This stroke has pointed my thoughts toward the subject of self-defense for people with disabilities.  I can fake it but feel weak and clumsy at the moment.  For all that I'm listening to a never-ending litany from my wife...   "Slow down, take it easy, quit rushing around."  I'm not one to back off for this, after all - Pain is weakness leaving the body.  I plan to do everything I was doing before, just a bit slower...including taking care of my own and my family's security. That's still OK at home, my strong side is still good, and pumping a shotgun is still no problem (I checked).  I'm somewhat ambidextrous so reloading is OK too.  Being out and about is the question.

New Jersey disallows CCW, so it was always a choice between running, using your personal fighting skills, or grabbing something heavy or sharp. 

I'm not feeling that bad and still have strength, but running is no longer an option, and without fine motor control my meager fighting skills are non-existant.  Carrying something heavy or sharp is of course illegal in this most nanny of states.

I've always carried one of those 'assisted opening' knives, at the moment a Ken Onion Rainbow Leek, and it is barely legal by mode of operation and size.  Like all virtue in Jersey, it's negotiable.

2C:39-3; Apparently you need an explainable lawful purpose to get away with carrying anything besides a dagger/dirk/stiletto, auto, gravity, or ballistic knife, which are flat-out illegal. Even then, as in most states, certain less-common knives would probably be "per se" weapons even with an explanation. * NJ state police seem to think all knives are illegal unless the carrier has an explainable lawful purpose. Legally, that probably isn't so, but it may take a court hearing, some lightening of your pockets, and some quality time in jail to sort things out.

I've got an expandable baton in the car and that is certainly illegal.

So I can't run, can't fight, can't carry a decent weapon, but I'm out and about like normal.  A nice heavy cane would be OK, but I"m trying not to cater to this hopefully temporary disability. 

Notice 'calling a cop' is not an option.

Unfortunately neither is this. 



The neurologist said I don't need rehab...just do everything you think you can do and keep at it.  Today I hung curtains under the watchful eye of the memsa'b (the screwdriver was a trick), and while I dropped everything at least twice, I persevered.  I also drove her to several stores and took her to dinner.  The mooch and I took our normal weekend walkies in the woods.  At least the dog doesn't rag on me to slow down.

I think I'll go shooting this week and see what muscle memory has survived.