One of my granddaughters just got a substantial ($30K) scholarship to a prestigious art school in Chicago. She will be headed there this fall.

At 20 years old, she is a tiny thing, under 5 feet tall and less than 90 lbs. Looks somewhat like a 12-14 yo boy with her short haircut. My wife and I both feel that makes her a target on several different levels.

We started discussing options for her to protect herself. Obviously, a handgun is out of the question. We decided a hand held taser might be a viable alternative.

At a gun show over the weekend, we found a vendor selling them. By coincidence, she was a former resident of Chicago. We explained our situation. She listened patiently, agreeing with us. But, she said, my GD can't carry one in Chicago. For all practical purposes, they are illegal. Illinois considers hand held tasers the same as stun guns. We were stunned.

After we got home I did some research. Sure enough, she seems to be correct. From what I can find:

ILLINOIS STUN GUN RESTRICTIONS
Illinois places restrictions on the ownership and possession of stun guns. The state requires that anyone owning a stun gun must first obtain a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card (FOID card), as is also required for the ownership of firearms. Second, stun gun retailers are required to keep sales records for 10 years, as is also required for the sale of firearms. All licensed retailers are required to conduct background checks on purchasers of stun guns. Lastly, the 24-hour waiting period for certain firearms (rifles and shotguns) also applies to stun gun purchases.

CHICAGO'S ADDITIONAL STUN GUN LAWS
While the state has stun gun basic restrictions, the city of Chicago has additional restrictions for obtaining a stun gun. Stun guns cannot be sold in Chicago. In addition, Chicago residents who purchase stun guns in other areas of Illinois are required to fill out an application with law enforcement officials. If the application is approved, there is a 120-day waiting period before the Chicago resident will receive his or her registration and be able to purchase the stun gun.

This is about the most ridiculous legislation I have ever seen. THE Murder Capital Of The World takes away a non-lethal means of defense from its citizens. No wonder it is THE Murder Capital Of The World.

I am stunned beyond words. Does anyone have any other options? We are considering pepper spray but that might be illegal too.

Best defense is never go anywhere alone.
A friends daughter lived in Chicago for a couple years. She was about 19 and lived with her boyfriend in a very small apartment. She worked at Starbucks while he went to college. She worked a few blocks away and her boyfriend walked with her to and from. She saw some things happen and did see a few in black trench coats. But for the most part I don't think she lived in fear. But she seldom if ever went anywhere alone.

Yeah the murder city is perfect example of what taking people's right to defend themselves can do for the people's safety. Like they say take the guns away from the law abiding people and the only ones with guns will be the outlaws.

It's not likely she'll be going in to the parts of Chicago where all the shootings and murders are occurring. Those aren't places college kids normally go unless they're looking for drugs and/or trouble. Chicago is a huge city covering a lot of area. Like any other big city stay out of the bad areas of town and generally you won't find trouble. Go looking for trouble and trouble will find you.
Stun guns, like pepper/OC spray, if you're close enough to the threat to use it then you're already too close. Just buying a stun gun or pepper/OC spray without any defensive training isn't really much good.
Tell her to stay away from the south and west sides of the city. Chicago has a lot to offer and some really neat places to visit.

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183rd FBINA

I'm just thinking out loud here, but isn't a hand held taser a stun gun (I'm not really aware of other types of Tasers other than those held in the hand)? I don't have an answer for the rest of your post, other than "Pick a different school . . . "

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

According to Google it is legal to carry pepper spray in Ghicago but I would sure double check with LEO there and the school she will be attending.
A self defense course might be good general prep too.
Wishing her and you all the best!
Steve W

What would the law be for a small straight-bladed knife and some self-defense instruction to go with it? She'd need that personality to defend herself in an assault--which would take a lot of spine and training. Not everyone can do that with or without training. tkdguy

You haven't said the college or if she will be living on campus or else where ..

Most areas of Chicago are quite safe and its doubtful she will be going to the areas that aren't .. I don't think she will have any problems .. her main worry could well be just on campus and not "CHICAGO" as a whole ..

Let me speak a bit from personal experience.
Going to an art school or music school/conservatory is not quite like going to a college or university. Often, there is no campus per se, and students find their own housing. That can be a problem. Worse yet, many such schools are indeed in questionable areas. This may be intentional as it can put students in closer contact with the various arts and related industries.
Your granddaughter's situation might be different, but while we're on the topic I just thought I'd share.

Best Regards,
Jim

The Taser brand unit shoots darts that deliver the electric shock, but it also has the contact capability of the "stun gun". My understanding is the contact and shock causes muscle spasm where applied and breaks whatever hold the assailant might have.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

In Chicago a 3" blade max.
Training for what ever her personal protection choice. Practice.
Situational awareness.
It's nobody's business what she carries. Kids can't keep their mouths shut, particularly on social media.
Not to tour around alone cannot be mentioned too often.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

keep her safe and OUT of CHICAGO...........there are NO safe zones.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

Start reading the Sun Times the Chicago Tribune or Channel 7 News. You will see that Chicago students are targets right there next to the campuses.

A good number of years ago, about 37, a friend of mine daughter was going to college in Chicago. She was murdered, and raped, and was not in a bad area when she was abducted. Three young men were arrested, and convicted, but it turned out years later that their DNA did not match. Chicago PD had bungled the case, and used strong arm tactics to get a conviction. So the real killer was never held to the fire.

North Carolina School of the Arts is in Winston Salem. Lower crime rate, open carry if she is over 18, and she can carry a stun gun, or pepper spray.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she will be living on campus.

Stupid law. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Fortunately I have absolutely no need to go to Chicago, or interest in going there.

I wish your granddaughter all the best, and congratulate her on the scholarship.

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Oh well, what the hell.

If your granddaughter is set on Chicago, I'd like to suggest the Kimber Pepper Blaster II as a useful self defense tool. They are very effective. They are also very intuitive for anyone used to handling a pistol. The trigger is pretty much similar to that of a typical striker fired semi-auto. The grip angle allows easy sight acquisition in a hurry, or just point shooting. The shape allows for an easy quick draw without snagging.
I'm an active runner and cyclist living in a small town with lots of outlying rural properties, and have carried these pepper blasters for years. I have also used them on many occasions. They work!

Best Regards,
Jim

I think most of us would agree that laws like those in Chicago, and other big cities, endanger law-abiding citizens. To us, they seem crazy.

However, from the standpoint of a municipally employed socialist/bureaucrat they make perfect sense.  Their goal is not to stop crime, solve crime, keep people safe, or allow people to protect themselves.  Simply put, they just want to manage crime.  Sort of like being a zookeeper. In the process of doing so, they are more than willing to accept a certain amount of collateral damage in the form of crime victims. Yes, it’s cold, callous, and outrageous.
Robbery, mugging, assault, rape, and the people that are hurt, ... These are relatively minor issues to the civil servant.  They rarely make the news, and they rarely take up too much time in the form of police investigations, arrests, court time, etc.  But, they'll offer their "heartfelt" condolences to the families of victims, just so you know their "good intentions".

I spent a year living in Hollywood CA, as a student at a music conservatory. My apartment was a block from Grauman's Chinese Theater. The area was considered to be relatively tourist friendly, but with a few sketchy areas. While walking home for dinner, I was ambushed by five guys who were working a relatively quiet city block. They had a few scouts and a couple hitters. I didn’t realize what happened until one of the hitters punched me in the throat. Immediately the other guys started to swarm in. I ran. There was only one guy in front of me. I plowed into him and tripped him to the ground without stopping. With two blocks to go to my apartment, I took a short cut through an alley, and made it in the rear security door before they could catch me. (By the way, I had a hunting knife on me that I was ready to use, whatever the outcome.) Anyhow, these guys now had a good idea where I lived.
So, I called 911. The operator’s exact response to my call was “What do you want us to do about it?”
See what I mean about acceptable collateral damage?
It’s not like there was a lack of police presence in the area, especially in the tourist spots. They were quick to give out parking tickets, jaywalking tickets, arrest drunks and other loonies, etc. When things called for it, they weren’t afraid to use muscle, even on occasion use too much muscle (that’s another couple stories!).

So, don’t expect any sympathy from the cops, the city, or the criminals. Know that if something happens, it will just seem senseless, both in terms of cause and outcome. Also, don't expect any justice. This is all by design and is part of life there.

Those five guys? I never saw them again, but they were known in the area. They apparently stuck to breaking into cars, but occasionally branched out to purse snatching and assault for a change in routine. As long as they stayed off Hollywood or Sunset Blvds and any other of the tourist spots, they were left to be.

Best Wishes,
Jim

PS: I'm on the faculty at a very safe private college in SC. One of our art profs just won "Professor of the Year". PM me if I can offer any help.

I don't need to read the Trib or watch tv. I've worked the cases in Chicago and read the police reports and statistics. I've worked in locations in the city where you have probably never gone nor even heard of. Those things are reality and more accurate than what you've seen by looking at limited and sensationalized reporting by the media.

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183rd FBINA

Is there an art school in Texas?

I know how it works. A Taser is a long range stun gun. The fact remains that a law that bans "hand held" stun guns and tasers effectively bans them all . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

There's a real nice one in Sarasota, Florida . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

In Chicago "bad areas" include:

• the shopping areas of Michigan Ave.
• downtown
• the beaches
• public transportation

There's CIA in Cleveland.

I grew up there and still have relatives there. It's no place I like to go and definitely no place I'd like to stay for an extended period.

If you're not kicking back to the "machine", you just don't matter at all.

If you don't have "clout", not only do the "authorities" have no duty to "protect" you, they don't have any interest.

I will not suggest that she 'go to another school', or 'don't live in that city'. Most careers worth pursuing involve lots of sacrifices, and many times that involves moving to places we don't like. I had to live in Baltimore for 5 years while pursuing a doctorate at an R1 research university. I didn't like Baltimore, but there was simply no way I was going to forgo the opportunity to do doctoral research at one of the best places in the world. I understand your grand daughter's situation.

To the OP: isn't Illinois now 'shall issue'? What about your grand daughter getting Illinois residency, and then getting a carry license? That license should be good statewide. She could even live outside the city limits if that makes the permit application easier.

Congratulations to your grand daughter. The Art Institute is quite an accomplishment. Not to be passed up.
I have lived in or near Chicago all my life. My children, one of each, and grand daughter, have lived and worked downtown unarmed, by their choice, for decades, All without incident.
I don't know anyone personally who has.
A record number of violent crimes occur in certain parts of the city. Avoiding those areas is easy.
Your grand daughter will not become a ninja any time soon, but, she's already smart, so situational awareness, groups, and some pepper spray, should keep her safe.
So good luck to her.

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

I have no experience with the device, but know they are openly offered for sale in IL.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

the school's here all have student escort services so no student has to walk alone at night or evening on campus .. never walk alone .. and preferably with more then 2 other people .. ask at the school about areas and businesses a student should avoid ..

If you haven't already do teach her situational awareness and tell her to keep their nose out of their phone !! when walking the phone should be in a pocket or a woman's purse .. Pay attention to where you are .. who is around in relation to yourself !! you can answer your phone after getting back to where your going also driving and talking on a phone is illegal in Illinois .. when you can provide full attention to the call ..

Carrying a good tactical pen might be a good idea !! A tactical whistle can alert everyone to you and a bad situation .. but needs to be carried in ones hand not in a pocket under something where it would be hard to get to ..

Main thing to do is BE SMART !!

For commuting and traveling around in the city I would recommend an old german Tiger Tank! 56 tons of steel should protect her.

Captain, can you give us the skinny on the details,
it might mean something to the rest of us here.






.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

if so would be the smallest made PS , I have and carry the Police Size , if caught likely a penalty. I live in the Communist Dem O Rat controlled New Jersey

A stout walking cane or umbrella , beefed up for defense , might get by the long arm of the law....but who knows , even that is probably prohibited.
A large Bible may not be considered a weapon .
Gary