Norad45:
Best defensive light I ever owned, and still have is a reusable photoflash.
Used to work for the City of Milwaukee Housing Authority which required me to go into dark questionable places day or night. Before entering, I would flip the on switch so that the photoflash would charge up and go on in. If the need arose, a shot of high intensity light would definitly blind someone long enough for me to decide wheather to run or ??????????.
Knives, hammers, were stock and could be justified, but they once considered outlawing possession of Mag lites except for mini mags.
Made up a copy of of a right angle police baton out of 1/2" pipe and kept it with me all the time. It was the same shape as moisture trap piping setup on gas furnaces so no one ever questioned it.
Bountyhunter