Good and Legal weapon for Defending Oneself in Thailand?

[tim armstrong]

Agree with those who take the common sense approach. I think there are tourists and travellers in the world. Tourists seem to get themselves into trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Travellers 'fit in' and don't become targets. They also learn how to avoid difficult situations without provoking violence, either through walking away or 'knowing' in advance that they might get into trouble. Learn to be a traveller. But regards a weapon - don't carry one, - asking for trouble, not avoiding it.

[96tehtarp]

I use other people and seek safety in numbers.

[Zooheekock]

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Don't carry a weapon. Carry a brain.

You should be able to avoid or talk your way out of any situation using the brain you're carrying.

If you truly need to carry a weapon, hire someone to do it for you.

A man carries a brain.

A grunt carries a weapon.

Men hire grunts to protect them.

" talk your way out of any situation using the brain you're carrying."

Really?

So I'm unlucky to get involved in an altercation with a Thai (who speaks NO English) and I speak NO Thai.........PLEASE tell me how I am supposed to "talk my way out of the situation"? I would love to know.

If you can't talk to him, it's pretty hard to see how you would get into an altercation in the first place.

Are you serious?

Who said the "altercation' had to be verbal?? Maybe his actions pissed me off or I did something to piss him off.

In that case, two things.

1. Don't do things which are likely to piss people off. In Thailand, that is very easy. Don't act like an &lt;deleted&gt; in public and you'll be left alone so no problems there for any vaguely sentient adults.

2. If someone does something to piss you off then walk away. Since it's guaranteed to be something extremely minor, this should not pose too much of a problem either.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Zooheekock

[peterb17]

To the OP - where do you come from?

To many of us ( I presume) the idea of carrying around an offensive weapon capable of inflicting harm on another person is just unimaginable.

You complain about the first post- why ?

This country is safe- much more so than many European and North American cities .

[pgrahmm]

How about don't drink to excess......amazing the high percentage of tragic events (including the most recent one) take place around drugs/druggies/alcohol/alcoholics and the crowds/predators/loose tongues - morals - attitudes - suggestions - situations it/they draw and the late evening/early morning times they take place.....

Keep your wits about you....learn to back away if you sense anything not right - before it becomes really not right.....weapons in a foreign land is probably not a good idea.....

I have had villagers tell me to always keep a machete in the car.....that would lead me to believe they do the same.....

[AnotherOneAmerican]

The fact that people raise or even consider the question suggests there's a problem, not to do with personal safety but more to do with personal confidence and attitude. Living in Detroit in the 1970's and NY in the 1980's, I never carried a weapon nor felt the need to; in London during the 1990's the same applied - why then would I even consider the question whilst living in Chiang Mai.

From a discussion in another thread,

The British foreign office seems to believe a British citizen is 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand, than that same British citizen visiting any other country in the world. (gleaned from the info 10% of all British murdered overseas, are murdered in Thailand, whereas Thailand only accounts for 0.6% of British overseas travel)

[pgrahmm]

The fact that people raise or even consider the question suggests there's a problem, not to do with personal safety but more to do with personal confidence and attitude. Living in Detroit in the 1970's and NY in the 1980's, I never carried a weapon nor felt the need to; in London during the 1990's the same applied - why then would I even consider the question whilst living in Chiang Mai.

From a discussion in another thread,

The British foreign office seems to believe a British citizen is 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand, than that same British citizen visiting any other country in the world. (gleaned from the info 10% of all British murdered overseas, are murdered in Thailand, whereas Thailand only accounts for 0.6% of British overseas travel)

Why could that be???????

[96tehtarp]

The OP questions a legal weapon. Assume that we have one. Now what?

Most Thai shop-owners I know have high caliber firearms in the drawer under their cash registers, and lock down their shops behind barred gates after dusk. I've asked them, what if you shoot and kill a bandit? Their answer is it's fine if I gun him down inside my shop, however outside the shop is not OK.

Back to the OP... Having found the ideal lethal/non lethal weapon... what are you going to do with it? ... and then what?

It does not compute.

[mesquite]

The fact that people raise or even consider the question suggests there's a problem, not to do with personal safety but more to do with personal confidence and attitude. Living in Detroit in the 1970's and NY in the 1980's, I never carried a weapon nor felt the need to; in London during the 1990's the same applied - why then would I even consider the question whilst living in Chiang Mai.

From a discussion in another thread,

The British foreign office seems to believe a British citizen is 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand, than that same British citizen visiting any other country in the world. (gleaned from the info 10% of all British murdered overseas, are murdered in Thailand, whereas Thailand only accounts for 0.6% of British overseas travel)

But that would be significant only if their overseas travel was uniformly distributed across the world.

If, for example, the other 99.4 % traveled only to Sweden, or equally safe countries, you would expect those kind of results. In other words, maybe the vast majority travel only to countries where they are safe.

I recall years ago some Brits were murdered in Florida and the British press referred to the US as a "barbaric society."

So maybe the Brits are a bit sensitive about their own being murdered outside Britain.

I confess I have spent only a little time there. No guns? Don't they just "glass" each other?

Edited September 17, 2014 by mesquite

[AnotherOneAmerican]

From a discussion in another thread,

The British foreign office seems to believe a British citizen is 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand, than that same British citizen visiting any other country in the world. (gleaned from the info 10% of all British murdered overseas, are murdered in Thailand, whereas Thailand only accounts for 0.6% of British overseas travel)

But that would be significant only if their overseas travel was uniformly distributed across the world.

If, for example, the other 99.4 % traveled only to Sweden, or equally safe countries, you would expect those kind of results. In other words, maybe the vast majority travel to only countries where they are safe.

I agree with you.

If you are 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand was widely known by the British.

None of them would visit Thailand, and those tourists would be redistributed around Spain, France, Portugal, etc.

The problem being they don't understand how much more dangerous Thailand really is.

[arjunadawn]

The advice to not be in the situation in the first place is not bad advice; though for your needs incomplete. There are three things to consider anytime you are planning for a threat, or planing possible responses: Capability, Proximity, Intention.

These three things are always changing and it is therefore quite difficult to choose a weapon to address a situation. A person at 20 meters who wants to kill you, has a knife, but is in a wheelchair, is not a threat. A person at 1 meter, with a knife, hacking a coconut, is not a threat. A small man, expert marital arts master, at 3 meters, who says you offended his girlfriend, is a threat. The combinations are various and the weapons needed considerable. Nearly anything can be made into a weapon, though. Someone earlier suggested a maglite; this is a good choice- blunt instrument. Do you want something to fully dominate the confrontation or something to break the momentum and enable you to flee- a much better plan.

Wasp Spray is a good choice. Knives require skill, can often lead to death, and have a greater chance of being used on you. Blunt instruments require the will to carry on after actually breaking bones or feeling a skull collapse from your blow. Do you really want that? Spray repellents enable you to address the threat at a distance, confuse the attacker, confound his ability to respond, and enable your egress.

Remember this always- Never produce a weapon or an object you are presenting as a weapon for the purposes of a deterrent- it will rarely work rather if often immediately escalates. People erroneously think flashing a weapon results in a stand down; it rarely does. Never show a weapon before you employ it. If you must employ a weapon defensively always do it from an appearance of weakness. Allow the assailant's perception to work in your favor.

Now talk to others. Some will recommend flashing a weapon as a deterrent. Use your judgement. But a nice wooden walking stick has multiple uses also.

Edit Note: As some other have said if you do not make a fool of yourself in public and do not piss people off then your only concern is to be a "target of opportunity." The best way to manage this is to appear a "hard target." Opportunity targets are always "soft targets." No one wants to target someone who is alert, aware, walks arms length from buildings, doorways, etc., has no bulging wallet, looks both ways- and up, and appears fit, and otherwise too much trouble to bother with. Change your target status by changing your deportment. Now you have covered all the areas for which a weapon could be needed.

Edited September 17, 2014 by arjunadawn

[ryanhull]

Get a tazer phone case, I use mine on the wife...

[jpeg]

Get a tazer phone case, I use mine on the wife...

I had a tazer, until the switch fell off (Patong crap). However, you'd need to get up pretty close and personal for it to be effective. And certainly wouldn't have helped that poor Swiss woman who was raped and half beaten to death in her bed a couple of years back. What would you recommend for the likes of her? I'd go for an AK47, but have to settle for a large dog or several

[transam]

I have lived here for seven years and not once in that time have I been close to having any sort of physical altercation with a Thai.

How about just using some common sense and your two legs to run away if the shit hits the fan?

Agree, I would love to have a baseball bat strung on my back but it would look daft..........

[GuyL]

I have lived here for seven years and not once in that time have I been close to having any sort of physical altercation with a Thai.

How about just using some common sense and your two legs to run away if the shit hits the fan?

Well, I knew it wouldn't take long for this kind of reply, but 1st post?

Thanks for stating the VERY obvious! Of course avoiding the situation is best.

I guess I should have made it REALLY clear that the question is about what to use when we are in a situation where we are being physically threatened or assaulted without the opportunity to run. Geez do I really have to say that when its SO obvious?

Yes, you should have stated it in your first post. You might not have noticed it yet, but some ThaiVisa members seem to be quite belligerent (at least while hiding from behind their computer screen) and they would not even consider avoiding confrontation, and believe me, they are quite numerous around here. I have noticed so many times demonstration of 'PC bravery' and read so many stupid advice from some individuals about personal safety in the LOS that I have lost the count, so, that is certainly not that obvious for everyone.

By the way, it seems that pepper spray is illegal in Thailand: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/714457-is-pepper-spray-legal/

[AYJAYDEE]

From a discussion in another thread,

The British foreign office seems to believe a British citizen is 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand, than that same British citizen visiting any other country in the world. (gleaned from the info 10% of all British murdered overseas, are murdered in Thailand, whereas Thailand only accounts for 0.6% of British overseas travel)

But that would be significant only if their overseas travel was uniformly distributed across the world.

If, for example, the other 99.4 % traveled only to Sweden, or equally safe countries, you would expect those kind of results. In other words, maybe the vast majority travel to only countries where they are safe.

I agree with you.

If you are 17x more likely to be murdered in Thailand was widely known by the British.

None of them would visit Thailand, and those tourists would be redistributed around Spain, France, Portugal, etc.

The problem being they don't understand how much more dangerous Thailand really is.

the problem is the free and easy bar scene attracts a certain type of tourist who is able to misbehave much more than in he or she is most other countries and as a result these guys get themselves in sticky situations.

[noahvail]

Out of necessity, I use a cane. In one sense, that makes me a soft target because I'm perceived as weak; and it's just this thing I have - not openly carrying around an offensive weapon. But they do make very good defensive weapons, if you know how to use them, until you come up against firearms, tactical nuclear weapons, and the like.

I switch off between two canes I own. One is titanium and the other is carbon fibre. Both are strong and lightweight.

At home, I keep an extendable baton hidden in the bedroom and my office room.

I hope that helps to directly answer the OP's question.

[SoiBiker]

If I was paranoid enough about living here that I felt the need to carry a weapon, I'd probably just go home.

[ryanhull]

As other have said, probably best to try and stay clear of trouble so you would not need a weapon.

Most weapons are probably going to end up being used on yourself by your attacker... really your best off taking care and avoiding any trouble which is really easy to do in Thailand as the people on the whole are pretty friendly. I have been in Thailand some time and never had an argument with a Thai.

Having had this conversation recently with my friend in a bar I would certainly say the knuckle duster is the best defensive weapon as its impossible for an attacker to take it off you but your going to do some damage to your attacker which would probably get you in alot of trouble.

Really, stay out of trouble... smile alot, be pleasant and respectful to everyone and you will have no trouble.

[sustento]

Get a tazer phone case, I use mine on the wife...

[edwardandtubs]

Why does everyone feel the need to state the absolute obvious? If you're not going to answer the OP's question why bother posting?

So to answer the OP's question, it's not just a question of the weapon but also whether you have a legal excuse for carrying it. A huge kitchen knife would be more effective than a little flick knife and anyone can say they were just going to do some cooking at a friend's house or something. Same with a hammer or even a snooker ball in a bag. Any weapon can be taken off you though and used by the other person against you so might not make you any safer.

[3NUMBAS]

it happens to quick to retaliate as farangs have been conditioned into believing all thais are harmless and wouldnt hurt a fly . but the roll call of dead tourists and expats over the last 30 years says otherwise.

guns hatchets and large knifes were used

[Lukecan]

Pepper spray

Riot control police use it in Turkey, with great effectiveness.

Hurts like hell for 2-3 mins, giving you enough time to run for your life.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Lukecan

[ATF]

Why does everyone feel the need to state the absolute obvious? If you're not going to answer the OP's question why bother posting?

So to answer the OP's question, it's not just a question of the weapon but also whether you have a legal excuse for carrying it. A huge kitchen knife would be more effective than a little flick knife and anyone can say they were just going to do some cooking at a friend's house or something. Same with a hammer or even a snooker ball in a bag. Any weapon can be taken off you though and used by the other person against you so might not make you any safer.

I believe the OP's question was how does he legally defend himself against a surprise attack or an attack which he cannot get out of by simply running.

The best answer is don't put yourself there in the first place! End of! True some people are seen as soft targets or easy prey but again if you drink and frequent higher class establishments bad things have a lower probability of happening.

Defending yourself against six kick boxing Thais is not going to happen but if you shut up and wai them profusely you have a good chance out getting off with just a few kicks and slaps.

Pulling out a kitchen knife is going to get you seriously injured or killed because any attacker will go mad when he sees it and even if you did stab your attacker you wouldn't be able to pull it out of his body. That's why military knives have grooves running along them or are bevelled to release muscles tightening around a knife. Slashing someone won't get you far and your hand will most likely slide down a kitchen knife seriously cutting your own hand.

Most fights start over a few baht and end up costing thousands. Pay the money and they will happily go $$^## themselves. Don't pay and you will get !#@$$%%#

[Rooo]

I take my wife.

[submaniac]

The problem is that alot of things that are legal in other countries for self defense purposes are not legal in Thailand. I do not believe that tasers are legal for civilian use in Thailand, nor do I think pepper spray (I could be wrong about the pepper spray). It should also be noted that (1) some people are genetically immune to pepper spray (like if you spray them, they won't do a thing) and (2) may not work on someone high on drugs like Yabba.

One thing I would throw out is a high lumen flashlight. They can come in very small, pocket friendly size. If you were searched by the BIB it would not be considered a weapon. A flashlight actually has some tactical defensive use. If you notice that when police (in Western countries) stop someone at night they shine a flashlight in the person's face. It is useful to the police not only because it illuminates the suspect so the police can see if they are carrying a weapon or not, but it also temporarily blinds and disorientates them as well making it difficult for them to lunge with a knife or try and aim a firearm.

If attacked at night a powerful flashlight will blind and disorient a potential attacker, as well as draw attention to the scene.

[Loptr]

To answer the OPs question, get a small collapsible baton, then get some training on how to use it... A small baton can be carried in your pocket and extended within a second... In a bad situation, just getting it open, then jumping up and down like Bruce Lee and screaming bloody murder might scare off an attacker... That is unless they sneak up behind you and bash in your head with a rock...

[1BADDAT]

Don't carry a weapon. Carry a brain.

You should be able to avoid or talk your way out of any situation using the brain you're carrying.

If you truly need to carry a weapon, hire someone to do it for you.

A man carries a brain.

A grunt carries a weapon.

Men hire grunts to protect them.

" talk your way out of any situation using the brain you're carrying."

Really?

So I'm unlucky to get involved in an altercation with a Thai (who speaks NO English) and I speak NO Thai.........PLEASE tell me how I am supposed to "talk my way out of the situation"? I would love to know.

Body Language?

[AYJAYDEE]

To answer the OPs question, get a small collapsible baton, then get some training on how to use it... A small baton can be carried in your pocket and extended within a second... In a bad situation, just getting it open, then jumping up and down like Bruce Lee and screaming bloody murder might scare off an attacker... That is unless they sneak up behind you and bash in your head with a rock...

are they legal?

[uptheos]

Why on earth would someone live where they felt the need to carry a weapon on them?

Surely cheap living and cheap sex can't be that important?