A woman was assaulted and almost raped in front of me on the A train, ~11:20 PM Frida

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HeavenlySword

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This is only mildly gun related. I hate NYC laws.

I am so angry right now. I wanted to gut the guy.

Here is the link to the full description

http://www.facebook.com/editapps.php?ref=mb#/note.php?note_id=123768825367&id=529996261&ref=nf

I am sorry if this is long. I want to record details, and analyze this event later.

I was going home from the National Black History month, having taken a lot of photos for the PolyWog Yearbook team.

I was not surprised to see a crazy, drunk smelling, homeless white man, rubbing a nickle and a penny together. He was pointing towards a seat and saying sit here missus and then waving his hand in front of people with the penny and nickle, saying 'Goblessyou' again and again. He reached his hand toward a large white male sitting across from me, who shuddered and moved back. The homeless man got off next stop, @ Hoyt & Schimerhorn, as did most of the riders.

I did not expect lightning to hit twice, so I dozed off slightly. I woke up hearing a loud, incoherent yell, something like 'heyou'. I looked up to see a young, mildly attractive light brownish woman startled. She was sitting in a corner seat. Behind her, a black homeless man was grabbing for her hair. She managed to jerk out of his grasp or evade it. He continued shouting.

My mind raced so quickly, so fast. I noted I had an rather expensive camera in my coat pocket, and my coat was slightly stiff. In the front of the car was nobody else but me and the aforementioned large white man. He looked frightened. The homeless man was stringy and larger than me. I felt mysore aching muscles and bones quickly tense. My ankle pain dissapeared. I then noted she was reading a newspaper, Caribbean Newsletter or Newsweek or something. It had on its back all these pictures of houses.

She retreated to a seat next to the large white man. My mind raced but this time, it filled with the thought 'I can't let this happen' dozens of times. Hundreds of times. I longed for a weapon. My mind screamed 'I haven't fought in 2 years! I'm out of shape'

As he stood up, yelling incoherently, the thousands of 'I can't let this happen' turned into 'I will not let this happen'

I glanced at the guy sitting across me, and next to her. He seemed very frightened.

The homeless man moved toward the woman, and I looked into the guys eyes. His face was paler than ever. I thought 'I guess its up to me.' and unbuttoned my coat and began to slip out of it.

The large white man looked into my eyes. He then nodded jerkily and began to stand up as well.

The homeless man stops. He screams incoherently a few more times. He glances at me and the large white man. His eyes shift between us. After what seems like an eternity... He puts his hand back. After another stop, when more people get on, he goes back to his corner seat.


Unfortunately, this might not have had a good ending anyways.

He continues yelling at her, and then feigns sleep. A decent looking fair skinned Hispanic woman moves to sit where the light brown woman was sitting a second ago, right next to the homeless man. I say in a low voice: You don't want to sit there.

She glances nervously at the twitching homeless man.

The other woman, white man, and I nod.

She and her mother sit near me instead.

It was my stop. I put on my giant bag, and then I saw the brownish woman begin to pack her bag. The homeless man looks up. I sit back down. She and I get off next stop. She says: "Thank you so much! I was so scared!"

I was not sure what to say, gave her a wane smile, then got on the train back to my own stop. I then thought of the Hispanic woman with her nervous smile at me as I got off... kicking myself mentally as I realized he may turn on her without an intervening presence

Lessons learned:</b

Pay attention to news: Garvin informed me due to budget cuts homeless shelters were being closed effective immediately.

Stay Alert no matter how tired: German soldiers in WWI fought for 28 days without sleep during the push to Paris (they failed only because of American Reinforcements. They fought through artillery strikes, clouds of poison gas, landmines, barbed wire, and mounds of dead Frenchmen.

Be armed if possible: My katana was of no worth when I didn't have it with me. A handgun, while concealable, is a tad on the illegal side, and takes enormous skill to score hits in extremely close combat. Also, a crazed/drugged man could survive dozens of hits from a weaker weapon like a handgun.

Never be shocked: I thought I was pretty hardened. I was stunned for a fraction of a second before I thought again. This could have made a big difference.

I am bloodthirsty: I wanted to stick my hand through the homeless mans throat and stomach. I could swear my fingers wanted to rip his eyes out of his eye sockets. I did not want to be sued by the homeless man, however, to attack him unprovoked.
 
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Apparently I need to have a facebook account to see you're story. Could you copy and past it in your post please?
 
Good on you, truly. I've been in the EXACT same situation, including the drunk homeless man, the victimized woman, the public transportation setting, etc. I also had a fellow decent citizen on my side which is a good thing.

Being in Colorado, however, I also had two guns available to me if I truly needed them. I'm glad neither of us did, but I'm glad I at least had the freedom if needed.
 
HeavenlySword said:
Be armed if possible: My katana was of no worth when I didn't have it with me. A handgun, while concealable, is a tad on the illegal side, and takes enormous skill to score hits in extremely close combat. Also, a crazed/drugged man could survive dozens of hits from a weaker weapon like a handgun.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll go with "active imagination" too. Katana? What?
 
takes enormous skill to score hits in extremely close combat.
Click to expand...

I have been tested both in close quarters live fire (aka real guns real ammo on paper or reactive targets) during room clearing and simulated call exercises. I never mananged to miss once. 90% of the people in training were able to score solid hits center of mass.

Then I had simunition training with actual people. All of which I was able to hit what I was aiming at. ITs not that hard to hit someone at close range, even when they are moving. Even if someone is right ontop of you it isn't hard to get a gun out and shoot.
 
I can't.

Thats one reason I don't carry one around, as much as I love it.

Perhaps you are right greg, but I have heard differently. I won't know until having done it in real combat.
 
Having been through the closest thing short of using live rounds on actual people, and having watched 30 other people do the same thing, its not as hard as you suggest with good training.

EDIT:

Everyone including myself experienced a "jump" or startle response when confronted with a man with a gun. It happened to everyone, it felt like an instant however when viewed on tape it was actually a solid second or more. You could see people jump a bit, the delay of action, then action. By the end of the training the reaction was near gone if not gone when faced with such situations. This reaction, which would happen to anyone faced with such a situation, could easily affect accuracy, and ability to hit the target. After going through the training it will be far easier for me to react to a deadly force situation. Prior to going through the training I would be like 99% of people, never having been "in a situation" and I wouldn't know how I would react to a situation.
 
how do you conceal a katana?
Click to expand...

Mexican carry.
Click to expand...

:eek:


As to the OP, it does not sound as though a weapon would have served you well in this situation. You have to remember that, even in free states, brandishing is a crime. The situation you have described was no where near justification of use of deadly force. Just a tense few minutes. If those of us with CCW's drew our weapon at any hint of conflict, we'd all be in jail for menacing.

In the scenario you've depicted, I would not have revealed my firearm. I'd have ditched my jacket (as you did), then calmly but deliberately puffed myself up a bit as if to say without speaking that I can do plenty of damage with the weapons god gave me from birth. The firearm is the last line of defense, and should only be used when all other means have failed. For someone like me, 27 years old and in very good physical condition, that pretty much means the other guy has to have a weapon to justify using mine. You have to remember that in a public place, there are often going to be multiple parties who are uninvolved, uninterested or just plain unaware of the situation until it escalates to a level that they can no longer ignore. Pulling out a gun will most certainly bring it to that level, and their lack of awareness prior means that they may not know you're the good guy. This could have implications ranging from being reported to the police, to ending up on the other end of that third party's weapon.

Just things to think about if you ever find yourself able to lawfully carry a handgun.
 
Stay Alert no matter how tired: German soldiers in WWI fought for 28 days without sleep during the push to Paris (they failed only because of American Reinforcements. They fought through artillery strikes, clouds of poison gas, landmines, barbed wire, and mounds of dead Frenchmen.
Click to expand...

Was that in a movie you saw? It never happened in real life.
 
You have to remember that in a public place, there are often going to be multiple parties who are uninvolved, uninterested or just plain unaware of the situation until it escalates to a level that they can no longer ignore.
Click to expand...

That is why unless I am involved, I stay out of it. People look for anything to sue over these days. If I see something, I call the authorities. If I see a wreck, I call the authorities. My friend was sued because he helped a man from a car that had caught fire, the man had a back injury, and the doctor told him, there was irreapairable damage done when he was moved, without proper restraint. The car was in flames before the medics arrived. So, my friend literally saved a mans life and was sued because of the irrepairable damage to the guys back.
 
How do you conceal a katana?
Click to expand...

Wear a long trench coat an walk around saying " In the end, there can be only one" ?

Stay Alert no matter how tired: German soldiers in WWI fought for 28 days without sleep during the push to Paris (they failed only because of American Reinforcements. They fought through artillery strikes, clouds of poison gas, landmines, barbed wire, and mounds of dead Frenchmen.
Click to expand...

That's not historically accurate, after a few days without sleep you begin to hallucinate.
 
Sounds like you did fine.

A weapon would have complicated matters. Killing a homeless man when your life was not in danger would put you in jail.

You're lucky you didn't have one, judging by your apparent lack of knowledge of what deep trouble you could have gotten yourself into.
 
Stay Alert no matter how tired: German soldiers in WWI fought for 28 days without sleep during the push to Paris (they failed only because of American Reinforcements. They fought through artillery strikes, clouds of poison gas, landmines, barbed wire, and mounds of dead Frenchmen.
Click to expand...

Been trying to figure out which battle this is supposed to refer to. I can only think it's either the first battle of the Marne. Where the German advance was halted by Allied British and French armies, and lasted 7 days without any chemical weapons. Which was almost 3 years before the US entry into WWI. Or the Second Battle of Ypres where the German Forces violated the Hague Convention and used Chlorine Gas for the first time (although they'd previously used tear gas against the Russians). They were counter attacked by Canadian forces that time, and was still about 2 years from the US entry and lasted 11 days. As a side note my Great Grandfather was involved in that in the Battle of St. Julien as part of the Northumberland Brigade. he was captured, and escaped 9 months later. Escaping through Germany, to the Allied trenches (Way to go Great Grand-pops!)

As far as carrying a Katana, have you considered carrying a Chisakatana, Wakizashi or a Tanto? They're likely far more tactically deployable than a Katana/Okatana/Nodachi. Unless you've had training in use of the above, you're likely better off with a pigsticker anyway and if your Katana cost less than $1000.
 
I don't get it, where's the "almost raped" part of the story? A clingy hobo is hardly attempted rape. But good for you for gearing up to stop him. I don't know what NY allows as far as OC spray, but I would carry a bit of that. In that situation I wouldn't be wishing for a deadly weapon (A sword? Really? Even a gun would be a bad choice) in my hand, just some OC...
 
Jeez... sounds like a monday on the L train.

You did good... physical presence and the appearance of confidence can do more to disarm a situation then most people believe. In a place like NYC or NJ (where I live) you must find a way to make do with situations like this. You did the right thing, next time be more confident in your decision making.
 
"Be armed if possible: My katana was of no worth when I didn't have it with me. A handgun, while concealable, is a tad on the illegal side..."

One option is to REFUSE to live anywhere or go anywhere where CCW is not allowed. Not an option for everyone, but I won't compromise on that one, no matter where it means I have to live.

"...and takes enormous skill to score hits in extremely close combat. "

That is true, and complicated by the 'when do you actually START shooting?' factor does make for problems.

"Also, a crazed/drugged man could survive dozens of hits from a weaker weapon like a handgun."

When I lived in the ghetto in Cincinnati, my carry gun was a Super Blackhawk because it was the only gun I had, and all carrying was illegal anyway. I doubt anyone could be 'crazed' enough to do much after a torso hit with a .44 Magnum. There are more 'moderate' guns which are still good stoppers.

The 'crazed' people issue that bothers me the most is that while a rational person will stop if you point ANY gun at them, a crazy one won't, which means the 'deterrent' factor isn't there. So instead of the 'buffer' zone of making it clear you are ready to use lethal force, vs. the instant you have to actually DO that, you pretty much have to go from inert to lethal instantly. Not something I'd want to have to do.

I've only had to point a gun at another human (using the term loosely) once, and he was at least not so crazed as to push past that point.

Gives you pause to think that cops have to face these situations and decisions regularly, with their only 'edge' that some crazies might slow down a bit if they realize they're not just confronting a person, but a 'team' - still I suppose other cop-hating types would just be egged on.
 
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