Sounds trite, but, quite honestly I do everything in my power to prevent strangers from getting close to me when I’m out in public. It shocks me, a little, to realize it; but, over the years I’ve come to develop something of the attitude of a, ‘hunted animal’. There is a whole list of behaviors that I follow when I’m out and about that life inside a convent’s walls might, otherwise, have prevented me from assuming:
For instance, when I step through a doorway I always scan to both sides; frequently I’ll, also, step to the side in order to clear my, ‘back trail’ too. It’s been years since I approached my own vehicle without, ‘scanning’ my way over to the car door: I, also, have the habit of checking out the vehicles on both sides before I get into my own vehicle. Once I’m inside the car I immediately lock the doors and start the engine. (Why? I’ve had two carjacking attempts in the past 25 years; and I was extremely lucky that it didn’t come to gunfire or blades on either occasion.)
Everything said and done, I am acutely aware of anyone who gets near me when I’m outside of my home. About an hour ago we returned from the supermarket. As I was walking away from the store a very quiet fast walking woman, suddenly, started coming up behind me. For lack of a better word I, ‘felt’ her before I saw her and took one step to the side in order to look behind myself. You should have seen the look on her face when our eyes met! She had intended to brush by me before I realized she was there; instead she, ‘swallowed hard’ when I made a single move that exposed her to attack; and I was a little amused to notice that she instantly realized what I had done! (Sometimes being rude can get you in trouble.)
It’s nothing personal, though; it’s just the way street life has taught me to behave. I, also, scan my own home whenever I return. Even with Pit Bulldogs I, still, take the time to go room by room before settling in. (In 1990 we had a home invasion occur in what should have been a perfectly safe neighborhood. That one the dogs took care of for me.)
In the event that things should suddenly go FUBAR, I’ve got 30 years of MA experience to fall back on; only trouble is I’m getting older, now; and I’m presently in that, ‘gray area’ between whom I used to be, and what I’m about to become. (Today I understand, ‘Why’ old people smile all the time, and always seem to agree with whatever you say!)
Nevertheless a crafty street fighter is, still, a crafty street fighter. At ECQB distance, you’ve got to make an instant decision; in my opinion that decision should be TO FIGHT. The only question that remains is; ‘SHOULD YOU, ALSO, USE DEADLY FORCE?’ I’ve lived long enough to know that, even, handing over your wallet to a mugger isn’t going to guarantee your personal safety; you may, still, ‘buy the farm’ anyway. Nothing is written in stone: Sometimes the best move is to surrender; and at other times surrender only delays the inevitable. Given a choice, I’d feign compliance, attempt to distract; and, yes, I’d attack at the first opening.
Dropping or throwing your wallet away while backing up is a good technique. Reaching for your wallet, however, may get you shot! (It's a judgement call.) Stepping behind anything, also, gives you an immediate advantage. If there’s no time, I’d instantly attempt to sweep the weapon off my body centerline, and, with a step forward, attack: the eyes, the fingers, or the point of the chin. If you can bring a heavy knee kick into the fray that’s good, too – do it!
Whether I should step forward to use empty hand (or keychain) techniques is, really, a decision the BG makes for me. Without a visible weapon, there are more physical options available with which to reply: Running is one of them; putting anything between the two of you is another. So is, simply, showing a weapon. These are all typical everyday reactions that many intended victims often resort to. With a deadly weapon in play I’d, probably, step forward in order to immediately engage and hopefully get rid of the weapon. Failing this I’d seek to unbalance the assailant, step to the side, and get my own weapon out. I'm not going to Hell, alone!
The last thing I’d offer comes from the wisdom of old age: I have found it to be advantageous to, ‘get mean as dirt’ as quickly as possible when confronted with an attacker who is displaying a deadly weapon along with the intent to use it. Here, the presence of a weapon makes all the difference in the world to me!
Many many people will intuitively hesitate before resorting to violence. After all, ‘Why not’? This hesitation is part of every well-educated person’s social training. You only have to be a victim once, however, to recognize that; ‘He who hesitates is lost!’ IMO, what happens next is not your fault; a deadly weapon has been deployed; and time is, now, working against you. The real genius comes in being able to correctly decide between shooting a robber with a gun, or some poor bastard who’s only trying to save his dog! Do you shoot one, the other, or both? The use of deadly force, even reciprocal deadly force, requires shrewd intelligence!
I’ll offer two examples: I used to know a retired NYC police officer who had a part-time job in a gun shop. His name was, ‘Aldo’. Several of us used to shoot IPSC with Aldo. He was very very good. The thought of beating him in a match never entered my mind; I was more than happy, just, to hold my own. One day two BG’s came into the gun shop. One of them had a sawed-off shotgun; the other had a 38 pistol. There were 3 or 4 guys behind the counter; and, at least, two more gunsmiths working in the shop at the rear of the building. Everyone was ordered to raise their hands high in the air. The guy with the shotgun walked up to Aldo who was wearing his customary 1911 GM, carried in condition one. The BG pointed the shotgun at Aldo’s chest and said; ‘You, over there, and pointed to a side wall with his shotgun.
That’s all it took! In the instant that shotgun was removed from Aldo’s chest and pointed at the wall, two men died! I’ve long thought that it was stupidity or, perhaps, desperation and NOT Aldo who killed those two guys. I heard this story the day after it happened from one of the other men in the room; Aldo, himself, never talked about it.
The second story is a reminder from my own faith; it states: ‘If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.’ ‘If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution … ’ Exodus, 22:2 It would appear that there is, both, a right as well as a wrong time to use deadly force. As experienced gunmen we need to understand the difference between the two.
) and wouldn't draw attention to your using a weapon like a gun would, as well as not leaving any powder residue on you nor traceable SN's like a gun would after you ditch it.