I agree with the fear-born-of-ignorance part, but, I don’t think a handgun is the end-all-be-all top level of protection. The thing I like about a real self-defense classes (and we can mini-rant about quality of instuctor and systems, if ya want) learning about the simple things that keep one protected. Awareness of self and surroundings, etc. Plus learning how to chew through biceps like a raw steak and how pinching someone on the ribs while twisting is painful enough to get many attackers off of you, is a bonus.
But in the situations listed in the OP I would say a system and a mobile phone will provide greater protection than pepper spray or even a gun.
Setup a system with your wife that she must follow every single time she goes on a housecall. Something like (but adjusted for her own reality as necessary):
Call you or responsible office mate (who have the information on the house and people, etc) whens she arrives in the car.
Have her speak on the phone as she enters the house, saying something like “Sure, I’m here at the Smith’s home, I’ll call you in 10 minutes when I’m done.”
You or office mate calls back in 10 minutes. She answers and says if she is leaving or will be in “X minutes.” If she answers in a certain way, like “This is Carol” when her name is ??? you call the cops.
She calls y’all when she is back in the car.
This sets up a system that if something ain’t kosher, there are a few times that someone else can call the police (and don’t hesitate to do so, cops won’t yell too hard if you have an established procedure that you inform them about). Also, this conveys information to the people there that “I am in contact with someone outside of this room and they expect to be hearing from me real soon.”
A far higher level of protection, IMHO, and only costs $0.25 in phone charges each time. It doesn’t sound like this is a frequent thing, so, shouldn’t be too hard to keep up.
Best thing is to just not go there. If that is a minor part of the job and she can refuse some, then she can refuse all ‘iffy’ situations or areas or people.
Can she actually hurt someone? She really needs to find that out before she goes on to any of the other ideas.
If you have not killed your ‘grackle’, you don’t really know.*
Since the sniping between Oakminster and Stranger On A Train has died down, I’d appreciate it if nobody stirs the embers. It was not really appropriate for IMHO.
I’m on Stranger’s side. Suggesting that just because Florida state law has changed to allow the more liberal use of guns, that makes them better than non-lethal force for everyone is silly. The OP referred t specifically to pepper spray-a non-lethal defense weapon. Bringing up something that is in a different category as an option isn’t terribly helpful.
I’m with all the posters who feel a gun is the wrong way to go in this situation. If she doesn’t like guns what are the odds she would be ready/willing to use one effectively? Besides, firearms require a fair amount of knowledge and mental preparedness to use well. About the only people who have those kinds of skills are cops and the U.S. Army. (And I wonder about some of them).
I’m a supporter of gun rights, but not of encouraging someone opposed to the idea of using them. The self-defense techniques most likely to be effective are those she is most ready, willing, and able to use.
Crime statistics support one, and only one weapon: the gun. The problem for you is that your wife is putting herself into harm’s way, and simply having a gun is not going to be what she needs when she’s set up in a rape situation. If she’s traipsing into a trap, the best solution is to stop doing such fucking stupid shit. And I say that because I knew someone who quit doing stuff like that because of the danger she faced.
This is IMHO, and IMHO, pepper spray won’t do shit to protect her. If she cannot arrange for better meeting circumstances, then she needs to weigh the value of her job vs. the risk she feels she faces.
I want to second the recommendation for a taser. The few times I’ve seen it used it dropped the subject like a sack of potatoes. The civilian version can discharge for 30 seconds, you just drop it and run. Then, the company will replace it for free if you use it in self defense.
You know, some people might consider what FMG’s wife does to be noble and worthy of admiration, rather than “stupid shit”. If I misread your post, then I apologise.
My two cents: regardless of how much training she undergoes, your wife is presumably going to be reasonably concerned about the welfare of her student (patient?).
I’m doubtful that she would ever be comfortable discharging a firearm in close proximity to a child.
I second the taser suggestions, but with the caveat that they require lots of training too.