One Stop Security

While it might not be as convenient as a stun gun or can of pepper spray, one self-defense weapon that’s available to people is the blowgun. Also known as a blowpipe or blow tube, users should be aware that these weapons do have one major restriction placed on them. Used to blow projectiles such as darts or paintballs, the object can only be blown with as much force as the lungs of the user can muster. So if the person using the blowgun has weak lungs, the projectiles might not be launched too far or too hard.

Used against other humans as well as small game, blowguns have been utilized by a variety of cultures. Most notably, they are common in South American tribes as well as some South East Asian tribes. Again, their most common use was hunting very small animals such as rabbits or even monkeys. Blowguns even made an appearance in North America with the Cherokee tribe. Today, they are more commonly used for sport, and there are even attempts to make it an Olympic event.

During the summer months in Seattle there was a peculiar assailant tormenting pedestrians on a trail in Ballard. Over a two week span several bikers and walkers here impaled with 4-inch long darts. The attacker apparently was using a blowgun to hit unsuspecting people, seemingly at random.

After conducting a short investigation, Seattle police were unable to make any arrests in the case. Although the guns are legal, it is obviously against the law to use them in this manner. Most states also have restrictions on using blowguns for hunting as well.