Self defense choices for Washington DC

Looking for something for my daughter to carry. She had an incident with a guy chasing her and is scared to go out at night now. I know a gun is out of the question. Are tasers or pepper spray legal?

 

Bear spray? I don't know about the laws in DC other than they are not 2nd amendment friendly. The lack of a right for a means to defend yourself is ridiculous.

 

I would try and post your question in this forum. It's all about Washington DC. Might get a better answer to your question. Good luck with your search for the answer.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_8/63_Washington--DC.html

 

Honestly, it would seem with the restrictions against the 2nd in DC, "non lethal" protection is the probably the easiest and quickest solution. I'm not aware of any restrictions that prohibit possession of pepper spray or tazers. In the mean time, maybe some self defense classes. I know there are women specific self defense classes so there's that. Also a restraining order is a start, but it's just a piece of paper and you can't defend yourself with a piece of paper. Although, I seem to remember a video where the object used for defense was a rolled up newspaper. It actually works surprisingly well.

I hope things make a turn for the better, and your daughter can leave this behind her without having to feel violated/unsafe during her day to day routine.

 

Definitely going to look into some self defense classes. She thinks it may have been a homeless guy. I'm just really thankful for the employees of the pizza place. She ran into the restaurant and the employees ran the guy off. They even walked her home.

 

Pretty sure a taser and pepper spray are not legal in D.C.
Also wonder if your daughter might be having trouble with wasps? I recommend the wasp spray that reaches out 20 ft.

 

A flat head screwdriver. Indiscreet, easy to carry, cheap, and they work in a pinch.

 

Knife?
And teach her to spike her keys between her knuckles when making a fist and always walk like that

 

Well that's another place to put on the list of never visit.

 

I talked to a guy at the Arlington, VA police dept. he said his wife works in DC and carries pepper spray. He didn't know the laws in DC?? His wife works for the government though.

 

Give the dc capital police a call and ask what is legal and what is not. They will inform you of all of the applicable laws for carrying any OC Spray, firearms, knives, etc. Getting the information from the horses mouth would be your safest bet to be able to decide what your best options are.

Anytime I'm traveling out of VA, I always call the state police department of where I'm going to verify what their firearms laws are in that state and any magazine restrictions.

 

It is legal for a person over the age of 18 to possess self-defense sprays in the District of Columbia, such as mace or pepper spray.

However, under D.C. Official Code § 7-2502.12, the only legal types of self-defense sprays are “a mixture of a lacrimator including chloroacetophenone, alphacloracetophenone, phenylchloromethylketone, orthochlorobenazalm-alononitrile or oleoresin capsicum.” Additionally, the self-defense spray must be propelled from an aerosol container, labeled with clearly written instructions for use, and dated with its anticipated useful life.

Businesses in the District of Columbia are required to notify the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of any sale of self-defense spray by submitting a completed registration form to the MPD’s Firearms Registration Section (the form should be completed by the purchaser at the point of sale).The purchaser of the self-defense spray does not need to submit any additional documentation. Any legal self-defense spray acquired outside the District of Columbia does not have to be registered with the MPD’s Firearms Registration Section.

A person may use a self-defense spray only as reasonable force to defend themselves or their property and only if the self-defense spray meets the requirements above.

For further information, please visit the MPD Firearms Registration Section, 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20001 or contact them at (202) 727-4275.

https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/mace-pepper-spray-and-self-defense-sprays

Although I do like the wasp spray idea too.