Anything can be a weapon - A mystery and suspense writing motto

Whether you are defending yourself from an attacker or trying to kill your wife and frame Guilder for it (Princess Bride joke), weaponry is unlimited because every object in your house can probably be used to kill or defend yourself. Please don't use this to suggest you can kill yourself! That is not the message I am promoting!

If any of you have ever watched The Red Green Show you know that "any tool is the right tool". When building a porch or a car that is absolutely not true, but when it comes to writing a self-defense or murder scene it is true. Below are the reasons I believe that the possibilities are endless for weaponry.

Self-Defense Scenarios

In the case of self-defense, this is a brilliant way to a have an unconventional weapon used. An umbrella? A letter opener? A frying pan? An encyclopedia? All of the above will work for this use. When you are being chased by someone with intent to kill you or assault you, one can't be picky about what one can use to defend themselves. If you see a fireplace poker you grab it. A frying pan, sure, why not! Just look at the zombie movies, like Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland for examples like this. 

Murder and Intent to Kill/Harm

This goes for a crime of passion, in most cases. I say this because a premeditated murder will have a premeditated weapon prepared and ready. A crime of passion? Not so much. Whatever is in the room or within reach will do. Again, I reference the horror genre for examples of this. Gremlins show the little gremlin creatures grabbing anything they can find to take on the humans trying to destroy them. This also shows one gremlin being microwaved to death. Anything goes in most horror genre movies.

Actual Examples from Real Life

These are real life examples, that I haven't made up, of murders that happened with household objects we would never, normally, consider dangerous. I can't make these up, and if you don't believe me click the first source at the bottom of the post. It has more details on all of these murders.

1. Richard Clare was killed by a spoon to the head in 2004. 

2. Alf Andersson was stabbed to death with a stilletto in 2013. 

3. Rebecca Love was stabbed with a pen 93 times in May 2007.

4. Marie Rankin was beaten to death with her crucifix. 

5. Monica Gooden was bludgeoned with an Xbox 360 in 2013. 

6. A 97-year-old man was beaten dead by a spatula.

7. Sreymon Claudia was beaten to death with a toilet tank lid until it broke.

8. Debra Hewitt murdered her boyfriend using her prosthetic leg. 

9. Daniel Kovarbasich smashed a jar of pickles on his molester's head. 

10. Patricia McCollum was strangled with a pair of sweatpants. 

I repeat, I can't make this up. These are all real. 

 Objects Used For Self Defense

There are a million or so nonlethal and lethal self-defense weapons made for self-defense specifically, but I'm not going to talk about those today. (Possibly another post to look out for, if you liked this one!) Today we talk about the inanimate objects that, with a little bit of imagination, can be used against an attacker. Below is a list of objects that can be used to fend off an attacker, inflict pain, or kill in self-defense. "Them" is your attacker.

1. Fire extinguishers - Blind someone and hit them on the head

2. Any sharp object in the house (yes, pens) - Stab them

3. Keys - Stab them

4. Anything for blunt force - slam it into them

5. Gardening tools and sports equipment - slam it into them and stab them (depends on tool)

5. Your shoes - Slam your heel into them

6. Household chemicals - Cause ill effects to them

7. Any Clothes, blankets, and sheets - cover their line of vision

All of these are common objects around the house, every one of them. Never underestimate the power of your gardening shed or supply closets. Writers, you live with many lethal objects in your house. Use your imagination when it comes to your mysteries and suspense.

Pictures:
Reddit
feministdisney
wewantinsanity.com
wired.com

Sources:

https://thoughtcatalog.com/kendra-syrdal/2016/03/10-unconventional-items-you-never-would-have-suspected-were-used-in-cold-blooded-murder-but-totally-were/

https://www.heraldextra.com/momclick/health-and-fitness/common-household-items-make-great-self-defense-tools/article_2b140a31-3b82-5568-b55a-cf7a34ebd2cc.html