Pennies from Heaven Technique

[Johnlogic121]

One of my instructors introduced a techniuqe to us he called the "Pennies from Heaven" Technique. For this technique, you carry about 40 or 50 pennies in your left front pocket and walk down the street with your left hand in your pocket over the coins. If something wierd happens and you get violently assaulted, you can pull the coins out of your pocket and hurl them into the air as a momentary distraction. Anything you throw into the air will usually distract somebody for a little while, and during this time you can turn to run away or lash out with a series of rapid attacks before you turn to run away. In another variation, you carry a roll of coins in your pocket that are in a paper sheathe like the ones you use to turn the coins in at the bank. Carrying coins in such a way is perfectly legal. If someone accosts you and you can't talk your way out of the problem, you can close your fist around the roll of coins and use the roll of coins to strengthen your fist as you punch. The roll of coins punch feels almost like getting hit with brass knuckles, to a lesser degree. Has anybody got any techniques that are like these? Another variation is to carry one small stone in your pocket (legally you can carry one small stone, but only one). You can strengthen the fist you make around the stone or throw it at someone. With practice, you can even target someone's eye with accuracy. Some fans of the Ohio State Football Team carry a buckeye in their pocket and over the years these good luck nuts get nice and shiny - you can use these like a small stone for throwing, but they are a little too small to really strengthen your fist. Does anybody have any similiar tricks? Thanks in advance for your thoughts, as any comments are welcome. -Johnlogic

[cross]

Very interesting use of an improvised weapon.

[Montana]

One of my instructors introduced a techniuqe to us he called the "Pennies from Heaven" Technique. For this technique, you carry about 40 or 50 pennies in your left front pocket and walk down the street with your left hand in your pocket over the coins. If something wierd happens and you get violently assaulted, you can pull the coins out of your pocket and hurl them into the air as a momentary distraction. Anything you throw into the air will usually distract somebody for a little while, and during this time you can turn to run away or lash out with a series of rapid attacks before you turn to run away.

Throwing them into the air wouldn't really be the best use of the coins. Casually dropping them on the ground is better, as it takes their eyes downward. My opinion of course.

In another variation, you carry a roll of coins in your pocket that are in a paper sheathe like the ones you use to turn the coins in at the bank. Carrying coins in such a way is perfectly legal. If someone accosts you and you can't talk your way out of the problem, you can close your fist around the roll of coins and use the roll of coins to strengthen your fist as you punch. The roll of coins punch feels almost like getting hit with brass knuckles, to a lesser degree. Has anybody got any techniques that are like these?

This is a technique as old as the hills. Nothing new.

Another variation is to carry one small stone in your pocket (legally you can carry one small stone, but only one). You can strengthen the fist you make around the stone or throw it at someone. With practice, you can even target someone's eye with accuracy. Some fans of the Ohio State Football Team carry a buckeye in their pocket and over the years these good luck nuts get nice and shiny - you can use these like a small stone for throwing, but they are a little too small to really strengthen your fist. Does anybody have any similiar tricks? Thanks in advance for your thoughts, as any comments are welcome. -Johnlogic

It's illegal to carry more than one stone in your pocket? Please..somebody send me a link that shows me it's illegal to carry two (or more) rocks in your pocket. I'd love to see that one.

[Johnlogic121]

I don't have a web link about the legality of carrying stones in your pocket for self-defense. I heard about it because I'm a government employee who works with an agency connected to the Defense Department. If you are a field geologist working on a formal scientific expedition, you can carry rock samples in a case with you, but you have to drop those samples off when you get back to the city. It seems that people have tried to use the trick of carrying a small rock many times before to use as a small throwing projectile. A kid with five stones can potentially throw them to harrass policemen, and policing the possession of stones is probably stronger in Iraq than it is in the United States, but kids in America do throw stones at policemen sometimes. Even the cavemen probably used small stones to harrass and harm their adversaries, and the ancient Greeks even had military units called "stone throwers" who would literally carry a bag of stones into battle and launch volleys against opposing troops with ordinary arm strength. Later, people started using slings to throw stones, and a person who is accurate with a sling really can kill somebody. Ancient units of slingers didn't need as much training for accuracy when they would get 60 to 100 men grouped together to aim their slings at an area and attack in a big volley. In modern times, you can purchase sling shots and specially made sling shot pellets that are very accurate and very powerful because the sling shots are made of specialized rubber materials that let you get tremendous force from ordinary arm strength. If you are really curious about the legality of possessing stones for throwing, you might be able to call the non-emergency number for the local sherriff's department and ask someone who might be kind enough to look into the matter for you to find the exact details. Police officers are always happy to serve and protect, and they prefer to serve than to protect because it is often safer. Good luck out there, -JL.

[bushido_man96]

I have heard of sling shots and wrist rockets as being restricted, but not stones. I don't know of any local ordinances that deal with it here.

I don't think I would use coins as a distraction. I need all the money I can get, so I don't toss my coins, not even into wishing wells or pools. I would try to think of something else to use; maybe a pouch of sand or something. Better yet, OC spray is legal to carry, and would serve the purpose much better.

[DWx]

One of the best things I've heard about carrying is one of those rape alarm thingys. They usually sit on a keyring and emit a high pitch noise when you press them. Good for distracting your attacker and attracting attention.

[ps1]

I don't have a web link about the legality of carrying stones in your pocket for self-defense. I heard about it because I'm a government employee who works with an agency connected to the Defense Department. If you are a field geologist working on a formal scientific expedition, you can carry rock samples in a case with you, but you have to drop those samples off when you get back to the city. .

I could be wrong but I don't remember reading anything in the US Constitution about rocks in the pocket. Because anything not covered in the constitution is delegated to the state, this law and the legality of carrying rocks will differ from state to state, county to county and so on. It may be illegal where you're from, but it's fine in Ohio.

The use of any instrument in the manner of a weapon will make it a weapon in the eyes of the court. Therefore, when you use a roll of coins as a way to enhance your fist...that's just like using brass knuckles. I'm not saying it's a bad idea or that you will go to jail for it. Just that you must be able to defend your actions in court.

[armanox]

I could be wrong but I don't remember reading anything in the US Constitution about rocks in the pocket. Because anything not covered in the constitution is delegated to the state, this law and the legality of carrying rocks will differ from state to state, county to county and so on. It may be illegal where you're from, but it's fine in Ohio.

Not that the governments listen to the Constitution anyway...After all, "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

And, I personally would like to believe that this means all armaments, not just firearms.

So, technically the Constitution prohibits the states from creating anti-gun laws. Currently there is a case before SCOTUS about this (see District of Columbia v. Heller).