Using this scenario as an example, what could you have done?
Assualt and discrimination. Today while at a local store my 8 year-old daughter and I were assaulted/accosted by an unstable woman. She was upset we did not have on a mask.
We both have valid medical exemptions and the owner and employees of this store are aware of this.
Unfortunately, the owner was not there. The woman left line and came to stand behind us in line. She began to use foul language, “Dumb a** people don’t want to be wearing a f***ing mask” etc. She then sprayed my daughter and I with a can of Lysol repeatedly. I turned around to address her. She continued to spray us. My child had a severe respiratory episode and I sent her to my oldest outside to our car for her inhaler.
I attempted to remind this individual that mask mandates make exemptions for people with certain medical conditions. Which we have. She sprayed more Lysol at me.
The employees asked the woman to stop.
I went across the store to people helped. She came behind me a second time and sprayed me with Lysol several more times. The Lysol sprayed directly on my exposed skin (neck, ears, hair, and clothes). My skin is burned raw. I had a pretty bad reaction to the chemicals.
If you have a child with severe asthma you know how scary a respiratory episode can be. My baby girl was sweating, threw up on her clothes, and literally peed on herself. She was so scared and embarrassed she had an accident since she hasn’t had one since probably preschool. It was a mess.
While I was outside with my daughter she came out and attempted to physically fight me in front of my daughter. When I sent my daughter inside of the restaurant (next to the store) with my son, the lady went to her car cursing me some more. She was a loud disgusting coward who is seriously ignorant.
I was on the phone with the owner of the store she attacked us in. The owner heard everything. She told the assistant manager she ‘sprays herself with Lysol when people do not wear masks’.
This woman drove away erratically when Merced Police arrived. Report made already. Just need to identify this person.
Woman drove a light green Chevy Volt with no front or back plates. I will be pressing charges for assault with a weapon (chemical) for both myself and my child. If anyone has information regarding this person please contact me. I have reported this information to the police.
So have you thought through your choices here? How do they compare? Let us know what came to your mind.
In a scenario like this you’re entitled to defend yourself and family from physical harm. There are a variety of tools that can be used and the amount of force varies based on the assault being committed. This scenario fits the use of pepper spray to stop the attack.
We teach a number of situational awareness skills and avoidance practices. We are all accustomed to being able to be where we’re entitled to be, and although we are never responsible for someone else’s illegal actions, there are things we can do to 1) avoid situations and 2) defend ourselves should we find ourselves being assaulted in some manner.
1). Yes there are all of the public places we’re entitled to be. But having the right to be somewhere and making the decision to leave a developing and potentially unsafe situation is always a choice of ours. It’s not convenient, it’s not fair, but at the end of the day we should all be thinking that we will bring ourselves and family members home safe.
When it comes to self-defense and situational awareness, if we see someone agitated by something we’re doing, we should recognize that as a threat indicator. (Her movement towards you, her words, her angry expression). We too often assume everyone is operating with the same level of common sense as us. They don’t, so don’t expect an angry person to be reasonable, they’re already crossing social boundaries with their verbal attacks.
That could be a time to leave the location and come back. Again, it’s not right or fair, but it’s a safe thing to do for you and your daughter. You’re not going to change a person’s position when they’re already angry.
2). Next, what’s in her hands? Her body language will tell you where she’s at emotionally, her hands will tell you what she could harm you with. When you put the two together the threat is escalating. If we’re on our own we may decide to stay, if we have minors with us their safety becomes a priority, it’s time to leave.
Next, if you’re this deep in the situation now and still in the vicinity of this person you should now be prepared to defend yourself and children so you can get out.
A good go to item would be pepper spray. It does not injure anyone, it just does what we know it to do, creates a burning sensation. You can and should learn more about it and decide whether this is something that fits. You’re legally able to defend yourself with it if someone initiates an assault.
Click here to see options available through Amazon
It’s always easier to not have an incident, and sometimes that means leaving that place that you’re entitled to be at, even if it’s “not right” or inconvenient. But safety first, people are not all reasonable like we expect. Perhaps getting a face shield is also a smart early decision to offset not wearing a mask.
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