Reading this thread there seems to be lots of good advice and strategy. While I’m no expert, there is one issue I take with some of the comments that I would like further qualified.
That is:
Some of the posters allude to the practice of the suspect getting close to the OP. One poster mentions “Keep your hands up near your chest, where they can be quickly deployed to block a punch to your face or chest/abdomen.” I’m not criticizing here, as I can see where situations where the BG was already close before someone (OP) was aware of the threat. My problem is that if someone is acting suspicious or aggressively toward me at 30 feet, why would I ever allow him to get within striking distance without being prepared to put down the threat. Bringing up his hands in that situation means that he either has to leave the weapons in his pockets (they are pretty much worthless there) or he has to brandish them at someone who is 30 feet away (puts him at a disadvantage if the BG has a gun, not to mention criminal liability of brandishing). Getting the hands up sounds like a good idea if the person is closing in on you, but if he’s doing it in a threatening manner after being confronted, then he is definitely a threat, and should be treated as such. At that point those hands should be up, but they should not be empty, because it’s probably go time. Is that comment really supposed to imply that the OP should face an assailant unarmed? Or, are you suggesting that the OP should either brandish the weapons toward someone who hasn’t apparently fully committed, or engage in a fist fight? Or, is it something else?
Another one mentions. “A shoulder push or some kinds of non-violent, hands-on control to move an aggressor insistent on blocking your path can be quite effective in this last attempt to leave” Again, I can see that as good advice if the situation warrants it (close space), but if I’m on an open street, and the BG starts out at 30 feet distance, I can’t see him getting that close unless I have made a serious error. If he’s a possible threat when being confronted at 30 feet, then he should be considered a serious threat when within my circle. Are you suggesting that I shouldn’t treat an assailant as a threat when that assailant is literally right on top of me? Or, is it something else?
Personally, I think the OP did a good job considering. He was prepared to use the tools at his disposal, yet wasn’t brandishing them, and at the same time trying to deescalate the situation.
+ 1 on getting a good flashlight. Get an LED with at least 65 lumens (I sometimes carry a 220 lumen bulb, or even greater). If you can afford better, then get it. Surefire makes an L1 LED with 65 lumens (also the 6P LED). There is also Fenix, and a host of others. You can even get a Rayovac 3 watt at Walmart for less than $30 (you can get the upgraded version on line under a different brand). The flashlight could have been used at the start of the interview without being considered lethal force by lighting up the BG, and causing him to avoid staring into the beam (which you would keep aimed at his eyes). He probably wouldn’t have liked it, but if it didn’t discourage him, then that would be another clue to his intentions. Not only does this put you at an advantage with the beam in his eye, it also puts an impact weapon in your hand, and puts your hand up to protect. You could have also handed the OC to a friend since you only have two hands, and the flashlight and knife would be occupying yours.
I realize that I may be off in my views, and that is why I worded my post as a series of questions seeking qualification.
That said, here are two of my experiences:
First experience:
Going into the local corner store (problem area) one of the young wannabe thugs outside starting saying something to me with a “smirk” on his face. Two friends were backing him up. I simply looked him straight in the eye (while monitoring the others) and sternly said, “You’ve got the wrong person” (yes, my hands were up as I was feinting as if I was prematurely reaching for the door). When he again tried to engage I merely repeated myself, and walked inside. The whole time I kept walking to the door (wasn’t very far since they were on the stoop). Also during this encounter, while I remained calm on the exterior, I spoke in a firm and clear voice, while maintaining a mindset of total aggression on the inside. It didn’t take long for me to mentally prepare myself to do as much physical harm to any of them should they pursue an attack. I was ready to do anything in my power, and use anything in my grasp to fend off any sort of attack that may have ensued. Fortunately that didn’t happen, and they were gone when I left the store ten minutes later.
Second experience:
This one was also at the corner store (don’t go there anymore). I was walking from the store to my truck parked on the opposite curb when I noticed a man coming down the hill. I quickly surveyed the surrounding area for anyone else and noticed nobody else. I made it to my truck and put my package inside when the man started to approach me “Sir, sir, could I speak to you a moment”. Before he did this I made sure that my right side was away from him so I could nonchalantly put my right hand on my Timberline Wortac clipped in my pocket (my right hand was out of his line of sight). I took another quick glance around and at about 30 feet I looked back at him, studying his everything. “Sir, sir, whoa, whoa (stopping abruptly when he saw me look him in the eye), I don’t want any trouble I just wanted to ask if you had any change.” Again, I was already mentally prepared to do whatever I could to defend myself. When he stopped, he was about 20 feet from me, and when I told him no, he continued on down the street toward the storefront (my truck was parked to the side of the store).
BFK is right about one thing. You have to decide what is going to work for you for whatever situation you may find yourself in. Situational awareness is always key. Being mentally prepared with what you will do if the BG doesn’t back off is also important. Strambo is right about being prepared with training, which can give you mind set, attitude, and mental preparedness. I'm nothing special when it comes to mortal combat, but I do try to be mentally prepared to act decisively if necessary.
One more thing:
strambo said:
Words are just sounds, that's it. What you need to know is whether this person is; a) a blithering idiot, no threat. b) a "wants to fight" criminal, minor threat or c) a criminal (or drugged/deranged) idiot, major threat.
There, fixed it for you. Even if he is just out "looking for kicks", if he attacks me, that is assault, and it makes him a criminal. Don't like it? Then leave me alone.
pete f said:
My State's law says that I have to be in fear of great bodily harm of myself, a loved one, or another, or acting to prevent a felony, in order to be justified in using force to stop the crime.
That sums thing up nicely. I often see people talking of “defending themselves at the level of the threat”. Sorry, but that’s just silly. Even the police meet threats with greater force, that’s how one survives an encounter. If you do not bring to bear, a level of force greater than your opponents, then how exactly do you expect to overcome your opponent when your opponent is the aggressor? You must use overwhelming force in order to defeat your opponent. Like I said before, I will do everything within my power, and use anything within my grasp to defend my life. Someone else I know summed it up nicely for me, he stated, “I don’t fight. I will kill, maim, and destroy in order to defend my life, and the lives of those I love, but I do not fight.” It takes a pretty meek person to live by such a mindset. One has to set aside the ego, and pride, and sometimes accept that someone may think poorly of you. I sometimes wonder if that is why people believe in the aspect of not meeting unwarranted aggression with overwhelming force. I wonder if maybe it's their pride or ego that gets them into such situations or, if it's their pride or ego that allows them to envision themselves in such situations.
) It would be useful however to sort out a possible criminal "interview".
