Flashlights!
I encourage students to carry at least one tactical flashlight all the time. Tactical flashlights are literally “non-deadly weapons.” Most are small enough to be carried routinely
And, unlike guns, knives, batons, and OC spray, flashlights are completely unregulated. You can take yours anywhere, including schools, government offices, commercial flights. There is no restriction, no “registration,” no age minimum, and no worries when you lose/misplace it. Just get another one!
To qualify as “tactical,” a flashlight must be able to output at least five-hundred lumens, although most are now much more powerful than that.
Legitimate candidates are manufactured by Surefire, Streamlight, Firstlight, Fenix, Nitecore, Olight, among others.
I’ve carried my Firstlight T-Max LE regularly for over five years. Never fails!
In any event, I’ve used them all. Most are rechargeable, have a strobe feature, and boast variable output strengths. Most cost $100.00-$150.00/copy, and brands mentioned above are all very acceptable.
There are two models I need to mention that have recently come to my attention. I have carried and used copies of both:
Fenix PD36R Pro
Nitecore EDC29
The Fenix PD36R is a nice size and I’ve carried my copy regularly for most of a year. Max output is 2800 lumens. When you suddenly shine this flashlight in the face of someone who is aggressively approaching you (which I’ve done more than once), it almost always has a startling, paralytic effect. It sends the person stumbling backward, unable to see much of anything for at least a minute or two, giving you plenty of time to safely disengage and separate.
This brilliant blast of light has no permanent effect, of course, but solves your problem (and his) in the short term. There is no police involvement, no one gets hurt, the “incident” escalates no further, and the parties speedily move away from each other and go their separate ways. This is the very definition of a “happy ending!”
As noted, I’ve been compelled to invoke this maneuver a number of times, and I’ve always witnessed results described above.
Most recently, I’ve acquired a copy of Nitecore’s EDC29. It’s small and flat, much like Surefire’s Stiletto.
On maximum strength it outputs and astonishing 6500 lumens. Brightest handheld flashlight I’ve ever used!
I haven’t directed this light into anyone’s face yet, but I’ll describe the effect when I do.
Bottom line:
Everyone in your family needs to have and carry one of these tactical flashlights, whether they otherwise “go armed,” or not.
There are many excellent choices, as noted.
Don’t get caught without one!
/John
