Reply To: THE PUZZLE OF MURDER-BY-GUN STATISTICS

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SteveInCO wrote:

The hope, in carrying openly, is to make the guy “adjust his approach” in the direction of going somewhere else entirely. It’s a deterrent effect. (I am sure it doesn’t work a hundred percent of the time, but it’s also fairly clear based on what I’ve seen and heard (and yes I know the hazards in that) that far more often than not, a bad guy scurries away at the mere sight of a gun, even if he has already begun the attack.) They’d much rather pick a safe (defenseless) target. The best fight is one that’s entirely avoided.

Recently, I saw an article where an openly carrying guy lost his gun to someone also had a gun but liked the victim’s gun better. LOL

Anyway, I certainly have knives that if I flashed them would make an unarmed aggressor think twice about attacking me, but one never knows what resources the other party has, so surprise becomes my friend. That’s where the “use it before he knows you have it” rule comes in. And, of course, use it decisively with lots of follow up to end the attack and neutralize the aggressor.

SteveInCO wrote:

The other advantage is it’s quicker to draw, possibly much quicker if the concealment mode is under a tucked-in shirt. That half second counts tremendously, an attacker can easily cover twenty feet in less than a second, from a standing start.

It sounds like you’re referring to the so-called 21-foot rule which tells police to keep a 21-foot distance between him and a knife-wielding aggressor. Well, knife wielding is stupid and very “Hollywood.” A serious and smart attacker is going to seem friendly and harmless until the cop reduces the distance to less than 21 feet. Knives are best used when the opponent is within reach, of course. I was talking about weapons with an ex-Navy Seal once and he said, “When you’re nose to nose with a guy, I’ll take a knife over a gun.”

SteveInCO wrote:

I’ve taken a small amount of knife training; that’s a huge and complex area as well.

Getting into a classic knife-vs-knife fight can get you killed, even if you “win” the fight. If you can’t use your knife to good and final effect, run like all fuck. The first rule of knife fighting goes “Don’t get into a knife fight.” The second rule, I’ve already given: “Use it before he knows you have it.” The third rule I’ve obliquely referenced, “Once you use it, be sure to eliminate the threat with finality.”

Now, I’m not a knife fighter. I haven’t studied knife fighting. And I think that for most people who aren’t in the military, it’s a waste of time because real life encounters aren’t like the ones you rehearse in the gym or dojo.

Here are some videos that might interest you featuring Doug Marcaida, a Philippine-born proponent of Filipino martial arts (Kali) who is also a knife defense (and attack) instructor for both military and police organizations. He’s the most intelligent, proficient, and practical trainer I’ve seen and even if you don’t study knife fighting, you’ll find these videos instructive.