Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Men Only Message Board Defense of self and family

AS has left me feeling like an easy target for criminals. It has also affected my traditional male role as protector of the family. I would be at a major disadvantage in a physical attack. Anyone else ever feel this way?

Fortunately I live in a State with a liberal concealed carry law.

toby

I have always practiced the art of walking away from a fight. I understand that there will come a time when you can't. But in almost 99 percent of all cases, there is a way to get out without injury. You may have to give up worldly possessions and ego in order to do it though.

If you want, you can look into Akido. You don't actually fight and you don't have to be in shape.

Totally with you. In fact, a punk threatened to hit me a couple weeks ago at work because he doesn't "buy" that I have AS. Not that he even knows what it is, or bothered to listen to my explanation. I very deftly avoided an incident and made him look like a fool at the same time.

For the next two days I had people thanking me for putting him in his place. He naturally isn't very well liked and he's been nothing but nice to me since.

I don't walk so well anymore and that 1% is what worries me. Ego? As if I could have one looking as I do. I don't care about possessions. It's the principle that matters to me.

I'll not tolerate myself or my family being preyed upon. No one should. It only proliferates criminal behaviour. As far as looking into Akido... I'm more comfortable looking down my pistol sights. Thank you.

Edited to add: Tadao, you said in chat once that you can walk fine, you just can't stand. I'm the opposite. I can't walk well, or run at all. I have to stand. I do respect your point of view. I hope you'll respect mine.

toby

Heh, no worries. You can have a gun as long as I can not have one

I find an authoritive, well-modulated vocal delivery goes a long way in deterring threats.

If that has no effect, you can always go into 'crazy' mode. No mugger likes to deal with crazy people. You just have to be prepared to 'out-crazy' them. LOL

This is where my acting background comes in handy.

Seriously though, you raise a good point. It's an issue we all have to deal with at some point in our lives, whether it's from getting older or from having a condition which makes you less able to fight back.

To me, the solution is usually my wits. Your handling of the punk is probably the way I would have gone if similarly confronted.

Spenser23

I can fully understand feeling like you are no longer able to defend yourself or family. For myself, no matter how great the pain, how debilitating the disease, as long as I can move at all, I WILL find a way, a place, or a time to take care of those that matter. I'm not your typical macho acting guy, but have definitely been in more than my share of fights both in (boxing) and out of a ring. Go ahead, let them hit me if they won't listen to reason, hurts less than I do everyday anyway.

I completely, absolutely, totally disagree with that.

Do whatever you have to do to get out alive. Even with disability, make sure you have the mind set of a survivor and use everything you have in your tool box (brain, mouth, every part of your body that moves, things around you) so that a bad situation ends positive in your favor. Your brain and quick thinking are your best weapon so keep it sharp so you know what tool to pull out of your tool box when the time comes.

Tadao, are you saying that 99% of the time, you can avoid injury when dealing with a criminal wanting to fight? Or when you are being victimized by a criminal, 99% of the time...or in general when dealing with confrontation where you aren't necessarily dealing with a criminal? Just curious.

I think he was saying that 99% of the time, you can avoid violence or injury, if you walk away or give the attacker what they want. The attacker who WANTS to be violent just for the sake of violence is another matter entirely.


Spenser23

Spenser, do you believe you can avoid violence 99% of the time by walking away or giving the attacker what they want?

Tadao, since you aren't up to some good debating just yet, I dug through my cheesy joke archives and found a favorite.

What do you call Belgian children?
Brussels sprouts!

"Spenser, do you believe you can avoid violence 99% of the time by walking away or giving the attacker what they want?"


Well Crusty, it all depends on how fast you can walk away ... and how much of what they want you have to give them.

As for your joke; cheese begins to smell after a day in the sun. So it must have been great weather in Crusty's neck of the woods today.


Spenser23

LOL, good answer. I'm wearing a jet boots so I don't have to depend on my body for my escape.

Nothing smells better than fine, aged cheese.

I think people that can't physically defend themselves need to have good situational awareness.

Always know your surroundings. Know who's around you.

When walking out to your car (at night or anytime) be alert. Don't be in a daze or "in your own world".


I remember one time many many years ago I was out in Rochester, NY. I got lost and was driving a rather nice car with nice rims. - And was in a bad part.

Well, I'm at a light waiting and a big SUV pulls up with four big dudes. All staring at my wheels. And pointing in my direction.

Man, that light took forever.

My point is I should have been better prepared. I didn't even have a cell phone. No map to where I was headed and a half a tank of gas.

I learned from this.

Avoid the situation.


- Storm

ps...yes, I have thought about buying a pistol for some time now. But, if someone is close enough to me to be a threat to my life, it may be too late to use a gun.

Storm,
You may want to consider some alternatives to a gun that are easier to obtain and carry legally such as a stun gun or tazer. I personally recommend the later due to the increased range, but the stun gun is great in case things get up close and personal. Due to various jobs I have had in the past (but no way could do now), I have carried varieties of all 3 at different times and have had some really good successs with the stun gun and tazer, other than one time when I went to stick a stun gun in my jacket pocket and caught the button on the edge of the pocket. Zapp, down I went, lol.

I am not looking for more drama in my life and the pain I carry keeps me on edge and makes me a bit more aggressive and intolerant of any BS -- to put it bluntly. But stop and ask yourself how your pain may be making you more aggressive. I have little patience for harassment even on good days, but know it is in my best interest to avoid a scene at all costs. Therefore I am learning to be more like Tadao. I no longer own a gun and I am accepting that self-control is about the only thing that I can control. Or at least I hope.

Say what you will about guns, my Walther P99 Compact makes me feel a lot more safe at home. So far I've only used it to shoot targets and beer cans, but you just never know, do you?



Ok, ok, you got me - it's a bb gun. But the bad guys don't know that, do they? And bb's hurt!! Just ask my friend Mark! LOL

http://www.pyramydair.com:80/walther-cp99.shtml

Check out this link - there's a video at the end that shows the real 'blowback' action - it actually recoils after every shot, and it feels very real - it weighs almost 30 oz! It's a ton of fun, but reloading it is a spam. I've got some spare magazines on the way, that should make it even more fun.

Rob

If you are looking for a weapon, my son (5 years police experience) is a great proponent of pepper spray. If you get the "good stuff", it is hard to ignore..or resist and rarely lethal.

Personally, although I have had 30+ years of martial arts experience and am still exceptionally strong due to ongoing weight training, I have decided that even if I gave some "bad guy" a real 'ass kicking" it would probably literally "hurt me more that it would him". My option is for awareness, avoidance and "cell phone - 911".

I have a gun by my nightstand but feel that anyone that comes in to my house is fair game. I refuse to put it in my car for fear that I would be tempted to use it in Atlanta traffic.
uncle mikey

(ps) "cell phone" works. I had an experience last year, literally the Friday before my spinal surgery the following Monday so was a bit fragil.

I was in the local Krogers and accidentally bumped into a very large "home boy", "do rag", saggy pants..the whole works. He proceeded to get in my face and start calling me names..finally I reacted by telling him that he was acting like a real "asshloe" at which point he told me what he was going to do when I walked out of the store.

Rather than follow my impulse and just follow him outside, I for once let common sense rule and replied that when I walked out there was going to be a policeman waiting there also to which he replied that I better get on the phone. Much to his surprise, I hauled out my "trusty cell" and called 911...he couldn't get out of the store..and parking lot fast enough..with absolutly no more jive-ass retoric.

Boys, although 60 years old, I am 5'8" and 220 lbs, mostly muscle due to 45 years of working out so have the tools to be "macho"..just hopefully more sense now that when a "youngster"...it just ain't worth it, win, lose or draw !!!
uncle mikey

Wow, there are some great posts on this. I'm glad I started this thread. There is no doubt that awareness, words, reasoning, non lethal tools, calling 911 are all the preferred way to go. It's that one percent that worries me, and I'm not so concerned about myself. I'm more concerned about my loved ones. Being male means, to me anyway (yes, I know it's old fashioned), that I am responsible for protecting my family from aggression.

There used to be, maybe still is, a biker gang called the Midwest One-percenters. They fancied themselves as being that one percent. When I was like ten years old one of them chased me down an alley with a knife. He was probably just trying to scare me. It worked.

toby

Hey Toby, no its not old fashioned to feel that being the male, (husband) means that your the one to protect your family. I am just 30, and have felt it that way since i can remember. Do not worry about what you think you may not be able to do cause i'll be honest, when or if that time ever comes, every pain, concern ect will go completely out the window when your time is called to protect your family. I had to defend myself fully about 2 weeks ago, and needless to say i was not the one lying down in the end. In return i hurt like i never had for a week straight. The consiquencial pain for engaging an enemy is now what worries me for future reference, but if and when that time comes again, all that will go out the window in the name of valor and honor. I hope that none of you, including myself are called to stand in those times, (for the first or again) because of the aftermath pain to come from doing so. My encounter was with my brother-in-law, my wife and i unfortunately live with her sister and her sisters husband, and since our confrontation, he knows he can not prevail against me. He is a controling alcoholic, and because he knows he can not walk on me anymore, i have come to believe that he in return, is taking his revenge out on my little spud. (lab/dochsund mix dog) Spud is our son in our eyes, and im suspecting that when my wife and i are out running about the town, he is feeding my vodka, causing him to become sick and lathargic by that evening and next day. I think im on a path here and the next time Spud gets this way, im taking him immediately to our vet to have Spud's blood tested, and if it comes up any bit positive, a new level of brutality will be born. I guess the point im trying to make is this. Unfortunately when or if that time comes for us to have to defend our family, (including animals cause they are family also) our strength will become like that we know not, and we will prevail. If we can not, i know that we will be able to stand strong long enough for our family to atleast flee to safety even if it ment our lives!!! My A.S is so horrible that my wife has to dress me in the mornings cause i can not even lift my arms, atleast until my narcotics kick in, and i firmly believe that each and every one of you would do very well when called to battle. Please let not yourselves doubts you capabilities!!

Have a good day;

opps

i ment to say that " he is feeding my Spud Vodka"
lol i dont drink lol

Hey all,
New here to this site and I'm glad I found it. I feel the same way Toby does. There are times when I'm playing with my kids and they will hit me a little to hard and it feels like a grown mans punch. I have three kids 7, 5, and 4. My biggest fear is being out in public and something happening to where I have to defend them or myself. I've taken TaeKwon Do, Okinowan Karate and Southern Shaolin Style Kung Fu (Hung Gar). I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps 2 of those years being a personal guard a 4 Star Admiral, and with all of that training I still fear the thought of having to physically fight someone because of the pain. Not just the pain of being hit but the pain of swinging, grabbing, being tossed and moving quickly.

I also live in a state where it is legal to conceal carry, so now I do Conceal Carry lethal and non-lethal weapons which I can use for any occasion that might occur. I have a 500,000 watt taser and a Springfield XD .45 that I have with me everywhere I go except church. I don't go out any more especially at night when all the roudy club go'ers are out. This disease has really effected my life and my self esteem to the point I feel like an old helpless man. I'm only 34 and It's hard for me to say no when my kids ask me to go outside and toss a football or chasae them around. Some days I can barely walk in the grass because the un-eveness of the yard. The smallest dips and holes causes unbelievable pain. I can't even turn my neck anymore. When I come to an intersection I have to turn my whole body just to see if a car is comming and there are some intersections that I can't even do that, so I have to guess and hope I don't hit or get hit by someone. To make matters worse I just had Heart Valve replacement because of the (AS) in Dec 07.

I think the thing I hate most is that I feel no one understands. I hate when I tell someone my back/hips or chest hurts only to hear them say "ohh yeah I woke up with back pains too" NO!!!! I'm way past those kind of waking up, "I slept in a bad position type of back pains." I can't just take a 50mg Tylenol or Advil and the pain go away for the rest of the day. Sorry for the rant but this is my first time talking about this.

Mr. Fish, I believe there is validity to your point. This is a minor example. Last summer I was helping a customer take a package out to her car. She had a ankle biter type dog that she carried with her everywhere. In the parking lot, for some reason, she put the little guy down on the pavement. No sooner had she done that, than a large, aggressive dog jumped out the back window of parked vehicle and tried to attack the poor little thing. Still holding her rather large parcel, I positioned myself between the two dogs and was able to prevent a very ugly incident.

I moved very well at the time and the pain just vanished. I felt even that little exertion the next day, though...big time.

Spectral_Tiger, I understand completely. I've heard that the XD is a fine weapon, great choice. For me, the .45 acp is a bit much now. I used to have a Star PD, very light weight, alloy frame .45. Geeeez, it hurt to shoot that. I ended up selling it and even my gov't model. I even got rid of Glock 23, .40S&W due to recoil issues. That never used to be a problem for me. It is now. Call me a wuss if you want, but the 9mm is just fine. I carry either a Sig 239, conceals really well, or a Sig 225, my favorite cause it's a very soft shooter. The 239 is more accurate though.

I always wonder about the theory that carrying is a temptation to act violently or irresponsibly. I find the exact opposite to be true. Because I carry, I am more aware of the ability I have to deal out deadly force. It ups the stakes of every situation and makes me more likely to try to avoid and diffuse it peaceably. I feel like I'm working from a position of power and makes it easier to overlook and forgive transgressions. I feel like the other person doesn't know what they're messing with and I feel magnanimous in letting things go.

toby

I know what you mean. I know that a hit in the head could break my neck and it seems as we are easy targets for people . I feel the need to carry a knife now and try to avoid places where I could place my family at risk.

I have a concealed weapons permit. I carry a .45 everywhere it is legal. It has gotten dangerous near where I live. I am not going to breath through a tube or ride in a wheelchair because of some fuming moron. I have a daughter that needs me. I avoid problems at all costs but by law I do not have to back away, I have the right to protect my family and property with deadly force if so "necessary". Peace, Thakman

guys!
what? weapons, fear, family and friends.
I was 18 when diagnosed, 3 years after moving to Fla. in 1983 from england. Fear is all around us, if we believe we are weak. I have two wonderful ex wives, still close,and am married to the best of all three. Two kids one 19 6'4 220 and at college, football, wrestling and pain to dad. my eleven year old daughter, constantly on the move... I worked in restaurants for 12 years, cooking on my feet, through all the usual AS bio-psycho-social problems, my family couldn't understand, friends moved away, and girlfriends turned into wives. Spectral Tiger, i feel your pain on loneliness when dealing with the disease. Self-esteem is an irreplaceable facet of a man's make up. I got out of restaurants and went back to school, three degrees later finishing up a PHD. and have worked with aggressive Developmentally disabled individuals for the past 8 years. I guess all this leads to choices on how you deal with the disease, as its master, controlling it through understanding the triggers, remission and you. The understanding of self is huge. Not the redifining, the understanding of what got you to the point you are now. That person was not predicated on panic, confusion, fear, and separation of mind, body and spirit! We understand ourselves through the human experience. I have lived in South for 25 years now and I have learned that stress and fear are the enemy.
cold rainy days!
a bout of IBS or worse on a friday nite with the MRS.
being without friends, and family. I've gone through a few.
Having a melt down, over having AS
these are things to battle and to protect against.

knowing nobody understands except me gives me the power
to view my life as it suits me best.
Love helps, passion, laughter, a good diet give you more control.
A little OCD is always present, but can be used in moderation to motivate past the depressive days, weeks, months.
Some one who cares about you may care to much to be helpful when dealing with AS, frustration can make ugly bed partners.
How you tell your story also identifies how you see yourself.
It's not easy but working toward a positive narrative of you,
the person. helps.
The ultimate goal is to deal with flair ups, that sometimes last for years, leaving scares and life long pain, Dr., meditation, yoga, what ever floats your boat with the goal of bringing it under control. I recommend anything and every thing in dealing with it.
Understanding triggers and factors for dealing with pain you can work toward remission.
Remission is a package deal, just like pain.
The longer remission lasts the better life is.
Control works with remission, keep doing what got you to the remissive state, believe, believe in yourself, what better place to start healing.
I am sorry for the length of my thoughts in replying to this topic; however, life changes for many reasons and always ends in death, so live every day through rose colored lenses and look for the beauty you missed before you could see!

LiveLoveLaugh, I think you have a very positive approach and I laud you for it. You have some good insight: "How you tell your story also identifies how you see yourself." Now I gotta go back and read what I wrote...

I can't blame Thackman for carrying a weapon if he truly lives in a dangerous area (but a .45 is definitely a shoot-to-kill gun -- and heavy. Wouldn't a 9mm be lethal enough? Loved shooting my grandfather's navy-issued .45 though). I pity the fool who messes with Thackman.

(Livelovelaugh) has some good points, not shure what they have to do with the topic at hand but thats not important. I noticed you did'nt mention the socio-economic realities of AS, that being said, the support system and healthcare you receive and stress of both can have a great impact on this disease. I am starting to think that even people with AS forget or dont realize how severe this disease can be unless they are in the shape of not being able to stand up or walk or move your head at all or even see people eye to eye (literally)because your head is stuck looking at the floor. I was not in very good condition when I was diagnosed but I could never have imagined it would get as bas as it has. My life is not ruled by blind fear. It is a rational understanding that I look like easy prey and must protect myself as such. In late 2005 my neck was broken by an idiot with no regard for their own or anyone elses safety. Through all the pain and disability I sometimes feel like the luckiest cat on the street. I can walk and talk and breathe on my own. I dont carry a weapon around with a chip on my shoulder looking for trouble, the point is to avoid it at all costs. I carry a weapon because it is in fact a dangerous world. When a well delivered punch to the jaw from someone on an idiots rampage is a painful inconvience to some its deadly force and the end for me. That is my reason, not blind fear, loneliness, panic, confusion or pain. Peace everyone, Thakman

Thakman, no offense meant, implying a general rule.
I can't speak for anyone other than myself.
if protection serves you well then you have found
the balance, and you don't experience pain, loneliness etc.
positivity can come in all shapes and sizes 9mm, .38, or 357, or tazzer!
you can avoid human interaction that can lead to rampant
lunatics breaking necks, jaws etc. but that wouldn't be living.
never the less just trying to throw 2cents or maybe a nickle in for peace, love, harmony and living without violence on me or anyone else.
Oh and by the way I own a 12 gauge and have no problem protecting what's mine.

Do you even listen to yourself? That reminds me of the clinging to religion and guns comment that clown running for president made. Are you a woman? This thread is about defense of self and family. Somehow, and in my opinion only a woman would do, you have confused a man exercising his right to protect himself with emotional issues. Of course I feel pain,loneliness, etc like every other human but it has absolutly nothing to do with me defending myself or my property. I dont know where you live but where I live people are beating each other up getting on kiddy rides at Disney World. The whole mentality of viewing people as clinging to guns and religion because were bitter and violent infuriates me. I just dont view someone exercising their second amendment right as anything other than what it is.

i know what you mean. i refuse to allow AS to hinder me protecting my family.

that being said... both my wife and i are ccw holders.

I find it almost impossible to explain my health problems to regular people and explaining concealed carry is even harder.

Ralph,

I also am a ccw holder. I never even considered it until I started feeling so vulnerable with my health problems. And the sad thing is the criminals do prey on the vulnerable! Very few of my family or friends even know I carry.

Ann

I used to own an Uzi. Sure it made me feel safe, but I gave it up when I started fantasizing about using it to clear out parking spaces at shopping malls.

Ann

The old line "always carry never tell" is right on. I have told a few friends and have gotten some surprising responses. I don't tell anybody now, it's less complicated.

Ralph

Hi Guys
I am very interested in this thread as I have thought about applying for a CCW here in Orange County CA. Unfortunately we have a new Sherriff that is on a quest to pull CCW's that have already been issued by former Sherriff Mike Carona, who is on trial right now. I would think that having AS would be a classic example of good cause considering how vunerable that we are. I am in the process in further investigating my chances.
Tadao, I like the idea of Aikido as it uses the other persons motion and force against themselves. Is it really an option for us AS afflicted people?

Tadao has actually not posted in about a year. I personally miss him. Dude, if you are lurking around, please pick up.

Hmmm-just read all this stuff and understand the feeling of relative vulnerability associated with the disease. At 65 years old I'm well along the fusion path. Maybe I just live in a different world -you all are talking like you live in Hell's Kitchen or the jungle. Sorry if that's the case-But if it's not the case, maybe Tadao is closer to my reality and strategy for coping. I avoid confrontation with strangers when it is possible-mostly by thinking and putting the testosterone driven responses away that result in road rage or other unnecessary conflict with strangers. Live is short -I will fight to the death to protect my family but its not something I need to dwell on-I just know it. I apologize in advance if some of you live more dangerous lives and more dangerous places. Right now I think there are more important things to worry about.

I totally agree with what you have written. Predators always attack the weak. What would be just a punch in the face to someone else would probably break my neck!

I too, live in a "shall issue" state. And I do have a permit. I have read a lot of the replies in this post and my own choices are a S&W Airweight .38 in the summertime and a Glock 19 in the cooler months. As far as dealing with recoil is concerned, I do realize that recoil is a very subjective thing, but to me the recoil of the .45 Auto is kind of a gentle push and the 9mm is more snappy. Luckily, we live in a Constitutional Republic and every man has his choice of what type of handgun to carry and use for defense of self and family.

LarryC

Sorry to post on the mans thread, but I am intrigued. Ann, do you feel safer with your gun? I too know of vandals who are just out there to be violent, and the only way to survive an attack from them is to have a gun, but I wonder if I did have a gun if I would even be able to get to it quick enough, and if I would be strong enough to not have it taken and used against me. You know?

Kelly,

Yes, I do feel safer when I carry. Both my daughters would ask me if I was carrying when we went Christmas shopping. They were relieved I was. I target practice a couple of times a year and my gun also has a laser beam. I took classes and am the owner of a ccw permit. I wear a holster that fits inside my pants.

I hope to God I never have to use it, but if someone threatens me or my loved ones, I wouldn't hesitate to blow their spam away!

Ann

Kelly, I also need to add this - your situation is different than mine. My kids are grown, you have little ones at home. I'd feel terrible if you listened to me and something happened to your little ones because you had a gun at home. This is not something to take lightly.

Ann, we do have guns, but rest assured they are all locked in a gun safe with locks on them, unloaded. I would never risk my children's lives with something like that. One of my best friends brother was shot in the head by his best friend at the age of 13. His father was a deputy, and he was showing him his dads gun...that is when it accidentally went off. He survived, but at a high cost. Everyone that has a gun at home with children, please be vigilant and dont take any chances. Kids know how to find things that are simply hidden. They must be locked, and unloaded. Wise words Ann, and thanks for the advice.

Excuse us, we Men will just get out of the way so you girls can chat.

Sorry..did not mean to get in the way, very interesting thread though.

Ditto

I carry protection. That being said, I also took a gun saftey course and I practice weekly.

I thought about hanging one of my target papers on my front door as a deterent and maybe keep the solicitors away, sort of a 2 for 1 (just kidding).

Does anyone know if pepper spray is effective for self-defense? I'm a gun owner myself, but I dread the idea of having to deal with the legal hassles of shooting an attacker.

Currently I carry pepper spray when I go out in public.

I was told my a police officer that "wasp" spray was better than pepper spray for a couple of reasons.

1. Wasp spray will spray farther so you don't have to be as close as you do with pepper spray.

2. Wasp spray will temporarily blind the attacker untill it is washed out of the eyes.

I have no choice but to face down violent men on a daily basis, unarmed. As my professional career eventually unwound with my inability to function well mentally until midday, I "retired" into the restaurant business. As it turns out, my locale is in the tourist area of a port city in southern Europe. In today's economy, we have unemployed Arabs, Romanians, and other Eastern European drifters plaguing the area, together with local gypsies. Guns are illegal here, so it's mano-a-mano.

In my late 50's, I was convinced at first I would collapse from all the manual labor. Especially since I not only have AS, but also a nasty recurring herniated disc and a deviated spinal cord. But the pleasant surprise is that the constant exercise, though painful, has me at fairly good strength levels. I now toss much younger men out the door, sometimes by twos, even threes. It helps that my face in anger is apparently daunting.

My point is that AS is not the end of muscular manhood, even if it seems so. My old office-working self was certainly no match for what I do today, but if you do have the opportunity to put in some good gym time, you might regain some of your lost "macho." Sure, there is always someone bigger and stronger, but that is true for all men, AS or non-AS.

The mantra I have told myself for decades is that AS trains me to take pain. Guys, in many ways we are a heck of a lot tougher than all those pain-free wimps out there. Don't count yourself out; work out!

The "safety" of using a weapon in self defense largely rests on your state laws. Here in Alaska a person does not have to take the traditional "escape" which means if you have a chance to leave the violent situation you do. Here if someone threatens one has a right to fire. That said, police everywhere will judge the situation by what they see. A perp lying on the carpet of your bedroom may be judged differently than you firing in a mall to defend your purchases. Either way, most states require a course to learn how to use a weapon. In Alaska most people are armed. That is a reality as we share the top predator place with larger bears and they live in and around where we have our homes. The training courses are a very good idea. But keep in mind, lethal violence from another human (or bear) always happens very fast. Target on the door idea....Word.

Wow. I join a forum that isn't gun related and what do I find but, a gun related thread. Awesome. (Even if it is a necro-resurrection of a thread)

My recommendation, if you feel comfortable carrying a firearm for self-defense, please do so but, do so responsibly. Know the rules, know your firearm, know the law. If you're not comfortable with firearms, there are many other excellent methods of self defense. They are, however, limited. Firearms are very good equalizers when there is a disparity of force (e.g., more bad guys than you, bad buys are stronger than you or when medical issues restrict physical capabilities.)

I was a believer in carrying a firearm for self defense long before I was "blessed" with my spondylo-pain-in-the-butt. I feel fortunate that living in a "shall issue" state allows me to continue to protect myself and my family despite my waning physical capabilities.

For anyone interested in issues related to firearms, check out the Pennylvania Firearm Owners Association at www.pafoa.org some time. It is to firearms what this place is to AS/USpA/etc.

You'll find me there by the same name.

And @ the lady upthread worried about firearms and kids (albeit from a year or two ago) the only children that are in danger from firearms are those who are not properly educated. My two girls would embarass most adults w/ their discipline while handling guns. Since they are allowed to see them whenever they ask, w/ my supervision of course, there is no reason to sneak or play with them in my absence. Therefore, no problem.