This is a common question that pops up when preppers think about self-defense. Using a firearm seems extremely violent and final. They’d rather take their attackers down and wait till the police arrive. It seems more humane.
The truth of the matter is that reality is very different. Every prepper should own a firearm. There’s no two ways about it. If criminals carry guns, you should too, or you have no chance against them.
This is especially true if you’re a woman. You need every edge that you can get and a gun commands instant respect. Just flashing it can scare off a potential attacker. So, the truth of the matter is that a firearm is an effective deterrent too.
The same doesn’t apply for knives or other non-lethal weapons. In fact, if you’re using a knife for self-defense, you might end up causing more pain if your attacker struggles with you. In a worst-case scenario, the criminal uses the knife on you.
So, to be clear, nothing quite beats a firearm. Non-lethal weapons and unarmed combat skills are NOT enough. However, to be fair, these non-lethal weapons can be very useful too. Let’s take a look at them.
- Tasers
These are extremely effective if you can get close enough to your attacker and catch them by surprise. They work through clothing and can incapacitate an attacker long enough for you to bind their wrists and ankles with cable ties.
The limitation is that you need to get close enough to use them and in some cases, the aggressor keeps moving forward. If there are two or more people trying to break into your house, 1 taser is not going to be enough. What do you need? You need a gun. That’s what you need.
- Pepper spray
Effective but you need to be really close to the attacker. These are best used in situations where you need to inflict discomfort and pain on your attacker so that you can escape. The spray will cause their face and eyes to burn but it will not permanently injure them.
- Tactical knives
If you want to use a knife as your choice of self-defense, it’s best to be trained in it. Filipino martial arts like Eskrima will teach you knife attacks and defense techniques. However, you still need to get close to your attacker and in a fight, anything is possible.
You might end up getting cut if the knife slips. There could be blood all over the floor causing you to slip and fall. It gets very messy and is nothing like what you see in the movies.
- Baseball bats, sticks, pipes
Only effective if you take your opponent by surprise or you manage to get a good strike. These weapons are unwieldy to begin with and women may struggle to use them because you need good upper body strength to deliver a blow that causes enough damage to bring down your attacker.
- Stun guns
Similar to pepper sprays, you must be close and this weapon requires prolonged contact with the opponent till they go down. There’s a chance you might shock yourself if there’s a struggle and the stun gun comes into contact with your skin.
- Unarmed combat
Effective if you’re well-trained. Expert martial artists with lots of real world fighting experience can easily take down two or even three opponents. However, most people just do not have this level of skill. It requires lots of practice, strength and stamina.
There’s also the possibility that the attacker has a gun which immediately rules out unarmed combat on your part unless you are close enough to reach for the gun and execute a disarming move. Even then, you must be really confident, fast and do it right or the gun could go off and injure you or someone else.
If you totally miss the move, you might end up aggravating the attacker who ends up putting 3 bullets in you. So, it is risky.
To sum it up, while non-lethal weapons can be effective at the right time or place, as a prepper, if you want to protect your family, home and yourself, nothing quite beats a firearm if you know how to use one well. When violence is imminent and you’re under attack, you can always rest assured that your gun will respond more quickly than calling 911. Stay prepared.