I didn’t mean for this post to cause a bunch of arguing in the comments =(
I thought this was just some gallows humor (e.g. “Everything’s lovely except that I have to fear for my safety all the time”) type of shitpost that sounded similar to comments I’ve heard from women irl a lot.
That’s why you get a gun (Edit: If you are in a jurisdiction where you can). Practice and be prepared to use. Don’t ever hesitate, someone tries to attack you, regardless of gender, they forfeit their right to life.
(Also get pepper spray in case you are in a dangerous situation, but its not enough to warrant a deadly response, then just fucking spray them, and run. If they chase after you, fucking shoot them*)
If you are in a jurisdiction where you can’t get a gun, then, I guess the pepper is probably your best bet.
This advice goes for both men and women.
I am not a lawyer. Make sure you check the laws of your jurisdiction first before doing anything.
TLDR: Get pepper spray, and get a gun. Use them in that order.
Edit: *If they chase after you and you have no way of escape, and you have a resonable belief of imminent harm
Edit 2: Btw, the American police will not help you, I don’t like violence either, but when nobody is helping you, there is really not other option. I’d love to not have to kill someone if the police is actually helpful (and responds in time)
Just kill some people if you feel threatened. -Americans
You’re the only person that both cares and can actually take responsibility for your own safety.
Kill some people if you are actually in danger. -Americans
So what are you supposed to do? Call the police? THE POLICE? 🤣
(The American police would shoot the victim, then ask the perp if they’re okay.)
Very US defaultism of you.
The thing with carrying a gun is that pulling it out can really escalate a situation quickly, and if you’re not experienced enough, it can be turned against you.
That being said, I fucking hate that I can’t carry even pepper spray because here you need a permit for it.
If you’re going to get a gun just use the gun. If you use yhe pepper spray and then the gun, cops are going to can you* because you shoot someone that was incapacitated
*White men don’t need to worry about this.
Maybe ask a lawyer in your area before taking legal advice from lemmy, as both above comments are poor legal advice.
It highly depends on your area, but having OC spray for “normal threats” as they’re called is sound advice, it is not legal to shoot people until they become a “deadly threat” (by a jury’s decision, not yours) and you’re in immanent danger of death or great bodily injury (hospital type stuff).
However, simply “them fighting through the spray” may not be enough without a disparity in force (if he’s 6’4" and she’s 5’0", if there’s multiple attackers, if he’s armed with a blunt/sharp instrument or gun, etc) to bump him up to the “deadly” category. If there are other extenuating factors like listed it may be fine. In some areas you have to retreat to the best of your ability and couldn’t “just shoot him if he starts chasing you” you’d have to run until it became clear escape was impossible.
Do not take anything I say here as fact for your area either, it is HIGHLY variable is kinda my whole point, look up your local laws before if you’re considering buying/carrying a gun, or even for carrying OC spray (illegal in NYC, for instance, and many states have limits on strength, etc).
*Rich white men don’t need to worry about this
Poor white men aren’t exactly safe from this either, pigs are pigs, they fuck everyone over.
Also, if they are still able to chase you, they aren’t exactly incapcitated.
What I mean is, in case the person was wearing a mask and had sunglasses that affects the efficacy of pepper spray.