Self defense for the "defenseless".

A

ActivShootr

New member
I have never given much thought to the matter of self defense for someone with a disability until I became disabled. I broke my foot a couple of weeks ago and I have to use crutches to get around. While my problem is only temporary (I hope) it still poses a question. What do I do for self defense? Being silly, I ziptied a holster to one of my crutches. But then what if a bg gets to it before I can? I tried carrying my 1911 on my hip but I ended up scratching one of the wood grips so that idea was out. I have taken to carrying a snub nosed .38 in my pocket. Hopefully 5 shots will buy me enough time to get to my shotgun :D What are some other sugestions for this self defense situation?
 
I guess it depends on how disabled you are. If you are in a wheelchair, it is easy to conceal a holster near your hip. If you are on crutches, you could always opt for small of back carry or even Thunderwear type holsters. Maybe even switch to a smaller pocket gun for a while.
 
I agree. Someone in a wheelchair has a few more options than someone on crutches. The person's arms would be free to get a weapon quickly. With crutches, I would have to let go of one, grab my weapon and either stand there or try to hobble to cover. I guess I would rather be in the cast a while longer than have an excess amount of holes. :)
 
I think the disabled are at a higher risk than an ordinary citizen, because of various reasons. Carrying a holster would in theory seem like a good idea because the disabled and the elderly are far more vulnerable and susceptible to crime, as they cannot defend themselves in the same way a fit middle aged man would.
But yea. In a situation a wheel chair would be better than crutches.
 
I use a shoulder holster when carrying a cane or on crutches. I bought a cheapy, without the cross-chest strap and had the shoe repair shopman move the holster so it would hang across my shirt pocket. With a blaser jacket or winter coat, it works fine.

Pops
 
Apparently in England the blind are stopping using the white stick as it singles them out for attack by feral children.

These "feral" children are becoming a huge problem over there and it's starting to become a problem here in Ireland as there is no counterbalance to their "human rights". They can literally get away with murder and there's nothing can be done. We're bad people if we punish children and send them to jail.

Ah well, as per the herd instinct, they might pass me by and pick on somebody else. It'll all be okay then.
 
Let's not forget, you have to very long clubs in each hand.
Click to expand...

Excellent point. The crutches themselves may be used as weapons.

My ambulatory skills are lacking right now so I am concerned about having to take evasive actions. I can move at about a fast walking pace and I could probably jump if the landing didnt matter too much. The problem would be moving and shooting. The idea seems a bit unsafe to me.
 
I use a belly band. It allows me to locate the pistol just about anywhere on my torso. It is not for a 'quick draw', but then being disabled is not for a 'quick draw' anyway.
 
dresden8 said:
Apparently in England the blind are stopping using the white stick as it singles them out for attack by feral children.
Click to expand...

It's too bad these "feral children" aren't eating song-birds or I'd have a ready answer for you. This kind of nonsense goes beyond a handicap and a need for security.

Believe it or not I saw a internet story (and trust me, I'm not sure if it's a hoax or not) where the Japanese have devised a pop-up cloak which resembles a coke machine for the owner to hide in during an attack.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/21/vending-machine-disguise-may-or-may-not-fool-criminals/

My only concern with a weapon for someone severely handicapped is further danger. Any low life who attacks an elderly or handicapped person might use their weapon against them.

And strange as it might seem, they might be better off with electric shock contact weapons, pepper spray, air horns or permanent ink markers.
 
I think the physically disabled need weapons that if not kill their assailant at least instantly incapacitate them. Electric shock weapons are good but most allow the attacker to get too close for comfort and I'm not sure if tasers are legal. The weapon must be able to knock the attacker out for sufficent enough time for the victim to make an escape to find help or just get the hell away from there. I think a firearm is about the best choice for someone with a disability concerned with self preservation.
 
I think the physically disabled need weapons that if not kill their assailant at least instantly incapacitate them. Electric shock weapons are good but most allow the attacker to get too close for comfort and I'm not sure if tasers are legal. The weapon must be able to knock the attacker out for sufficent enough time for the victim to make an escape to find help or just get the hell away from there. I think a firearm is about the best choice for someone with a disability concerned with self preservation.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to disagree here. Electric shock weapons are very effective defensive tools. In fact, the jolt from a tazer will normally drop a person immediately. There have been many instances of failure to stop from pretty much any handgun cartridges, despite good center of mass hits. I saw a guy get tazed and he dropped like a rock. With healthy individuals, death is very rare from tazer shocks. All police officers are required to get tazed (not actually required to have the barbs shot into them but tazed none the less). After speaking with several of them, they described it as immediately losing total motor control. I don't care if you are hyped up, hopped up, or drugged up... Tazers work against the nerves and muscles.

The down side of tazers are limited distance (15 feet at best) and only one shot per cartridge. Against multiple attackers, it is not ideal. Missing the target is also an ugly situation. The tazer can be used as a hand held stun gun after the darts are fired. Most on this forum are also hesitant to trust a battery operated device with their lives since Murphey and his stupid law like to rear their ugly heads at the worst times. However, the lithium batteries used by the Tazers have 10 years shelf lives and are unlikely to lose charge spontaneously.

I bought a tazer for my wife since I can't get her to go to the range and practice with me. She does not feel confident carrying a gun and does not do so. Even if she were to get nervous and taze an "innocent" person, there would be far lesser repurcussions than if she had shot someone. If she missed the bad guy, there is little chance for her to hit bystanders due to the limited range. Besides, I bought her the one with the laser on it. Most importantly, even if it was taken away from her and used on her by the bad guy, the effects are not nearly as damaging as a gunshot wound.
 
Do you think a tazer would keep an attacker at bay long enough for me to hobble away? I just dont want to have to defend myself and have my defenses fail. If the attacker wasn't going to kill me before, he surely will want to after I spray/stun/taze him and it doesn't work.
 
Do you think a tazer would keep an attacker at bay long enough for me to hobble away? I just dont want to have to defend myself and have my defenses fail. If the attacker wasn't going to kill me before, he surely will want to after I spray/stun/taze him and it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Civilian tazers are designed to be fired and dropped. They keep shocking the attacker for 30 seconds. Tazer will replace the unit for FREE if it is used in a self defense situation. 30 seconds should be plenty of time for you to get away. Besides, the guy I saw get tazed sure as heck was not going to be getting up and running after anyone after he got tazed.
 
I think there are different levels of disability. An ambulatory disabled person might be quite proficient with a handgun and if a lethal threat is perceived, that might be what is needed to eliminate the threat. Even a 30 second head start will unlikely be enough to get too far away from such a threat, so I would choose the handgun.

Someone with severe physical disabilities that cannot demonstrate reasonable use of the weapon, ought not receive the permit in my opinion, and I am a disabled person. I do not know how that works in a 'Shall issue' jurisdiction, or in Vermont.
 
Having done permanent damage to my left hand and arm, I was a lefty, I had to rethink my self defense capacity. I do not live nor associate in areas known to criminals. However I like to have my guard up. I never would have thought twice to pop ANYONE in the mouth while I drew my buck 110 from my right back pocket. Now I can't make a substantial fist and haven't the strength to hold them off long enough. I have decided to add ccw to my options.
While a wheel chair may add hiding options it requires you to set down the gun in your lap if you must try to keep up with a BG set on staying in your blindside. I have a pretty close friend who is paralyzed and he does carry but he knows he must decide, draw and fire quick to maintain the upper hand in his survival!
Brent
 
'Twould seem to me that wearing your holster at 4 o'clock or in the appendix position would pretty well keep it out of the path of your crutch.
 
I have taken to wearing my sp101 IWB about 4 o'clock. It doesn't bang on my crutches and doesnt interfere with laying on the couch:D I just hope I never have to use it. I may try a belly band or something for walking around the block when I get the cast off. Got a few pounds to loose :o
 
Broke my left foot awhile back, then year later the ankle on the same leg :(

Crutches are fine weapons and lend a long reach too. Never felt like a victim on them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top