Mr V, If I used a pen and stabbed you in the throat not only would I be charged with Attempted Murder, If I didn't kill you, But also criminal posession of a weapon. A pen would fall under dangerous instrument. So anything you use to defend yourself can be against the law. At least if you are stopped for what ever reason and the cop finds a screwdriver on you, you are less likly to cause suspicsion. Unless you are stopped trying to pry open you neighbors window. Ed

Good day Xerxes

1st I am not British, never said I was, nothing wrong with the British I’m just not one.

Second I don’t judge all Americans, let alone ex US military like Ed, if I did …well lets just say I like many Americans, have several American friends and all that and while I see faults in the culture overall I think it is a positive one and we could do a lot worse having them in the position of the “worlds policeman”. If I think about it I guess I was reacting to Ed’s belligerent attitude on everything to everyone and his clear lack of education in the statements he makes, sorry to all those other open minded Americans out there. Have a good weekend

Ed an' all.

If you are stopped by the police and searched, it is presumably because you are acting in a suspicious nature in the first place. (Stop and search laws being what they are. And yes I know this varies from country to country.)

If after acting suspiciously and getting searched, the cops find a 6" screwdriver in your pocket, your claims of, "I was only going to fix my mates shelves down the road officer" are not likely to get you very far.

Police everywhere are taking a dim view of anything that they consider could be used as a weapon. (It's easier to find an excuse for a pen than a screwdriver) I doubt if the police will listen to any excuse for a knife. That's, "This is carrying an offensive weapon mate," and off to the local nick.

As I said earlier, I don't carry a knife (or screwdriver for that matter) but as an older balding guy, I draw the attention of the police less than younger, partying dudes.
I do carry the odd pen or two though. Is there no end to my daring.

JohnL

Interesting question.

It is very difficult to prepare yourself for aggressive encounters.

For me there is a balance between understanding and experience, with experience being the most important.

I research a lot and then I apply some of these elements in day to day life. Many encounters can be simplified by understanding your own psychological and physiological reactions to the situation.

Experience is the key though. You learn to deal with various situations, so when you encounter them again, you are better prepared. Hence reactions can be learnt.

I have heard of other methods.

JKolgas is one for keeping training "alive" or "resistive", just as your military training I would imagine. This makes you better prepared in "real" situations.

Geoff Thompson wrote that the way he prepared for situations would be to tell himself, "No matter what happens, I'll deal with it". In his books he also refers to a training method, I think called The Rule of Three. The idea is to mentally imagine a situation, but use at least 3 of your 5 senses during preperation. So you hear the words, feel the strikes, and see the techniques and results.

Thing is "experience is what you get after the time you needed it most".

What about you?

Budo.

Ed.

I can't speak for other jurisdictions but in the UK, anything that you carry in public and subsequently use as a weapon can be deemed to be offensive if it can be shown that you intended to use it as such. Therefore you comment as regards the pen is correct but would fankly be difficult to prove. Having a screwdriver however is an entirely different matter. Having it with a case of other tools and claiming you are an electrician on the way to do a job is one thing. Having just a screwdriver and a crowbar in a bag and nothing else could have you halled in for "going equiped to steal." To be honest, getting stopped on a random stop and search and having a screwdriver found is one thing. The problem arises when you use it to defend yourself. Unlike a pen, a screwdriver is very likley to be deemed to be an offensive weapon. In the UK, the onus would then be on you to show reasonable excuse or a good reason, depending on which piece of legislation you were charged under. The bottom line is, if you don't ever use it then why carry it in the first place. If you do use it you are likely to face charges relating to its carriage. It's a non starter to be honest.

Regds
Mr V

[This message has been edited by MrVigerous (edited 06-27-2003).]

I go, I come back. Surprised anyone noticed.

Rather than risk carrying something as obviously offensive as a knife or screwdriver - how about buying a can of beans at the beginning of every trip, which when swung in a poly bag can be quite destructive.

And I'd like to say something about WW2, but I won't. (I doubt Adolf would have honoured the UKs war debts though...) Ooops sorry just slipped out.

Good to see a post from you Bluestar, very subtle [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

Now it's all settled down in the country bashing dept, I'd like to add that it's illegal here [NZ] to carry knives too.

I used to carry a big swiss army knife on my car keys [as an engineer I like to pull things to bits from time to time] but since the airlines have tightened up security I stopped carrying it on me. It still goes in my suitcase though, I'd never be without one! At home on the farm I always have a knife handy because I always need one to cut bailing twine or stick a cow with bloat.

I got some really funny looks one day walking down the main street of the Auckland in my miniskirt & high heels carrying a 6ft bo and a set of chucks though... and people gave me a really wide berth! [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

It's also illegal here to sell chucks [and some of the other weapons too] to someone who isn't a member of a martial arts club, you have to show your membership card or an invoice from your club before they'll let you buy them.

Flick knives are illegal here, and we don't carry guns either.

be well

Was it the large bits of wood or seeing you in a miniskirt and high heels that scared the locals?

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Budo.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by judderman:
Was it the large bits of wood or seeing you in a miniskirt and high heels that scared the locals?

[IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

Budo.[/QUOTE]

well I could tell u but then I'd have to kill u...

ROFL [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG] [it was probably a bit of both!]

anyway when u come over here next year for your trip you'll meet me, then you'll know for sure! [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

train hard, be well