X-Ftn-To: Bruce Mills 

aj233@freenet.hamilton.on.ca (Bruce Mills) wrote:
>: Maybe this is a better alternative. Imagine, an 80-year old, going
>: through her purse in search of a gun, and then, managing to find it,
>: does what?
>
>She shoots the criminal motherfucker dead in his tracks.  

And he just stands there and waits while she goes through her purse?
:)

>You'd rather she
>be mugged, raped or killed?

Actually, this might be inevitable, regardless of her choice of
weaponry. As I said, her best shot might be to alert some cop. I mean,
how much time would you need to take her purse? I would need less than
3 seconds. And if I find a gun inside, wow, lucky me.

>: Actually, a KO spray is a much better weapon than a gun, at least from
>: the point blank range. You see, it's much more difficult to miss,
>: accidental misfire won't kill you, and the villain is badly
>: incapacitated. He can't see, he is in pain and shock, and he drops
>: down unconscious, if the chemical is serious enough. Then the old lady
>: picks up her cellular and calls 911.
>
>Obviously, you've never experienced Mace, pepper spray, or tear gas.

Fortunately not.

>Demonstrations have been done that show that a determined attacker can
>*still* successfully overpower the sprayer, even with a faceful of spray.

Yes, and demonstrations have also shown that a determined attacker can
kill several people with a shotgun after being shot through the heart
with a 9mm. Not a lab test, unfortunately, but a FBI action in Miami.

>If the "Chemical is serious enough" probably means it would have to be
>lethal at least part of the time, for it to be 100% effective in
>incapacitating someone all of the time.

Maybe, but there are drugs that can paralyze instantaneously, like
kurare. I'd be surprised if there weren't a gas that does the same.
But I would guess that an attacker should be _extremely_ determined to
go after me, after I spray his eyes with pepper. In his poor
condition, I can strategically place my foot in the general area of
his genitals. I can also hit him in the solar plexus, just to make his
breathing easier. Mind you, he's survive all that without any
permanent injuries, but he will be in such pain that he'll wish I'd
killed him. I don't know what an old lady can do, but I also don't
know if this imaginary old lady can walk at all.

>And besides, why do cops carry guns, as well as pepper spray, if the spray
>were all that was needed?

It's because they are professionals, and they're likely to encounter
all sorts of situations, much worse situations than any normal person
will normally face. For instance several armed drug dealers with a
really bad temper.

>: If you shoot with a gun, which is heavier and clumsier, BTW, you can
>: miss, or even worse, you can not wound him seriously enough, which
>: will in turn piss him off and make him kill you. Not the best
>: scenario, you will agree?
>
>Obviously, you've never handled any kind of handgun. 

True, only rifles, as I said. 

> There are several
>models, particularly of .22, .25, and .32 calibres that are quite small
>and easily handled by 80 year old women.  

Most 80-year old ladies that I know have a problem crossing the
street, their sight is poor, and their reflexes are close to
nonexistent. As I said, this is not the best example, because such a
lady should better call a cop, or just give the guy her purse and let
him take the money.

-- 
Homepage: http://www.danijel.org