WATCH!: How FAST An Attack Happens, And How Quickly You Can Go Down:

[detective]

Instructive: gives a good idea how having a gun doesn't have to help one iota - even when the attacker is not armed. And
the BG may well know how to bring you down as fast and sure as a Navy Seal:

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com


(Video may take a few seconds to load.Be patient, it will.)


-So what weapon do you need in such a situation?

-Awareness.

Very difficult because the BG dresses for his "job", sneakers etc But awareness can still let you feel danger from behind, a faint sound, slight shadow etc - or just a "feel". Obey the imperative to glance behind you.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Crowman]

Blindside punch(sucker punch) has, and will continue, to be an effective way to get the "jump" on someone.......... While one can prepare for things they can not prepare for everything..........

[1MoreGoodGuy]

Hold on a second, I have to rack the slide...OK...I'm ready now.

[Bark'n]

Talk about being blind sided... And a blind side attack is very difficult to discern before it's too late.

Anyone who spends any time walking on downtown sidewalks in a major city knows you just can't spin around every time you hear someone approach from the rear.

However, most people are preoccupied at least to some extent as they are out walking. At least some, if not most of their attention is focused on something else. About the only thing this particular person could have done is if the victim had walked past the attacker before he approached and attacked from behind (and we have no way of knowing this). But maybe the victim could have noticed something about the attacker's behavior before the victim walked past him which could have alerted the victim that the attacker was sizing them up as they approached.

Most attackers don't attack someone without assessing whether their victim has the potential of hurting them. But this is certainly a good visual lesson that attacks can come with very little; or no warning at all. Can happen in the blink of the eye. And are extremely violent.

Also, people have to realize that just because they carry a gun, doesn't mean they will be able to fend off every attack. Or even survive the attack. We all have lapses in our situational awareness.

[discoboxer]

This type of attack disgusts me. Freedom of speech on the internet has spawned thousands of videos like this where an unknowing victim is "sucker-punched" and an ignorant audience enjoys the scene.

You cannot prevent yourself from ever being in a confrontation, but you can avoid the majority with some awareness and extra thought. If a car accident, trip/fall, spill, etc can happen to the best of us, then surely we cannot always be at the top of our game with awareness, all the time.

An occasional reminder to bring your guard back up is always good.

[goldshellback]

In this case, unless you hear the attacker approaching (he was running/jogging) and can fint/dodge/block the initial punch there isn't much you're gonna do to prevent it. Even if your SA was up and you 'could' react at the last possible second, you'd still better brace yourself to take a punch. That 'might' be enough to keep yourself from being knocked out and to get into the fight...... chances are you wouldn't be able to run/escape, but in broad daylight and on even a moderatly busy street/sidewalk, you'd give yourself a fighting chance.

WRT the video, I wonder if 'words' were exchanged prior to this attack. This loser just quickly and quietly approached from behind and put her down.... then took off. No robbery, etc. occured. Possibly even a dare or gang-type initiation.....?

[CAS_Shooter]

There is no certain defense against the will and ability of one person to do harm to another. Period. No gun of any size or caliber will prevent one person from wreaking havoc on another. Arming ourselves provides some measure of security and safety. It has proven to deter and protect. However, even the most skilled and situationally aware professionals can get ambushed. It is too bad there was not a skilled armed citizen (I know it's the UK) in a position to protect this girl and, in so doing, prevent further pain on future victims.

[d2jlking]

Cowards. The world is filled with cowards.

[CanuckQue]

This type of issue can only really be defended against statistically, with social policies. Practically, there's no real defense to being clobbered from behind randomly. You can avoid areas and walk defensively, but that just reduces the odds.

[Hoganbeg]

Infuriating!

[ksholder]

This type of issue can only really be defended against statistically, with social policies. Practically, there's no real defense to being clobbered from behind randomly. You can avoid areas and walk defensively, but that just reduces the odds.

So what social policies would address this and keep criminals from being criminals?

[shockwave]

They caught the thug:
Plaistow Attack Suspect Arrested After 'Random' Attack On Teen Girl

[mkh]

That was in England. No guns and nothing for the criminal element to fear.

[retsupt99]

At least the English authorities didn't charge the girl with an 'illegal fist block'...good thing she took the punch.

"No Guns; More Crime" It's been proven in country after country.

[archer51]

English version of Knock Out King? Not even sure if you are allowed to defend yourself if attacked. After all, you'd be violating the punks Parliament given right to commit mayhem without fear of reprisal.

There are some circumstances where even SA won't save you. This appears to be one of them. As much as we'd like, no one is going to be prepared or able to meet every situation 24/7. We prepare for what we can, to the best of our ability, and pray the rest of the things that can go wrong don't happen.