My grandma is a widow but still insists on living on her own. That’s understandable but we felt it necessary for her to be able to protect herself in case something were to happen. When I was doing some research for her I had a hard time finding good self-defense options for seniors that worked, were legal, didn’t require a large amount of force, and were easy to use. After countless hours on google and amazon, these are the options I discovered and I’ll tell you which one I got for my grandmother.
Why Firearms Aren’t My 1st Choice for Seniors
My grandma first protested saying she didn’t need a self-defense tool since she had a shotgun. I asked her if she’s ever fired a shotgun. She responded no. A shotgun can be quite heavy for some seniors, on top of that by the time you manage to get it from its hiding place, aim it, and fire it an intruder or attacker could take it from you. Then you’re really in trouble. Second, the recoil from firing a shotgun could kill a senior if it smacks her in the face.
So while I support the 2nd amendment full-heartedly firearms aren’t my first choice for a self-defense option unless the user has been trained on its use. Remember most attacks are unexpected meaning you literally only have seconds to react. Cops are trained for up to six months to be prepared for such an attack. Most of us haven’t had that level of training.
Best Non-Lethal Self Defense Weapons For Seniors
- A Stun Cane
- Pepper spray
- A Personal Alarm
- A Taser
The Stun Cane (get it on Amazon)
The reason I really love the stun cane is that it’s inconspicuous. No one will think twice about a senior citizen walking around with a cane. You won’t have any problems getting it through security at an event or drawing attention to yourself–opposed to if you walk around with a gun on your hip.
The most important reason is you’re more likely to have it with you if you need it! Remember, when we talked about the element of surprise before? In addition to it being a stun gun and a flashlight, you can use this as an actual cane. That means it’ll be there and ready to fend off a surprise attacker.
Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is a tried and true everyday carry self-defense weapon. Why? Because it works! Being sprayed in the face with this stuff is not fun. People who have been sprayed describe it as lighting your face on fire and blinding.
After few minutes of spitting, rubbing my hands over my face , I was finally able to catch my breathe. I went to that guard and asked him to help. That idiot advised me to goto hotel’s toilet and wash my face. The moment I sprinkled water on my face, it felt like someone has stuck many needles on my face. To add to agony I started wiping my face with tissue paper. This further exasperated the pain. I lied on the floor for few minutes.
As you can see it’s not fun. Now, not all pepper spray applicators are made equal. Those little cheap canisters I see everybody with are not my favorite. For one thing, they are very difficult to aim, especially in an emergency. You could end up spraying yourself during an attack. I recommend a pepper blaster. It’s shape and nozzle make it much easier to aim and use than those cheap little canisters. There’s also a model that shoots pepper spray balls at an attacker. If you’re willing to pay the extra money for it, it’s worth it.
Personal Alarms for Seniors
Personal alarms can be a good way of stopping an attacker by drawing attention to the assault. However, they rely on the attacker actually being scared off. There are reports of assailants attacking victims in broad daylight in front of a large crowd. They’re cheap, they’re loud, and you don’t have to worry about accidentally using them on yourself. That being said these aren’t going to actually stop a determined attacker.
A Taser/Stun Gun
This is another classic self-defense weapon. Some sites will recommend those expensive police-type tasers but those aren’t my first choice. Why? For one thing, they’re expensive. A good quality taser gun will set you back at least $330. Yikes! Also, they’re big. You’ll need to carry it around in a holster just as you would a firearm. It’s also highly likely to be taken from you by security if you try to enter any place with it.
A good self-defense weapon is discreet, light-weight, and easy to use at a moment’s notice. I have an entire list of stun guns for women. There are some really cool jogging stun guns that are discreet and easy to use. I’d recommend you look at some of those before you looked into an actual taser gun.
Which will I get for my grandma?
After a lot of research, I decided to get the stun cane for my grandmother. In the end it was the usability that brought me to that decision. She uses a cane and therefore would have it with her if the unthinkable should happen. It was really easy to use so there’s no learning curb for her either. I’m happy with my decision and I feel a lot safer knowing she will have something better than my grandpa’s 50-year-old shotgun.
When making a decision just make sure whatever weapon you choose meets the following criteria:
- Easy to use
- Likely to have it with you in an emergency
- Can stop an attacker
- Minimal force required on your part