You Are Attacked by an Unknown When Do you Defend

[JackBull]

You are walking along a residential street, encounter an angry homeowner that is cussing you out. You keep walking and are attacked from behind, knocked to the ground. Assailant is bigger than you are. You don't know if he is crazy, drunk or drugged. You are armed, what do you do?

 

[375hh1973]

Shoot him

 

[blume357]

that's the easy answer which I don't disagree with but it really would depend on a whole lot of other things depending on the situation.

 

[ronto]

You have to assess the situation before you start firing, just brandishing may stop him, if not and he continues to threaten your life you don't have much of a choice as to what to do.

 

[beentheredone]

Not our job to tell you. It is a decision you will have to make on the spot, and no one can make it for you. Sorry.

 

[Johnnu2]

It depends on what state (of the Union) you are lying on the ground in....

J.

 

[gjgalligan]

that's the easy answer which I don't disagree with but it really would depend on a whole lot of other things depending on the situation.

Well, the discs in my lower back are wore out and I have already had a heart attack. That kinda inicates that I would not be able to physicaly fight anybody. So shooting them is the obvious choice.

Edit to add: because of my back even a fast walk is out of the question, no way could I run. I would have to stand & fight with the only option I have once it gets past talking.

 

[Dave P.]

Attempt to scramble around and get up and run! If he doesn't catch me in the first 20 to 30 feet he isn't going to.
If he's on top of me and crazy mad dog trying to kill me and I couldn't fight him off I guess I'd try to shoot him,
depending on how strong he was and how bad i was already hurt it might be too late to even do that.
My first instinct is going to be an attempt to just get away.

 

[dweis]

It depends on what state (of the Union) you are lying on the ground in....

J.

Exactly. It is important to know state’s law on the use of lethal force. And not all states follow the same standard. If the person has no deadly weapon and I shoot, my only defense is disparity of force because the perp is bigger than me and has attacked me.

I feel fortunate for having been trained to engage in H2H combat. Size can be overcome with technique. The sternum punch being a good one as is the four knuckle jab to the throat.

 

[Tenbore]

It is a disparity of force situation if he is much bigger and stronger than you.

 

[BearBiologist]

First of all, in all the self-defense and security courses I have been given (courtesy of the Federal government), "situational awareness" has always been stressed as your #1 defensive tactic. I would NEVER turn my back on someone in such a situation!

Secondly, I am 73 yrs. old, with a heart condition, diabetes, and "brittle bones" (osteopenia); I would be "in fear for my life" where a younger, more active person would not. I agree that no one can answer for someone else but, if he appeared to be pressing the attack, I would drop him.

All of the above assumes my normal evasive, conciliatory remedies did not suffice. I am NOT Wyatt Earp!

 

[Kevin]

What's up with all the hypotheticals? And fill in the blanks. Is it day time, night time? Crowded street with other witnesses?

Did this happen to the OP or do you just want to start a conversation, which is fine, but the question is far to vague.

 

[oma54]

You are walking along a residential street, encounter an angry homeowner that is cussing you out. You keep walking and are attacked from behind, knocked to the ground. Assailant is bigger than you are. You don't know if he is crazy, drunk or drugged. You are armed, what do you do?

Reckon it also may depend on if your female or male...you may have more of chance as male then being a female in which case you may need shoot them and if you do be sure your doing so as to defending and not because your pissed off (happen know the person) then it's a total differ situation w/the law.( but you need to rationalize the situation for yourself and not use ppls recommendations to the situation as all situations differ with ppl and where you live).

 

[jimbo1096]

#1 Don't put yourself in that situation, Stay away from crazy and irrational people.
#2 situational awareness, just like in driving a car- always be looking out ahead of you.
#3 Never turn your back on any dangerous situation, that's just an invitation.

Now that you have ignored all of the above, You will have to decide if you are going to attempt to draw a firearm and chance it be taken away from you and used against you. Once you draw it there may be no going back.
JMHO of course.

 

[Pyromike]

I'm too fat to run and too old to fight; I'll shoot him.

 

[contender]

"
#1 Don't put yourself in that situation, Stay away from crazy and irrational people.
#2 situational awareness, just like in driving a car- always be looking out ahead of you.
#3 Never turn your back on any dangerous situation, that's just an invitation."

^^^^THIS!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^

My very first thought was; "I'd never turn my back upon ANY aggressive person. But I would try hard to escape the confrontation if at all possible.
But hopefully,,, I didn't allow the aggressor to get close to me anyway.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I agree with the 3 points. That being said, there is no indication the OP is in fear for his life at that point. Seems like a big incident. That being said, the OP might have been able to get up and straight en up any confusion. Could have been mistaken identity. Who knows? Ok the guy is big, did he continue with his aggression? Did he express his intention to continue his aggression? Did he have his own weapon?

I strongly recommend you find and read “In the Gravest Extreme “. Massad Ayoob lays out the criteria to make that decision pretty well.

In short the OP doesn’t indicate he was in fear for his life. That is the simplest answer. You can not shoot someone unless that criteria is met.

 

[JackBull]

Not our job to tell you. It is a decision you will have to make on the spot, and no one can make it for you. Sorry.

If its a job to discuss on a chat board why bother answering in the first place?

 

[Mobuck]

#3 Never turn your back on any dangerous situation, that's just an invitation."

I'd move this to #1. You can't always stay away from dangerous people/situations(especially if you don't know the circumstances) such as the hypothetical scenario in the OP.
NEVER EVER, EVER turn your back on anything you suspect might be or become dangerous (human, animal, or whatever).
What would "I" do? MO is a 'stand your ground' state. I'm old, small statured, and somewhat mobility challenged so my justification is solidly intact.

 

[GunnyGene]

Reckon it also may depend on if your female or male...you may have more of chance as male then being a female in which case you may need shoot them and if you do be sure your doing so as to defending and not because your pissed off (happen know the person) then it's a total differ situation w/the law.( but you need to rationalize the situation for yourself and not use ppls recommendations to the situation as all situations differ with ppl and where you live).

Way back in the early '70's when I was stationed in Norfolk there was a white 3 girl gang (good looking to) in the area who were attacking men and robbing them in out of the way places late at night. This went on for several weeks before they were caught. Just to let y'all know that your assailant(s) may not be male or loners.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Isn't that what happen to (edit Rand Paul) at his property line? I guess he should have shot the neighbor, that is if you believe most people here.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ra...m-5-broken-ribs-after-attack-at-kentucky-home

 

[bowzette]

The answer is fact driven. I'm 77, had seven back surgeries, a brain bleed stroke, 5'4". I can't run (use to be a distance runner) and can't fight (took reasonable amount of martial arts and boxing). I'm covered by the law at least in Florida. But if I were a younger and larger man attacked by a male much smaller than me or woman or a derange old man like me, I would have legal "issues" unless the "old man" was Royce Gracie. Well if Gracie got a hold of me, I wouldn't be able to get to my gun anyway!

 

[Jack Ryan]

You are walking along a residential street, encounter an angry homeowner that is cussing you out. You keep walking and are attacked from behind, knocked to the ground. Assailant is bigger than you are. You don't know if he is crazy, drunk or drugged. You are armed, what do you do?

Shoot him

 

[Jack Ryan]

that's the easy answer which I don't disagree with but it really would depend on a whole lot of other things depending on the situation.

Am I on the public side walk or in the public street? If yes, shoot him.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Isn't that what happen to Paul Ryan at his property line? I guess he should have shot the neighbor, that is if you believe most people here.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ra...m-5-broken-ribs-after-attack-at-kentucky-home

Was PR's neighbor a stranger? Was Ryan walking down a street? Was Paul Ryan armed?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Was PR's neighbor a stranger? Was Ryan walking down a street? Was Paul Ryan armed?

We know all the facts about the incident and I say if he had a gun he could have legally shot his neighbor being in 'fear for his life'. The SOB almost killed him as it was.

 

[wolfsong]

I asked what would you do, not what should I do. Don't bother answering, I'm sure any new comments will be as worthless as your first.

Perception is everything.

Play nice, fellas.

 

[Blooch]

Probably not a great idea to respond to threads like this. God forbid you are involved in something, the rpost might come up in court, criminal or civil.

 

[eveled]

Reckon it also may depend on if your female or male...you may have more of chance as male then being a female in which case you may need shoot them and if you do be sure your doing so as to defending and not because your pissed off (happen know the person) then it's a total differ situation w/the law.( but you need to rationalize the situation for yourself and not use ppls recommendations to the situation as all situations differ with ppl and where you live).

While I understand what you are saying. Gender should not matter. There are big women and small men.

What matters is if you are in fear for your life.

 

[Klondike Mike]

First off I wouldn't turn my back on him to allow an attack from behind.