Regardless of how prepared you are, the threat of an invader breaking the sanctity of your home and putting your family in danger is the stuff of nightmares. Worse yet, is to be forced to face said intruder without a means to defend yourself.
But are you ever truly unarmed? The following information may have you taking a second look at those mundane items lying around the house.
Close Range
Obviously, the preferred option to defend yourself in a home invasion is going to be a firearm. Despite this glaring fact, many people cannot (or will not) own a firearm for any number of reasons, from personal choice to local laws forbidding it. Even if you do have a gun, there is always the possibility that you won’t have the time to get to it before you’re forced to engage the intruder.
Luckily, your home is likely full of potential weapons waiting to be unleashed if need be. Anything lying within reach that can be used as a blunt object is going to be far better than nothing. If it is hard or sharp, it’s going to be of use here. Depending on what you have (and what room you are in) the following examples can serve as expedient weapons:
- Frying Pan
- Kitchen Knives
- Table Lamps
- Hardback Books
- Coffee Cups
- Flashlight
- Sports Gear (golf club, baseball bat, hockey stick, etc.)
- Scissors
- Canned Food
- Plunger
- Hand Tools (hammer, screwdriver, wrench, etc.)
When it comes to close-range combat, literally anything within reach that you can use to harm the invader is going to give you an advantage. Even something so simple as a pen or pencil is better than nothing.
Ranged Weapons
When facing off with a home invader, your best bet is going to be keeping a distance from them. You could throw many of the items listed above, but unless you have a good aim, you are likely to just disarm yourself. Worse, you gave your opponent a weapon of their own. There are a few common household items that can help you fight from a distance though.
A common household item that can be thrown safely at the trespasser is salt. A handful of salt thrown into their eyes is going to cause a great deal of pain and disorient the attacker. This will give you precious seconds to either escape or incapacitate the invader.
One great option here is hair spray. This will act similar to pepper spray, without the risk of gassing everyone in the home at the same time. Note that unless you are under extreme duress, it is not a good idea to turn the spray into a makeshift flamethrower with a lighter. Just because the bad guy is on fire, doesn’t mean he is going to lust lay down and die. A flaming person running through your home is going to multiply your issues, as the fire will likely spread to other areas.
Another alternative to pepper spray is insecticides, such as hornet spray — however, they do come with some legal issues. Since these products are listed under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, using them as a weapon against a human could land you in serious trouble. The last thing you want is to defend your home only to face a lawsuit after.
At the end of the day, if you are facing a dangerous situation and are forced to defend yourself and your family, nearly anything can become a weapon. Having a plan, and knowing what is available in your environment ahead of time will give you an advantage. The next time you stroll through your home, take a look at your surroundings with a tactical eye. It may save your life one day.
Have you ever considered using any of the items listed above as an improvised weapon? Do you know of any other common household items that could be used to defend yourself? Reply to your email and let us know, we would love to hear from you!
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