Just as speed limits vary by neighborhood and local law, the laws governing possession and use of weapons vary greatly. To be a responsible owner and user includes doing the necessary research to find out what is legal – and what is not – where you are.

Find out not only the laws where you live but also the direction of recent court cases.

Self-defense is a great reason under some conditions, but not in others.

Some time ago it was legal to apply deadly force in protecting one’s home when a would-be assailant   merely set foot on private property. In recent years elderly women have been prosecuted for using the same force against a perpetrator who not only entered the home but made it all the way into the bedroom.

While pepper spray is legal in many states, there are some states where it may not be or where it is legal only in limited amounts.

The state of Michigan prohibits the use of pepper spray stronger than a 2% concentration. Furthermore, only one Tear Gas type is allowed and there is a size restriction on the container. Some companies offer products specifically designed for use in the state of Michigan.

In Wisconsin, only pepper spray is allowed and the concentration amount can be up to a 10% solution. Not only is there a size restriction, but there is also a safety feature requirement.

Permits to carry a concealed weapon cover a variety of situations from state to state and municipality to municipality. As if that weren’t enough to keep up with, laws change.

Some years ago the state of Florida worded the laws governing conditions under which it was acceptable to carry weapons (firearms) in vehicles in such a way as to make it virtually impossible to have a gun in one’s vehicle without having a concealed weapon permit. For a period of time the number of permit requests soared. Once the wording problems with the law were addressed and the permits expired, considerably fewer of the permits were re-upped.

Know your limitations and the limitations of those around you.

While some women (and men) are great in a crisis, keep cool and respond appropriately instead of react wildly, others may not do as well. Make it a point to talk through possible scenarios and explore a variety of responses.

If you are not comfortable with a firearm, arm yourself with a non-lethal alternative. If you are not comfortable with a weapon as powerful as a TASER, back down to something like a stun gun or, even further, to pepper spray. Whatever you choose, you need to be reasonably sure you are willing and able to take the appropriate action.

When finding out your rights as a private citizen, take care to figure out your responsibilities, too.

While driving a car is a privilege, there are attendant responsibilities to abide by the laws of the road AND to operate the vehicle safely and courteously.

The moral of the story is that the better informed you and your neighbors are, the more likely you are to support each other in times of need and the less likely you are to be on the receiving end of unwanted legal attention.