I have formal training for the use of pistol, pepper spray and baton for self defense. As a result I think umbrella is the best possible self defense weapon for

I have formal training for the use of pistol, pepper spray and baton for self defense. As a result I think umbrella is the best possible self defense weapon for civilians in most western nations: 1. Can be carried openly. (Unlike any other weapon.) 2. Can be used for threatening. (Unlike pepper spray, taser or knife.) 3. Legal to own without permit. (Unlike possibly any other.) 4. Guaranteed to be more effective than bare fists. Especially pepper spray is sometimes very unreliable on having any effect at all. Especially if the opponent is under the influence of opiates. 5. Allows to keep some distance to opponents fists while still being effective. 6. Can be used safely against all demographics and in all locations. (Only batons are equal in this. You can hit the head, but you can also avoid it. You can't know if someone you spray has asthma.) 7. Can be used legally. (You can't use knife for self defense "reasonably" and assume that you don't get charged for manslaughter.) 8. Everybody has clear understanding on the magnitude of damage an umbrella (or baton or baseball bat or any other "stick") will make. This means that the defender with umbrella is less likely to use it completely in excess. Also it means that the assailant may calculate correctly that the assault is ill advised. 9. Is not perceived threatening by itself by innocent by-passers. People carrying umbrellas don't cause everybody to get tense. 10. Can be used to various threat levels. You can gently tap a bratty teenager to the bottom with umbrella. And from there you can incapacitate violent drug addict with several blows to the head or anything in between. With pistol you can only use it when lethal force is acceptable. Openly carried umbrella is one of the very few weapons that can possibly deter violent crime without anybody knowing. Only pistol and batons are clearly better from individual viewpoint, but they require permits. Tasers and pepper sprays are only good as "more tools to the box" for guards and police.