The 'Sonny and Cher' of Self-Defense Have a Surprising Stance on Guns (Plus: Their Tips for Escaping an Attacker)

A husband-and-wife duo who have trained thousands of women and children in what they call "simple self-defense" strategies believe that guns and weapons are often a detriment for those looking to ward off attackers.

Tracy and Charlie Vega call themselves the "Sonny and Cher" of self-defense.

Dubbing themselves the "Sonny and Cher" of the self-defense industry, Tracy and Charlie Vega use fun and engaging tactics to train women and children between the ages of 9 and 91 in self-protection.

Contrary to what many might expect, the tactics offered by Vega are devoid of kicks, punches and other violent response mechanisms.

"It's about escaping versus fighting," Charlie told TheBlaze. "Simply put, we've all watched boxing or any kind of sport like that and these men train for years. The reality is -- when you start to punch and kick and fight, odds are [the stronger person is] going to win."

While many tout the benefits of having a concealed carry license or a gun in the home, Tracy and Charlie don't necessarily believe it's the best way to secure one's protection.

"There are ways that you can teach people to get away or how to confront people without a weapon," Charlie said.

Tracy added, "A weapon can be taken away from you very quickly."

The Vegas also have safety concerns when it comes to firearms in the home. Even if someone bought a gun with the intent of using it to protect their families, after years of not operating the it, homeowners may not use it well if an intruder does come after them.

"Once the bullet leaves the chamber, you're responsible. We're big proponents of pepper spray instead," Tracy said. "We encourage women and children 16 and older to carry pepper spray."

Another surprising piece of advice they gave pertains to fleeing attackers.

The Vegas explained that assailants who hold a gun to a victim's head and tell him or her to get into a car are often looking to transport victims to what police call a "secondary crime scene." It is in this latter location where victims are many times killed.

"If you go to the secondary crime scene, you have a 90 percent chance you will not come back," Charlie said.

So rather than get in the car and comply, the Vegas tell their clients to first try and figure out what the culprit wants.

If it's a purse or personal items, they recommend immediately handing them over. But if the person wants to abduct the victim, that's when the experts recommend saying "no" and running away in a zigzag pattern. While this may seem like a scary option, they believe it offers the best chance of survival.

"Most bad guys aren't good shots," Charlie said.

One of the biggest tips the two offer clients is to follow their instincts. They believe that women in particular have good inclinations.

"If it doesn't feel right it probably isn't. It's OK to be rude," Charlie said.

Also, they encourage women and children not to wear name tags -- and for parents not to put their kids' names on backpacks and lunch bags. These are obvious "ins" for people to approach and gain trust from prospective victims.

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Featured image via @defense4women Twitter account