301 - UK Women’s self defence: “Can I carry a weapon?”
A question about equalising disparity of force from a recent women's workshop (Stroud, 09/09/22)
Here are some general notes and comments that were discussed at the 9/9/22 women’s workshop in stroud:
The question asked by one participant was “can I carry a weapon?”
This is a legitimate question from a young woman that feels unsafe when out of the house, especially considering an upsurge in reported sexual offences (including a number of rapes) against women in the local area being covered in the news.
Legal
The short and definitive answer to this as a UK resident is: No.
The first thing to understand is that the law views anything designed, adapted or carried with the intention of being a weapon as illegal.
There you go, end of article.
Keychains, gadgets and legal problems
I had a conversation at a seminar with a Krav Maga instructor in London who was showing me her pink kitty knuckle duster that she bought from Amazon and recommended to students.
It’s a cat’s head made from metal with pointed ears and the first two fingers fit through the eyes making it actually, a stabbing weapon and it could be portrayed by easy legal gymnastics as a push dagger – which is a banned item in the UK.
And for the benefit of foreign readers, so are guns, knives, pepper sprays, batons and indeed anything that foreign experts and instructors would take as a “right”.
It’s pretty much a case of bare hands and that’s it.
Which is of course why the UK enjoys zero criminal weapon use. Oh, wait…
I guess this lady expected me to think it was cool, but the average police officer will know exactly what it is, and a potential prosecution is then on the cards. This wasn’t being put across to her students to my knowledge. Their concept of “self-defence” then, may be being limited to fighting, rather than protecting them additionally from becoming potential victims of the legal process.
What can you carry then?
What is legal as a deterrent in the UK that a woman can carry? Drum roll….
An aerosol of gel that stains your attacker’s skin so that they can be identified AFTER they’ve done whatever they’re about to do.
Add a whistle to that and perhaps, an alarm and there you go, safe as houses.
It’s an amusing fantasy to imagine that you spray the guy AFTER you’ve “knocked/choked him out”, but sadly, this is very unlikely to be the reality you can hope to experience.
“Security”
There’s a danger in the false sense of security that keychain gimmicks can give and indeed, keys as well as they’re often recommended as defensive items. (Yes, keys can really hurt someone, but they can also damage your hands too, perhaps when you especially need them, that’s not so great. Keys also need to be used in specific ways).
In terms of the layers of defence a person can have, gadgets, keychain weapons and so on CAN fall under the least useful things you can have in your ways of protecting yourself and this goes for guys too.
The central problems with them are that you can be limited in your ability to deploy them in different ways:
1 Distance
Some examples
You left it in your other bag - miles away.
You left it in your office and popped out for coffee - hundreds of meters away.
You are being restrained and strangled and cannot even reach your own pocket - a life time away.
Etc.
2 Time:
It’s at the bottom of your bag and you need to rummage in a crisis to access it.
You were completely caught out, violently assaulted and never even had time (or consciousness) to think about accessing the item.
The list goes on. These items must be always on your person to be of any use.
3 Your readiness to use them
Your aggressive willingness to use the weapon – not display and threaten but use it immediately because that may be all the time you have before being overpowered.
Are you prepared for that? Really?
Have you had the conversation with yourself?
What are you willing to do in specific circumstances?
Decide now not unprepared in an adrenalized fog of chaos.
This applies to all weapons and use of force in general. As an abstract idea it seems fine – “If I was attacked, I’d do this or that…” But, actually facing another person (or persons) and actioning that superficial idea can be shockingly different.
Without specific training you may be less effective at using the item.
You need to practice concealing it where it can be accessed fast.
You must practice deployment in various types of situations and positions.
Targeting – KNOW 100% where to get a result and make it second nature.
Will that result be lethal or less than lethal?
Hurting your attacker is not in any way the same as damaging them.
NB: Agonising regret is a much-overlooked method of criminal reform.
Habit, “The non-permissive environment” and the modern woman:
In the absence of the right to carry something to defend yourself with in this country,
First - get some training! I know, I know… I’m biased but … get some training.
Second, create the habit of looking for potential weapons in every place that you visit or go to.
Categorise them as potential edged weapon, potential blunt weapon etc.
How strong and reliable would that object be?
Can you use it to keep someone back?
Or do you need to be in close proximity?
Understand their potential.
Be very clear as to what that will do to another human being and take responsibility for that.
Pick the most intimidating man in the room and visualise fighting him.
Everyday items
Look at everyday items that “just happen” to have a second use and consider how explainable they are as things to have on you.
Pens and the like are a good example. Get a good sturdy metal one. Nothing purpose made and obvious, just a good, cheap, strong design.
A pencil stabbed and snapped off is a single serving spoiler of any would-be asshole’s day.
Scissors in a bag? Why do you have them? A small pair with thread in another compartment might wash as a sewing kit if questioned.
What others can you think of?
Deployment
In your hand ready prior to a potential problem is the single best quick draw deployment method there is but how realistic is that at all times?
Further reading:
Please refer to the “When walking alone” and “Lights out!” articles in my book Self Defence Volume one and, “Blunt weapon tactics” for an in-depth discussion about impact weapons for UK self-defence and training ideas around using objects around you as improvised defensive weapons.
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