[nameless]

I'm fortunate enough not to really NEED a stick to get around. . . but I'm 62, have a bad ankle, my eyesight isn't getting better, and I often walk my dog at light on potholed streets and uneven sidewalks, in an iffy neighborhood.

With this as background: what are your thoughts about a cane to use as a mobility aid with possible self defense applications? I'm thinking about woods, weight, types and shapes of handles, etc.

Unless you are proficient and work out with the stick, the odds are that someone will take it away from you and reintroduce it to you elsewhere!

If you are not physically healthy enough to swing practice, hard, to be able to maintain your grip...

A false sense of security is more dangerous than a healthy sense of your own limitations.

Ever hear of the Zap cane?

Aluminum, with bright flashlight in the handle (a weapon in itself in confronted at night... blinding him for long enough to exit stage right!

And a billion volts from the prods at the bottom, if the light doesn't do it, the voltage will!

You would still have to become familiar with it and with your limitations! That is wisdom.

And still a young buck might feed it back to you.

Perhaps Faith will stand you better than other options?

 

[nameless]

With the logic of some, they would have us walk naked because we are not highly trained in swinging a stick! I would rather go down trying than to be totally defenseless and not try at all! The facts are that "most" assailants look for the "easy" mark -- not one who might put up a fight! It's like telling someone to standby and allow yourself to be raped because your not skilled in fighting back!

If one is 'feeble' and needs a cane, then there is one already at hand.
With the logic of some, they would have us walk naked because we are not highly trained in swinging a stick! I would rather go down trying than to be totally defenseless and not try at all! The facts are that "most" assailants look for the "easy" mark -- not one who might put up a fight! It's like telling someone to standby and allow yourself to be raped because your not skilled in fighting back!

If attacked, and you feebly swing the cane, the now pizzed-off attacker will take your weapon and use it on you. I would.

It is always a poor strategy to arm your attacker.

If you are not skillful with a weapon, you are safer to not brandish it, and continue to lean on it!

Better to be raped than audited!

All this 'self-defense' and weaponry in a country 'overpopulated' by the religious seems rather ironic.

Is there no Faith anymore? Arm yourself to the teeth, hoard food and money and anything else that you can accumulate, 'just in case', and God can watch out for Herself and you yourself??

Amerikkka IS a war zone, rapidly descending into 3rd world status.

Anyone can improve their abilities with some good lessons and plenty of practice. That just MAY turn the tide in a pinch. Maybe!

So will acting like a 'mentally ill person' or peeing yourself, or faking an epileptic seizure... AND peeing yourself!

That should send any attacker running!

Fake a heart attack!!!

There are many alternate strategies far more effective than waving your little stick around. It would just make me irritated, if I was an attacker/mugger.

Give them the money, feel free to fight for your azz, but, as I said, there are much more non-violent methods of defusing the situation, win/win!