I tried a very simplified version of this, set it up, gave simple specifics about the "potential" threat, and gave three clear options...No deviations...
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You see a larger than average "male" aggressively approaching you from about 50 feet away, you are in a lit parking lot coming out of the Sam's Club (after the door checkers checked your reciept, yeah I embellished this part from another discussion
) You are pushing a cart and have your firearm holstered in your favorite spot...The man is closing rather quickly and has made no deviation from his closing in on you, distance is now 25 feet, he's looking right at you...You reasonably determine this to be a threat of unknown potential or intent by this person...
(Your options are)
a. Scream STOP at this point, keep the cart between you and the threat, start backing away, and cover your weapon, no draw at this point...
b. implement "a" and draw your weapon, do not fire...
c. implement "a" "b" and fire to stop the threat...
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I only presented the three options and didn't specify the reaction of the threat to those three reactions...
Of course "c" would result in obvious reaction of that threat...And that being the last option anyway...
The other two "a" "b", the threat stops, and either runs away at the sight of a gun, or raises hands and says "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...There was a car behind you that looked like they didn't see you and I thought you were about to be hit..."
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We talked about unexpected variables in this and couldn't come up with a simple answer to this...
I believe it ends up being a situation where you'd better have your head on a swivle, be ready to react appropriately, and better assess any threats within 50 feet of you 360 degrees around you...
There is a majority of good people out there, but the bottom line is no one should ever assume anything...
Playing it cool, tends to keep you from getting into trouble...Just don't look "too much" like your trying to play it cool...
This goes for the males as well...
There's also a lot of ways to go on this, and talking it out, working certain generic responses, and plans seem to work out best...It requires a custom fit to anyones personal levels of comfort...There is no one clear fix for this...But the solution we carry is final, and its a responsibility we need to accept as well as be prepared to be accountable for that as well...