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Self-Defense
News
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What
the Media Says About Self-Defense
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Self-defense
news are about all sides of taking care
of oneself... That is, all sides but one: Guns and
the eternal debate of using deadly force.
This is not the same as saying that I'm
totally against the idea of concealed carry,
or using whatever means that are available
at any given time.
It's just that this theme brings up
the heated debate of pros and cons faster
than you can say "Right to bear arms". So, let that be something
others can fight over. Here we'll aim at all the news that
don't involve the discussion mentioned above.
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Such
self-defense news can involve various success
stories - which you also may find here.
You may also from time to time find
some of the same news-briefs here: Martial
Arts News.
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| Or
, it may be that there are new products
out, or ideas about personal protection
- maybe some strange laws or unusual
results involving the use of force
and heavy, physical resistance. As long
as it is self-defense news in one way or
another (excluding the gun-issues), then
we may include it here :-)
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| So
without furher ado, let's hear it for the
media and self-defence!
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Robber shot with own gun: |
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From: http://www.kpho.com/news/16251312/detail.html
(April 13, 2008):
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Arizona
-- A Phoenix store owner shot an
robber three
times Monday after wrestling the robber's gun away, according to police.
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When the robber momentarily let his guard down, the store
owner lunged for the
gun and wrestled it away, then shot the robber. |
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When asked how
come he was bold enough to go for the gun, the
owner said he has
studied karate for the past five years.
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Read
the rest of the story on
Kpho.com
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From: http://www.bclocalnews.com
(April 28, 2008):
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Canada
-- Nine-year-old Sean-Douglas Sime never thought he’d have to use his
martial arts skills to save himself from
harm.
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But in February, Sean-Douglas and his 11-year-old brother were walking a
short distance to a friend’s house. The older brother ran ahead while Sean-Douglas fell behind as he sauntered down the
Queen’s Park neighbourhood sidewalk.
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The boy said a man jumped out from behind bushes and grabbed
him from behind in a choke hold. With the stranger’s arms around him, the boy initially panicked—despite
the training. He let out a yell for help which his brother heard and then ran back
to help. But by the time his brother returned, it was over.
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The assailant was staggering away, hobbled by an injured knee.
The young boy had broken the man’s grip with the techniques he learned, and
then came back with a side round kick. He connected with the side of his
attacker’s knee, causing him to fall to the ground incapacitated.
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“The guy went down to the ground screaming,” said the
boys' father, recounting their
description to him. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Bclocalnews.com
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Karate kid fends off 4 muggers on Long Island: |
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From: http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_096155944.html
(April 10, 2007):
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The
17-year-old brown belt has been
training karate since he could
walk. His father and teacher
has been by his side from day
one. Now John Benedict Jr.'s
dedication to the arts has paid
off when he helped fight off
would-be muggers outside a local
mall.
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The
teenager says he was leaving
the Long Island mall on Wednesday
night with some friends when
a much bigger and older teen
approached him and demanded
a gold chain he was wearing.
When the intended victim refused
to hand over the chain, the
culprit tried to punch Benedict.
The would-be mugger found himself
eating dirt when he was shoved
to the ground.
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However,
the melee wasn't quite over.
The assailant left and came
back with a car full of other
teens armed with tire irons
and crow bars. According to
the karate teen he wasn't really
scared at all "because
when I train in my classes I
fight against six or seven adults
at the same time."
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Benedict
was able to fight off his attackers,
while a friend, who also recently
took up karate, was able to
chase away two of them. Two
other attackers were arrested
by police.
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Read
the rest of the story on Wcbstv.com
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George, 67, thumps would-be mugger: |
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From: http://www.burystedmundstoday.co.uk
(November 10, 2006):
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UK -- Three would-be muggers who targeted a pensioner fled empty-handed after
their victim, an ex-Army and England boxer, punched one of them on the
chin.
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Former middleweight George Bayliss, 67, had just drawn his pension
when the three men surrounded him and demanded he handed over his
money. |
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"I just threw a left at him – it was a peach, a real cracker,"
said George. "I was really angry. I worked hard for that money, I did my
time – they're not having it. That was my attitude. If I go down, I go down
fighting. "I think really they were a bit shocked – they picked on the
wrong person." |
George, who
holds several Amateur Boxing Association titles, still trains and goes running.
He has also learnt the martial art Tai Kwon Do and taught his three sons Mark,
Ben and Wayne to box.
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Read
the rest of the story on Burystedmundstoday.co.uk
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Karate kid, 12, breaks 15 stone mugger's nose: |
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From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
(June 14, 2006):
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A 12-year-old karate champion told today how he turned the tables on a would-be
mugger when he unleashed his martial arts skills on the yob.
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Jake Oliver
was walking back to his home in Hartcliffe, Bristol, on Saturday morning when he
was confronted by the balaclava-clad thug. The stocky, 5ft 10ins, assailant had
leapt out from behind a bush and demanded Jake's phone. |
But the unruffled
youngster - who won a gold medal at a national karate championships last year -
refused and delivered a karate chop, which broke the man's nose.
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Read
the rest of the story on Dailymail.co.uk
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Woman Fends Off Attacker On Santa Cruz Beach: |
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From: http://www.nbc11.com/news/9343707/detail.html
(June 8, 2006):
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A 50-year-old woman fended off an attack by a 43-year-old convicted sex offender
on a Santa Cruz beach by throwing sand in his eyes on Tuesday, Santa Cruz police
said today. |
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The woman told police the man had chatted with her briefly before
he allegedly pushed her down on the ground and forced himself on top of
her. |
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The woman, who was alone on the beach, said she warded him off by
screaming and throwing sand in his face, police reported. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Nbc11.com
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Cell phone picture leads to teen's arrest: |
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From: upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060525-074230-8289r
(May 25, 2006):
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Kai, Japan -- A youngster used her cell phone to alert Japanese
police that a friend was being abducted, leading to the arrest of a kidnapping
suspect.
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The 16-year-old suspect allegedly tried to grab a 6-year-old girl Tuesday as
she left the JR Shiozaki Station in Kai, Mainichi Shimbun reported. The suspect
fled on a motorbike after the girl set off a security alarm in her bag.
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Her friend got a photo of the teenager and the license plate of his
motorbike, as he sped away, information that enabled police to track him down. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Upi.com
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From: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/gossip/14607889.htm
(May 18, 2006):
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It was a good week for taking lessons, reports The Week, after Colorado teen
Brittney Richardson, 14, who'd studied karate for two years, fought off a
man who tried to grab her as she walked home from a grocery store, leveling him
with a blow to the face.
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Read
the rest of the story on Ohio.com
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Defense class strengthens women: |
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From: http://www.orion-online.net
(April 17, 2006):
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Lying on the matted floor of Haley's Martial Arts Center, surrounded by a circle
of women in a self-defense class, I closed my eyes and took deep, quivering
breaths. I envisioned myself, a 20-year-old Chico State student, alone in an
orchard, helpless to an attacker. The faces of my mother, father, brother and
sister flashed in my head. |
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It was time for my affirmation. What followed was something I never
expected. |
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"My name is Josselin Basaldu. And I will not let anyone take
advantage of me," I bellowed. |
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My heart raced and I felt my attacker's
weight on top of me. My eyes shot open, and my body responded quickly with
flailing legs and punching fists. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Orion-online.net
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Woman who shot in self-defense talks to 9News: |
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From: http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/04/17/manshot_folo.html
(April 17, 2006):
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The outcome could've been much more tragic. |
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A 28-year-old Clermont County woman woke up Monday morning to find a man
pointing a gun at her face. |
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That man was her ex-boyfriend, and what she was able to do in the minutes
that followed may have saved her life. |
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It happened at her home on the 1500 block of US 50 in Stonelick Township. |
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But this would be victim was able to turn the tables on her attacker. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Wcpo.com
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From: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=122382
(April 2, 2006):
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Murder. Rape. Rampant
eve teasing. Venturing out for Delhi’s women is a challenge that few would admit
not being daunted by at some level. A concern that has got highlighted by a few
sensational cases in the city over the last few years, and has begun affecting
sections that were hitherto unaffected by the menace. |
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With an increase in the number of working hours for women, as well as markets
remaining open longer, the challenge has only increased considerably. Among the
responses is the Safe Delhi Campaign – launched by the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) in partnership with the Delhi government and Jagori, an NGO. |
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“The Safe Delhi Campaign will include lighting up of poorly lit areas,
conducting gender sensitisation programmes and self-defence classes for women,”
says Ankur Bhatia, chairman, Delhi State Council, CII. |
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Taking from Canada’s Metrac, which initiated the concept of safety audits,
from August to November last year, Jagori conducted safety audits on 22
locations across the city as a pilot project, says Kalpana Vishwanath,
Coordinator, Jagori. |
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Read
the rest of the story on Financialexpress.com
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Police sponsor self defense training for girls:
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From: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4043044
(March 31, 2006):
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It's a lesson that proved effective for one Fresno girl, and now police want to
make sure other students learn how to fight off a would-be attacker.
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Girls from the Funston Boys and Girls Club
got a lesson in self defense from karate students Thursday afternoon at Edison
Computec. |
The event was sponsored by the Fresno Police Activities League in hopes of
some self defense and common sense child safety. |
"Besides learning self defense today, I want them to be a part of this class
and learn some discipline and learn some tradition and be part of the art," said
reserve officer Vincent Santana.
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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Japanese children learn self-defense: |
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From: http://www.manilatimes.net
(March 28, 2006):
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Six-year-old Shino Katagiri does not start primary school until April, but her
mother is already putting her into classes—on how to defend herself against
violent attackers.
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As an adult self-defense instructor plays the bad guy, the
terrified little girl huddles into a chair and refuses to take part in the
lesson her mother has brought her to.
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It is nearly one hour before Shino musters the courage to try
to do as she is asked: kick her skin-headed instructor. After tossing up her
foot, which only reaches the instructor’s leg, she breaks into tears.
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“I felt tense,” Shino says as she returns to sulking.
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But her mother, Yumi Katagiri, has no regrets about putting
her daughter into the frightening Sunday-afternoon session.
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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From: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
(March 18, 2006):
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A chef who poured hot oil over a yob's face after he threatened to
torch his shop was yesterday cleared of assault.
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Mohammed Sadiq, 55, told the High Court in Glasgow that he thought
25-year-old Andrew Richford, of Fernhill, Rutherglen, near Glasgow, was going to
attack him.
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The jury accepted Sadiq's claim of self-defence and gave a not
proven verdict.
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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Top cop condemns level of force used by Palace
bouncers: |
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From: http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk
(March 16, 2006):
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Police this week condemned the degree of force used by bouncers to eject a
troublesome customer from Hamilton Palace.
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Police detailed the incident on Monday in a submission to
Hamilton Licensing Board.
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Mr Thomson said that as the customers were being escorted
from the premises, the male began struggling and allegedly bit two of the
stewards.
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The police officer added: "An altercation took
place where it is alleged that two stewards assaulted this male by punching and
kicking him to the head and body several times causing facial bruising and
swelling."
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Mr Thomson continued: "The chief constable accepts
that the stewards faced substantial provocation and initially acted in self
defence, however, their subsequent retaliatory actions allegedly went far beyond
acceptable levels of reasonable force. This was particularly the case in respect of the
first steward."
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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Warrior Sonia scares off wannabe mugger: |
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From: http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk
(March 15, 2006):
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Sonia Petrone, a
48-year-old Italian, was confronted by a man with a knife in the backstreets of
Arnold Circus, off Bethnal Green Road.
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She kept her head, and, whipping
out the personal alarm given to her as part of the course, the deafening noise
scared of her assailant, who left empty handed.
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She said she had realised
he was following her: "We had been taught to notice our surroundings on the
course and I realised it was important to take control of the
situation.
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"It was very frightening but I am so pleased I had the alarm
and knew what to do," she recalled of the incident which happened a couple of
weeks ago.
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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From: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2006/03/011829.htm
(March 15, 2006):
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Pink Ladies is the UK's first women-only private car hire franchise - geared towards
women who feel safer taking a taxi driven by a woman.
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"Passengers sign up as members, and fares are either pre-paid, paid by credit
card or with a 'pink account', which is both convenient for members and safe for
drivers.
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Booking is done over the phone, and a text message is sent to the customer
to let her know the vehicle is approaching, which means she doesn't have to
wait outside.
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Drivers are trained in self-defense and will wait outside a customer's home
after a drop-off to ensure she gets in. |
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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Sellers on edge after real estate agent attacked: |
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From: http://www.wesh.com/news/8003813/detail.html?rss=orl&psp=news
(March 14, 2006):
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Police said when Janice Flasscheon showed a home on Elizabeth Place in
South Daytona on Monday a man posing as a homebuyer pulled out a hammer and
attacked her. |
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After Flasschoen was attacked, she turned the tables on the suspect. She
was alone showing the property, and many agents, particularly women, do the same
thing day in and day out. Real estate can be profitable, but it can sometimes be
scary and risky business. |
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"I carry my cell phone and I have my pepper spray," said realtor Michele
Lenharr. |
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They are unusual tools of the trade, but Lenharr said she wouldn't be
without them. A lone woman who makes her living meeting strangers, Lenharr has a
game plan. |
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"I keep the back door open so I have an escape route, and I park my car
in front of the house, not in the driveway, so I have an escape route if I
should feel threatened in anyway," she said. |
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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High court ponders automatism defence in sensational Quebec murder case: |
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From: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060313/ca_pr_on_na/scoc_automatism
(March 13, 2006):
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A Quebec woman who shot her husband dead while he slept is hoping
the Supreme Court of Canada will uphold her acquittal by a lower court, partly
on the grounds that she was in a robotic state when she pulled the trigger. |
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Lawyers for Rita Graveline argue that the judge in her original trial was
correct to tell the jury they could consider the defence of "automatism" in
deciding her guilt or innocence. Graveline, now 57, of Luskville, Que., was
acquitted of second-degree murder after she killed her alcoholic husband Michael
in 1999. |
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The two had been married for 31 years, but Rita Graveline had spent many of
those years being beaten and abused. |
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Two psychiatrists testified at her trial that when she killed her husband,
Graveline was in a trance-like state known as automatism, brought on by
suppressed rage caused by the abuse. |
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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From: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/169739/
(March 12, 2006):
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A couple dozen residents of the Seville retirement home in Orem gathered for
an hour-long "Combat Cane" self-defense class Saturday afternoon.
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It is important for seniors to remember they can defend themselves, said
Cheryl Nyman, who manages the Seville with her husband, Greg.
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"We thought it was a great idea to bring this to our residents," she said.
"These are all vital seniors. A lot of them still drive their own cars and we
have an active walking group and I worry about them."
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Any senior with a cane also has a weapon against thugs and muggers, said Rod
Carmichael, physical therapist and self-defense enthusiast who teaches Combat
Cane classes across Utah.
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The key is to strike decisively the first time.
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"If you have to defend yourself with a cane, do as much damage as you can do
because it may be your only chance," he said.
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
window here.
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Students learn self defense: |
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From: capitalnews9.com/content/living/9_on_education/?ArID=171614
(March 10, 2006):
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It may look like just another gym class, but it's actually a
new self defense program at Saratoga Springs High School, where 2,200 students
learn about personal safety.
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Susan Hoffman of the Physical Education Dept. said, "This is a
response to provide an educational piece so we can empower our students to have
options if they find themselves in a rough situation."
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That message is right on the teaching staff's shirts -- G.A.R.A.,
which stands for "getting away, right away." It's the first step in self
defense. Other topics include mental awareness, risk reduction and escape
techniques. Then, it's on to the physical side.
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Student Teacher Matt McMahon said, "Just basic moves -- punching,
kicking, pinches, just anything they can do to get out of a situation that could
cause them harm."
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Read the rest
here
(pdf document). Open in new
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