The VITAL Tour -- Guns & Gadgets
Handguns, shotguns, rifles,
gizmos, gadgets, and other devices designed for
self-defense purposes are what we will talk about in this
section. We will discuss the possible pitfalls of using a
firearm for self-defense, but we will not address the
controversial issues of gun ownership. Not because we want
to be neutral, but simply because this line of conversation
doesn’t require debating that issue in order to make our
point. Also, because there are so many various other
self-defense devices out there, we felt like a partial list
might help describe what we mean by gizmos and gadgets.
This isn’t comprehensive, but merely a representative list:
- Pepper spray and mace.
- Little spiky handheld weapons.
- Brass knuckles.
- Stun guns, stun wands, stun bracelets, and stun thongs.
- Tasers, and projectile electrical devices.
- Personal alarms and “Panic” alarms.
- Whistles and noisemakers.
- Flashlights and tactical strobe lights.
- Projectile capture nets.
- Laser rays to blind their eyes.
- Slap jacks.
- Collapsible / expandable batons.
- Tear gas.
- Ink / Dye marking sprays.
- Anti-Rape underwear.
The list could go on and on here. There is really no end to all the crazy things people’s imagination can come up with to thwart and attack. It seems like every time we turn around there is a new gadget on the market that claims to keep you safe. It seems as those these gizmos work more on novelty and easily adoptable concepts that are superficial, overreaching, or both.
So wait a minute here. VITAL Self-Defense actually sells some of these things. Professor Hepburn actually carries some of these things on his person everyday. Aren’t we hypocrites for denouncing gadgets in this section, yet using and selling them? How dare we try to profit by instilling a false sense of security on people who buy these gizmos!
Well, that would all be very true if we sold and used these items in an irresponsible way. You see we only sell these items AFTER fully informing the buyer (several times over in fact) of their potential pitfalls and disadvantages. We make sure that they don’t just buy the item, plop it in their purse and think they are safe now. Of course people are free to ignore all our efforts to educate them, but that’s on them, not us.
Professor Hepburn carries some of these items on him after much consideration for what they offer to him, and the disadvantages they bring with them. He trains with these items and accepts the risks inherit with them. He doesn’t rely on them because he has a foundation of self-defense that is independent from the requirement of having a gadget. If you already have a solid base of self-defense, and you education yourself about these items, and you train on how to employ these items, then and only then will they become a benefit.
So what’s so bad about firearms and gadgets? Wouldn’t they give you an advantage over an unarmed attacker? There are several issues regarding these self-defense devices that need some serious consideration before carrying them and/or using them. Blindly buying, carrying, and attempting to use them is a recipe for disaster.
Continue on to the next 10 pages to found out the reasons guns and gadgets can actually endanger you!