Criminals target unsuspecting individuals. They are like electricity, taking the path of least resistance. They look for opportune times, vulnerable or weak women. Be in control of your safety, always being alert and aware of your environment, keeping presence of mind, never acting fearful, whether you are young or old, male or female, in good shape or sickly.
Carry a personal protection device or an ear piercing personal alarm. Threaten a potential assailant with a stun gun, sending a blue line of electricity between the test probes, and chances are he will back off. Point a pepper spray towards him and yell “back off” and chances are he will. Criminals for the most part don’t want to deal with someone who is going to give them a lot of trouble.
Keeping presence of mind is the passport to protecting yourself in an actual assault situation. Being able to do the right thing in an emergency due to maintaining your self-control is what it means to have presence of mind.
Practice with whatever protection device you choose until it becomes second nature. Try to be aware of the wind direction if you are using a pepper spray. Pretend to spray and turn to run as fast as possible to avoid the wind blowing it back into your face. Practice the feel of a stun gun in your hands and pulling the trigger. Know that you would use either device without hesitation.
If you are caught off guard, it will be difficult to choke back the fear and keep your presence of mind. Saying it and doing it are sometimes two different things. Fear is a survival instinct, a reaction. Know that ahead of time and practice turning fear into anger.
To rise above the fear and empower yourself is essential, though. That is why it is so important to practice pulling out your pepper spray or your stun gun and focus your mind on what it would feel like to be able to protect yourself from a would-be assailant. What would it feel like to turn the tables on the intruder? To have the presence of mind needed to take control?
Turn your fear into anger and fight back. Don’t hesitate. Take the power away from the criminal and abort the crime by keeping your presence of mind. Most physical assault attempts on women are done without a weapon, because the prison time for a rape without a weapon is 3 – 5 yrs as opposed to 15 – 20 yrs for rape with a weapon. They will use the element of surprise and target victims with long hair that they can grab, loose clothing they can pull off, a small woman.
You are at this time well versed in how to use your pepper spray or stun gun or screaming personal alarm. You have practiced and planned out how you will keep your presence of mind intact. You can take control, and your assailant will live to regret he ever set eyes on you.
These non-lethal self defense weapons are legal in most cities and states. They are sometimes legal in a state, but not in a specific city within that state. Before buying one make sure they are legal in your state and city. Be safe and keep your kids safe by not leaving any of these weapons within their reach. Trusting your instincts and keeping a clear presence of mind will give you the confidence you need to live a fearless, joyful life.
Karleen Lindsey would like to see the planet be a safer place for women. Her research into pepper sprays and stun guns has shown her they are the perfect non-fatal self defense weapons for women to easily carry and use to halt perpetrators in their tracks.
