Alternative to a handgun for personal defense

The design would also need to provide roughly the same capacity as a typical handgun and provide a means for the user to carry a reload and employ it in roughly the same amount of time that it takes to reload a typical handgun.
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Four of these: http://www.taser.com/products/law/Pages/TASERXREP.aspx
One of these: http://www.safetyharborfirearms.com/KEG_12/keg_12.html

(Though personally, I'd go half-and-half: if two Taser rounds don't do the job, it's time to make big, ugly holes.)
 
There are lots of different choices, but a gun is by far the best. The bow is next best, but it's huge. A sword will work up close, but it's huge, too. The oft-recommended Taser sounds like an option, not for mortal combat, but just to avoid getting your hairdo mussed up by wrassling an unarmed attacker. But if your attacker has a gun or other weapon you'll want a gun of your own. Your saber will work at 3 yards* or your bow at 25 yards, but carrying either around with you all the time sounds like a grind.


*if you're not mobility-impaired
 
I don't recall reading a more cogent, thorough, well reasoned statement of the need for firearms for self defense by private citizens than the link that Pax provided to her website. I bookmarked it for continued use, and I urge others who discuss these issues in the public arena to do the same.
 
Super Happy Fun Balls

Any alternative to guns that is equivalent or more lethal would also assume an evil designation. It would either be classified as a firearm and be referred to as a gun or get it's own classification like destructive device or murder machine. The most we could hope for is that it would be considered so much more evil as to take the heat off handguns then we could get away with calling them "Super Happy Handfun Devices".:D
 
Acid guns.

Maybe a gun designed to shoot a powerful sulfuric acid. The likely hood of death would be low but the person would be mutilated and feel intense burning pain instantly.

Blindness would be a pretty good deterant as well. Possibly worse than death for some.

But it would obviously only be effective at very short range.
 
What device could do the job and offer the public the saftey a handgun does and have none of the "evil GUN" stigma?
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Tough question. Of course, replacing the gun with something equally as deadly would probably result in the "replacement" eventually acquiring the negative stigma currently surrounding the gun. That is, unless this "alternative" weapon could also perform some type of utilitarian purpose. I mean, we have knives, axes, deadly machinery, tools of all kinds, blunt objects...you name it. Yet, almost none of these have any negative stigma attached to them at all. They simply come with warning labels.

In terms of solutions, I cant say; beyond what I proposed earlier. Frankly, its just too bad that guns are still viewed as the devil when, point of fact, the main focus should be centered around those who use them carelessly or deviously vs. simply focusing on/blaming the means (when a gun is involved).

Oh well....interesting question nonetheless.
 
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Recently the news had a story saying wasp spray was as good as pepper spray for chemical defense.

Not sure if that's the case but it was an impressive demonstration.

The limitations of non-lethal weapons is obvious if we are thinking of an opponent bent on doing harm or killing. None of them is as certain as a firearm in those instances.
In other cases where our opponent is not the stereotypical crazed attacker then a non-lethal weapon is an acceptable alternative. A less than crippling threat ideally should be met with a less than lethal weapon.

Because of the possibility of a deadly threat a non-lethal weapon is still an adjunct to a firearm for self defense. Until a non-lethal weapon is as effective as a firearm it will remain so.
 
Wasp Spray

I can vouch for the wasp spray. I was painting the trim on my great aunt's house up at the top of the ladder when I was stung by a wasp. That was bad but then my aunt came out with a can of spray and hosed me down. The more I tried to protest the louder she laughed. I had to feel my way down the extension ladder and take it away from her under fire the whole time. When I could open them she saw the murder in my eyes and said"It says right here on the label that it's not harmful to pets and humans.". I had to laugh and cough and eventually laugh.:barf:
 
Lethal Vs. Non-lethal options

Lethal Vs. non-lethal weapons, my Taurus .357 is and probably always will be my first choice for my “last stand.” But there are many, if not most, occasions where less than lethal force need be applied, so I always have a small canister of pepper spray with me, as well as a “tactical” style flashlight with a woven Para-cord pigtail in my back pocket, this makes a very effective yet legal blackjack, and on one occasion simply drawing this stopped what was starting to become an ugly situation with two young men.

A firearm, generally, a pistol is still the most effective means of defense available today but for many reason I wish to have less than lethal options before I have to resort to a firearm.
 
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Seriously though

I'm not old enough to conceal carry, so I carry a flashlight with me when I'm out at night, a Surefire C2 Centurion LED to be precise. Some Surefires have a crenelated bezel that gives your moonbeam some hand-to-hand capacity.
Sure it's not going to stop a determined assailant (what do the underage do for that?) but against stray dogs or to alert passing cars its quite handy.
 
"So lets hear ideas. What device could do the job and offer the public the saftey a handgun does and have none of the "evil GUN" stigma? "


Well, from the specific wording of the question, (He said "handgun", not firearm) I would choose a short Winchester carbine and a good belt knife.


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It does not exist

The weapon being discussed does not exist. Tasers are useful for LE, but they are backed up by a handgun, knives are impractical for the simple fact that you must close with the bad guy, putting you with-in the "7 foot" range that is my limit as well as many professional SD experts. And knife fighting is a skill of a very high level, beleive me.
I try to follow several rules, the first being to always have your handgun with you. Second, and very important, avoid exposure. Quite simply, there are areas that are higher risk, down to where you park when shopping or eating out. Bad guys do not like lighted areas, or anything that increases the time they are exposed. Buy and carry a quality flashlight everywhere you go.
Know and drill with your handgun. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Above all be aware of your surroundings at all times.
 
pax's blog comment

Just read pax's blog on why she carries, sums it up in a nutshell. No person on this earth has a right to make a victim out of me or anybody. That is why I have been carrying 40 years, yes before it could be done legally. No, I haven't shot anybody, but on 3 occasions my handgun enabled me to be in charge right now and they believed me.
READ THIS BLOG, man or woman. Be sure to read Meridith Emerson link at the end. Heartbreaking, I hope they put him in general population.
Great work pax, keep it up. You just gained a reader. I encourage females to carry, and to train for the worst.

http://www.corneredcat.com/Why/why.aspx
 
The old "Sharp stick in the eye" works but is just so BARBARIC :barf:
A nice 45acp right between the eyes is so much quicker and more merciful :D
 
I was told by a police officer one time when I was too young to carry a gun in the car and I was traveling at night to carry a can of easy off oven cleaner. One shot in the face and the BG forgets what he was going to do.


DOug
 
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