Friends ancient mom had someone break into the apartment she was living in. Ancient Mom let one fly in his general direction from her bedside .38. At which point the individual who was trespassing with intent sat on the couch with his hands in full view at all times until the LEO's showed up and gave him a set of nice nickel plated bracelets.
I'll see you wasp spray and raise you a cast-iron frying pan. Which is stored in the pantry. On the other side of the house for the bedroom. Because Mr. Bad Guy is absolutely going to give you a time-out to grab your weapon before killing you and raping your dog.
Family member in question refused to entertain the idea of guns because "they're so dangerous and lethal," but had no problem pancaking someone's skull or pulping their internal organs with some good ol' fashioned blunt-force trauma. Couldn't really reconcile the fact that the 9mm carbine I was recommending would actually cause less damage than the frying pan.
EDIT TO ADD: Family member is also asthmatic, and thus had some legitimate reservations about using pepper spray.
My little .22 (because I'm little and have tiny friggin' hands) is loaded with hollow points. I am not stupid enough to aim for the knee or the romantic shoulder...aw heck no. I'm going for center mass. LOTS of interesting things there for a hollow point to ping around and put holes in, that invading critters would probably rather not have holes in. I say probably because I'm not going to take the time to ask either. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
reminder that when used indoors vs outdoors, any use of pepper spray will likely have some effect on everyone present, and probably require removal/destruction of all materials in the room that can't be wiped down with harsh chemicals before it's inhabitable again. Though I generally wouldn't recommend gel, if you have to use it indoors and have no ballistic alternatives, it could be justified.
Use a gun and they'll probably be halfway down the street before they really start leaving a real blood trail, though be mindful of your hearing.
To the best of my knowledge, the family member in question not only has never seen the movie, but isn't familiar enough with it to understand the reference.
Pepper spray is fine for hoplophobes or for those preferring an LTL approach. I prefer a gun, even it somehow it was taken from me and I was shot with it. Would rather die from a gunshot wound than from having a pepper spray can crammed up my keester. The 2A aside, self-defense is a God given right. Use the right He gave you.
Yep! In the People's Republic of New York, all you need to buy bear repellent is $$$$. To buy pepper spray for self defense (restricted in size and OC concentration) you must go to either a gun shop or pharmacy (they may not likely have it) and fill out a form the merchant keeps on file.
In NYS, the Buffalo Bore ammo over the 'net is a no-go. All ammo purchases delivered in NYS must undergo a NYSP background check (for which you pay $2.50 per transaction). Gotta protect the social deviants from harm!
My local Merchant Of Death has a wide selection of offerings online. Bought on their website, and I’ll pick ‘em up at the store to jump through the hoops. They make it easy. Still too costly to buy hardware online. F**k Kathy Hochul…
Plus, doesn't every can of wasp spray or oven cleaner state, in neat letters on the label, "It is a federal offense to use this product in a manner other than described in the manufacturer's instructions", or something similar?
Seriously, right there on the label, BEFORE the actual instructions.
I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted for this, but why take that chance when there are purpose-built chemical defense sprays for which the manufacturer's instructions specifically describe self-defense?
On top of that, I for one have accidentally gotten a speck of wasp spray in the eye from an ill-timed gust of wind while using it to ... y'know ... spray a wasps' nest (I was standing upwind of the nest -- as indicated in the directions -- but the winds in my AO can be rather ... unpredictable). I've also, on a different day, gotten a speck of pepper spray in the eye from another ill-timed gust of wind, while testing it outside to see how it "patterned". Care to guess which had a greater effect on my day?
Back when I did mechanicing, I had all sorts of toxic substances in pressurized cans. The only one to really cause me to go running for the eye wash station was gasket stripper- and I was wearing eye pro! Just a little little bit drifted back onto my face, and off I went to wash it off.
Pepper spray is fine, up to a point.
Friends ancient mom had someone break into the apartment she was living in. Ancient Mom let one fly in his general direction from her bedside .38. At which point the individual who was trespassing with intent sat on the couch with his hands in full view at all times until the LEO's showed up and gave him a set of nice nickel plated bracelets.
I'll see you wasp spray and raise you a cast-iron frying pan. Which is stored in the pantry. On the other side of the house for the bedroom. Because Mr. Bad Guy is absolutely going to give you a time-out to grab your weapon before killing you and raping your dog.
Family member in question refused to entertain the idea of guns because "they're so dangerous and lethal," but had no problem pancaking someone's skull or pulping their internal organs with some good ol' fashioned blunt-force trauma. Couldn't really reconcile the fact that the 9mm carbine I was recommending would actually cause less damage than the frying pan.
EDIT TO ADD: Family member is also asthmatic, and thus had some legitimate reservations about using pepper spray.
Pepper gel and pepper foam -- while admittedly less effective than stream -- tend to treat asthmatics a little more kindly.
My little .22 (because I'm little and have tiny friggin' hands) is loaded with hollow points. I am not stupid enough to aim for the knee or the romantic shoulder...aw heck no. I'm going for center mass. LOTS of interesting things there for a hollow point to ping around and put holes in, that invading critters would probably rather not have holes in. I say probably because I'm not going to take the time to ask either. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
reminder that when used indoors vs outdoors, any use of pepper spray will likely have some effect on everyone present, and probably require removal/destruction of all materials in the room that can't be wiped down with harsh chemicals before it's inhabitable again. Though I generally wouldn't recommend gel, if you have to use it indoors and have no ballistic alternatives, it could be justified.
Use a gun and they'll probably be halfway down the street before they really start leaving a real blood trail, though be mindful of your hearing.
There's also something to be said about a flat bladed, short handled garden spade. Like a couple of world wars.
iT W@s g00d en0ugh 4 Rapunzel ;-)
To the best of my knowledge, the family member in question not only has never seen the movie, but isn't familiar enough with it to understand the reference.
I saw the title of the post, and my first thought was "What did I do to Ian to encourage him to call me out online like this?"
Then I read the rest of the post and I realized I shouldn't assume that every time I see or hear someone called an idiot, they're talking about me.
;-)
It may not be true every time, it is the way to bet. :D
Pepper spray is fine for hoplophobes or for those preferring an LTL approach. I prefer a gun, even it somehow it was taken from me and I was shot with it. Would rather die from a gunshot wound than from having a pepper spray can crammed up my keester. The 2A aside, self-defense is a God given right. Use the right He gave you.
Even states that do restrict the sale of OC spray (e.g., Massachusetts), they haven't seemed to have placed similar controls on bear spray.
Yep! In the People's Republic of New York, all you need to buy bear repellent is $$$$. To buy pepper spray for self defense (restricted in size and OC concentration) you must go to either a gun shop or pharmacy (they may not likely have it) and fill out a form the merchant keeps on file.
Any thing to keep NY's social miscreants safe.
Gotta get some for a trip out west. Can’t buy it locally or on The Zon.
Buffalo Bore hard cast rounds were no problem. Go figure.
In NYS, the Buffalo Bore ammo over the 'net is a no-go. All ammo purchases delivered in NYS must undergo a NYSP background check (for which you pay $2.50 per transaction). Gotta protect the social deviants from harm!
My local Merchant Of Death has a wide selection of offerings online. Bought on their website, and I’ll pick ‘em up at the store to jump through the hoops. They make it easy. Still too costly to buy hardware online. F**k Kathy Hochul…
Bear spray is actually less potent than 'regular' pepper spray, as bears have more sensitive noses than humans.
It might work.
Hmm... My self-defense OC is about 0.56% major capsicum. My bear spray is 2.00%
Advantage bear spray.
My FoxLabs claims to be 2%.
Bear spray containers are larger and contain a lot more product than civilian-level OC containers.
I'm reminded of the poor idiot who doused himself with bear spray thinking it worked like mosquito repellent.
yeah, never understood that idiocy.
Plus, doesn't every can of wasp spray or oven cleaner state, in neat letters on the label, "It is a federal offense to use this product in a manner other than described in the manufacturer's instructions", or something similar?
Seriously, right there on the label, BEFORE the actual instructions.
I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted for this, but why take that chance when there are purpose-built chemical defense sprays for which the manufacturer's instructions specifically describe self-defense?
On top of that, I for one have accidentally gotten a speck of wasp spray in the eye from an ill-timed gust of wind while using it to ... y'know ... spray a wasps' nest (I was standing upwind of the nest -- as indicated in the directions -- but the winds in my AO can be rather ... unpredictable). I've also, on a different day, gotten a speck of pepper spray in the eye from another ill-timed gust of wind, while testing it outside to see how it "patterned". Care to guess which had a greater effect on my day?
Back when I did mechanicing, I had all sorts of toxic substances in pressurized cans. The only one to really cause me to go running for the eye wash station was gasket stripper- and I was wearing eye pro! Just a little little bit drifted back onto my face, and off I went to wash it off.
There's also the remote chance that some enterprising Junior DA might prosecute for using an agricultural poison 'off-label'.
If you have time to prepare, get the right tool(s).
Just sayin' ; https://soranews24.com/2025/05/20/japanese-couples-fights-burglars-with-bug-spray-golf-club-as-they-gas-smash-getaway-car%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/