I concur that an effective weapon is optimum, but if only used as "appropriate force level" otherwise someone will be facing severe criminal charges.

I have a can of "Bear Spray" which is long lasting, strong and has 9 seconds of spray and will spray out to 30 feet. It isn't cool to have to walk or ride through your own cloud of spray hanging in the air. Additionally, the warnings are that it can cause permanent blinding in humans.

This is an interesting thread and I believe relevant to all of us in a society that seems to becoming increasingly violent. Rising fuel and basic necessity prices are only going to contribute to an increase in crime in any already crime ridden environment.