Self Defense for a Minor

[Bigun16]

I know that all of you adults out there can get guns for self defense, but what about minors. I just turned 16 and I realize the need for some method of self defense. In my house the best I've got is knives conveniently placed around the house and a couple in my room. My parental unit owns a few shotguns but they're in a safe.

So here's my dilemma: What do I do about defense for myself? I normally carry a pocket knife, but if I had to use it would it be illegal in any way? Thank you for your help.

[grammaton76]

I know that all of you adults out there can get guns for self defense, but what about minors. I just turned 16 and I realize the need for some method of self defense. In my house the best I've got is knives conveniently placed around the house and a couple in my room. My parental unit owns a few shotguns but they're in a safe.

So here's my dilemma: What do I do about defense for myself? I normally carry a pocket knife, but if I had to use it would it be illegal in any way? Thank you for your help.

Any use of a weapon would need to be within the limits of the state's laws on use of weapons - basically, if you're out and about you need to wait for them to hit you OR have a weapon in hand before you resort to a weapon yourself.

If you're at home, them breaking into your home is adequate basis for attack, but I wouldn't use a knife in that case if I were you. Axes are very cheap and extremely effective. Most importantly, they give you a significant range advantage against someone who may have a knife themselves. You're 16 years old - if you don't kill them on the first stab with a knife, the chances of them taking it away from you and carving you up like a turkey are huge. If you bury an axe head in the guy's body, the last thing he's going to be thinking about is continuing to come after you. So, for home defense, it's all about the axe. You can get 'em at Home Depot.

If you're out and about, sure, you can have a pocket knife but for the reasons outlined above (the guy may be carrying a bigger knife and could well be stronger than you), I'd try and run first.

ETA: Yes, my avatar depicts a katana. But, due to lack of swing space in most houses, I do not really recommend a katana as a serious home defense weapon unless you have a LOT of open space in your house.

[moulton]

im in the same dilema as you... a minor who wants to be protected. I usualy carry a S&W powerglide folding knife, its perfectly legal for me to carry in the house but im not so sure about on the street. since I still dont have my licence I always have to have a adult drive with me and they know I am carying so im covered there.

a coupple weeks ago I had some 20 somthing year olds come to my house demanding to come in, I freeked, they rang the doorbell again and knoked so I locked the deadbolt and ran to my room unlocked my gun cabinet and retived my 870. Grabbed 5 birdshot shells (all I had, Now have buckshot) and ran to the door to see if they were still there. They left and I called my brother who came right home

[HK_Fan]

you scare me, grammaton76.

[Bigun16]

Yeah I own a sword that I got for free from my uncle but it's not so much a defense weapon as it is a cool weapon my teenage friends drop their jaws at. I could use it in my room and wait for someone to come in the door, but that's about it. I admit I hadn't thought of an axe, but I had thought machete but I'm going to have a little trouble getting my hands on one of those because remember that whatever I use for self defense my parents have to know about and agree with. Now they are pretty cool and know I have a knife to defend myself in a life-threatening situation, but they don't want me getting too insane with it.

And moulton, I would do the same but I can't get into my parents safe. Plus all we have is birdshot. I sometimes like to go on walks and carry my Gerber (the baby company gone bad lol) knife on me.

[grammaton76]

I admit I hadn't thought of an axe, but I had thought machete but I'm going to have a little trouble getting my hands on one of those because remember that whatever I use for self defense my parents have to know about and agree with. Now they are pretty cool and know I have a knife to defend myself in a life-threatening situation, but they don't want me getting too insane with it.

Well, I've owned a number of machetes - the first allowance I ever had was just hourly pay (I think it was $1/hr) for cutting weeds in our pasture with a machete. We had a serious blackberry problem - those things have nasty thorns, and cutting them with a machete gives you a lot of practice parrying and such.

Anyway, I wouldn't recommend a machete, as it just doesn't have the heft you need to really crunch through bone. An axe on the other hand does, and if you get creative you can get one of those axes with an axe head on one side, and a more hammer-like surface on the other. You thusly have a less-lethal option if the situation warrants.

Try to get one of the stainless steel ones - remember, you want to head off confrontation and get them to leave, and the sight of someone stalking towards you with a stainless steel axe in a house you just broke into should be enough to soil most peoples' drawers.

Plus, you can sell it to your parents on the basis that it can also be used as a utility tool. A machete isn't too useful for many things around the house, but there's always a use for a light sledgehammer type thing.

[50 Freak]

Wow, didn't know there were young-ums on this forum.

Glad to see it. Just one word, you guys represent us gun owners as a whole so don't do anything to make us look bad....

In the house, I would resort to a baseball bat. An ax is a little too much in the "Psycho" territory. Plus, you'll have an easier time explaining to your parents your sleeping with a bat next to you than a double edge battle ax.

Now have you guys thought about a Drozd full auto BB gun? Those things can really really hurt someone if shot in the face and they have quick mag changes.

They also have Paintball tank and 1000rpm conversions for them.

Wish they made that when I was a kid.

[mechandy]

Are your parents capable of giving you any training?
If not would they allow you to find a skilled hand to hand combat trainer to learn from?
Notice I didn't mention any of the martial arts?
There is a reason for that.
Do you drive?
I'm a contractor and for some reason always forget to take that small pipe section out of my ride.
Sometimes I'm short on greenbacks so I need the roll of quarters for lunch.
Weapons are everywhere.
Good luck

[Charliegone]

Since swords won't work to well in houses, get a tanto. Much shorter and just as good as a katana. Also...just a word of advice try to avoid confrontations and/or bad friends. Trust me.. if they go down they will take you with them. If you really want something to carry, just get a folding knife or some pepper spray (yes pepper spray) since, I believe, most schools outlaw such things like knives and stuff. My personal choice of home defense (if not my .22) my louisville slugger.

[dwtt]

Even at 16, if he had the expressed permission of his parents to use their shotgun for self defense in the house if they are not home, would he be breaking any laws if he shot an intruder who was attacking him?
I and my wife have handguns in our house as insurance against intruders at night or when my wife is home alone during the afternoon. When our daughter gets old enough to safely handle and shoot the pistols, I plan to show her where we keep them and what they are for. I would prefer my daughter shoot an attacker in our house and face a politically motivated DA who wants to charge her with possession of a pistol over her getting killed.

[ADDICTEDto.223LOWERS]

hmmm 16? i feel sorry for you bro... you gonna miss out on the off-list lowers... you gonna be like me back in 1999 wishing i was old enough to buy an ar

[moulton]

well if i can convince my parents I want to register a lower to our family trust and if that dosent happen im moving to Utah where my grandparents and cousins and my bro & his wife live... there you can buy a ak-47 of Ar-15 and spend 5 munites on a background check....

[blacklisted]

Even when I was < 18, I still carried around a knife. I don't care if it's illegal or not. If I had to use it to defend my life, and they gave me trouble because of it, at least I would be alive.

[Veritas_223]

Martial Arts

Brazilian Jujitsu and or Thai boxing..

[icormba]

There are other methods to using a (real) sword than slashing or swinging... a good thrusting action does not require a whole lot of room and if you know what your doing it is a very effective weapon. The psychological fear of being impelled by a long sharp object such as a sword is a very freighting event. Be careful with the use of one of those $50 wall hanger swords... could actually work against you!

Still... maybe not as scary as the sound of the action of a pump shotgun.

Your best bet may be to have a serious "adult" conversation with your parental unit with the use of firearms and the defense of you and your family? (IN your own Home). Do some real research, collect some facts, and sit down with the parents?