From: loki@acca.nmsu.edu (Entropic Destroyer)
Subject: Re: handguns (?)
Organization: New Mexico State University
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 18:10:20 GMT

JC Marx (jcmarx@bnr.ca) wrote:
: In article <0095F210.3CB54940@Msu.oscs.montana.edu>, uchpcjv@Msu.oscs.montana.edu writes:

 <why not use a handgun for defense against rape? (summary)>
: 
: In addition to what DC has already said, handguns are not normally as accessable
: as a small container of mace. 

This is not true if the pistol is in a behind-the-hip holster, and your keys
are... let's see... did you remember them?  in your pocket?  purse?  maybe you
locked them in the car or left them in the office?

: Mace is legal 

This is not always true.  some varieties of mace like products are illegal
in some parts of the US; ie, I believe capstun is illegal in CA.  All varieties
of mace, knife, stick, gun, comb, hatpin, fist and open hand seem to be illegal
in the UK...

: and can be attached to one's car
: keys, which are quite often already in one's hands anyway. Probably wouldn't
: do to have a woman, who thinks she is being stalked through the mall, to have
: her handgun ready, esp if a) no bullet is breached, and b) she is carrying
: several packages. 

so, she carries in a behind-the-hip holster, and if directly confronted, she
can DROP the packages...

: Beside, IMO, most woman aren't as vengeful (sp) as men. If 
: some guy(s) tried to rape me, I would definately be trying to kill them. 
: Woman
: don't normally have this thirst for blood and simply wish to escape the
: attacker, which frankly, makes much more sense.
: 
it makes sense for ANYONE to avoid this kind of confrontation WHEN THEY CAN...
but it is not possible for every person to avoid every potential confrontation!

as for women not having a vicious streak... you must not know some of the
women i do.  :)

: In addition to the above, one must be trained to use a handgun effectively - 
: no training required for mace. Mace goes in the face (an easy target in most

I don't know that this is entirely true... a handgun certainly does require
at least a modicum of training to be used effectively.  but no training for
mace?  sounds like asking for trouble... one can learn to use a handgun safely
with a few hours (like one or two) of instruction.  one can learn to use a
handgun safely and effectively with about a week's instruction.

: instances), however, a bullet must be aimed with precision. If the woman
: hesitates, even for a second, her own gun could be turned against her. She is
: more likely to make that deadly hesitation while aiming a handgun.
: 
if she hesitates with the mace, it is far more likely to be take from her than
a handgun is (SWAG... i don't have the stat's).  not only that, but i have seen
a ninety pound woman take a 2 or 3 second faceful of mace, with no vaseline to
protect the skin and nothing to protect the eyes.  said 90 pound housewife then
proceeded to walk about ten feet and stab the gentleman who had sprayed her...
stab him repeatedly, in fact.  With a rubber knife.  She then walked 30 feet 
with no help to where she could get her face hosed off.

of course, on the flip side, a friend of mine once capstunned a guy on the 
street, and the guy dropped, pawing at his face.

the point being, the effectiveness of chemical sprays available to the
public is variable, and can be unreliable.  they can be an excellent deterrent
but may not stop a determined attacker.

: Lastly, a small container of mace is several times cheaper than a handgun.
: 
yup.  and it makes sense to me to carry both.

: That's all,
: JC

--dft

--
"Master... Master...                       (To The Tune of Metallica's)
	Master of Science is your degree.  ('Master of Puppets')
	You're too dumb for a PhD.              loki@acca.nmsu.edu
	Should have studied for the GRE!    dftaylor@cechem.colorado.edu