Before considering "less-lethal" self-defense options—such as martial arts proficiency, avoiding high-risk areas, carrying a knife or baton, or utilizing a guard dog—examine the following tragic case.

"It was like an out-of-body experience. It was surreal... You look back on it, and you say, 'That wasn't even real.' You might say it was an altered state..."

Meredith Emerson's family and dog.

This case may have concluded differently had Ms. Emerson been armed with a firearm while hiking. It is important to note that she had followed all conventional safety advice:

• She was an accomplished martial artist in two different disciplines.
• She was accompanied by a dog.
• She intentionally avoided known high-crime areas.
• She was in peak physical condition and completely sober.
• During the struggle, she had access to and utilized both a knife and a baton.
• She fought tenaciously and never surrendered.
• Law enforcement was actively searching for her shortly after her disappearance.

Despite these advantages, the outcome was tragic. This case underscores that while secondary defenses are valuable, a firearm provides a level of protection that other methods may not reach in a life-threatening encounter.