[lit-ideas] Re: p.s. Re: Re: Didn't I tell you so?

re: Krav Maga--the style of martial arts taught to/by the Israeli police. It's 
not non-violent and it's especially effective for physically smale individuals. 
Been very popular in California for the past few years. (Note that violence has 
not decreased in this state.)

re: "shiv"--prison talk for something like a stiletto knife, particularly when 
it's retractable. It's usually kept someplace inconspicuous (an area carved out 
of the heel of a boot, for instance), to use "in case."

re: 12-gauge--small shotgun. Not a handgun. It's small enough for a petite 
woman to use without dislocating her shoulder (lessons mandatory, still). Packs 
a wallop, in case it must be used, which is what you'd want if you're using a 
gun at all. Like other shotguns, it makes that indelible sound when cocked. 
You've heard it on TV and in the movies. 

Okay. I'm no expert on this stuff, just a single woman who's been living in 
lousy parts of inner-cities in California for about 10 years. Where I now live, 
carjacking (of men as well as women), isn't uncommon as part of the 
hopped-up-on-drugs teen joy ride. A gun wouldn't help--the gun's pointed at the 
victim's head throughout--except at the very start, before getting into the 
car. But for that, a swift, hard Kravie-style kick, followed by running to 
safety (get in the car, if that's fastest) works best. (Need you ask me how I 
know?) 

But pepper spray is a joke that backfires on women, against a motivated male, a 
group, and especially a group on drugs with weapons--the standard routine in 
this town, perhaps in yours.

The gun option is something I'd do, for real, if I had kids at home, in an iffy 
neighborhood--and if I couldn't move. I'm afraid there are simply too many guns 
in my area already to risk taking a stand against them, unilaterally. ("White 
middle-aged lady shot to death while proclaiming her stance against guns." Nah. 
Don't think so.) 

For the record, I totally agree with Paul's stance. I've just spent too many 
holidays cowering when these friendly immigrants randomly and happily  fire 
their guns. It's a tradition. (Seriously!) Passede too many on-street 
memorials, testaments to people who bit it, violently, in that place. (I used 
to think they were accident victims. Ha.) 

At this point, I'm still in my self-made urban prison. Rarely go out at 
night--parking lots are preferred areas for shootings--and since last summer, I 
don't walk alone, if I can possibly help it. And I'm not paranoid in the least. 
If anything, I take too many risks.
Carol  
   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx 
  To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 7:18 PM
  Subject: [lit-ideas] p.s. Re: Re: Didn't I tell you so?


  You didn't answer my questions re.  What is . Kray Maga?  Shiv?  Is a 
12-gauge a pistol or a rifle?

  Julie Krueger

  ========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Re: Didn't I tell you so? 
        Date: 5/30/06 9:08:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time 
        From: carolkir@xxxxxxxx 
        To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
        Sent on:     


  >My primary concern right now, though, is that I am temporarily 
>transportationless  and do a great deal of walking.
    ck: Try your best to walk only during the day, and stay on busy 
streets--one with other pedestrians.  Walk quickly and speed up if any cars 
slow down near you. I do suggest you take a quickie self-defense-for-women 
class, the type they give at YMCAs, as soon as possible. If nothing else, learn 
how to give a quick kick in the right place. If you're unable to run, consider 
getting a gun for self-protection on your walks, but only if you're willing to 
take lessons. A gun toter who can't use a gun properly is no safer than a 
person with a thumb on that dumb mace can.  And no, I don't think mace or 
pepper spray is worth buying or trying to use. The stuff is worse than 
worthless--it's false protection, which is harmful.
    pax,
    xena




    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx 
    To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 6:16 PM
    Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Didn't I tell you so?


      If it's Krav Maga with a shiv in your heel when out and a 12-gauge at home
    huh?  Kray Maga?  Shiv?  Is a 12-gauge a pistol or a rifle?

    I used to have a large very property protective dog - I never bothered to 
lock my doors.  He bit 3 different people (including myself) and had to be put 
down.

    I live across the street from a transitional neighborhood which is 
essentially filled with drugs, alcohol, and guns.  Cops run through there a 
dozen times a day.  On my side of the street are 4 very respectable 
middle-class homes (of which one is mine).  The land across the street used to 
be open field I rode gottland ponies through.  Then some shmuck decided to put 
up dozens of the most poorly and cheaply built apartments possible.   I have 
deadbolts on my doors, but the window locks are not very secure -- can be 
pushed with a stick.  I've had bikes and trash cans stolen from my driveway 
right up against the garage door.  No one has attempted to break in yet.  
But....

    My primary concern right now, though, is that I am temporarily 
transportationless  and do a great deal of walking.  Past some not too great 
neighborhoods.  Hence my thought of portable mace or pepper spray.  How hard 
can it be to point the nozzle in the right direction?   And how far away does 
one have to be for it to take effect, giving the macer or pepper-sprayer time 
to run to a place of safety?  I've also thought about guns that shoot rubber 
bullets.

    Julie Krueger
    w/ bigger problems than self-protection at the moment

    ========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Re: Didn't I tell you 
so? 
          Date: 5/30/06 8:06:26 P.M. Central Daylight Time 
          From: carolkir@xxxxxxxx 
          To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
          Sent on:     


    Julie wrote:
     >I prefer either mace or pepper spray, depending on which does least 
lasting >damage (something I keep putting off investigating).
      ck: Don't use either of these unless you're pretty adept at some form of 
the martial arts.  You have to get close to your attacker for the sprays to be 
helpful, and if you're that close, you're in serious jeopardy--in a position of 
self-defense, you vs. your attacker. Disabling the attacker is your best bet. 
Or, if you're a very fast runner, that's an option.

       Holding a can of mace (illegal most places; it's really pepper spray 
they talk about) may make you feel more protected than you actually are. People 
who don't know self-defense tactics often mistakenly point the nozzle at 
themselves. (Same as with guns.)  

      I think a woman needs to figure out what she feels comfortable with, 
self-defensively, and follow through with the plan. If it's Krav Maga with a 
shiv in your heel when out and a 12-gauge at home, that's what it's gotta be. 
Personally, I don't want guns in my house, but I'm now living in such a 
dangerous area (the neighborhood and the town) that I'm sick of it all. 

      Unfortunately, loads of the gunshot deaths in these parts are drive-by 
shootings (not necessarily gang-on-gang!), and stupid scattershot gunplay, for 
the hell of it. Carjackings aren't uncommon, though, but by the time you reach 
for a gun in your glove compartment, it's all over, one way or another. 

      Btw, can anyone here stand watching those CSI shows on TV? Isn't there 
enough violence on the news to satisfy even the hungriest bloodthirsty person? 
Or are these TV shows (and news) feeding the hunger, as that experiment implied.

      Carol

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