I'm just curious as there have been a recent rash of extremely violent attacks in my neighborhood in chicago, what besides pepper spray is legal to carry? I don't know when I will find time to dedicate to self defense classes but I think it would be nice to have something in my hand....maybe even something that I don't exactly try to hide from view that is both legal to carry and says "don't F with me unless you want to go to the hospital too."
FWIW, I live in Chicago in a neighborhood just west of Lincoln Square. One attack occured in broad daylight at 8:30 AM on a weekday right before Christmas - - even though people immediately came to the aid of the victim, she still ended up with 5 staples in her head and her neurosurgeon thinks her sense of taste "might" come back . . . in a year. The other happened last night to a women who must have caught the train immediately before the one I caught - - and she lives right across the street from me. She was followed off the train and attacked as she was putting her keys in the front door but luckily was able to pull the door shut so her attackers kicked her in the head a few times outside on the sidewalk before another pedestrian must have spooked them. In both instances oddly enough, the perp didn't get the woman's purse which makes me think violence and some kind of sick thrill from beating someone within an inch of their life, was the only goal.
There probably is no real answer to this question......maybe a mini crow bar? What can I do other than lace my keys between my fingers and make a fist?
FWIW, I live in Chicago in a neighborhood just west of Lincoln Square. One attack occured in broad daylight at 8:30 AM on a weekday right before Christmas - - even though people immediately came to the aid of the victim, she still ended up with 5 staples in her head and her neurosurgeon thinks her sense of taste "might" come back . . . in a year. The other happened last night to a women who must have caught the train immediately before the one I caught - - and she lives right across the street from me. She was followed off the train and attacked as she was putting her keys in the front door but luckily was able to pull the door shut so her attackers kicked her in the head a few times outside on the sidewalk before another pedestrian must have spooked them. In both instances oddly enough, the perp didn't get the woman's purse which makes me think violence and some kind of sick thrill from beating someone within an inch of their life, was the only goal.
There probably is no real answer to this question......maybe a mini crow bar? What can I do other than lace my keys between my fingers and make a fist?