welder
Buckeye
Only if all avenues of escape are closed and my life is clearly in danger. Someone said discretion was the greater part of valor and the best defense is the one you never have to use.
You Are Attacked by an Unknown When Do you Defend
- Thread starter JackBull
- Start date
Help Support Ruger Forum:
dhains1963
Bearcat
Know your surroundings. Angry homeowner comes up and cusses me out. I'm not turning my back on the individual. He would have never "snuck up" on me. Knowing one's surroundings is self-defense 101. As I have said before, guns don't keep you safe your mind does. Whether it's shooting, situational awareness, your mind and intellect are of paramount importance.
If you are in fear of your life and you can't get him off of you. What do you do? Let him beat you until you die? Tell him you love him? NO! You defend yourself. Shoot him.
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2014
- Messages
- 121
I think Clint Smith says something like "the best gun fight is the one you never have".
Really since this question comes up on gun forums and those wanting to know might be carrying a gun. YOU had better know and understand the law, the meaning and how it's applied. No one is going to get that full correct answer on a forum. It takes a book to read through, even better several. To understand the law, you need to know it's beginning's and now it's meaning. Court cases showing what's lawful and what's not. Court case law changes and YOU need to follow those cases.
Lastly go into google read self-defense/deadly force law and current rulings at the VERY least. If you don't understand some of the meanings look further. If you do, you will find deadly force law is different for cop's vs noncops. Why, look that up. Ever heard, "stay in your lane." Cops have a duty to society, non cops do not regarding force.
Several mentioned this point on this post, all of your social media posts will be looked at and maybe read to a jury.
Lastly go into google read self-defense/deadly force law and current rulings at the VERY least. If you don't understand some of the meanings look further. If you do, you will find deadly force law is different for cop's vs noncops. Why, look that up. Ever heard, "stay in your lane." Cops have a duty to society, non cops do not regarding force.
Several mentioned this point on this post, all of your social media posts will be looked at and maybe read to a jury.
Not playing your hypothetical game. You aren’t looking to discuss, you didn’t give enough information. Putting you on ignore.
To add, having a gun on your person could get you in more trouble than it will solve. There’s nothing in this hypothetical problem to lead me to believe is necessary. On the contrary, less you lethal defensive is probably more responsible. Consider carrying pepper spray.
Last edited:
Joe Chartreuse
Single-Sixer
Fun question, with no definitive and generalized answer. While I have a greater interest in guns these last 7 years or so, they were always only just a part of my defenses. I have been a student and practitioner of several martial arts, but more importantly, I have a lot of real life experience in their use, from doing personal security work to time as a fighter to bar security to teaching self defense, That's the background.
All of that being said, there three most important things to remember:
1) Common sense.. If someone is screaming abusive language at you, it should follow in your mind that there is a chance that person may physically attack you.
2) Situational awareness: Following the above, be aware of your surroundings, listen for footsteps, and look around, especially in the area of the abuser.
3) HAVE THE PROPER MINDSET that will allow you to do what you have to: I'm not a particularly violent guy. I went into fighting as one way to test what I know ( and get a little money too). I never really want to hurt anyone. However, I chose to step on the mat with someone whose job it was to kick my as and inflict damage. I had to be willing to do the same. It's fine to say that you carry this weapon or that one and have strong hand-to-hand skills, but none of it matters if you can't get yourself to use them. I know people who walk around with big belt knives all of the time but would never be able to push it into another person and deal with wet work. If you are carrying a firearm, will you bay be able to draw it during a surprise attack from behind? If so, can you instantly shoot without worrying about how it hits, fatal or not?
I taught free self defense classes to battered spouses. I finally stopped because more often than not they continued to put themselves in dangerous situations or refused to defend themselves when the time came. They needed therapy more than fighting skills.
However, after all of the above, I will give a helpful hint: Learn some hand-to-hand. Then, If you know that you are about to be attacked from behind, prepare to pivot as the assailant reaches you to use their momentum against them, throwing them off balance. However, fun fact: It takes more effort for a taller person to throw a shorter person than a shorter person to throw a taller person due to the lower center of gravity. When throwing, try to get your belt level lower than the attackers, then pivot. All about knowing how.
If you you don't, then I suggest either carrying a fighting cane, a pepper spray or stun ring in hand at all times to incapacitate and run.
OK, rant over.
All of that being said, there three most important things to remember:
1) Common sense.. If someone is screaming abusive language at you, it should follow in your mind that there is a chance that person may physically attack you.
2) Situational awareness: Following the above, be aware of your surroundings, listen for footsteps, and look around, especially in the area of the abuser.
3) HAVE THE PROPER MINDSET that will allow you to do what you have to: I'm not a particularly violent guy. I went into fighting as one way to test what I know ( and get a little money too). I never really want to hurt anyone. However, I chose to step on the mat with someone whose job it was to kick my as and inflict damage. I had to be willing to do the same. It's fine to say that you carry this weapon or that one and have strong hand-to-hand skills, but none of it matters if you can't get yourself to use them. I know people who walk around with big belt knives all of the time but would never be able to push it into another person and deal with wet work. If you are carrying a firearm, will you bay be able to draw it during a surprise attack from behind? If so, can you instantly shoot without worrying about how it hits, fatal or not?
I taught free self defense classes to battered spouses. I finally stopped because more often than not they continued to put themselves in dangerous situations or refused to defend themselves when the time came. They needed therapy more than fighting skills.
However, after all of the above, I will give a helpful hint: Learn some hand-to-hand. Then, If you know that you are about to be attacked from behind, prepare to pivot as the assailant reaches you to use their momentum against them, throwing them off balance. However, fun fact: It takes more effort for a taller person to throw a shorter person than a shorter person to throw a taller person due to the lower center of gravity. When throwing, try to get your belt level lower than the attackers, then pivot. All about knowing how.
If you you don't, then I suggest either carrying a fighting cane, a pepper spray or stun ring in hand at all times to incapacitate and run.
OK, rant over.
Last edited:
Jeepnik
Hawkeye
If I'm serious and you don't know it's coming, you won't ever get up from the first one. And I am not any sort of martial arts expert.
Justification for using force is "Threat of death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault". Having a weapon and expressing a desire to use the weapon is enough of a threat. A person larger and stronger can render death and great bodily harm to a victim without a weapon. Sexual assault is the tricky one, if the sexually assault one that can result in a terminal illness or pregnancy then yes lethal force is justified but you can't use lethal force because someone "cops a feel". Each situation for using lethal force establishes its own set circumstances.
I'm almost 80. I lost one kidney to renal cancer, I had quintuple coronary bypass surgery. Plus some other health issues. What some might accept as a "simple" beat down could be a fatal attack for me. I can deal with yelling and cursing, but I will not allow myself to be hit, if I can possibly stop it. Someone coming at me with the apparent intention of physically attacking me will be met with my drawn gun, and if needed, some flying lead. I will not willingly absorb one blow. End of story.
The first officer on the scene opinion will usually set the tone of the investigation. Be cooperative, but stick to just the what happened and that you were in fear for your life. Stop there and call your lawyer.
KurtC
Single-Sixer
The assailant has to continue the assault in order for you to defend yourself. Knocking you to the ground isn't enough.
Drawing your firearm will hopefully be enough to discourage further attack.
Situational awareness while carrying a firearm includes knowing how much you can afford in legal fees.
Here in New Jersey, we are only allowed to return fire, not initiate it. It also helps in court if you were shot first. No guarantee, though.
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2014
- Messages
- 121
KurtC said:
"Situational awareness while carrying a firearm includes knowing how much you can afford in legal fees."
How true. Get insurance (from a recovering lawyer). I feel for those living behind the Blue Curtin.
"Situational awareness while carrying a firearm includes knowing how much you can afford in legal fees."
How true. Get insurance (from a recovering lawyer). I feel for those living behind the Blue Curtin.
dhains1963
Bearcat
I am amazed of people's ignorance regarding self-defense. Hand-to-hand is a must. I too trained for 20+ years in martial arts and my instructor gave discounts to law enforcement and was a 6'6" prison guard for 20 years.
I was astonished at how easy it was to spar against trained police. It would have been comical, however they were tasked in protecting the population. We would joke that if their utility belt fell off most would be useless in not only the defense of others, but of themselves. The prison guards tended to fair better, because of their lack of reliance on a weapon to defend themselves.
A gun is not the cure all in defending oneself. Multiple avenues of defensive training, situational awareness, mental training are all components in successful self-defense.
volshooter
Buckeye
Impossible to reply to as it's a hypothetical situation.
Don't overthink situations, just prepare for life threating ones.
We're big people with firearms and common sense, use it.
I find folks preparing for "what If situations " lacking in common sense in real defensive situations.
Unless they are in the military or police force.
Don't overthink situations, just prepare for life threating ones.
We're big people with firearms and common sense, use it.
I find folks preparing for "what If situations " lacking in common sense in real defensive situations.
Unless they are in the military or police force.
Mega Twin
Blackhawk
I answer for myself,altho it may fit a few others as well.
I would like to think that I could perform as required under those circumstances but the truth is I don't know. Until one is faced with that you can't really say.
My keyboard is much tougher than I am at my age and physical prowess.
I would like to think that I could perform as required under those circumstances but the truth is I don't know. Until one is faced with that you can't really say.
My keyboard is much tougher than I am at my age and physical prowess.
Well Mega Twin. In training this was said many times "The man with a plan will win over one without." But here's the thing about plans. Under stress, you will fight the way your trained. You need a plan that will work, you need to train with a plan that will work. One thing that was common when after a major event like fighting for their live. Police interviewed after the fact, nearly always mentioned they followed their training. I watched and listened to many of those taped interviews. Follow that up with the mindset that you can win and survive a deadly encounter.
