Practice
In an emergency, the mind is often frozen with indecision. The body carries through if you have practiced or trained for this emergency. Practice often, out loud, screaming at somebody who is accosting you and running in retreat. You need to "look forward to being attacked," and practice what you need to do in every detail. You may wish to warn your neighbors beforehand, or get them to join in. Mutual awareness and protection is a good thing to build in your neighborhood!
Weapons
The only effective weapon is the one that is used. Carrying a weapon is not a deterrent - its only advantage is during the fight. As a citizen, you must obey all local laws of the jurisdiction you are in at the time. It is your responsibility to learn those laws, especially when traveling.
Competence: If you choose to carry a weapon - pepper spray, knife, gun, taser, etc. you are responsible to learn to use that weapon safely, effectively, and legally. You must get the appropriate license and training required.
Practice: Practice often, going through a whole attack. Pretend you are being accosted. Scream, retreat, and when cornered use the weapon. In real life, you will do exactly as you practice, so make the practice as realistic as you can - including the screaming.
Brandishing: It is illegal to display a gun or knife to try to deter an attack. They should only come into view as you are using them to stop an attack.
Training: If you plan to carry a weapon, get the best training you can. Ask your local law enforcement folks who provides their training, and join in. You'll meet new friends among our men and women in blue, too. A good course emphasizes defensive tactics and safe retreat. Join a sport that demands safe, ongoing practice with your weapon, such as practical shooting.
Always-Legal Weapons
Some weapons will give you a fighting chance and can be legally and visibly carried on any street. These include walking/hiking sticks and sharp objects such as a fistful of keys, a pen, a comb or a flashlight. You need the will to use them to slash or bop an attacker if you are restrained from running away. Handy weapons must be handy if you plan to use them, not buried in your hip pack or pocket. My keychain is a plastic ice-scraper with a fingerhole in the middle. With my middle finger in the hole, I have "plastic knuckles" that become a slashing/poking weapon. I can carry it legally on any street in the hemisphere. As a bonus, I can and do use it to scrape ice off my windshield in winter.
In case of being accosted, consider any object in your possession as a weapon and use it, even a cell phone (below). One racewalker reported beating off an attacker with a pay phone receiver.
Cell phones
Carrying a cell phone is a good idea - you can call 911 in case of a medical emergency. When accosted, don't waste a split second with a phone, you need to be screaming and running. Even if you got a call off and the police responded immediately, most attacks take less than five minutes to complete, and your attacker will be long gone before help arrives. Far better to use it to report to the police after you have effectively stopped the attack by screaming, running, and fighting as necessary.
Look Forward, Don't Surrender Your Freedom
As a law-abiding citizen, I have earned the right to walk the streets unmolested. I will exercise that right and be prepared. Go forth, and - be careful out there.
Links
Street Saftey
Street Safety Tips from the Santa Clara Police
More of this article
If you think you are being followed or if you are grabbed | Deterring Attack
