty of other items in various rooms of your house
that could be used as weapons, including…
Fire
extinguisher. Spray him with the white stuff and clunk him with the
red thing.
Golf
club. Pretend like you’re trying to drive the green on a par 4.
Baseball
bat. We’re looking for the long ball here, not a bunt.
Long
knitting needles. Doctors will need to do considerable stitching to
the assailant’s body if you’re able to use these effectively.
Tools.
The sharp edge of a hammer, the point of a screwdriver or a heavy
wrench might be enough to make this tool think twice.
Targets
In
the frenzy of an attack, you’ll want to strike at any exposed area.
But if you find that you have some options, go for the eyes, throat
and groin. [Don't punch wit your fist; you'll likely break a knuckle.
Use the SIDE of your hand as a hammer]. That’s where you are most
likely to stop or slow down an attacker rather than just making him
angrier. If those areas are too well protected, aim for just below
the ribcage with a stabbing weapon pointed upwards, which may enable
you to reach the spleen, pancreas, liver or kidneys.
I’ve
heard it said that encouraging people to inflict serious injury on an
attacker is wrong. Really? Did I ask to be attacked by some scumbag
so that I could take pleasure in maiming him? No, but if someone
attacks me, I will do whatever is necessary to subdue him. I’m not
going to punch this loser and then politely ask if he’s OK. I’m
going to try to incapacitate him however I can and as quickly as
possible. If I have to choose between the lives of my wife and
children, and the physical wellbeing of a home invader, I’m going
with the former over the latter
Shields
In
a confrontation with a home invader, you will probably not be the
only one using a weapon. You may have to go on the defensive first.
Among the items you could use to fend off attacks until you’re able
to take an offensive position are a metal cookie sheet, chopping
board, backpack, trashcan lid, briefcase, book, duffel bag and stool.
Use whatever you can get your hands on quickly.
What
If I’m Outside?
Sometimes
an attacker will make his move as you are approaching the front door
of your residence. [Bad guys love attacking unsuspecting homeowners
carrying groceries]. When that happens, you won’t have those
household items at your disposal, but you can use whatever you have
on your person [including those sacks!]. A single key, held between
your thumb and index finger, can be used to stab and slash. Or hold a
ballpoint pen in your fist and strike with a hammer blow. Carrying
pepper spray or a pocket knife while walking from your car to your
front door is not a bad idea. If you happen to be holding an
unbreakable umbrella, it will come in handy. There may be bricks or
rocks that you can grab and throw. Finally, loose change flung into
the face of an intruder could slow him down enough to enable you to
escape.
Practice
Being
attacked is not something any of us want to think about. But it might
happen someday and the better prepared you are, the better the
outcome might be. So, think about the items you have around your home
that could be used as weapons and work on grabbing them and being
ready to use them in an instant. Practice maneuvers such as dropping
and rolling under a table and then bolting for the door. Know your
best escape path in each room of your home.
Remember,
attacks can occur anywhere you are…restaurants, health clubs,
banks, even churches. Always be aware of your surroundings, including
the people in your vicinity. Wherever you are, look around for
improvised weapons before an incident occurs, not afterward. The
better prepared you are, the higher your chances for survival.
