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Post by Maureen on Nov 18, 2012 13:34:16 GMT -5
Was wondering how you all stay safe while free-sleeping (or are planning to stay safe).
I have a couple of great knives and I also have some other items hidden in my van and on my person that could be used defensively.
Without giving too much away, what do you all have for defense that makes you feel safe? Does anyone think free-sleepers don't need a safety plan?
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she
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by she on Nov 19, 2012 8:49:47 GMT -5
I am not so sure. I am a little naive I think. I will probably be storing some pepper spray if its legal to do so here. Knives scare me...I would hate to use one. I am afraid i would be so nervous that it would back fire.
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Post by Maureen on Nov 19, 2012 11:44:05 GMT -5
It would be horrible to have to have to stab someone but I would do it if I had to. I actually practice it in my mind...probably on an every day basis. I even imagine how they might even land on top of me after I kill them and how I would have to struggle to get out from under the bloodied body. I'm kinda dramatic though...your mileage may vary.
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Post by Maureen on Nov 21, 2012 13:19:02 GMT -5
Women tend to be more scared than men. Most of the women I know who are free-sleeping are scared much of the time. Paranoid even.
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Post by Van Tripper on Nov 27, 2012 19:10:57 GMT -5
Weapons? better be ready and capable of using them. If you pull and don't use, try to scare someone away, good probability it will be used on you. Pull it, use it, otherwise leave it. Better to have a tool that you can justify having in your vehicle, than a weapon(knife/gun). Large screwdriver, pry bar(had a loose belt trying to tighten it), I have a king-pin puller(big trk tool) that I keep hanging in the van(use at work), has saved my bacon a couple of times at truck stops. What/how ever be safe.
LIFE Should be FUN
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Post by kintyrelass on Feb 18, 2013 6:01:32 GMT -5
EEEEEKK!!! knives and guns.....makes me want to lift my kilt and run to the hills.....the less weapons in the world the better,.....scream...and a good knee in the goolies will sort most folk...not much crime here though....you should come and live in Scotland!
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Post by Maureen on Mar 1, 2013 11:52:53 GMT -5
Maybe I WILL come live in Scotland Kintylass! Do they take Americans? Is there work?
PS. Do you really wear kilts?
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Post by kintyrelass on Mar 4, 2013 8:59:01 GMT -5
Maybe I WILL come live in Scotland Kintylass! Do they take Americans? Is there work? PS. Do you really wear kilts? Hi Maureen, yes you should come and live in Scotland its a wonderful country and yes of course we take Americans, have you not taken a lot of us in the past? Scotland has plenty of work and is about to get independance in 2014 which will make it an exciting place to live...a new country...with new drive and hope for the future....cant wait. Yes, you will see the kilt worn when you come over.....men are very handsome in the kilt.
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Post by pryster on Aug 30, 2013 10:17:15 GMT -5
I have peper-spray but if I do here a bump in the night Ive already got a button by my bed that sounds the horn & a yellow strobe light on top. Ive scared a few people off that way. The thief usually just thinks that its a proximity alarm & dont know that Im inside. I have a box truck so thieves think its a contractors truck with tools inside or something.
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Post by varmint on Nov 18, 2013 18:59:26 GMT -5
Maureen, you and some others should consider some books on the subject of self-defense. Mossad Ayoob of Lethal Force Institute wrote "The Truth About Self-Protection" and "In The Gravest Extreme", and there are two others called "Street Sense For Women" and a companion book geared for college co-eds.
"The Truth About...." is a serious guide by Mossad for those that want to defend themselves but have no idea how to do so effectively, firearms or not. "In The Gravest Extreme" is his treatise for those that have already decided they will get a gun and use it, if needed. These two are the best there is without the media bullcrap (rolled-up newspaper, mace, hair spray bottle, etc....). By the way....Mossad was famous for exposing the fact that mace is good only to facilitate rape and murder, as once used, your attacker will be so violently enraged that if he wasn't going to kill you before, he most certainly will now, and quite horribly. "Street Sense...." is a more modern work covering more recent trends and avoidance of situations.
This is unpleasant stuff, to be sure, but I think more women of all ages should educate themselves regarding this. All self-defense boils down to this:
You've tried to avoid situations and that didn't work. You tried escape and that didn't work. Now you must decide to either bow down meekly and let your attacker have his/their way, or fight. One requires only meek compliance. The other requires ruthless, vicious cruelty; a will to irrevocable harm or kill savagely and quickly. Few possess this because few experience the need. Those that do, if they're wise, aren't talking for fear of reprisal or arrest for exercising their right to self-defense.
Some years back a known mugger with a fairly long rap-sheet was shot and killed in socal and the police were really interested in "talking" to the person responsible. Nobody ever came forward, to their consternation. They had the same reaction when nobody turned in their "assault" weapons back then. I guess the good citizens of socal, liberal or not, just didn't trust their police and government officials enough to comply.
I have much to say on this subject, but I'd rather not share too much on it. Find a copy of Mossad's books, if you can. They might be pricey, even used, but they are, without doubt, priceless. Forewarned is fore-armed.
I should mention that I've been known to use some pretty drastic self-defense methods, and I learned what I know in an environment where such knowledge was crucial to survival.. I wear a folding knife that can be opened one-handed. I got it for $20 at a flea market. I've also been known to carry an old paring knife in a home-made leather sheath, but anything between 3-5" blade length can do. One-handed folders are an absolute necessity for this, and for other emergencies where you may have only one hand to use in a pinch. Any folding or straight blade that doesn't bend easily should be good, as long as it's sharp. Old-fashioned simple box-cutters, too. Even used a modified hack-saw blade with tape around the handle. Cheap and easily remade/replaced. As in "disposable". There's something about the sight of ones own blood (your attacker's, I hope) that rattles most folks. I'm not one of them. There is still no substitute for avoidance, however, and you should keep this in mind and continue with it. May you never have a real need for this, but if you do, remember that, in the eyes of predators, hesitation is invitation.
Be blessed, and full of His marvelous grace and peace....
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Post by Seveer on Mar 23, 2014 9:49:12 GMT -5
I have found most security situations for a free sleeper is at night when sleeping and the best defense I have found is a auto alarm system on my van. If I hear someone trying to break in or snooping around my van? I hit the key fobs remote panic button. The siren is enough to disperse them..even snoopy cops if they tap on a window.If someone get's in then I will deal with that when it happens but I have only hit the panic button on cops and some pesky kids I wanted gone. It disperses bears and wild life also. If you ask me what I do for security during the day while outside the van?..I ask what do you do? My fear is not in the cities but out in no mans land. A alarm will do you no good but the chances of running across a crazed killer out there worries me less then a asteroid landing on me. Most thieves and killers are cowards and only proceed where its easy and safe for them.
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Post by gm1258 on Apr 16, 2014 13:34:41 GMT -5
Mossberg .12 gauge Persuader and a Beretta 9mm semi-auto. I sleep very well at night. I used to have a 4WD pick-up with a hi-top cap on back. I threw a liner, mattress, sleeping bag, pillows, and camping gear in there and I'd disappear down a forest service road for days at a time. Such roads are usually dirt and gravel and as such yer not as likely to be bothered by cops, thugs, thieves, look-e-lews, and peek-a-boos, etc. Just the deer, the moose, and the trees. With vans it a bit different. Unless yer fortunate enough to own one 'o those high end off road sport vans you will be parking on pavement much 'o the time. (rest areas, parking lots, campgrounds, truck stops, etc). This subjects you to much more scrutiny from the above parties. Rest assured, if you park on the black top for any length of time you will be eyeballed more often than you like. It's a trade off in security as far as that goes. Keep an eye out for trouble before it starts.
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