What guns can I keep for self-defence in India?
My earlier answers to similar queries is worth a read -Anand C K Shashidhar's answer to How do you get a legal gun licence in India?Anand C K Shashidhar's answer to Who can get a gun license in India?Anand C K Shashidhar's answer to How do I get a pistol license in Punjab?Anand C K Shashidhar's answer to What is the procedure for an Indian civilian to own a gun?So essentially,Indian Arms Act allows two types of licenses - the NPB or Non Prohibited Bore and the PB, the Prohibited Bore.NPB licenses can be issued to anyone of Indian Nationality who can claim a licensee status under the following:Self Defence - Individuals who could be prone to being attacked for reasons including being wealthy, being under threat, etc.General Security - which include provision of security for Banks, Institutions, etc. This can also cover the gun men and protection squad of VVIPs and politicians.Crop Protection - hose who have agricultural or similar lands which need protection from Non-Scheduled pests and vermin, like boars, etc.Sports Shooting - Those under sports shooting discipline who need guns for sports purposes.Returning NRI - Any Indian who is returning to India and has owned a gun in his foreign residence for over 2 years, can apply for an Indian license and bring back the gun they owned abroad.Foreign National Status - Any foreign National is allowed to own and bear arms for a maximum period of 6 months during their stay in India, given valid reasons.That said, let us now look into the types of guns one can own legally.Based on the type of license you apply (and it gets granted), you may be allowed to own and posses either or few of the following:Handgun - Pistol or RevolverRifleSBBL or DBBL - this included the new pump action shogun that the Ordinance Factory makes.(SBBL stands for Single Barrel Breach Loading and DBBL for Double BBL)Your allotment of rounds has to sections - the first is How many can you buy and keep with you at one time and the second is How many can you buy in an year.These can change, again, depending on the type of license.And in these types of guns, there is also PB and NPB category.PB and NBP varies by the caliber that these types of guns are. Mostly, PB guns are of the ammo that the defense and similar forces use, and hence classified as a non-commercial and non-civilian arm. Check Page 86 and related in the PDF download link sent earlier.Best …
What are the items that I can keep legally with me for self-defense in India (without the requirement of license)? Can I keep machete and stun gun?
.NO, legally you cannot keep a machete.But you can keep a “grass cutting sword” that somewhat resembles a machete, but you will need to have a garden or even a public park closer home to prove that you do some work genuine grass-cutting with it.MAY BE, you can keep a stun gun*. (*there are multiple types, leading to a big confusion as there is no clarity)Whether the one available in India actually are worth keeping for self-defence is a big question mark. Please do not make a purchase by what you see in advertisements.Other than that you can legally keep the following without a license:A calm brain (the deadliest weapon)Your hands / legsDogsSticks / Rolling pin (Belan) / Bats / Hockey (of different types)Kitchen knife (blade less than 5 in)Chilli / Pepper powdersPepper spray cansNailsPins (Safety pin.hairpin, etc)MarblesCoinsSocks / Muffler / Ropes / BeltsKey chainsPens/PencilsHairbrush with handleHot liquid; even normal liquids can help, let’s say “spit”MagazinesCatapult, and so onIn fact I can go on and on creating this list as anything or everything can serve as a weapon in trained hands.Honestly, just having a so-called self-defence weapon at home or on person is no guarantee that it will keep you safe and protected unless you know how to use them with a calm mind.And to do that proper training is required that improves your situational awareness and the ability to respond when under threat. Because best of the people can just crumble under minimal pressure and take wrong decision.Self-defence is a simple, yet complicated subject. Learn about it without getting wrong information from those heavily promoted by the marketing departments who want to sell their products to those who are unaware.Like I have already mentioned right in the beginning, a calm brain is the deadliest weapon.Through proper training learn to use it the most, in handling difficult situations.That’s all. Hope it helps.
Is carrying and using pepper spray for self defense legal in India for both males and females?
Yes. It is legal to keep Pepper Spray with you irrespective of your gender.A female can carry it inside her per or backpack. A male can carry the same in his laptop or work bag. Both can carry it in the holster and hang on the purse/bag.Products like Pepper Spray is defined as arms; under the 'ARMS' act, anything made or designed for the specific purpose of Defence or Offence falls under the category of 'ARMS'. Even a wooden pole made for the reason of attacking or defending is an "ARM", however if the same is used for agriculture purpose it is not labelled as an "ARM". Under the 'ARMS" act, license is required only for "Fire Arms" (containing gun powder & explosive ingredients)/ lethal weapons, hence no license is required for these self defence products.However, please note that the usage of pepper spray is admissible under IPC Section 96, Section 97, Section 102 and Section 105, and Section 106, subject to case specific legal considerations. However, misuse or unwarranted use of these products is a crime. We suggest you inform the nearest police station about any incident pertaining to assault, harassment, and violence and subsequent use of our product(s).To know more, visit Women's Rights and Self Defence LawsAnd To shop for pepper spray, visit Pepper Spray
Is it legal to carry a baton for self defence in India?
under section 96 of IPC. It is clearly defined that nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of ROPD(right of private defence) but it has some essential in it too.1) It commences the very moment when a person apprehends the threat and danger and it continues to exist till the threat is over.2) Doctrine of proportionality applies i.e a person can inflict only as much harm as he apprehends from the aggression.3) It cannot be exercised if there is sufficient time to take recourse public authority such as police.4) ROPD can also be exercised in the respect of third person and his property.So it depends on how you use the baton and in which situation. Suppose if some old person who can't even walk properly is threatening you that he'll shoot you. You can't exercise the ROPD because you know that he is not even able to walk properly how will he dare to shoot.Another example suppose that someone slaps you and in return you fired a bullet upon him. You are not exercising the ROPD you extending the ROPD.So use your baton carefully cause itmight make you liable.
What weapons are legal to keep in home in India?
According to INDIAN ARMS ACT 1959 Pepper spray is legal and any knife\weapon with blade larger than 5 inch (excluding the handle) is considered sword and is illegal. There are some exemption fot sikh community regarding the sword. Here is Croatia weapons are group in four categories: A, B, C and D. Weapons of A category are military weapons and only police and military can have them. Soldiers and police officers can have them only while they are on duty. These are military missiles, automatic fire arms, firearms hidden in other objects, explosives, semi-automatic weapons if it is similar to automatic weapons… Civilians can’t get license for weapons of A category. Weapons of B category are almost all semiautomatic short and long firearms that are not in A category (hunting weapons), pistols, old weapons… There are five licensees for such weapons that civilians can get. First is hunting license (person can have it at home and carry it only in hunting or shooting sport club). Second license is license for possessing firearms (person can have weapon at home fir protection but it is not allowed to carry it around expect in sport club for practicing shooting). It is not easy to get such license. Third license is for possessing and carrying weapons (it is almost impossible to get such license). People who work as security can get it, but they are allowed to carry guns around only while they are at work. Forth license is for members of sport shooting club and they are allowed only to have gun at home and in club. Last license is on for old weapons. Collectors can get it, but most of weapons will be deactivated. Weapons of C category are gas guns, old firearms and reproductions of old firearms where you put black powder in pipe. For such weapons you do not need license, but you have to report to the police that you have it. Weapons of D category are air guns, bows and crossbows, electric shockers, pepper sprays and cold weapons (including bayonets ). For such weapons you do not need license or reporting it, but you are not allowed to carry it on public place.
Can I have a weapon in India for my self-defence?
Honestly, the answer to your question is NOT as simple as your question. And there is every possibility that you may not actually like my answer. However, I request you to go through the entire answer before you choose to disagree or agree..First of all you need to understand that anything and everything can be used as a weapon if it is capable of causing/inflicting deadly injury to another.It means, a pair of socks or even a safety pin can be used as a weapon in trained hands.On the same lines you can keep a “Pepper Spray Can” or even a knife if its blade is less than 5″ in size, without getting in trouble with the law, unless specified. You don’t need a license to carry them with you.But always keep in mind that the law changes (i.e. gets manipulated) as per the convenience of the individual/body who is in power at any given time. You may not be allowed to carry a Pepper Spray (to me, the Pepper Spray is an absolute waste of money for multiple reasons) or knife (less than 5″) with you in an aircraft. In fact I have even seen metal ballpoint pens being removed during the security checks at the airports.You can always keep a licensed gun for self-defence. But whether you will be able to procure a license or carry it everywhere, are two big questions. Further, in the hands of untrained individuals even a gun is an absolute waste.In my opinion, the BEST self-defence weapon is the one:that is not treated as a weapon by anyone.that can be carried anywhere without appearing to be a threat to others.that can be used in an instant without wasting precious time.I can certainly give you many ideas about non-threatening self-defence weapons based on the criteria above, but would not like to share it in an open forum. Please use your imagination and see what works the best for you. And then learn to use it/them properly while you are in a safe environment.Having said all that, please keep in mind that the BEST self-defence weapon is one’s own calm brain, a healthy body and lots of commonsense. To develop that I strongly recommend that you start learning self-defence from a trained, experienced and wise self-defence professional.Mind you, I haven’t said “martial art” that is taught everywhere and is often promoted as self-defence.Don’t depend on a weapon for self-defence as it can easily be used against you. Use your personal training.That’s all for now.
Is it legal to carry a stun gun anywhere in India?
If used within the legally specified conditions, a stun gun is legal to be carried in India.The Indian Penal Code grants a universal right to private defence in the country under Sections 96 to 106. These sections collate the right to private defence of person and property, and also specify the conditions in which this right can be exercised.A stun gun is a handheld weapon that sends an electrical charge pulsing through the target. This charge is nonlethal but it immobilizes the recipient for up to 10 minutes.Stun guns come in two main types - projectile and target.Projectile guns fire conductors that release the charge on contact with the target. These are more commonly used by law enforcement personnel, and as far as I can tell, their availability for public use is restricted.Target guns require you to press the device into the body of the other person as you release the current. These tend to be slightly more dangerous considering that you have to get close to the other person, but they are highly effective because it allows you to regain control of the situation quickly. They also come in various models that can either be combined with other devices or be cleverly concealed to look like a lipstick or travel bottle of perfume. This type of stun gun is legal to be carried and used in exercise of Right to Private Defence!
Why don't girls in India carry safety devices, like pepper spray, with them for their safety?
My experience is similar to Dhakshita's.These are the reasons why I don't carry a pepper spray or any such device :Availability: I asked the major departmental stores, if they had it. They looked at me as if I had asked for their kidney. Even if I did find it later on, it just wasn't feasible. More on that...Feasibility: these are the items in my handbag on any given day: A big fat heavy umbrellaWater bottle, the 1l oneHeavy bunch of keysWallet, sanitizer, lip balm, tissuesEmergency medicine, band aid, pad etc.Now, not only will the pepper spray not fit in, it will make it extremely heavy. 3. Practicality: Similar to the above reason, by the time I scour my bag for the pepper spray at the time of emergency, among the n number of things, I'd be dead meat.4. Easier Alternative: I have an alternative to that. I usually tie my hair in a bun, and I use this to secure it.The one on the right. That would be much easier for me to use. Or I have my big bunch of keys. To poke into the eyes. Or my heavy umbrella. Or my handbag as a whole. So next time you see me standing in a metro with my heavy bag, be kind and offer to carry my bag. ;)EDIT:So I did buy a pepper spray, so that I can give an informed, and unbiased viewpoint.I would not suggest carrying a pepper spray, because it can be extremely dangerous for you in close quarters. I tried test using it, keeping my hand far away from me, and just spritzed a little, and I spent the whole night sneezing and coughing. Now Imagine the perpetrator using it back on you? How safe will you be?I would any day learn self defence and martial arts instead of carrying a scrawny thing in my bag. And the audacity of the people who are giving speeches to the women on what they must carry.Women should carry pepper spray, in their heavy bag, and in thei rpocket, or in their hand ( women wear dresses/sarees too), because there are some sick men out there who can not keep "it" in their pockets. Sad, Sad status quo.