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A defensive weapon is a personal weapon that is primarily intended for defending the user against an attacker. The most prudent way to avoid injury in an attack is to foresee it and avoid it. Since this is not always possible, defensive weapons must, to be effective, be small and light enough to be carried easily; if they are not, then then will not be carried, and will be absent when needed. They must also be ready for instant use, since attackers are generally not going to make their intentions known ahead of time. Often the mere presence of a defensive weapon will discourage a criminal attacker; they will avoid the armed victim and choose a safer, defenseless target.
Throughout most of history, the dominant defensive weapon would have been a club of some sort. With the advent of the Bronze Age, the defensive weapon of choice became a dagger or sword. These were small and light enough to be carried in a sheath worn by the user, and could be quickly drawn in case of an attack. With the changes in metal technologies and personal armor, the sword evolved to fit the needs of the user. In Europe, this was the usually a rapier or similar item, while in Japan it would be the katana.
With the advent of the reliable handgun, the sword began to fade in importance as a defensive weapon of choice, although there was a considerable overlap when it was not uncommon to see sword and pistol worn at the same time. The advent of the revolver, which allowed multiple, rapid shots before reloading, signified the final demise of the sword. With reliable handguns, the range of the defensive weapon moved from roughly twice the arm's length to dozens of yards (meters). A modern expert could easily hit a man-sized target from 50 yards (50 meters) with a handgun. Still, the handgun is primarly a defensive weapon. Compare the handgun to a sniper's rifle, which is used as an offensive weapon, and can be used to engage targets at ranges of over a mile (1.6 km).
When portability is not an issue, such as defense of a vehicle or dwelling, a common choice for a defensive weapon would be a riot shotgun. Being larger, a riot shotgun is aimed far more easily than a handgun, and the ability of the shotgun to fire multiple projectiles per shot makes the probability of obtaining a debilitating hit on an assailant much higher. Shotguns also give the option of using special ammunition, such as rubber buckshot or rubber bullets, that turns a shotgun into a less-than-lethal weapon.
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