You’re enjoying an awesome summer day, it’s the perfect temperature for a walk. While you’re out walking in a wide open field, someone clearly agitated and high comes running, waving a gun at you. What do would you do?
Here’s one suggestion from Kevin:
I’m closing the distance and taking the fight to them. Even high it might make them hesitate. That quick moment could be all you need.
If family is with me I want them running perpendicular to the threat either left or right and I’m still gonna close that distance and keep the assailant’s attention on me.
I agree with you (and this made me think of the end of Jurassic World where Claire uses the T-Rex to distract the Indominus Rex from the kids).
Just curious, @Dawn and @Sheepdog556, when or at what distance do you think you’d start firing as you moved towards the assailant, using the totally empty area featured in the video as a reference (meaning it is unoccupied and tree lined behind the assailant like it is behind Kevin)? I would handle the situation as you described, move in to the assailant bringing the fight to them or I might simply take a shot or 2, depending on the distance, before I closed the distance. These situations are hard to speak to with so little information.
It’s definitely dependent on the situation. Is he firing? Then I’ll be sure to let him know I’m serious in my defense. If he runs, I’m not firing.
Definitely dependent on the situation, if he’s pops out of a tree line at 20 feet waving a gun at me, I’m going to articulate I was in fear for my life and that is why I shot. If he pops out of the tree line at 50 yards, then I’d handle the situation differently. If he is firing, then you know your life is in imminent danger.
When I draw my gun and shout stop anything other than the individual stopping, then I’m going stop the threat. The only thing that’ll change my engagement distance is what are they doing with the firearm. If they are just waving it around I’ll pause a little bit longer but if they are or are attempting to aim it then distance won’t matter to me at that point.
Thanks to you both for the added info. I like these scenarios for the variety of answers and insights everyone has, gets one thinking about how to deal with these when they occur in real life.
One thing that hasn’t been brought up, that I thought about and some social people mentioned is how would a prosecutor take you running at the attacker?
Haven’t you then become the attacker?
It could be but with the lack of other options it could also be argued that you didnt have a choice.
Nowhere to run or hide.
So could standing your ground be used against you?
These are great things to think about. And sort thru now because you don’t have time in real life.
I kept the attackers eyes on my by moving forward while other innocents in the area escaped to safety and alerted the authorities.
It actually makes better tactical sense to run at a 15-30 degree ange to the attacker so that you are CLOSING THE DISTANCE as you recommended, but able to maintain some separation between you until you can get behind him which would give you a momentary tactical advantage to draw your firearm before he can turn around. This tactic is covered in one of the USCCA training videos and in a class that I took. (I also love the “closing the distance” part of Hunt for Red October.
Only problem I see with that, is that now you become the aggressor and in today’s world, he would be the one to accuse YOU of things, and then you would be the one in trouble.
I agree. Especially in today’s society, where everyone is quick to blame someone else, you would definitely now be seen as the aggressor in the eyes of the authorities and court. Personally, I’ve never been in any kind of fight, and if I could, I would definitely look for cover and/or concealment or just walk away if possible. At the very least, I would draw my weapon in hopes of scaring him off, but ONLY after giving a few warnings.
Yes, I agree. The situation changes when he goes from just waving it around to actually aiming it at you. Then it’s “kill or be killed” so to speak because now it becomes a matter of self defense.
Yes and no. If you are the first to call the police, that’s half the battle. Being able to articulate why you did what you did in your self-defense is another part of your defense.
It’s not an easy situation, but if rushing the attacker is the only thing that might save your life, it’s definitely worth a chance - and dealing with the legal aftermath means that you’ve survived the attack which is a good portion of what we’re looking to achieve we defend ourselves.
Just got done with a training course that simplified this decision for me. Theres only 3 things I’m looking for now.
Intent
Ability
Opportunity
If all three boxes are checked it’s time take away one of those 3 opportunities. In this case taking away his opportunity by hiding isn’t an option.
They will get one more chance to make a decision that’s going to change our lives. At the end of the day it is their decision on what I do.