A situation where someone threatens to harm you or your loved ones can happen anytime. But you might not want to use a gun for protection for many reasons. For example, you don’t know how to use one and are scared to use it. Using a gun can do more harm than good in such a situation.
To avoid such circumstances, it is best to learn different ways, tools, techniques, and strategies to protect yourself and your family without resorting to a gun. That is what this article is about. So without wasting time, let us begin.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the motivations of people threatening you to respond intelligently.
- Use tried and tested methods like high-end home security systems and motion-sensing alarms to protect your home at all times.
- If you’re interested in learning martial arts, make sure your fighting style is proven successful in self-defense situations.
- Consider non-lethal alternatives to guns to protect yourself and your loved ones.
- Following best practices like walking in groups, carrying a flashlight, always locking your car, keeping your home well-lit, and having situational awareness, can decrease the chances of getting attacked at home or outside.
Consider the Motivation of Home Invaders
Criminals may want to break into your house for various reasons. Understanding those reasons can help you deal with the situation calmly and take appropriate measures.
They Want to Steal Your Valuables
Petty criminals stake out your house or follow you when you’re walking down the street to steal and rob from you. If these people are armed, it is best to give them what they want because they are usually untrained and impulsive. Paying with your life is too big of a price.
They Want to Hurt You and Your Loved Ones
If someone truly wants to hurt you and your family, they will likely be more strategic. Follow the instructions in this article to protect yourself from such people.
They are a Mob Causing Damage to All Houses
When faced with a mob situation, it is best to stay indoors, shut the doors, or leave the place if possible. A few recommendations in this article will help you deal with such a situation.
Top 3 Ways to Deter Home Invaders Without Using a Gun
High-Quality Home Security System
One of the most efficient and time-tested ways of deterring home invaders is to invest in a high-quality smart lock and home security system. A smart security system will help you in many ways, like notifying you when you leave the door open.
On the other hand, a regular home security system will have automatic cameras and locks, which are quite useful in deterring home invaders.
Invest in Motion-Sensing Lights, Cameras, and Alarms
Home invaders usually target homes that are poorly lit or poorly secured. Investing in motion-sensing lights, alarms, and cameras is enough to keep petty criminals at bay or make them flee.
For example, a loud alarm can alert the neighborhood and wake you up, making it almost certain for the home invader to flee. Motion-detecting security cameras can also alert you beforehand so that you can call the police quickly, and some systems even call the police for you.
Make Your Valuables Invisible
When home invaders see valuable items in your home from a distance, they become interested. You can reduce the chances of a home invasion by reducing the visibility of expensive things in your home from the outside.
Learning Martial Arts: Worth it for Self-Defense?
You may want to learn martial arts when considering ways to protect yourself without a gun. However, before you decide to enroll in your neighborhood dojo, there is something you should know.
Some types of martial arts are not enough to prepare you for self-defense when faced with a threatening situation.
Tai Chi is a prime example, as it was not created for self-defense. Similarly, Tae Kwon Do is more of a sport than a protective martial art. You must be very careful and do plenty of research before deciding what type of martial arts you are going to learn.
Some of the recommended types of martial arts to explore and research for self-defense are:
- Krav Maga
- MMA
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Ultimately, it comes down to the type of martial arts you’re learning to make it worth it in self-defense situations.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Criminals at Home or on the Street
There are situations when you can’t prevent a crime from happening. However, learning about different ways to protect and defend yourself against criminals can help you avoid such a situation in the first place.
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself against criminals:
- Walking or jogging when the streets are deserted is unsafe, such as late at night or too early in the morning. This is especially true if you live in a sketchy neighborhood or visiting one.
- If you have to walk late at night, do not go alone. Walking with people will indicate that you’re not an easy target.
- Only keep the money you need at a particular time.
- Make your valuables less visible. This can include watches, jewelry, wallet, phone, cash, etc.
- Walk with an upright and confident posture. Criminals on the street usually target victims that appear weak.
- Park in well-lit areas with people around. Make sure there is a clear sight of walkways, shops, and stores.
- Keep an eye out to see if someone is following you. If that is the case, switch directions or cross the streets. If you are still being followed, enter a crowded place like a restaurant or a cafe. Make sure to call someone for help there.
- Always keep your keys in hand when walking towards your car instead of fumbling for them at the door.
- Make sure your car is always locked, even when in the driveway.
- If someone tries to rob you with a firearm, it is better to give up your property than giving up your life.
- Always stay in well-lit areas and keep a bright flashlight with you. A flashlight will help you see in the dark spots and can momentarily deter an attacker if it’s bright enough.
- Keep your house well-lit from all sides, especially the backyard.
- Bad people stick out if you trust your instincts. Develop situational awareness and observe people around you to spot suspicious activity.
Are Non-Lethal Weapons effective?
Choosing a firearm over a non-lethal weapon is a choice of many. However, a gun poses significant risks even to you and your family in certain situations.
For example, in the event of a night home invasion, you might wake up groggy and may not have the sharpest instincts. In such an event, the mix of adrenaline and fear might unintentionally make you shoot a loved one.
Similarly, accidents can happen if you have acquired a firearm without training to aim and shoot it properly. Even if you have the training, these threatening situations can go down in seconds, and you might miss aim and shoot someone you’re not supposed to.
Moreover, not all threats are equal; unless you’re being threatened with a gun, you might not want to shoot the person invading your home. In such a situation, having a strong intimidator like a non-lethal weapon is enough to deter a criminal. It is a psychological trigger that shows you have the means and will to protect your family, which is sufficient for criminals targeting weak people.
Top 6 Gun Alternatives for Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is most commonly associated with women trying to protect themselves from sexual assault. However, beyond gender stereotypes, pepper spray is a highly reliable weapon to have in your non-lethal arsenal.
It contains a highly potent lachrymatory agent (a chemical capable of creating a burning sensation in the eyes) called Oleoresin of Capsicum. It packs a horrible and nasty punch for the receiver, giving you enough time to take stronger measures or flee your attacker.
Self-Defense Alarms & Whistles
When it comes to personal defense, deterrence is the name of the game. Many criminals look for easy targets who will yield quietly. However, carrying self-defense alarms and whistles can make them panic and alert people nearby.
Even though these little gadgets might not look it, they can have a piercingly loud sound, especially if they’re of the highest grade. Some even have decibels higher than gunshots.
Having a Well-trained Guard Dog
A dog is not called “man’s best friend” without reason. Dogs have been used since ancient times for various purposes, including self-defense. Getting a guarding breed and training it well is a surefire way to protect you and your family during an invasion. Some of the best guard dog breeds are:
- German Shepherd
- Bull Mastiff
- Boxer
- Rottweiler
- Cane Corso
Dogs also serve as an alarm to alert you and your neighbors and strike fear in the attacker, especially if the dog is big and burly. However, you must ensure to the best of your capability that your dog is trained exceptionally well for that kind of engagement.
Because not only are you putting the life of your attacker in danger, you’re also risking your dog’s life for your protection. A dog can be a non-lethal way to protect yourself only if it has learned where and how to attack in a threatening situation.
Even though your loyal dog would want to protect you no matter what, It is best not to put it in line of danger if your attacker is armed.
Self-Defense Knives
The opinion differs on whether knives can be considered lethal or non-lethal. However, for regular citizens, a knife can be a great deterrent because of the image they carry. Knives are practical, compact, and above all, scary.
They provide quick access, and you can do enough damage with them to keep your attacker at bay and safeguard your family. However, it is more practical to learn how to use a knife to minimize the risk of a lethal blow while protecting yourself.
Lastly, study your city/state’s self-defense laws to make sure it is legal to use a knife.
Stun Guns
Stun guns are quite popular as self-defense weapons, but you should know a few things before using them.
Firstly, using stun guns is illegal in many states, even in self-defense situations, so make sure you know the local law to avoid trouble. Secondly, stun guns are quite powerful, and, if used incorrectly, can prove to be fatal. They can also start a fire pretty quickly, especially when coupled with pepper spray or other flammable items/fabrics.
Even though they are a somewhat unsafe non-lethal option, it is worth having them to improve your chances of survival.
Tasers
It is easy to think that tasers and stun guns are the same. However, there are some fundamental differences between them.
Firstly, tasers operate by shooting two electrodes that pierce the skin of the target and deliver a shock. On the other hand, stun guns are proximity weapons that deliver a shock when directly in contact with the attacker’s skin.
Secondly, unlike stun guns, tasers are only produced by one brand. However, many brands still try to make knock-off tasers which are cheap and not as efficient.
As soon as the electrodes pierce the skin, they deliver a high-frequency electric wave that goes directly to the nervous system. For this reason, tasers are legal in some states while illegal in others for self-defense purposes. Tasers have also been linked to deaths, but it is best to learn about all the options at your disposal.
Final Words
A situation where you’re the victim of a crime can be overwhelming and scary. However, accepting the possibility that it can happen to anyone and preparing for it can help you keep calm and respond intelligently to the situation.
Learning how to protect yourself without a gun is one of the simplest ways to ensure that you and your family are safe in such a situation while minimizing the chances of a fatal accident.
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