There have been so many scary stories lately locally (and I live in a rural area!) of abductions or attempted abductions. I don't currently carry ANY type of alarm or weapon but this makes me think I need to start...
Do you have/use anything? Pepper spray, sound alarm, weapon, etc.? Or have you taken defense classes?
grapefruit / 4492 posts
Depending on where I am going and what I am wearing I have anything from pepper spray, collapsible baton, taser, or handgun with me. Honestly I usually carry my gun, but the baton is small and easily carried in bar situations where I can't carry a gun.
I have taken personal defense classes (open handed or baton/knife classes or pistol class). It helps that I grew up in a family of Law enforcement, military, and competitive shooters; even before I met my husband. Now that my husband is a cop, he has arrested a lot of terrible people, and he's been in an officer involved shooting with a regional gang... I absolutely carry something at all times.
I'm not recommending that you run out a buy a gun out of fear, but I am open to any and all questions about recommendations for self defense w/ a weapon of some sort (not as versed in open handed as maybe I could be.)
nectarine / 2436 posts
Nope, nothing. And I run early in the morning sometimes in the dark with headphones (in a safe, large town on sidewalks). There are things I worry about in life but being abducted is not one of them. I spent age 11-18 absolutely paralyzed with fear that would happen so I'm over it.
pomegranate / 3973 posts
@Sams Mom: Wow, that is super impressive! Has there ever been an instance where you needed to use anything?
Luckily I personally have never been threatened and am rarely out at night or alone. When I lived in Florida I did carry pepper spray, and would probably start with something like that again. My DH has a permit to carry so he does sometimes have his gun.
Just genuinely curious what others do.
grapefruit / 4492 posts
@josina: I have been in 1 situation where I thought I would need to defend myself, but I avoided it at all costs and didn't have to use anything. I actually used to be lackadaisical about carrying daily until my husband shot that guy that murdered another fellow gang member and tried to murder his girlfriend, and there was threats issued against my husband's departments and their families... I got a little more serious about it.
For pepper spray, buy something like Saber RED because it is a gel pepper spray, that way if you have to use it while outside with or without your kids it won't blow back on you /kids like a regular spray would.
pomegranate / 3973 posts
@Sams Mom: Thanks for the tips!
So scary about your husband and your family receiving threats!! I hope he and you continue to be safe.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
I feel like I am blissfully naïve about this but the fear does linger somewhere that it could happen ..... however, I am a bigger girl and I would fight and fight and fight and go limp and scream and scream... do any of those actions count???
In all reality though I'd like to carry a small handgun, but I need to take classes etc
pear / 1728 posts
Nope, but maybe I should. I live in a really safe suburb and am basically never out after dark (thanks to having a toddler). It's not really something that crosses my mind.
pomegranate / 3973 posts
@MrsDynamiteGal: Thats a good reminder about keys, I know I have carried them out/in between my fingers in the past if I felt nervous.
@Ajsmommy: Lol, sure! I'm tiny so I'd be easy to overpower and running is not my forte so I'm doomed physically.
@skinnycow: I think in general it's not something I'd worry about, but the Mollie Tibbet case is not too far away, and was a small town, so that makes the potential more real I guess.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I don't carry anything, although depending on the day, the weight of my tote bag might make it a weapon.
I am generally very aware of my surroundings and I make choices on where I will go based on my assessment of safety. One thing I am careful to do is make sure I pull my car all the way into the garage and close it before I get out of the car to go into the house.
cherry / 119 posts
@pachamama: I used to run a lot when I was younger and lived in a bigger city. Back then I was pretty oblivious to the potential dangers. How I miss those days! Because as I've gotten older, I'm not as oblivious. And as a mama, these things seem worse. Or maybe it's just me. I have yet to find a place that feels safe to go running outdoors anymore. At least near where I live 
Sometimes I blame it on watching too much Law and Order. 
honeydew / 7622 posts
I don’t. I live in an extremely safe area. I do lock my car doors when returning my shopping cart and that kind of things- I also don’t walk with ear buds in. DH is former police so typically I’m with him whenever I’m away from my hometown- since he is trained and big I always feel safe with him. Open carry is legal in our county so I see guns all the time in our rural area. All that said we are moving so I know I will feel a lot less safe until I know my new area.
I do recommend the book protecting the gift for some practical advice on safety for children and women.
persimmon / 1050 posts
I was just thinking about this the other day because I just started walking after dinner. We live in safe area that has a 35 mile walking path so people are constantly walking or riding bikes. I'm more concerned with the coyotes that like to walk on the golf course that we live next to.
nectarine / 2436 posts
@MrsDynamiteGal: haha yeah no Law & Order for me. My town is an extremely safe little bubble. Altho one thing I don't do is walk home late night alone. I live 20 mins from downtown and I always call an Uber or have my husband pick me up. So I guess I'm cautious in that sense.
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