Concealed
Weapons
Highly populated
cities present a hindrance to self defense. According to the laws of highly
populated areas a gun or knife cannot be carried in plain sight, this
hindrance is also a problem for undercover operatives who for obvious
reasons cannot wear their weapon in open view. Concealed weapons are the
only way to aid self defense tactics without attracting any unpleasant
attention.
The Principles
What are the important principles of carrying a concealed weapon ? The
first is that the weapon should not be detected by anyone in plain sight,
it should also be very comfortable to wear, it should be carried at all
times and be capable of exacting a stopping power on an assailant. Finally
it should also be very quick to use, i.e. quick on the draw.
Size and
Comfort
The smaller a weapon is the better. Larger weapons although usually always
more effective are uncomfortable to carry and can be detected by onlookers.
The more comfortable a weapon is the higher its repeated carry. An uncomfortable
device is more likely to be left at home on odd days leaving its owner
helpless in time of danger. A smaller comfortable weapon has to be suitable
to be carried 100% at all times. Smaller devices do have the problem of
having less stopping power but that is better than not having a weapon
at all during a dangerous situation.
Surprise
and Quick Draw
The best factors aiding self defense are surprise and quick draw. In a
dangerous situation requiring self defense the weapon should be drawn
and used without hesitation taking an assailant/attacker by total surprise
and thus aiding a quick escape. In hostile situations the time taken to
use a weapon should not exceed 2 seconds. Weapons such as knives designed
for this type of carry usually have built in special features to aid utilization
within the 2 second barrier. The weapons carry system is just as important
as the weapon itself and should be capable of being worn inconspicuously
throughout the year in both winter and summer. It is a bad idea to wear
a weapon in different ways from time to time, it is better to be trained
on one wear, variations would cause confusion of the draw process in a
tense situation.
Concealed
Handguns
Guns are usually the first choice of proponents although usually not always
the best choice. The smaller size of a handgun usually means that a smaller
bullet caliber is used, therefore a smaller gun is usually not so good
for knockdown power. An assailant being shot with the minimal .22 caliber
pistol can take many shots in the chest before being knocked down. This
issue can be solved by using a single or double shot pistol loaded with
a high caliber magnum shell such as commonly done with the small well
known Derringer pistol. The disadvantage of this being that there is only
one chance for its use. How is this caliber size problem solved ? A smaller
caliber such as .32 loaded into a multishot pistol can be effective as
long as it is directed to specific areas of the body. An attacker shot
in the forehead or at the base of the kneck will definitely be stopped.
This is not easy to do in a tense situation therefore the concealed carry
proponent should be well trained in the use of the smaller handgun. A
smaller revolver or double action pistol should be chosen due to their
simpler operation, they only require that the trigger be pulled unlike
single action pistols which require the gun to be cocked manually before
firing. A gun's holster is just as important as the gun itself and should
be available for wear year round in both winter and summer and a special
fast draw system should be chosen in order to keep as close as possible
to the 2 second barrier.
Concealed
Knives
Knives are a very good choice for this type of carry; they are inexpensive,
do not require a license to buy and are generally viewed less critically
by local law enforcement. Folding knives are usually selected by gentlemen
as they can be hidden in the trouser pocket. The draw of such a knife
would simply involve drawing it out of the pocket and opening the knife
single handedly. With folding knives it is important to choose very wisely,
a cheap knife could collapse when hitting a hard object and will probably
not last very long, a high quality knife will last forever even with use
and can sustain a direct strike on a hard object without closing on the
user's fingers. Quality manufacturers also take the time to create knives
that are extremely light in weight and are very fast to draw. The 'Spyderco
Delica' for example is very light in weight, is made of very strong steel,
built robustly and has a single handed quick draw system for that 2 second
barrier. Other alternatives to folding knives are small full tang blades
with a holster. A full tang blade is a blade and handle as one piece,
the normal kind of knife found everywhere, with a quick draw holster for
this knife the 2 second barrier can easily be achieved.
Pepper
Spray
This well known device is basically a chemical weapon that causes severe
agitation when applied. A pepper spray does not necessarily have to be
applied directly to the face, it can also be sprayed on the skin such
as on the back of the neck being just as effective. They usually come
in the form of a tiny spray bottle attached to a keychain and do not arouse
any unwanted attention. If carried by hand they can be deployed very quickly.
A pepper spray is a perishable product though and has to be replaced even
if not used at least once a year. The best brand is 'Fox' which is extremely
powerfull causing extreme agitation even on slight contact.
Stun Guns
Stun guns produce extremely high voltages by using a normal battery. An
assailant in contact with the nodes producing these voltages is temporarily
incapacitated aiding a quick getaway. Even with a normal 9Volt Battery
the device can be reused without significant drop in knockdown effect.
The nodes from where the high voltage is generated should come into contact
with an attackers body at points where there is a large concentration
of nerves, such the lower side of the hip connecting to either leg or
on the neck for the best stopping power. A disadvantage of this device
is that it is larger than the alternative concealed weapons and is more
suited for carry in a lady's handbag. Prolonged use of the high voltages
for testing can cause the electronics running the device to wear down
so testing the device's nodes in open air should be done very briefly.
An exciting new type of stun gun is the Myotron. This uses voltages at
specific frequencies to interrupt the flow of control signals from the
brain to the body therefore totally paralyzing an assailant for a minimum
of 10-20 minutes until the effects wear off. This device is extremely
small in size and it's built in battery lasts for many years.
Applicability
with the Law
Laws vary on the carry of concealed weapons from region to region. Handgun
laws are very specific as they are concidered lethal and there can be
a jail sentence involved for the unlicensed carry of a handgun if the
authorities decide to prosecute. Laws on knives are more lax and they
can usually be carried as 'gentlemen's tools' without the worry of prosecution.
However there are laws for carrying knives, a police officer would usually
confiscate a knife on its discovery but further prosecution is usually
less common. Pepper spray and Stun Guns have very specific laws on the
ban of their carry especially in specific cities in the U.S. and western
europe. However a lot of other countries do not have any laws outlawing
the import of such devices. The practical reality is that the proponent
of concealed carry would rather risk being prosecuted on minor charges
such as carrying pepper spray, a knife or a stun gun rather than risk
his life not having a tool for self defense.
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