Get yourselves a few of those high-powered "flipper" type slingshots; the ones with the wrist brace and the surgical tubing. Stock up on stainless steel ammunition for them. Even cheap glass marbles would be useful. You might not be able to take somebody "out" with one, but you could sure make his life hell for a while...

-- Liz Pavek (lizpavek@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999

Answers

I experimented with those devices when I was younger.

I found that if you place marbles in a pot of water, and bring it to boiling, the marbles get lots of fracture lines. They stay as round marbles. WHen launched from the slingshot, they stay together. When they hit a wall, they fracture into lots and lots of glass fragments. This could be an interesting weapon to scare someone off.

-- David Holladay (davidh@brailleplanet.org), November 23, 1999.

Better not get one if you live in New Jersey. They are considered 'firearms' and can land you jail. No joke...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), November 23, 1999.

Personally, I'd prefer a nice, hot .223 round. Doesn't shatter at all, and will DEFINITELY ruin a looter's day.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), November 23, 1999.

Liz--We have CS gas and masks, smoke grenades, assault rifles equipped with night vision, and smaller arms and we are coming for your stuff(hypothetically speaking). Think you better rethink the sling-shot self-defense scenario.

-- xman (xman@aol.com), November 23, 1999.

Uh, I agree. If there's anything that scares me more than people who buy guns who have no intention of actually using them when they need to, it's people who buy "non-lethal" weapons hoping this will both:

a) scare off would-be intruders/looters/whatnot AND

b) keep them from having to kill or seriously maim someone.

I'm sorry, but think about this: if things are bad enough that you would need to actually boil some marble things and shoot them in a heavy-duty slingshot at someone, wouldn't things be bad enough to warrant an ACTUAL weapon?

Don't get me wrong, I hope and PRAY that I NEVER have to take lethal force against ANYONE. EVER!!!!! I also hope that if it DOES come down to that person vs. my family, that I do a good enough job that the person doesn't have to bleed to death or something in my front yard. (Wouldn't that be just awful to listen to and/or see? I often wonder if I could then offer them some sort of comfort or if the humane thing would be to just put them out of their misery--I guess it would depend upon the wound)

I mean, let's say you're just an ace shot with the slingshot (and you'd have to be, BTW) and you get them REALLY REALLY good in the eye or something. Knock that eye out. Yes, that will definitely slow them down (unless they are on some serious drugs), but now you've either got someone who is going to take your stuff/attack you who is really pissed off, or you've got someone wailing and holding their eye in front of your house/wherever. And this doesn't even take into account the possibility that your would be attacker/intruder has a lethal weapon him or herself.

I guess what I am saying is think through, think through, think through, then think through again ALL the possible scenarios. I have spent literally months trying to think of every possible set of circumstances that could occur should TSHTF. Part of preparation is mental.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 23, 1999.

Wouldn't they be useful for hunting small animals, or such? I'm just wondering here.

-- Liz Pavek (lizpavek@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

Liz -- yeah, about all they might be good for is to give the kids to hunt "squab" (pigeons) or squirrels with (until they realize that humans are no longer ignoring them but are being hunted).

I got one to play with -- great fun -- but to "scare" someone off -- Fugedaboudit.

-- A (A@AisA.com), November 23, 1999.

Liz, for the price, I think it's a good buy. Unlimited ammo available and all that... I don't expect to scare off any bipeds with one, but if you need to bag a bunny, etc., I think a silent weapon might be desirable.

Practice, practice, practice...

-- Arewyn (isitth@latealready.com), November 24, 1999.