WEEK 28
Improvised Weapons
When I was much younger, I worked as a bartender in a tavern. We didn’t have too much trouble with people getting rowdy, but every once in a while we had to break up a fight or argument. I was always amazed at the guys who grabbed a pool stick as a weapon. Long, cumbersome, not much more than a really thin bat. I’d rather grab three or four balls off the pool table, knowing I could nail a guy in the head from relative safety fifteen feet away.
When it comes to violent conflict, whenever possible you want to keep distance between you and your assailant. In most cases, firearms are the weapon of choice. But there may well be times when you aren’t able to get to a firearm or use it safely. For example, your opponent might be standing in front of your child’s bedroom and a bullet might penetrate that room. It could also be that you’re not allowed to own or possess firearms because of local laws.
In any event, you’re deluding yourself if you believe a firearm is or should be your only line of defense.
When it comes to improvised weapons, the ideal ones are those that allow you to keep some distance between you and any assailant. Once attackers are close enough to put their hands on you, the odds shift dramatically. One handy item that works well for this purpose is wasp/hornet spray. The can will shoot a stream of poison for several feet. Since it’s a stream, rather than a fog, you can better direct it toward the face. It’ll put any attacker down hard and fast.
While some people recommend using a can of hair spray and a lighter to make an improvised flamethrower, this isn’t nearly as good an idea as it might sound. First, the range is only a couple of feet. Second, people hit in the face with that aren’t going to just drop to the floor. They’ll run around yelling and screaming, all the while possibly lighting up your curtains and other flammable items in the room. It makes little sense to burn your house down while you’re trying to protect it.
Pepper spray also works well and is obviously made for self-defense. But it isn’t something most folks have lying around. I would encourage you to invest in a few canisters and stage them throughout your house, just in case.
I hesitate to recommend Tasers for a couple of reasons. First, if the person is wearing heavy clothing, the probes may not make contact with skin, rendering the weapon ineffective. Second, you get only one shot. You miss, and that’s it.
One thing I want you to do this week is to walk through your house with an eye for readily accessible improvised weapons. Kitchens, of course, are full of goodies like knives and cleavers. The laundry room probably has several aerosol cans of cleaning products that would work well if sprayed in the face. But what about your living room or your foyer?
Use your imagination here. Is the vase of flowers you keep on a table right near the front door light enough for you to grab and swing? Maybe you have a couple of nice, solid candlesticks on a coffee table in the living room.
You should also consider positioning weapons throughout your home. If you have kids, a baseball bat resting in a corner will probably not look out of place. Pepper spray, as mentioned previously, comes in small enough canisters to hide almost anywhere. Naturally, if you have youngsters, keep them in mind and place these weapons where they aren’t accessible to children. A can of soda in an old tube sock will work great as an improvised blackjack or sap. Grab the loose end of the sock and swing it over your head at your attacker. A cue ball works even better if you have one available.
The takeaway here is to have defensive weapons available to you in every room of your home . . . just in case.
WEEK 28 ASSIGNMENTS
TASKS
1. Go through your home and practice implementing improvised weapons you find throughout. It’s important to practice using these weapons so you’re familiar with their weight and how they “work.”
2. If you come across any rooms where you cannot easily find any improvised weapons, position items accordingly. Lean a baseball bat in the corner, find a nice-looking vase to put on an end table. Ideally, no matter what room you’re in, you should have something you could use as a weapon within easy reach.
SAVINGS
Add $15 to your Prepper Savings Account.
TOTAL PREPPER SAVINGS ACCOUNT: 
WATER STORAGE
One gallon (or two 2-liter bottles) per person or a case of bottled water for the household.
TOTAL WATER STORAGE:
GROCERY LIST
3 cans vegetables, your choice
2 cans fruit, your choice, but stick with those packed in water or juice, rather than syrup
2 cans meat (tuna, chicken, beef), your choice
2 cans soup, not condensed (they require water)
1 box crackers, your choice
1 jar pasta sauce, your choice
1 lb pasta, your choice
