Welcome to the forum. We are glad to have you with us. I agree, i carry 2 knives always now. A small one on my belt left side, and a Case trapper in my right pocket.
4 Likes
Sorry, your lack of training and skills has very little to do with meâŠ. Many encounters START at bad breath distance no matter how aware you THINK you are or will be.
And when bad poop happens, and it will when you least expect it, survival by ANY means is the goal. Guns, knives, hands, pens⊠anything goes. And when I win, Iâll call the USCCA line on my membership card instead of listening to the âexpertsâ here. Iâve discussed this at length with many Criminal Defense Attorneys, several are on the USCCA call list. So Iâve got my own experts in the Law and in Combat Skills I know I can trust cause they actually know what they are doing and are not pulling opinions out of their ass.
But as always, you do what you will⊠
7 Likes
First of all, Iâm a dork. One evening, instead of driving that day, I found myself waiting for a public transit bus at night, when a middle-aged lady approached me and told me where a local homeless shelter was. I mentioned politely âthank you, but Iâm OK, just waiting for the bus to take me homeâ. I think she meant well.
Long ago, before I owned a car, one year I worked third shift and would ride a bus and a train to work, when while on an El Platform, completely alone, âtwoâ extra-large men approached me, and were pretending to want a light from me, for a cigarette. My meek senses knew they wanted to rob my dumb _ _ _ . I didnât carry a firearm back then, but I happened to have a knife in my pocket.
Hereâs why I was lucky :
I made sure it was one which opened with the flick of one single wrist. It was the shiniest chrome metal one could ever find on such a low costing knife that it would reflect off any minute light or moonlight, and I had deliberately wanted it that shiny.
Size: It werenât small
Display: Made sure good they both saw it
Words:
How many words exist, like 100 trillion? IDK. That past year, had I rehearsed the words I chose to use, like an actor would his lines, a thousand times â should I ever have to âdisplayâ. I had that s _ _ _ memorized. I donât think I can reveal here what I said there, but my intention of my chosen words were brevity, clarity, convey how serious I was, that I was experienced, from their own community, all in one sentence. But I did not make it about them, but about me.
Not sure if it was the blade, my words or a combo of both; As I was surprised they turned around and left. If they were carrying weapons, of course I could have easily been injured or worse, but I also know if I had I done nothing, I would just as easily been injured, or worse.
Of course I believe there is a time and place when a firearm is justified, but Iâd caution readers to learn good judgement, because there may be times when itâs not justifiable but less lethal means might be a better decision legally, which can include physical fighting back or alteranate non-lethal tools. My opinion is firearm is a last resort, but please know thatâs not advice, just IMHO.
I come from a family of officers, though I myself am not.
I remember once a large group of us drove three cars long distance to go to a music concert. One of the drivers blew thru several stop signs, stop lights and sped. He was a police officer. I could not do what he did, so I fell behind of course. I, not being an officer, could not take his risks with the law. I missed their tail gate party, but I also got there safely. My point is, does having been an officer Vs. not â change oneâs confidence or views on self defense (SD)? IDK. Food for thought.
I do appreciate the point on how the judicial system frowns on or disapproves of knife use, they have a long history of a bad reputation, unfortunately, and itâs not fair to victims of crime. Then some areas even make it illegal if the knife has too long a length or even certain features, even more unfair to us. Where I reside now, knives are practically illegal, but firearms are legal, go figure.
Compared to a stick, or some other weapons, I see that point. If it feels like itâs a fair fight, I might want to risk taking my licks and get my butt kicked.
But if it seems too unfair, life or limb on the line, Iâll take the legal risks by using a knife if I have one, or a firearm if carrying.
But because I am often in and out of âweapons prohibitedâ buildings, instead of my knife, I carry other EDC SD tools.
There are several other non-lethal SD tools available out there of course. And I will carry my âlegalâ up to code knife when legally allowed.
Good topic though.
3 Likes
Once again, facts are the only thing that matter. Can someone show any significant proof and some instances where someone was actually penalized in court because they used their knife instead of a gun?!?!?
Iâll waitâŠ
5 Likes
Sooo⊠youâre saying that a knife is excellent self-defense tool. 
I carry a pistol, at times two, a large folder I can deploy with either hand, pepper jell and a heavy walking stick. I suppose Iâm over armed. 
4 Likes
Careful Enzo, you will pass out first. 
4 Likes
No such thing as over armed. I like options 
5 Likes
4 Likes
I guess I could see a biased LEO or uneducated juror being negatively impacted by the image of a violent criminal laying on the ground with a bunch of slice and stab wounds after being stopped by a justified self defender. It will likely take more strikes with a knife to stop a determined attacker than shots with a firearm and the results might look gorier than several gunshot wounds. But a reasonable investigator should be looking at all the circumstances involved. All self defense situations are murky until all the facts can be put together.
Based on my reading of the USCCA self defense policy, they will cover justified self defense actions regardless of the weapon used. A good lawyer along with expert witnesses should be able to explain why you did what you did to keep from being killed or seriously injured.
Using firearms for self defense is every bit as much of a martial art as using knives or other weapons. I just donât get the relevance there. Either you have trained to use the self defense tools you have available or you just do the best you can with whatever you can get your hands on and hope you get lu cky.
Most attackers are going to wait till they have the element of surprise. No one can be 100% observant 100% of the time and there are lots of situations where you canât keep people far enough away to guarantee you have time to draw a firearm. You just canât go around ordering everyone to stay 20 or 30 feet away from you.
I have had very limited instruction and practice on defensive knife use but if all I can get to is a knife when faced with an imminent threat, Iâm not going to not reach for it just because someone may judge me negatively.
5 Likes
Hello and welcome @John1556
1 Like
BINGO!!! And with my USCCA benefit I have an unlimited budget to get the absolute best!!!
That is all you need to know. Thanks for netting it out so nicely Shamrock
6 Likes
@John1556 Welcome to the community!
2 Likes
Pretty much.
As long as the weapon is possessed legally under federal law, as that is the only stipulation/exclusion regarding the tool/weapon/firearm that is used.
There are other factors and other possible exclusions but, as for what kind of weapon was usedâŠwas it possessed legally under federal law? Yes? Okay then good to go
4 Likes
I see this basic statement pretty often, butâŠI donât understand it.
Pretty much everywhere I go, people get within 20-ish feet of me. Which is all the closer they need to be in order to rush in and make contact more quickly than a firearm can be drawn from concealment. And thatâs when you start drawing the moment they move.
Gas station, grocery store, restaurant, Home Depot, gas station, sidewalk or parking lot in front of those placesâŠthe gun store counterâŠhow can you keep people from getting close to you?
5 Likes
Apparently our friend has never walked on a crowded city street in a metro area.
4 Likes
Have you, by any chance, read the book âLeft Of Bangâ? I recommend it to my students because it discusses this very topic, in depth.
I will not be commenting further on this subject, in deference to the USCCA Instructor Code Of Conduct.
3 Likes
Does walking down a Los Angeles street during the Rodney King riots not count?
Enzo, you have always projected the classic signs of a âwannabeâ. Just how tough do you have to talk to feel like people with common sense will actually listen?
Now tell us about USCCA Insurance when you have been charged with a crimeâŠ
My âfantasy worldâ was where D.A.s are not immediately involved as they are on the East Coast. You should be more careful about stating what I âsound likeâ from such a narrow perspective.
Daniel Pennyâs situation indeed occurred on the East Coast, and you presume New York is the real world with the likes of Adams, Bragg, and James conducting the orchestra?
Itâs not.
Thank you.
A responsible person should understand that quite often the best defensive weapons are a good pair of running shoesâŠ
1 Like