From: "Christine M. Faltz" 
Subject: Re: A Question of Security
George, why are you so concerned about your security?  Do you live in a
high-crime area?  Have you been threatened/assaulted?  Or is it a general
fear?
When you say "legally blind" what do you mean?  Would you be able to hit a
target with a gun using your vision?  If not, a gun is not advisable --
aside from the fact that if it is gotten away from you -- very possible
and probable if you are surprised by more than one hoodlum -- you are
pretty much dead.
What about a  Model Mugging course?  They teach you up close and personal
self-defense that works wonderfully if you can't retreat or want to injure
and attept retreat -- and if you want to do worse.  In fact, there is a
group in California called Blind Ambition which runs classes with
one-on-one instruction for blind people.  I don't know if they've got a
course in your area, but if you're interested, drop me a line and iI'll
find their e-mail address for you.
In the long-term, you could consider aikido, judo or jujitsu, all of which
are mostly or completely doable by blind people.  In Model Mugging
courses, the assailant dresses in a protective suit and "attacks" you,
enabling you to go all out so that the instructor can assess your ability
to protect yourself in a real-life situation.
Christine
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