What Preps are you doing this week

[Le Mouse]

And a disposable lighter...

[Ian]

Thank you The_gnole, that puts the position succinctly. The major problem is that these dye sprays legality has not yet been proved in court, but I think I know which way the chips will fall.

P.S. Le Mouse, your hairspray, if carried with the intent to spray an assailant, with or without the lighter, is caught by the same laws, it is an offensive weapon.

Sorry. Just don't go around telling everybody that is why you carry it and you might just might get away with using it, but why were you holding the can as you walked along the street?

[itsybitsy]

As far as I can see it could only *possibly* be classed as illegal if it was used offensively - i.e. to temporarily blind someone so you could rob them, not if you are simply trying to defend yourself from an individual who is trying to harm you.

Just because something hasn't been classed as legal, doesn't necessarily mean that it is illegal.

[Ian]

That is not the way the law works itsy.

[itsybitsy]

I have a friend who works for the police. I will ask them to find out about this Farbel (sp?), so we know exactly what's what.

[TomW]

I would advocate carrying it, but only if you're willing to accept the consequences. In the case of you using it to defend yourself I think you'll be ok. However if picked up on a stop and search you may have some explaining to do. I carry a pocketknife constantly, not for defensive purposes but because its useful. If I ever get stopped I'm fully accepting that I may end up in court. I'm prepared to accept the risk of that happening.

On a related note, I got stopped by a security guard at Dover who asked if I had any offensive weapons. I pointed out that I was driving a campervan away on holiday and where did they want to start.

[diamond lil]

Well...I think if you're going to spend your life worrying if every single tiny thing is legal or not then you won't last 3 minutes in a bad situation, never mind 5. I think its the height of silliness being on a preppers site talking about TSHTF and self defence and hiding in the woods living off the land one minute - and then telling a female that a can of stuff she carries in her bag to stop muggers/rapists is illegal.
I find some very funny attitudes in here sometimes. What if it was your daughter or your wife, gentlemen - would you say "oh no you cant carry that, its not legal - so just take your chances you probly will be ok anyway" ?? But yet at same time its ok to talk about guns & knives & all the rest of it. Doesnt make sense at all. Ladies need to know what is available and then are free to choose for themselves if they want to get it. End of. So thanks to whoever posted that!

[Ian]

Please don't take me wrongly Lil. I firmly believe that we are all free to do as we wish. But I regard the members here as friends and feel that I have a responsibility to them to ensure that they do not unknowingly get into trouble.

Certainly carry what you wish but carry it with your eyes open and cognisant of the risks. It is necessary to balance the risks of carrying and being found in possession, against the risks of not defending against attack with that item.

Only you can make that decision, but if you are not aware of all of the facets of those risks your decision will not be valid and you could unwittingly be in serious trouble.

"Knowledge is power"

[itsybitsy]

Righty ho then, we've had a lively 'debate' on this issue. When I hear back from my police friend I will report back on the issue of Farbgel, but in the meantime we've gone way off topic, so let's get back on track, shall we?

[nickdutch]

just waiting eagerly like a kid on Christmas night for that canner to arrive