On Tue, 8 Mar 2005, Doug Kanter wrote:

> "Lena B Katz" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 8 Mar 2005, TheAlligator wrote:
>>
>>> "Doug Kanter" > wrote:
>>>> That last comment is the best reason of all to do one or both of:
>>> I thank you for your comments, and your points are noted. She has no
>>> fear of guns, by the way. She can outshoot me on any given day, as she
>>> has since she was little. It's embarassing.
>>
>> just don't try using guns to defend yourself... it is _such_ a bad idea.
>> if people want to use stuff to defend themselves, there are more practical
>> ideas (like sound grenades).
>
> OK. Where do you live that you're able to purchase sound grenades?

legally or illegally? ;-) many things are purchasable/makeable outside of
the law.

But seriously, my speaker system at home could be used as a sonic weapon.
It isn't out of the question for any bar to have a similar setup (last
minute panic button... everyone goes down, with bleeding ears... but
everyone survives.).

Smoke bombs and explosives (both of which i'd image are a bit less in need
of "setup") can probably be purchased/fashioned relatively easily.

Plastic explosives can be made in HS chemistry class.

>> never try to defend yourself with something that requires line-of-sight.
>> in most situations, you're lucky if you have _awareness_ of an attack,
>> before it occurs, let alone time enough to "point, aim, shoot"
>
> Well....if you don't have awareness of the attack, it probably doesn't
> matter what you're being attacked with, or what means of defense you have.

A bulletproof vest will probably stop most bullets aimed at your chest.

And it really depends on how much awareness you get... someone shooting a
cannon at your building is not likely to kill you... but it is a real
warning that trouble is on the way.

it's hard to have no warning with knives, as they require close contact...

someone with a sniper rifle pointed on you probably means you're dead...
but people walk away from snipers and ambushes every day.

> The trick is to be aware of what's going on around you, and release a
> certain energy into that space. That's how many people manage to live
> unscathed in certain cities.

better to be invisible -- the person no one selects as being interesting.

lena