port-a-lock

A portable door lock designed to fit on any door. Most are small enough to be carried in a pocket or purse. There are many different designs on the market. The most common design consists of a simple metal plate that hooks onto the door knob’s strike plate, with a sliding piece that prevents the door from opening. Most interior doors, in American homes, do not feature built-in locks.

This little-known device saves lives in cases of domestic violence, and they should be given away in schools.

My husband tried to beat me, but I took refuge in the kids’ room and locked the door with a port-a-lock. It kept the kids and me safe until the cops got there.