A three foot section of closet rod, if you know how to use it, makes a wonderful self-defense or home-defense weapon. Somewhere in moving I've lost my nightstick (pure wood, unweighted).

Back in my undergrad days, the long-flown days of my misspent youth, women were being raped on their way to the dorms at night. They started going in groups, men's clubs provided escorts, and so on. But one woman, a striking blond, would have none of it -- she was older and would work in Chicago as a Kelly Girl, alternating college and work so that she didn't have to borrow money for school.

The inevitable happened. She was grabbed and dragged into an alley. She offered no resistance (a knife was at her throat) as he tore at her clothes. He unzipped, took out his assault weapon -- and she literally tore his balls off. The police had no trouble finding him at the emergency room (they just matched the testicles she handed them to the assailant). My uncle, who was the arresting officer, told me the whole story -- the college merely noted that the rapist had been caught.

On another occassion, a U-shaped women's dorm had the pleasure of an exhibitionist who would stand between the legs of the U take off his coat. He'd then drop his pants and wave his weenie. One cold, cold January night the dormees had had enough and turned the fire hoses on him from both sides of the U. He never returned after they so dampened his ardor.

I really don't recommend killing people, even in defense of yourself or your loved ones. It's sooooooooo depressing to see their bloodstains in the carpet, and it can be sooooooooo much trouble to get them out that it's easier to re-carpet.

k