Firearm for lone female?

[SteveW]

Greetings from Southern California !

Respect to all for such well written, thoughtful, and pertinent comments.

This issue has been on my mind for a long time - well before this thread originated…

My thinking resulted in my recent purchase of a “non-lethal” firearm - a Byrna Launcher. I’ve done nothing but look at it so far.

byrna.com for anyone interested.

This is by no means a recommendation nor an endorsement - just more input to a meaningful discussion.

Thank you all,
Steve W

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by 1der

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What does Bear Mace do to a Human?
[url]https://www.defensiveplanet.com/what-does-bear-mace-do-to-a-human/

Having accidentally sprayed bear spray without checking the wind direction, I can say that it was pretty effective on me. Perhaps not as effective as pepper spray, but it sent me running.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by SteveW

...My thinking resulted in my recent purchase of a “non-lethal” firearm - a Byrna Launcher. I’ve done nothing but look at it so far.

byrna.com for anyone interested.

...

Very interesting.

Here's another option, this one from Kimber. I have no experience with this.

https://www.kimberamerica.com/pepper-blaster


Herb

[Vindisl]

Originally Posted by 1der

Thank you ShuttlePilot!
Learning more on each post in this thread!

What does Bear Mace do to a Human?
https://www.defensiveplanet.com/what...do-to-a-human/

Spoiler: Not what you think

Now to research pepper spray

Thanks 1der. Learned a few new things today..

[Timerider]

Originally Posted by 1der

Thank you ShuttlePilot!
Learning more on each post in this thread!

What does Bear Mace do to a Human?
https://www.defensiveplanet.com/what...do-to-a-human/

Spoiler: Not what you think

Now to research pepper spray

1der, thanks from myself as well for the education!

Although my wife is a wildlife biologist, and frequently works alone on foot in remote locations (and carried "bear spray" for a while because she saw same-direction mountain lion tracks on top of her pre-dawn footprints too many times while walking back out of the brush), I had honestly never compared the percentage of OC in her bear spray canister to the stuff intended for human attackers. It's only one-fifth as strong. I guess you learn something every day - if you're paying attention.

And although I doubt that I can add significantly to the wisdom imparted by the other commenters above, I'm just foolish enough to attempt to do so, in an attempt to encapsulate what they've said about situational awareness in an easy-to-remember form.

My CCW permit instructor here in California said:

"I only carry my gun to places where I don't think that I'll ever need it."

[JWA]

Originally Posted by Timerider

My CCW permit instructor here in California said:

"I only carry my gun to places where I don't think that I'll ever need it."

Outstandingly wise man he is!

[BroncoHauler]

Good stuff about the pepper spray vs. bear spray.

One point of consideration is if you're traveling to Canada. Obviously bringing firearms would be a bad idea, but IIRC, pepper spray is also illegal. Bear spray is legal for use against bears, but not humans. If some polite Canadian was attacking me in Canada (who are we kidding, it would probably be some drunk American). I'd use bear spray in a heartbeat and worry about the consequences later.


Herb

[Twoxentrix]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Good stuff about the pepper spray vs. bear spray.

One point of consideration is if you're traveling to Canada. Obviously bringing firearms would be a bad idea, but IIRC, pepper spray is also illegal. Bear spray is legal for use against bears, but not humans. If some polite Canadian was attacking me in Canada (who are we kidding, it would probably be some drunk American). I'd use bear spray in a heartbeat and worry about the consequences later.

Herb

Unless its different on the West Coast, I've had to surrender my Bear Spray at the boarder 3 time now while crossing into Canada (two different locations), as well as the Pepper Spray we also had on one of those trips.

[WanderingBison]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

Unless its different on the West Coast, I've had to surrender my Bear Spray at the boarder 3 time now while crossing into Canada (two different locations), as well as the Pepper Spray we also had on one of those trips.

Pepper spray is a restricted weapon in Canada and “bear spray” is permitted only if intended for bears and if it doesn’t exceed the concentration allowed in Canada, which is lower than the concentration typically found in US bear spray.

I suspect that your bear spray was not allowed into by border officer either because they didn’t believe it was for bears (not likely) or because it exceeded the allowed concentration (likely).

[mike9b9]

There is a lot of good stuff here, in full disclosure I carry when I travel. It would be nice if a person didn't have worry about this kind thing but it seems we do. This is a sort of quote from several law enforcement types I know. "Its better to be prepared and not need it, than need it and be unprepared".