What is the best way to protect yourself when most methods are illegal?

[petitedollbabee]

My hometown has progressively been getting worse lately. From gang violence to random assaults and victims being followed home. Today my partners 12 year old niece was followed and beaten by a group of women, she’s in hospital with a broken jaw and a concussion. Police have been notified but they’re useless. Guns are illegal to carry here, as well as weapons such as knives. Pepper spray is also mostly illegal to carry. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared to walk in town alone.. even in broad daylight. What ways can I protect myself? I’m quite small, 4’9ft, and only 50kg with no muscle behind me, so I can’t exactly protect myself with my fists.

[TroyDT2]

Are you permitted to have a hardwood cane or a walking stick? You can be trained to do serious damage to an assailant with either of those, even someone much larger.

[Alex8736]

what you need to do is go to Dick's sporting goods and grab an air horn and pepper spray. gotta do what you gotta do to survive

[petitedollbabee]

Pepper spray cannot be bought easily so maybe just the air horn?

[Alex8736]

looks like a key chain but is LOUD as f*ck. 😃

[ADFSDF1996]

I don’t know what country you’re from but here in the US, aside from guns (with permits). We are also allowed to carry tasers, pepper spray and other close range weapons without permits.

Are you allowed to carry around pipe wrenches or baseball bats for self defense in your country?

[ADFSDF1996]

Also, you should build muscle/get stronger. Your stature isn’t that important but if you have more muscle or look like you are tough, then bad people will be less likely to pick on you.

And try to not walk alone in the streets, especially at night.

[Losalt]

Get a decent size and pretty intense Fleshlight.
You can shine it into peoples eyes.
You can use it to make sure that they know they're noticed and to be noticed by others to get help.
And you can use it as a club.
I'd they're armed with a knife you can also use it to parry attacks against you if you know some martial arts.
It's legal everywhere and should give you a advantage, especially at night.

Learn martial arts.
Groups of people will still win, but again one or two people it'll give you the edge, being small you can use the size difference against them as there's many techniques allowing you to unbalance them or otherwise get a edge against larger opponents as you'll be more grounded.
Their main advantage is reach, so manage your distance and either stay just out of range or move in closer then where they can fully utilize their advantage but where you can use yours.

If you can get them down on the ground while remaining standing you'll have a advauwhem running away as it'll take them time to get back on their feet.

Get a overview of the areas you'll go and where a likely attack might come.
Perhaps there's choke points you can use?

A pepper spray might be illegal, but chilli is still used in cooking and chilli powder probably isn't outlawed.
You can throw that into someones eyes if you are a bit smart about it.
And that'll keep them occupied for a while.

If you find a nice round rock and you wear socks that can be combined as a weapon in some situations I'd you have time to prepare.

If it looks good it'll be plausible to say that it's just something you found and brought to take home.

It's a white lie, but in a pinch that'll work.

Ps. On a different note, I'd love to talk about dogs in pm later (connected to some different questions)

[Summeroflove]

I am sorry I know that crime is getting really bad in some if not most areas. This is why Gun control makes ZERO sense to me. Then you take guns from good people who can't defend themselves that is bullshit.

I think finding out what weapons to carry that are legal and a lot of prayer. You could also work out if you wanted to.

But yeah that is really sad. I will be praying for your partners 12 year old niece that is disgusting

[Dargil]

Keep one of these with you.
https://womenonguard.com/zap-knuckle-blaster-extreme/
If you are in danger, reach into your bag and put it on. Unlike a stun gun, mace or a flashlight, the Bad Guy won't see it. Go for his neck.

[cth96190]

There are two ways.

1. Become a dedicated student of a martial art. That takes time, of course.

2. Go hunting, rather than wait for trouble to come to you. Expedite their meeting with God, when they are in a place where there are no witnesses, then melt into the shadows. A two-litre plastic milk container makes a good improvised silencer.

[Losalt]

Alternative 2 is a *extremely* bad idea...
Anyone considering alternative 2 can expect their lives to end...
Even killing someone in self defence when they're on your property can lead to a murder charge in plenty of countries, including occasionally the US.

[Andridaca]

Walk in a company of several individuals, with a big guy or two around if possible. Avoid high crime regions. Get a big dog, a pit bull (teach it to attack if possible). Get or make a monkey fist and a taser/pepper spray if possible. Run, run a lot. Join the track. Use your phone cam if you encounter somebody, have the cops on speed-dial, and say that you are recording, even if you're not, perhaps live streaming.

[genericname85]

all these things you said are illegal here too. you can however carry a certain pepper spray that is made for the use against dogs and wild animals. it's a stupid little trick to just say you don't wanna use it for self defense against people, if someone catches you carry it.

[TallAnon]

Realistically even with a gun, they might have them too.
The best thing to do is not be alone, especially at night, don't make yourself an easy target. Running away will always be your best bet if something does go south. Enter a store, yell loud, anything that makes them want to find another sucker.

[Anonymous]

Vote Republican. I'm not even joking. I know it's not the most palatable suggestion but when you ban guns and make pepper spray illegal, and when you're soft on crime, there isn't a decent option to defend yourself. The pendulum has already swung too far in that direction. You need to stop supporting the things that are taking your safety away.

[petitedollbabee]

I live in a country that has always made guns illegal. Shootings don’t happen unless it’s gang related. I’d rather keep it that way.

[Opinion Owner]

My mistake. I keep forgetting there are people from many different countries on here.

[Zolly99999]

Long term would be self defense classes.

Short term carry a Phillips head screw driver.

[purplepoppy]

Move home, simple as that. Once neighbourhood has got that bad there's nothing you can do to protect yourself.

[Levin]

Move to a non-shit hole. Preferably somewhere more rural.

[jamesgoldman]

Knuckledusters or likely those are illegal
Copy me and don fistfuls of rings, people avoid arguing if they might end up shitting teeth

[Berethor]

Leftist laws suck, maybe you should look for a big guy and hide behind him.

[exitseven]

After reading this I am grateful for the second amendment.

[AimeeKyle]

Either be vocal / get involved in your local and state levels (make enough noise they cannot ignore you and a wave of supporters) or move.

[Anonymous]

If you're worried about protecting yourself then you shouldn't be worried about weapons laws.

[EaterPeter]

Where do you live? Can you run? You must carry something least illegal. You said police is useless so you may want to do the quick bad damage and run.

[Cheerfull009]

Which country you live now, African countries are like this, especially Nigeria

[NathanDavis]

prevention... does most of the job