Hmmm... 30 feet in 1.5 seconds is 13.6 miles per hour. Have you ever tried to run 13.6 miles per hour? It's faster than you think, especially when you start from rest. A competitive sprinter runs the 100 at about 20 mph average, and the first 30 feet are the slowest.
This is true ... but on the other hand, a
reasonable 40yd time for a freshman highschool football player is 5 seconds ... that is 1.25 seconds per 10 yds and we aren't talking world class here ... and we aren't talking a time using starting blocks. What I do know from personal experience is that I was in a pistol class that was taught by a guy who had an assistant who was in her mid 60's. As the class came to an end, he wanted to demonstrate how dangerous a person could be if they were 25 feet away and holding a knife. He had the assistant start downrange (slightly off to the side
) 25 feet from the firing line. We had our guns holstered (OWB) and took turns engaging a static target that was placed about 3 yds in front of us. The drill was that when the assistant started toward the firing line, we were to draw and fire at the target before she got across the firing line. Mind you, this was the last evolution of a 16 hour, 1000+ rounds fired class, so we were all pretty well warmed-up and ready. There were only 2 of us out of 10 that actually got a shot off before she crossed the line and only one of us hit COM on the target.
There were several lessons in this drill.
1. A knife wielding perp is a very real threat at 25-30 feet!
2. The element of surprise is substantial ... if the drill were reversed and she couldn't charge until we started to draw, all 10 of us would probably have scored COM hits ... many of us more than one.
NOWHERE in the lessons learned is the craziness that was stated by the OP in that inside of 30 feet you shouldn't draw ... just because she got to the line while I was drawing doesn't mean that I can't still side-step the attack to buy the extra .5 seconds I need to deliver a good controlled pair. I'm finding myself in the (increasingly) familiar position of agreeing entirely with KraigWY in his assessment. Of course you draw ... maybe you draw fast enough to be able to fire from a static position and maybe you have to parry a thrust first, but to just stand or even run once the charge has started is suicide for all but the most athletic.
The thing about running is that you have to be able to outrun the attack at all distances to win ... you have to have a better 10 yd time, a better 40yd time, a better 100yd time and a better 1/4 mile time ... if you are on a park trail, you might have to add your 1-mile time as well. All the attacker has to do is be able to keep you in sight and beat any one of your times and he wins. It isn't fair, I know ... but it is reality.
As has been said, everyone has to have their own response with which they are comfortable. Personally, I can't see a more clear signal to draw than seeing someone charge from 30 feet with a clear intent (e.g. wielding a knife) to do me or mine harm ... but that is just me.
Saands
