Personal defense weapons / J. Randall.

"A good defensive weapon should protect you from criminals without making you a criminal for carrying it," says J. Randall, a private detective and weapons expert. Randall has tried just about every weapon imaginable, from bullwhips to bo staffs, yet he's a surprisingly low-tech guy. One of his favorite defensive weapons is the cigarette lighter: "Five inches of flame in the face is incredibly frightening." That's just a sample of the refreshing, practical advice found in this book. Randall evaluates all kinds of weapons {u00AD}p; guns, knives, sticks, gas canisters, martial arts weapons , and many others by asking some very interesting questions: *Is it too deadly to use? *Is it illegal to carry it or brandish it? *Can it be concealed, yet reached when needed? *It is comfortable to carry at all times? *How much skill and training does it take? *Will it gross you out to use it? *Is it reliable? Will it break or wear out? Randall covers such topics as: What is a weapon?; The history, evolution and background of personal defense weapons ; Characteristics of good weapons ; and Choosing a weapon for personal defense. He gives profiles, descriptions, and applications of the following specific weapons : * Blackjacks * Knives * Tear Gas * Bullwhips * Firearms * Steel Capped Shoes * Martial Arts Weapons * Garottes * Walking Sticks, Nightsticks and Canes * And more, including your mind and body as a weapon. Randall's common sense approach to personal defense is a pleasure to read. Because each of the weapons has different capabilities and needs, there is no "perfect" weapon. Whatever your situation, Personal Defense Weapons will help you find protection you can live with.