Self Defense
Dan Brown
#Ayoob doesn't really give an opinion on this "tactic" in "In the Gravest
#Extreme" He does cite an instance where he was approached quickly by
#some suspicious types, and he drew, but they backed off instantly, so it
#was a no-shoot. I don't get the impression he planned to scare them
#away, but he did.
The opinion I see throughout "In the Gravest Extreme" and his Ayoob
Files columns is (1) do whatever is necessary to avoid or stop the
attack, and (2) if (1) can be accomplished without shooting anyone, so
much the better. Not to not shoot if the shooting indicates it, but
try to avoid the necessity to shoot.
--
Dan Brown, KE6MKS
da...@a.crl.com, NOT da...@crl.com
Don't tread on me.
Harry Jensen
writes:
#
#
#
#I've read many opinions in this NG about not using ones firearm unless
you
#intend to "use it" ie shoot. This seems like not such a good idea. I
agree that brandishing
#a weapon is not acceptable in most instances, however if it can difuse
the
#situation, it seems like a good alterniative to waiting untill your
life is
#threated and having to shoot someone. Most criminals are classic
"bullies".
#They prey on the weak, on the easy target. If you can show them that
they
#misjudged you, buy showing them you are armed, in most cases IMHO they
will back off.
#Its kind of like the theory, behind a car alarm. It not that it can
absolutly
#stop a criminal from stealing your car however it my make them look of
an
#easier target.
#
#R.
#
If you intend to do this, then I recommend you hie thee to a good
criminal defense attorney and put him on retainer, 'cause "brandishing"
in most locales is a definite no-no.
Just my $.02
Abe D. Lockman
Papp) wrote:
# I've read many opinions in this NG about not using ones firearm unless you
# intend to "use it" ie shoot. This seems like not such a good idea. I
agree that brandishing
# a weapon is not acceptable in most instances, however if it can difuse the
# situation, it seems like a good alterniative to waiting untill your life is
# threated and having to shoot someone. Most criminals are classic "bullies".
# They prey on the weak, on the easy target. If you can show them that they
# misjudged you, buy showing them you are armed, in most cases IMHO they
will back off.
# Its kind of like the theory, behind a car alarm. It not that it can absolutly
# stop a criminal from stealing your car however it my make them look of an
# easier target.
The intended point is that if you brandish a firearm you have escalated
the situation to a clear life-or-death one, and should be about to shoot
to stop; the brandishee is likely to assume that you are about to do so,
and will act accordingly. Perhaps you will be lucky and he/she will
immediately bail out in a totally unmistakable manner with no possible
danger to you, but it's not something you can count on.
adl
stuc...@postoffice.ptd.net
#The intended point is that if you brandish a firearm you have escalated
#the situation to a clear life-or-death one, and should be about to
#shootto stop; the brandishee is likely to assume that you are about to
#do so, and will act accordingly. Perhaps you will be lucky and he/she
#will immediately bail out in a totally unmistakable manner with no
#possible danger to you, but it's not something you can count on.
I don't know that it's luck. Doesn't Kleck's study indicate that in 98%
of the cases where a firearm is used to abate a crime, the intended
victim did not have to shoot at the criminal? That would seem to justify
prudence after brandishment. Last month I wrote a letter to Handguns
magazine requesting their opinion on this topic. Perhaps editors there
will contribute to this thread.
Earl B. Gensolin
In a previous article, rp...@hp.memh.ti.com (Robert Papp) says:
#
#
#I've read many opinions in this NG about not using ones firearm unless you
#intend to "use it" ie shoot. This seems like not such a good idea. I agree that brandishing
#a weapon is not acceptable in most instances, however if it can difuse the
#situation, it seems like a good alterniative to waiting untill your life is
#threated and having to shoot someone. Most criminals are classic "bullies".
#They prey on the weak, on the easy target. If you can show them that they
#misjudged you, buy showing them you are armed, in most cases IMHO they will back off.
#Its kind of like the theory, behind a car alarm. It not that it can absolutly
#stop a criminal from stealing your car however it my make them look of an
#easier target.
#
#R.
#
#
Actually, most of the self defense philosophies I've seen posted here
seem to say that one should only carry (or draw) a weapon if they are
willing to use it, not intending. I subscribe to this, so just because
I draw my weapon does NOT mean that someone will get shot. It just
means that I am willing to shoot them if they still have bad intentions.
-Earl Gensolin
ebge...@southern.edu
achi...@connectnet.com
#Actually, most of the self defense philosophies I've seen posted here
#seem to say that one should only carry (or draw) a weapon if they are
#willing to use it, not intending. I subscribe to this, so just because
#I draw my weapon does NOT mean that someone will get shot. It just
#means that I am willing to shoot them if they still have bad intentions.
#
#-Earl Gensolin
#ebge...@southern.edu
#
#
People might want to consider carrying a less than lethal defense as well as a
gun. There are many rowdy drunks out there itching for a fight. I am a
fairly big man so they leave me alone, but if a 98 lb guy gets assaulted by
one he may feel threatened enough to shoot them. A good blast of pepper spray
would solve a situation like that much better than a bullet. I do believe
that carrying a gun is advisable but with much caution. There are few
situations that truly warrant using a gun. This is especially true when you
can solve it with another method (and I don't mean letting him beat you).