4 Small Self-Defense Weapons That Pack a Punch

Until I was carjacked two years ago, I always thought I was prepared to defend myself if necessary. Since then, I’ve become more paranoi-- er, I mean, proactive about my own safety. For example: I no longer walk my dog without pepper spray in hand and since the recent rash of Uber-related abductions, I began carrying this small window breaker. I recently spoke with Damsel in Defense ’s Nancy Abercrombie (CC19 attendees will recognize her as Damsel Ninja Nancy) about portable, easy-to-use products that men and women alike can keep on hand to ensure their safety.

Alert Whistles

“I always advise people to take products that are appropriate for where they’re going,” Nancy says. For example, when traveling by plane, it’s important to have TSA-compliant self-defense products to take along. The Leaf Me Alone and Pearl of Wisdom pendant whistles are Nancy’s favorites, but any good alert whistle should be durable, accessible, and deafening to a would-be attacker.

Tactical Pens

Cleverly disguised as ink pens (and many are actually functional pens, though decoys do exist), tactical pens are inconspicuous and handy self-defense weapons. “If you have a job that requires you to meet with clients or people you’ve never met before, tactical pens are a great weapon,” says Nancy. Many tac pens, she says, have different features. “Ours includes a combined strobe light and flashlight, a striking tool, and a jagged tip. In the event of an attack, one would rake the jagged tip across the attacker’s face or skin to inflict injury but also to collect DNA.” An added bonus: while there exists no official policy regarding tac pens, “I’ve never had one of these confiscated by TSA,” Nancy says.

Stun Guns

Many people have mixed feelings about stun guns due to their limited striking distance and how easily attackers can steal and use them against their victim. However, Nancy explains that not all stun guns are created equal. “The stun gun comes equipped with a flashlight,” she says. “If you’re walking in the dark and make a habit of using the flashlight (instead of say, the light from your phone), then you already have the stun gun in hand if you need it.” The gun can also be a deterrent. “If you see someone approaching and hit the button, they’ll see the electricity and realize that you’re not the easiest victim of the night and hopefully move on.” Best of all, even if an attacker wrestles the stun gun away, they can’t use it on their victim. The stun gun includes a wrist cord attached to a pin that disables the stun gun if removed.

Yourself

At the end of the day, says Nancy, the best weapon in our self-defense arsenal is good old-fashioned intuition, situational awareness, and courage. “When you get butterflies in your stomach and when things just feel “off,” that’s your intuition telling you something,” she says emphatically. “If someone approaches you and you get that feeling, speak up! Be aggressive and show them you’re prepared to defend yourself; scream “I have this weapon and I will use it.”

Defending yourself is also the best way to protect your children. “When your kids see you taking care of yourself, they learn to take care of themselves. I realized recently that the way I’ve set up my kitchen makes no sense at all, but I did it because it’s the way my mother arranged hers. That kind of generational influence is what will make us all safer.”

Want to stay safe AND also stay informed about the latest CrimeCon news and events? Click here and enter your email address and you’ll be entered to win a To Whom it May Concern Tactical Defense Pen from Damsel Ninja Nancy herself! Enter between now and 11:59pm on August 16, 2019. We will inform the winner via email by 11:59pm on August 24, 2019.