1 vs. 5 downtown -- criticism/advice welcome

[henryher]

That is a problem I have with FL conceal carry laws. I understand the idea of not having guns in a place where alcohol is being served because alcohol and guns do not mix. But in FL for instance if you were going to go inside to look for your girlfriend you would not be able to bring a concealed weapon along. But I think near bars and nightclubs you would find a lot of muggers and punks looking to take cash from the bar goers.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[goldshellback]

At least 80 lums would've helped out a little more.....but as already stated, you got outta the situation, retrieved your GF, and made it home to post it. Bravo Zulu.

[ppkheat]

The leader automaticaly jumped back and yelled "No! He's got a gun!" and they all jumped back and ran off the other way.

BG's know that some citizens are CCW though the thought may not be foremost in their minds as it should be. By the reaction above it looks like 5 guys suddenly realized that they were "outgunned" since they folded and retreated so quickly. One thing we'll never know is how many crimes never happened because BG's didn't want to chance a confrontation with an armed citizen.

Good story and outcome, I think you did well by not looking/acting as if you were a sheep. How does the saying go.....criminals want victims, not opponents.

[David in FL]

The only thing I have issue with is the fact that you didn't actually have a gun. Had the situation escalated, you'd have likely been toast. Any particular reason why not?

[briansmech]

good job. consider having mroe to go to than just a blade, though. a good hard light, asp, anything.

one is none, two is one.

[youngda9]

The problem I see is, what if you HAD pulled your weapon and they saw that it was a blade and not a gun? Then what?

I would not have been in that situation without a gun.

Agreed on the what ifs regarding drawing a knife.

I think you did very well...you came out unscathed right ! Great SA on your part, great use of your answers and your commanding voice and "I'm not taking any crap tonight" eye contact.

Why no gun? Is it illegal to have a gun in a bar in your neck of the woods?

Perhaps next time when walking the streets at night you should have someone escort you to escort your girlfriend. There is safety in numbers(that goes for us guys also)...a lesson for all of us.

[TRICKORMATE]

The problem I see is, what if you HAD pulled your weapon and they saw that it was a blade and not a gun? Then what?

Could you have out ran them? Are you good enough in a knife fight to fend off five men?


I would not have been in that situation without a gun. If I could not have had a gun with me, I would not have been there at all.

I agree some what with your reponse, the only thing is that he had no choice but to be there to walk his GF. Imagine if he would have told his GF, "babe I don't have my gun so, just run fast to your car".

I think he did a great job.

[Risque007]

The only thing I have issue with is the fact that you didn't actually have a gun. Had the situation escalated, you'd have likely been toast. Any particular reason why not?

Hmm, doesn't my age show on here? Guys, I'm 20 years old, still a few month away from the big 2-1, so I can't legally carry a handgun. I know -- better judged by twelve than carried by six -- but the legal ramifications for me if I ever had to use a handgun (under-aged, no CCW) would be extreme.


First thoughts on these guys is that they were drunk amateurs. I wasn't dressed like a target at all, and I'm wondering if maybe I was the only one to come along at that time (that street is sort of like a choke point for all the clubs and restaurants on the west side of the square)

+1 on the flashlight. I have a Surefire E2D Executive Defender in my glove box, but I usually don't have it because I don't have a good "Concealed rig" to pack the light in that won't mess up the cut of my clothes and attract attention.

The problem I see is, what if you HAD pulled your weapon and they saw that it was a blade and not a gun? Then what?

Could you have out ran them? Are you good enough in a knife fight to fend off five men?

Well, I'm no hero, and there was no way I was planning on taking on five guys with just a knife. My plan was to rip open any that came close to me and run like hell for the jazz club. When I was backing up and circling (keeping bottle boy out of my blind) I was moving towards the club as much as possible.

The only other thing that I would have done is to call LE to look for the thugs. They could have very easily continued their hunt for a victim.

I feel sort of bad, but in all honesty the thought of police and calling/reporting never even crossed my mind. My only concern was making in to the jazz club and back w/ my girlfriend unharmed. The only time the cops came into my thinking was when I saw a cruiser parked in the middle of the square, thought "Well, that's good," and then noticed there was no one in it.

Thank you for the compliments to my SA, as I've been working hard on that recently...but if I had good SA wouldn't I have noticed these guys beforehand? Why did I just see them after they had already seen me?

The other thing that is strange: the entire time I felt extremely...calm? No racing heart, no increased breath. My reflexes felt way faster (never knew I could get my knife that fast!) and I noticed I didn't have to do a lot of thinking -- it all felt automatic. I'm guessing this is a good thing?

[youngda9]

Thank you for the compliments to my SA, as I've been working hard on that recently...but if I had good SA wouldn't I have noticed these guys beforehand? Why did I just see them after they had already seen me?

We can't all have our head on a swivel 100% of the time and creep around every street corner we come to...you did fine, don't beat yourself up over it.

The other thing that is strange: the entire time I felt extremely...calm? No racing heart, no increased breath. My reflexes felt way faster (never knew I could get my knife that fast!) and I noticed I didn't have to do a lot of thinking -- it all felt automatic. I'm guessing this is a good thing?

That is awesome...now you know you can be calm and cool under deress and think with a clear head. We would all be fortunate to know this information about our own selves...but many won't have the chance to know until SHTF in their lives.

Be thankful you learned a few lessons without paying any price. Well done young man.

[svinfinity45]

Your situation sounds like the beginning of the one I posted last week "defending others"...lucky it didn't go the same for you as it did for me! You did a great job with situational awareness though thats always a key player in your survival, getting surprised is never in your favor on the street.

[TravisABQ]

Re think it.

You had five on one, and you were going to play stabby-stab?

You been doing a lot of knife training?

If they knew that all you had was a knife they would have killed you dead, or in intensive care for 2 weeks.

A lot of states have what's called "affirmative defense".

Yes it's illegal to carry w/o a license, can't get license under 21, probably illegal to carry in a bar....

But if you actually use a gun in self defense, the fact that you HAD to negates the "crime".

Check with lawyer. It varies from state to state.

[QKShooter]

Any time you walk away from a potentially hazardous scenario alive, unscathed, and exactly as intact as you went into it there are at least three possible answers as to how you did.

They are: "You Done Good!" and/or "Lady Luck was in a good mood and she was smiling at you." and "You musta done something right."

[Bando]

Seems you had no other choice. I think you did fine. Besides, you flay one coward and there is a good chance the others would back off enough for you to run. Bad guys don't like getting into knife fights any more than you or I, and generally look for easier prey. They might have backed off even if they saw a knife.

[jdowder]

Overall it seems like a job well done. My only point of contention:

Am I the only one who disagrees with the OP calling a member of the group a "retard"?

Challenging the ego of a young male who is with a group of 4 others to prove himself to a single person who called him a retard seems like the wrong move. I see this as an unnecessary escalation.

[TRICKORMATE]

Overall it seems like a job well done. My only point of contention:

Am I the only one who disagrees with the OP calling a member of the group a "retard"?

Challenging the ego of a young male who is with a group of 4 others to prove himself to a single person who called him a retard seems like the wrong move. I see this as an unnecessary escalation.

Good point, I suppose we focused on the good job he did.