20
May
2014
By Calvin at 11:11 GMT, 9 years ago
As you might imagine I get followed on Twitter by lots of police and security organisations, as well as private individuals who are interested in the whole theme of crime prevention. I’m always grateful for the follows as it’s great to share experiences and opinions between likeminded people. Recently though I was a little taken aback by a new follower from Maryland, Virginia, DC; not because of what they do, but the fact that what they sell is so alien to those of us living in the UK.
‘Damsel in Defense’ is a company that specialises in selling self-defence products to American women. Their website has an on-line shop, but they also sell their products through party plans at customer’s houses, much like Tupperware, and Candle parties. The range of products they sell, some of which would be illegal in the UK by the way, carry some intriguing names. For example you can purchase stun guns called ‘Get a grip’, Pack a punch’ and ‘Tiny takedown’ and pepper sprays christened ‘Hot lil’ hand’ and ‘Hardcore’ - Fascinating stuff!
Being curious I emailed the company’s Breanna Marini to thank her for the ‘follow’ and to find out more. I was immediately stuck by her qualifications. She has a Bachelor degree is in Criminal Justice and is also a certified Rape Aggression Defense Systems Instructor, teaching basic self-defence for women. So certainly the right sort of person to be selling this stuff and, if she needs to be kept up-to-date with the latest crime issues affecting her local neighbourhood, it turns out that her husband is a police officer.
I asked Breanna if selling products like this through party plans was common across the US.
Breanna said “Damsel in Defense is a fairly new direct consultant company. The co-founders, Mindy Lin and Bethany Hughes, felt that a party company would be the best for the industry with what we are marketing, because now we are able to reach as many women as possible in a comfortable, safe setting.
“Out here we have gun shops in local towns, where anyone can walk in and purchase a gun or other personal protection item after completing a required background check. However, women are less likely to congregate in these shops simply because they are more geared towards the male population. Plus, if a woman were to purchase a non-lethal personal protection item there, she is less likely to receive any education on the product she is receiving, potentially defeating the entire reasoning behind her purchase.
“Therefore, as an Independent Damsel Pro with Damsel in Defense, through the party plan business model I can educate, empower, and equip women in the comfort of their own homes.
“Damsel in Defense is about equipping women with the tools to not only keep them safe but also to give them the confidence to know that they have a way out if they ever feel threatened.”
Breanna’s party plan teams major on empowering and educating women on crime statistics, crime prevention, and basic self-defence techniques as well as selling these non-lethal personal protection products. And because laws around the world are very different from the States I know that they tell their customers not to take the sprays and stun guns abroad with them!
As an Englishman travelling to the US I’ve often wondered whether it would be safe to approach a lone woman to ask for directions, but I think my fears have been somewhat settled knowing that at least some of these defence products are being sold responsibly with the all important training to go with them. And whether you favour the sale of these products or not, we have to remember that all of us have the right to defend ourselves with whatever our country’s laws permit.
I am very grateful to Breanna for getting in touch and introducing us to the very different world of self-defence across the pond.
Take a look at Breanna’s fascinating website and prepare to be afraid – very afraid! http://www.mydamselpro.net/HIGHVOLTAGEDEFENSE/
Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/HiVoltageDefens
Please do not try to import pepper sprays, stun guns or other made offensive weapons into the UK as you will be breaking the law.
