Page 2 | to ask if you would carry?

bellaweir · 2021-10-02T22:10:44+00:00

After what's happened with Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa this past week I was chatting to my mum about being safe outside. We ended up down a rabbit hole of American women carrying guns/pepper spray/tasers for their own safety and I wanted a wider opinion on it. If it were legal in the uk to carry something for your own protection would you?

Cadburycup77 · 02/10/2021 23:55

I do believe that you are legally allowed to carry bottles of hairspray upon your person.

You are also technically allowed to carry knife on you if you have a reasonable excuse for having it on your person.

Pinkchocolate · 02/10/2021 23:55

I would feel safer if I could carry a weapon but I don’t know if I’d have the guts to use it. It’s so sad that we have been made to feel this way 🙁

Hummmph · 02/10/2021 23:59

I carry alcohol-based deodorant in my pocket ever since an attack by a stranger many years ago. Used it successfully once, with the element of surprise allowing me to get away and cause enough disruption for others to notice.

Original poster

bellaweir · 02/10/2021 23:59

It is so sad I agree. Also I don't get why the police are saying how to spot a fake cop, he wasn't a fake cop he was literally just off duty, if Sarah would've have phoned 101 to verify him just as they're saying to do she'd have been reassured that he does have power to arrest and he was legit.

This world scares me, I am scared for my daughter and scared for myself

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Fangdango · 03/10/2021 00:06

I always wonder about the advice given to women to carry keys ready to go for an attacker's eyes, or even the gouge his eyes advice. Because I've never heard of anyone having their eyes gouged or stabbed by a woman in self defence in reality. Has anyone?

MajorNeville · 03/10/2021 00:09

I didn't when I lived in the states, so I wouldn't carry here either.

Sparklesocks · 03/10/2021 00:11

@bellaweir

It is so sad I agree. Also I don't get why the police are saying how to spot a fake cop, he wasn't a fake cop he was literally just off duty, if Sarah would've have phoned 101 to verify him just as they're saying to do she'd have been reassured that he does have power to arrest and he was legit.

This world scares me, I am scared for my daughter and scared for myself

Yes agree with this. There seems to be a lot of talk of him masquerading as a police officer but he was a serving officer when he committed the crime. He was off duty but off duty police can still arrest people.

LimitIsUp · 03/10/2021 00:13

Yes.

I carry a can of deep heat on my rural dog walks - an alternative to pepper spray

Sparklfairy · 03/10/2021 00:13

There are many "weapons" you can carry legally.

Hairspray/impulse etc
Take up knitting, carry it with you (needles)
Take up darts and carry your lucky darts with you
You get the idea...

TheMoth · 03/10/2021 00:14

I've been enough knife assemblies to know that knives are usually used against the one carrying. So no, I wouldn't.

By the time I tried to get a weapon,I think it'd be too late anyway.

I've told my 9yr old that she'd need to shout 'fire' and run like fuck. I'd be OK during the first 5k of a run, but screwed after that.

Original poster

bellaweir · 03/10/2021 00:14

@Sparklesocks exactly! she'd have phoned 101 or 999 and then been told that yes WC is a serving police officer, I think the police have a nerve to expect us to vet their officers for them

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TartanJumper · 03/10/2021 00:16

I wouldn't carry anything. If someone is determined to do harm, they're going to do it very quickly before I could get to it anyway.
And, realistically, most violence against women is from someone she knows.

TartanJumper · 03/10/2021 00:17

@bellaweir

It is so sad I agree. Also I don't get why the police are saying how to spot a fake cop, he wasn't a fake cop he was literally just off duty, if Sarah would've have phoned 101 to verify him just as they're saying to do she'd have been reassured that he does have power to arrest and he was legit.

This world scares me, I am scared for my daughter and scared for myself

Agree.It's disgusting how they are trying to distance themselves from him being a serving police officer.

Nobody at all is saying that all police are scumbags, but there is a systemic problem with scumbags in police forces.

Merryoldgoat · 03/10/2021 00:19

No because it’s more likely to be used against me.

The murder rate in The US shows very clearly that guns (one example) don’t reduce violent crime at all.

Original poster

bellaweir · 03/10/2021 00:20

I met a lady in the refuge I was in last year, her husband was a policeman and he abused her terribly, she'd lost a lot of her hair and was constantly worried her phone and devices were hacked, it seems to be something about scumbags wanting to join the force definitely

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NiceGerbil · 03/10/2021 00:23

No fucking way.

It's brilliant that our laws are so strong. Gun crime is rare here.

If women in general could carry guns so could everyone else.

The stats in USA are appalling.

Guns in the home kill loads of people including children.

Drawing a gun as a woman is likely to be nabbed and used against you.

If men had guns generally then we'd be fucked surely?

Just a hard no.

I want the authorities police etc to change their attitude to VAWG. Couzens had previous reports and was escalating. If they had investigated and done something rather than filing in bin labelled 'trivial'. Then good chance she would not be dead.

TartanJumper · 03/10/2021 00:24

I think all jobs that allow people to weld power hold a certain attraction for bullies and abusers. Police/Security people weld a lot of power.

Original poster

bellaweir · 03/10/2021 00:26

Honestly with everything about the police at the moment like Wayne Couzens and the officers around Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman im thinking it all needs scaling right back and starting again.

Our local force is GMP and it's been in special measures for a long time now, and they are genuinely pants

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longtompot · 03/10/2021 00:29

If it was legal I would. I walked my dog late this evening, around 9pm and felt very nervous especially a bit that goes outside of our local park. I ended up having my keys in my hand with the pointiest one pointing outwards. Daft really, as I think of someone actually did try to do something I would freeze. Maybe self defence is the way to go? Though, it would be better if some men just didn't feel the need to attack lone females.

grapewine · 03/10/2021 00:29

Pepper spray I would. I have hairspray in my bag because pepper spray is illegal

Blackberrycream · 03/10/2021 00:31

@Fangdango

I always wonder about the advice given to women to carry keys ready to go for an attacker's eyes, or even the gouge his eyes advice. Because I've never heard of anyone having their eyes gouged or stabbed by a woman in self defence in reality. Has anyone?

I think the fact that you’re clearly holding keys can be a deterrent. Most attacks won’t be from a facing position though. Simple self defence moves are really important to know. Most attacks come from behind . I was taught quick stamp( on the foot) , then backward kick to the shin, elbow into stomach. I used it once and it worked.

Clarissa111 · 03/10/2021 00:36

I carry my keys in between my fingers. Would not hesitate in punching a man in the eye with them, then run. I've not been in this position as an adult. But when I was younger yes. I advise my girls to do the same. It's a scary world. I've told my girls to scream fire instead of help. As more people are likely to actually look instead of minding their own business.

DappyApple · 03/10/2021 00:39

Definitely wouldn’t carry a gun or a knife. Pepper spray probably.
Tbh it’s not something I’ve thought about as I don’t really walk anywhere alone or at night and on occasion when I have, I’ve never felt threatened or unsafe.

I worry far more for my teen daughter, if she’s on a night out or if she has to walk home alone. She’s never felt unsafe either but it would give me peace of mind if she was allowed to carry a spray.

underneaththeash · 03/10/2021 00:40

I walk back from our local train station at night. I have a torch - it’s very, very heavy. I also have a really strong hair spray.

RubyGoat · 03/10/2021 00:42

I'd carry pepper spray if it was legal. I used to work at an office that did have a shuttle bus for the mile into town, but if I missed the last shuttle bus (which helpfully left at 5 minutes past the hour) I often had no choice but to walk. It's also another half mile from the town centre to my house. I worked shifts, not by choice, often finishing at 8pm. In the winter months I would keep my keys in my coat pocket & if someone walked near me I put my hand in, just in case.

We've moved house since then, I no longer work there but we're further out of town. DH goes to the supermarket if it's dark, or we go all together. It's nearly 2 miles, partly unlit, screened from the road by trees, & we don't have a car.