These are all great points in the lack of time to fight back. My point is to fight back at all. I don't think that the bad guy's aim would have improved after the first shot by the man being shot at. You can put the same problems of a stressfull shooting back on the bad guy if you are able to shoot first. The legal aspect of this is tenuous because here in Texas it is not against the law to walk around with a long arm any time of day or night. In these circumstances, the prudent thing to assume is that this individual was not there to help you.G.C.Montgomery wrote:As noted, the crime itself is a rare one. But it's also worth noting that similar patterns have been seen in years past. I can remember hearing of crimes like this happening to cab drivers in Houston years before CHL.AG-EE wrote:just to play devil's advocate...I wonder if this is possibly an unintended consequence of concealed carry...they don't know who is armed and can fight back, so they shoot first.
As KBCraig pointed out, this would be a difficult attack to defend against. Situational awareness is certainly a key in potentially preventing the attack. But you aren't always going to see it coming. No one is perfect.
So when, not if, when you get surprised, fight through. Don't stand there in disbelief, do something. For starters, get off the 'X' by moving and moving as quickly as possible. Have the mind set that you will fight and you will win. It's certainly possible someone will prove your wrong but if you believe that all is lost, then all is most certainly lost.
We've got regular a customer at Top Gun who was ambushed in similar fashion to the man in the article. His only warning was hearing his attacker say something to him. When our customer turned around, all he saw was a muzzle flash as he was shot in the face. But, before this man of over seventy-years hit the ground, he drew and fired his own pistol. The fact that he was fighting back changed the whole game for the gangbangers attacking him. He didn't survive unscathed but he still won because he didn't curl into a ball and wait to die.
If you can't shoot, you can sure get to a point of cover to make time to draw and shoot. As to the gloves, they would probably be lost as I fought to gather purchase on my pistol. Thinking of this makes me want to practice these types of drills in my driveway with all the associated gear on.
Because of my job, it is neccessary to carry off the body so the weapon may be stored before going into prohibited areas. It is allso the say way I carry while excercizing. After my dog finishes with her part of the chewing, I might not have to use deadly force first. I may have to call the ambulance to help the poor guy out.
All foolishness aside, maybe we should think harder about why and how we carry. I sometimes feel like my carry methods are indicative of carrying the weapon, and not thinking too much about presentation of the weapon.
