How often do you think spoons are used for self defense in the US

[masraum]

Wow, according to the statistics in the beginning of this video, it's somewhere between 500k and 3m times per year. And ~25% of those are inside the home, and 53% are on your own property (so in your yard, driveway, etc...) exclusive of the previous 25%. So nearly 80% of self defense use is in your home or on your property.

I haven't fact checked the data, but it's compelling if it's true.

[Tobra]

I would bet a significant chunk of dough that number is way low. I suspect at least half of the cases do not get reported

[Shaun @ Tru6]

In Massachusetts it's probably less than 100 times per year.

One of the factors to determine the rate is defining self-defense.

[LWJ]

Interesting. My Daughter just had a run in with a scum bag. The police were very helpful on pointing me to where the police buy the good pepper spray.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Interesting. My Daughter just had a run in with a scum bag. The police were very helpful on pointing me to where the police buy the good pepper spray.

The problem with carrying any kind of pepper spray or weapon is that if the perp gets it from you, they can they use it on you.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

In Massachusetts it's probably less than 100 times per year.

One of the factors to determine the rate is defining self-defense.

One of the statistics that the guy presented is that in about 33% of cases, the gun is never actually fired. Apparently saying "I've got a gun" (or possibly showing the gun, I don't remember the details) is enough to deter a third of bad guys.

You do have Boston up there, are you sure it would still be 100 considering you've got a big city there?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Interesting. My Daughter just had a run in with a scum bag. The police were very helpful on pointing me to where the police buy the good pepper spray.

I've seen a few videos where some road rager jumped out of their car and charged someone in another car (stuck behind someone stopped at a light or stop sign for instance). A face full of pepper spray seems to be quite the deterrent in that sort of situation.

Originally Posted by rwest

The problem with carrying any kind of pepper spray or weapon is that if the perp gets it from you, they can they use it on you.

Yes, if you have a weapon (of any sort, lethal or otherwise) the weapon could be taken from you and used on you. Of course, if you're a 130# woman or 160# man that's up against a 180# gang member that commits violent crime regularly, then they are probably going to stomp you into a greasy stain anyway. Having something that might give you a leg up doesn't seem like a bad thing. If you don't have a weapon that doesn't mean that you're going to be completely unscathed.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

Apparently saying "I've got a gun" (or possibly showing the gun, I don't remember the details) is enough to deter a third of bad guys.

My CC instructor, a close personal friend, said "never say you've got a gun, or show them you have a gun. If the situation is serious enough that you need to show it, you better damn well use it" Reason being, showing it is "brandishing" which is a chargeable offense.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

My CC instructor, a close personal friend, said "never say you've got a gun, or show them you have a gun. If the situation is serious enough that you need to show it, you better damn well use it" Reason being, showing it is "brandishing" which is a chargeable offense.

Yep. I hope to not ever have to use a gun any more than I want to use our fire extinguisher.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

In Massachusetts it's probably less than 100 times per year.
One of the factors to determine the rate is defining self-defense.

A big factor is if the DA's try to prosecute gun owners defending themselves more than they do the criminals attacking the gun owner.

[LWJ]

^^^Agree with a perp using a weapon on you. The stats show that the bad guy takes the spoon pretty often. Which is why pepper spray is a great option for many. It isn't lethal if it gets used on you.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by LWJ

^^^Agree with a perp using a weapon on you. The stats show that the bad guy takes the spoon pretty often. Which is why pepper spray is a great option for many. It isn't lethal if it gets used on you.

What stats are you referencing? My wife packs pepper spray and a spoon. Hopefully never use either but better to have and not need than the reverse. If the spoon comes into play the receiver will never even know until the rounds make contact.