# Is giving a small middle-aged woman an aluminum baseball bat for self defense a good idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 28, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085 "2010-03-28T04:41:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/21 "2010-03-28T14:18:23Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > The problem with a baseball bat is that she might not swing hard enough to actually do anything (people who have never been in physical altercations oftentimes hold back). If someone is willing to fight her, he’s just going to take it from her and use it on her. > > I suggest a gun. It’s a lot easier to overcome the fear of pulling a trigger than it is to overcome the fear of actually engaging someone in close combat. Mace is also good because most everybody will hesitate before using deadly force, and mace isn’t deadly force. One book series I like has as weapons stunners and plasma weapons. One character commented that there was generally no hesitation when playing stunner tag where there generally was a disinclination for nonmiltary to actually kill someone. Although, in the same series it was commented that the military training was used more to get the troops to STOP shooting on command rather than to start shooting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/22 "2010-03-28T15:00:08Z")
A few problems I see with always recommending a revolver for a small woman: She will have more trouble with the heavy double action trigger pull. Same for the heavy weight of the weapon. My old .38 has more(and sharper) recoil than my .40 Glock. Personally, I’ve never been comfortable with any revolver, something about the balance feels weird. (That’s just me, though) If you go the gun route, rent some at a local range and see what she likes. Semiautos are as reliable as revolvers. Striker fired autos(there are many models on the market) have lighter trigger pulls and often have no external levers to worry about before shooting. The only controls are the magazine release and slide stop. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/23 "2010-03-28T15:10:34Z")
Get a dog. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/24 "2010-03-28T15:26:10Z")
As others have said. NO! Thinking about this, my Wife is an Ironman triathlete. She is 49 years old and 5’2. A little small, but she is not even close to how strong I am. I have 80 lbs on her. We work on stuff together around the house a lot. I know how strong she is. I really, really doubt that especially in any type of confined quarters, she could get the upper hand with a bat. There are lots of options. I am a gun owner, and that is my choice. But unless she is willing to do a lot of training, or is already a gun person, I would suggest some sort of pepper spray. But you need to stay familiar with that as well. Not knowing how to use it or where it is in a moment of panic will do you no good. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/25 "2010-03-28T15:28:09Z")
The problem with Mace is that it will tend to clear the whole house and affect her too. It will linger in the air and she’ll find herself having to clean the whole house - walls and furniture - to get rid of it. The problem with a gun comes down to several thing: Skill (practice), comfort, and willingness to use it. Like above, if you have a gun you’re not comfortable using, don’t know how to use and aren’t willing to use - it’s just going to be taken away from you. She also has to have a chance to get to it when the shit flies. If she’s a hard sleeper and wakes up with the bad guy in her room, reaching for the gun pretty much amounts to nothng more than showing the bad guy where it is. If she keeps it locked up, or in the closet, she might not have a chance to get to it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/26 "2010-03-28T15:54:55Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The problem with Mace is that it will tend to clear the whole house and affect her too. It will linger in the air and she’ll find herself having to clean the whole house - walls and furniture - to get rid of it. True. There is a sticky kind though that is not as much of an aersol. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/27 "2010-03-28T16:02:46Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > True. There is a sticky kind though that is not as much of an aersol. I know one person who keeps a bottle of that wasp killer that sprays about 50 ft in a tight stream near the bed. Apparently he’d gotten hit in the mouth with some once working outside and it made him ill for the rest of the day. He swears that a face full of that would be enough to stop anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/28 "2010-03-28T16:11:27Z")
The bottom line is this: if someone is close enough that you can hit them with a bat or an impact weapon they are too close by half. If someone comes at you with intent to harm you’ll have one swing at best, and if it’s not perfect you are in a world of hurt. A bat as a primary instrument of self-defense is a horrible idea. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/29 "2010-03-28T16:28:36Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > A few problems I see with always recommending a revolver for a small woman: > She will have more trouble with the heavy double action trigger pull. > Same for the heavy weight of the weapon. > My old .38 has more(and sharper) recoil than my .40 Glock. > Personally, I’ve never been comfortable with any revolver, something about the balance feels weird. (That’s just me, though) > > If you go the gun route, rent some at a local range and see what she likes. > > Semiautos are as reliable as revolvers. > > Striker fired autos(there are many models on the market) have lighter trigger pulls and often have no external levers to worry about before shooting. The only controls are the magazine release and slide stop. I strongly disagree. Semi-automatic pistols are not suitable for newbies for several reasons. [ul] [li]If you limp-wrist an auto it will tend to jam.[/li][li]Magazine springs tend to lose tension over time. If you don’t rotate the magazines on a regular basis they will also tend to jam.[/li][li]Cleaning an auto is more complicated than a revolver and they will tend to jam if they aren’t kept clean. [/li][li]In a self-defense situation, a light trigger pull is a bug, not a feature. In a stress situation people will tend to keep their finger on the trigger which can lead to unintentional discharges.[/li][/ul] Unless you are the type of person that goes to the range every month to practice, then semi-automatic pistols should be avoided for self-defense. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/30 "2010-03-28T16:29:52Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > As Terry Pratchett likes to point out in his books, “a weapon you don’t know how to use belongs to your enemy”. Which is true. Unless she’s a martial artist of some sort, it is going to be taken away from her. My advice : forget the bat and stick to mace. > > I mean the spray, not the medieval weapon :). Awwww. It would be pretty funny, in a “Crank 2” sort of way, if some evil doer broke in and suddenly was facing the Black Knight 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/31 "2010-03-28T16:35:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I would suggest too that if a gun is the option you go with, that you select a revolver. Their mechanisms are much less complicated; there are no safetys to contend with and no racking the slide and no magazines and no shells flying all over the place. Once loaded you just point and pull the trigger. (And they usually have safety features built in so that the hammer can’t come into contact with the shell unless it has been pulled back all the way first. Revolvers are quite safe as long as no one pulls the trigger.) This. It has a small size (relative to other weapons), it is simple to operate, it is mechanically less complicated, does not depend on strength or quickness, and it is dependable. I’d say go for a double action, so in a panic situation, she doesn’t have to remember pulling back the hammer (as with a single action). But, if she isn’t willing to actually fire it, better not to have it at all. She also better be damn sure she doesn’t hit the wrong person - the “it was dark and I couldn’t see who I was killing” situation. It’s supposed to be a last line of defense. Getting away (if she can) is always the best choice. The gun is for when you cant’ escape. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/32 "2010-03-28T16:41:13Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I strongly disagree. Semi-automatic pistols are not suitable for newbies for several reasons. > > [ul] > [li]If you limp-wrist an auto it will tend to jam.[/li][li]Magazine springs tend to lose tension over time. If you don’t rotate the magazines on a regular basis they will also tend to jam.[/li][li]Cleaning an auto is more complicated than a revolver and they will tend to jam if they aren’t kept clean. [/li][li]In a self-defense situation, a light trigger pull is a bug, not a feature. In a stress situation people will tend to keep their finger on the trigger which can lead to unintentional discharges.[/li][/ul] > > Unless you are the type of person that goes to the range every month to practice, then semi-automatic pistols should be avoided for self-defense. It’s very hard if not near impossible to limp wrist a modern auto to the point of jamming. It’s more likely weak ammo, use factory ammo. Good quality magazine springs do not take a set. Depends on the gun, cleaning can be more complex on a revolver and a revolver will jam from being dirty. Just to see if I could, I took apart my Glock and put it back together blindfolded with no problem. If a light pull is so bad, why is the 1911 pattern gun so revered for defense? So a heavy pull that throws the shot wide of the target is better? Having a gun for defense should always include practice no matter what gun is used. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/33 "2010-03-28T16:47:09Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I strongly disagree. Semi-automatic pistols are not suitable for newbies for several reasons. > > [ul] > [li]If you limp-wrist an auto it will tend to jam.[/li][li]Magazine springs tend to lose tension over time. If you don’t rotate the magazines on a regular basis they will also tend to jam.[/li][li]Cleaning an auto is more complicated than a revolver and they will tend to jam if they aren’t kept clean. [/li][li]In a self-defense situation, a light trigger pull is a bug, not a feature. In a stress situation people will tend to keep their finger on the trigger which can lead to unintentional discharges.[/li][/ul] > > Unless you are the type of person that goes to the range every month to practice, then semi-automatic pistols should be avoided for self-defense. This is wrong in so many ways. Have you ever bothered to actually, you know, learn about a weapon before you spout off about it? Your first point is far from universal, your second and third are just plain wrong, and I doubt very much you have any solid data to back up the fourth. Besides, a DAO semi can be set with a fairly heavy trigger pull very easily. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/34 "2010-03-28T17:00:55Z")
Ye gods, Gun geekery is the height of tedium. The answer to which type of handgun is better is : Whichever she feels most comfortable with. Some people are more technically inclined and will easily assimilate the requisite knowledge needed to maintain and use a semi-automatic handgun, the rest will probably prefer a revolver for it’s simplicity. Since the OP didn’t ask which type of gun is better, it’s probable to infer that the person in question has little or NO experience of interest in weapons other than as a last ditch self defense tool. That type of person is not likely to suddenly develop a new Sunday hobby and go off the range for an afternoon of tech talk and shooting. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/35 "2010-03-28T17:28:27Z")
Which is why they have no business with a gun. Stick to a dog. If they aren’t willing to put the time and effort in to learning basic gun safety and handling, they should never own one. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/36 "2010-03-28T17:37:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Which is why they have no business with a gun. Stick to a dog. If they aren’t willing to put the time and effort in to learning basic gun safety and handling, they should never own one. Amen. A dog is going to be a much better deterrent than any weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/37 "2010-03-28T17:46:00Z")
Until it gets shot or poisoned or happens to be outside when the intruder arrives. Plus we don’t know the circumstances for which the weaponry is needed in the first place. Is the small, midde-aged woman a bar owner carring the day’s receipts home after closing time and vulnerable while walking to her car? What? We don’t know. I can think of many instances where a woman might need sudden access to self-defense where a dog wouldn’t be around. If she’s just wanting to feel safe while sleeping at night, then a dog (or even better, several) would certainly go a long way toward providing that. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/38 "2010-03-28T18:07:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Which is why they have no business with a gun. Stick to a dog. If they aren’t willing to put the time and effort in to learning basic gun safety and handling, they should never own one. A dog is a lot more time and effort than learning how to use a handgun. I remember Massad Ayoob compared getting a dog to adopting a child. He didn’t recommend getting a dog for self-protection if you weren’t inclined to own a dog otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/39 "2010-03-28T18:20:46Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Until it gets shot or poisoned or happens to be outside when the intruder arrives. Sorry, **Chimera** , I should have said “Unless” it gets shot or poisoned…etc. In looking back over my response to you I thought it conveyed a dismissiveness that I did not intend. My apologies if so. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085/40 "2010-03-28T18:31:37Z")
Yep, if you feel like you need some sort of security as a woman - anything which requires arm strength and some distance is not going to be effective for most. I support the dog idea - if you like dogs, don’t like guns, and you want to feel safer in and out of your home. I weigh 100 lbs and while strong for my weight and build, I have little chance of coming out on top on a purely physical level against 99% of adult men. I have an 80-lb German Shepherd mix. People tend to give us a wide berth. I do own pepper spray and I have considered a taser. Don’t think I could ever own a gun, much less shoot someone, even in a life and death situation. But many people I know have guns and enjoy the feeling of security it gives them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-giving-a-small-middle-aged-woman-an-aluminum-baseball-bat-for-self-defense-a-good-idea/534085.md?page=3)