For after-dark dog walks in DC lately, I've been carrying a Leki walking staff. I do so with two threats in mind: punks and loose dogs.

My dog is the best mugger deterrent so the staff is more likely to be deployed to protect her from a dog loose in the park or that gets away from its owner on a sidewalk.

If a mugger is not deterred by my dog and makes an aggressive move toward her, I will not give a rat's [blank] about theoretical legal jeopardy. You can hardly spit around here without hitting a lawyer and I'll have no trouble finding a good one to defend myself or counter-sue.

I "brandish" this "weapon" every night in my fairly heavily-patrolled neighborhood. And if I'm standing around talking to someone - such as a police officer - it is comfortable to lean on and people just assume I've a bum knee or ankle.

Over a decade ago, I was attacked on a dark November evening while walking home from work. It was an attempted smash-and-grab but I heard him approaching in time (and turned to see his black neoprene ski mask) to brace myself. I held on to my purse, yelled for help and he was chased down the street.

Unarmed smash-and-grab is the primary mugging m.o. in my neighborhood. If someone points a gun at me, they are welcome to my purse or i-Phone (the #1 target of muggers here these days).

http://www.rei.com/product/830442/leki-wanderfreund-antishock-walking-staff


This Leki staff is essentially a collapsible cane -- perfectly legal and something I have a history of using for hiking and when I've had a knee injury.