To think that the law needs changing about right to protect yourself.

[NumbFeeling]

Things are getting out of hand in the country, and the level of violence and sexual assaults is out of control.

AIBU to think that the law needs changing about how we can defend ourselves? For example, if we were allowed to carry pepper sprays someone may have been able to stop further stabbings last night.

I’m not talking about carrying weapons, I’m talking about something that would immobile a killer, which doesn’t maim them. I don’t understand why they aren’t legal TBH.

Police arrive after an attack. Incidents aren’t being prevented, so at the time it’s you against an armed person, and you have no chance.

Things are out of control now, and I think we need to be able to at least have a chance.

AIBU to say we should be allowed to carry pepper sprays or similar?

@EdTeach is correct. You can use your voice effectively in an authoritative manner when someone aggresses against you. You can "instruct" them not to touch or harass you. Ok so this may net be effective against a knife wielding nutter but it can enable woman to show they will not submit willingly to men who aggress against them.

Yep stop teaching females to be nice and compliant. My dad told me to always tell strangers to fuck off as their feelings are not my problem. I got groped once as everyone was queuing to get off the train. The guy behind me grabbed my arse. I grabbed his wrist and lifted his hand up high and shouted ‘ excuse me has anyone lost this, I just found it stuck to my arse!’

I will always pretend to know younger women if they look like a guy is being creepy…I don’t want people facing easier access to weapons.

And how do we decide who can and can’t buy self defence weapons

everyone thinks they are entitled too and the argument of if they have mh issues they shouldn’t be allowed assumes that people who do have mh issues recognise or accept that they do

I don’t think pepper spray for all is an answer. Imagine. The ‘ordinary’ criminal who wants to rob you. One squirt and you’re down. However I think we should be able to defend ourselves now without repercussions. I carry a water bottle like a truncheon, have a deep heat spray in my pocket, and also planning to start self defence lessons. Sad the way it’s going.

Thank you for clarifying, and I do agree (with you)

If I am under attack I will fight back end of.
I was raised to hit back twice.

If you're being attacked, you are allowed to fight back.

I know.
And I wouldn't hold back either and not care of the age or gender.

Of course. I don't think you would be expected to take in to account age or gender when defending yourself against a physical attack.

I've been wondering what I would do in that situation. Probably try to run away like most people. But in a train, suitcases would be a good bet, especially large ones. Someone near enough to the luggage rack, and able to grab one at the right moment, might be able to block the attackers.

Pepper spray, no. If everyone could use it, so could attackers.

Pepper spray can easily go off by accident and cause panic in a crowded place.
I've lived in a place (US) where it was legal and we all carried it. A friend's pepper spray was set off by accident in her bag in an empty room in a school she was teaching in. Not long after 9/11. Cue serious panic.

Half the carriage would've gone down with burning eyes and breathing problems, if everyone started using pepper sprays.

That’s my point.

I would defend myself, and I’m very good at sticking up for myself and others.

But with all the will in the world, you can’t defend yourself against someone with a knife unless you too have something you can use as a weapon.

I think we need to educate people on what to do in an attack, and how you can work as a group, what you can use. We can no longer just run away from these people, especially if there’s nowhere to run.

I was looking up how to defend against a knife attack earlier and most of it consisted of - it's rather pointless, you just need to distract and run. Defend is the very last option. Quite depressing really, especially considering an enclosed environment like a train.

Yabu because criminals have rights too don’t you know…. Obviously I’m being sarcastic as I would like to be able to have pepper spray.

It’s legal in South Africa my friends there have it & travel with it.

Pepper spray that is.

All the pepper sprays I've seen recommend at least 2 meters, sometimes (particularly pepper gels) more than 3 for them to be used safely, and as a pp said, not recommended to use in an enclosed space. That's with testing every 90ish days to ensure its still working and replace every year or so, depending on which product, to ensure it still works.

I can see the appeal, in general we need to consider that the main defensive is fleeing / avoidance and defending with items we carry as the last resort.

Just what we need. Untrained people setting of disabling spray in an enclosed space every time they get spooked.

YABU.

@EdTeach @Sparklesandspandexgallore @FuzzyWolf are correct. There are so many threads on this forum about people being reduced to tears because someone spoke to them in a manner that they did not like. We need to teach women and girls to be assertive and confident so that they can better handle confrontation. Knowing how to defend yourself physically is a very effective way to achieve that.

Also think pepper spray etc runs the risk of disabling others not just attackers. Just like in America where some think guns keep you safe and suddenly everyone whether intentions are good or bad have them.

I am quite strong for my age and female sex but my sons were both stronger than me bythe age of about 13-14. I have also been to self defence classes and again avoid, distract, do enough to get away was what we were taught not get stuck in and have a go. Body language, voice and legs for the best chance.

Wouldn’t pepper spray just have impacted everybody in the carriage?

That said I am not completely against your suggestion.

Because the attackers would also have free access to those weapons

Stop spreading hysteria and nonsense

We’ve always had crime. Nothing new with what’s going on now

Gosh yes, and that’s such a safe country.