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

[Unseen]

SteveInCO wrote:

There’s no denying knives have an important role to play in self defense. (If I hadn’t realized this, I would not have bothered with that class. Unfortunately, they never offered a follow up class for that one. I still want to get that Chris Reeve knife the instructor recommended someday.) However I tend to think at bad-breath distance, the advantage probably depends more on the individual than the nature of the tool. (If, for example, you’re frail, or even just not as buff as the average recently-released prison convict, you’ll probably want a gun even at that distance. (Just precisely what the fvck are we doing providing strength building equipment to incarcerated thugs?))

I actually disagree. I think there is little point in learning how to defend oneself against a knife attack, unless, like a SEAL Team member, you get to rehearse and rehearse over and over again until the responses are in muscle memory. Also, it’s been pointed out many a time that real life attacks seldom bear much resemblance to the situations rehearsed in a gym or dojo. Go to youtube and search on “truth about knife attacks” and watch some actual knife attacks and compare them with any training you had. They a sudden, unexpected, come out of nowhere, and you’re probably too perforated so many times that you can’t be saved in the ER. Knife attack are very often fatal and if the wounds are numberous, almost impossible to treat effectively, unlike, for example, a single gunshot wound (depending a lot upon where the person has been shot, of course).

SteveInCO wrote:

Now one thing that’s just absolutely stupid is attacking a knife-wielder from behind.

Not entirely sure what you mean by that. Did you mean to say “the front” instead of “behind”?

SteveInCO wrote:

Your cited instance of an open carrier having his gun taken away from him was noted in the gun community. It stood out, because it’s actually a rarity. (By the way there’s a huge argument there over the wisdom of open carry, and the anti crowd is starting to lose ground…I think.) I think the relevant difference that might make a gun different from a knife in regards to the wisdom of open versus concealed carry is, a knife can only be used at close range; if the guy is in range, he’s in range to disable it. A gun can still be used at a range far greater than “grab range.”

Nose to nose, if you have a drop on the guy with the gun, I’m told it’s fairly easy to neutralize the gun hand while inflicting a large number of slashes and stabs. A guy who’s trying to get his gun out may forget to protect his neck. One slash to the side of the neck and the person is out in a matter of a few seconds and dead shortly thereafter.

My “defense” against knife attack is I basically plan on not getting into one of the face off variety. If I have to, I’ll apply the three rules I mentioned.