"D.C. statute states anything that you use in a prohibited manner can be considered a prohibited weapon," he said. "Even a writing pen could be considered prohibited under certain circumstances."Yes, exactly. That's what an assault weapons is.
It's one of the reasons I've always enjoyed Jackie Chan movies--he takes every day objects and employs them as integral parts of his fight choreography. If you don't assess your surroundings, wherever you may be, and don't notice what is at hand and how it could be used, I'd recommend more focus on situational awareness. Knowing what is around you--to pick up, to wield, to throw, to get behind--can be every bit as important as who is around you.
You never know when you'll need to buy yourself a few seconds to get to your carry weapon (or to give yourself an edge if caught without it), and besides, making this a habit can only help reinforce the mindset needed to anticipate, react and prevail.
[Via Armed and Safe]