Family is in major trouble and I'm grasping at straws desperately to help them

[Arkadia]

Do. Not. Get. A. Gun.

Unless you go through intensive training firstly in handling and firing a firearm, and secondly in how to react in different scenarios, which will take at the very least a year.

A gun immediately aggravates any situation, and if there is a moment's hesitation or wrong decision making the other guy, who has undoubtedly been in many more of these types of situations will kill you.

I agree whole heartedly with the pepper spray though, and if you want to do more go do Krav Maga. It's going to take just as long as learning how/when to use a gun properly but at least you will have the element of surprise. And hand to hand to hand combat will beat a gun in confined spaces any day unless the guy REALLY knows what he's doing in which case your stuffed anyways.

More practical for right now is pepper spray, get the kind that can spray a couple of metres and use it to GTFO of the situation.

Go to the press in any case, if they decide to publish a story all the better for you. They would love the part about dockets disappearing and judges making completely wrong verdicts. And if it's out in the public and something happens everyone will immediately know who to go after (making you a much less likely target).

I wish things worked they way they do in the movies...set a few "home alone" traps and watch the hilarity unravel. It's mostly women here (my mom, sister and myself) and I'm small framed, my boyfriend is a gentle giant and my brother is really skinny...it feels like we're the underdog team in a movie but things don't turn out quite as nice when it's real life and it's definitely not entertaining. Nobody sleeps at night. We're constantly looking over our shoulders and help is ridiculously difficult to obtain...I cannot believe how hard it is to get anyone at the police station to use their discretion and think for themselves. I've lost all faith in the system.

 

[Arkadia]

Does your employer or BF's have an Employee Assistance Program? It cover even family, as long as they live on the same premises as you.

I would suggest you use that option and get access to a whole lot of benefits (mostly free of charge)

We're self employed. Web developers. Didn't think I'd want to be an employee so bad in my life.

 

[Arkadia]

YOu should call SPCA to charge your father for animal cruelty. but unfortunate it very difficult without proof unless there is witness and media would be ok.

Arkadia I'm sorry what you have through and difficult life. Hopefully your mother and sibling will be safe and he must locked or disappear for rest of life.

I did try but he snaked out of it...even had an article in the local paper about it. He used temek to poison two of our dogs. He just claimed to know nothing about it and nothing happened to him.

This is a person that abuses his body with alcohol and drugs and never seems to suffer for it...he hurts people and animals and never needs to suffer consequences...it drives me up the wall how he keeps getting away with everything and it's so difficult to get a responsive professional to help bring some justice. :wtf:

 

[The_Mowgs]

I wish I could just get out of the country and far away from all of this. I'm not much of a fighter. I'm small framed and pretty much can't fight to save my life...dammit...that's too literal.

I will have to figure something out...like some people were saying getting a gun and training on how to use it is a lengthy process and I probably have less time than I imagine - even self defense training...there's probably too little time left for me to even learn enough for it to be effective.

I'm getting the neighborhood watch to keep a closer eye on the house. I have the police on speed dial. Knives in various rooms. An escape route should anyone break in (if we catch it on time)...two dogs and I'm having motion sensor lights installed as soon as I can.

Well done for planning ahead for possible attack. Keep dogs inside the house during the evening when you sleep, they will wake you when someone tries to enter, outside will be to easy to posion.

If you have to fight, aim for the crotch, throat areas as hard as you can. A upwards palm hit (hard) against the nose will render most attackers disorientated or cause their eyes to tear up enough to give you time to escape or reach a knife.

Also exchange contact details with neighbours and be observent when moving around outside.

If I may ask where do you live? Never know it might be close to someone on the forum that could provide assistance.

 

[Datura]

Jesus.

 

[DrewChan]

My suggestion.... move..... far away. If you're living day to day, get on transport with the sane section of your family and relocate to a small unknown suburb and start over.

Waitress/bartend until you can get better jobs. Let the rest sort themselves out.

 

[Jakkels1991]

Ok so this may sound strange, but its just an idea. How about setting up some CCTV type hidden cams, for if this does happen again you have clear evidence of his ways... Once again just a idea.

Ps. I know somewhat how you feel, GF's dad also has these aggressive outbursts when he has been drinking. Hit her and her mum one day, I rushed there after a phone call from the neighbours.. Got there and gave him some of his own medicine. its been about 18 month since the indecent and all has been well so far.

But best of luck and stay safe.