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Read the short report first: 31913 9 PM, Student Robbed in the A Parking Lot
This week while having lunch with a coworker, I was telling him about the drills we had done the night before in Krav Maga. He said "Oh yeah, I meant to tell you. One of the guys in my masters class showed up to class the other night with 3 inches of stitches across his forehead."
Apparently he was leaving the university a little after 9:00 PM, walking to his car, and noticed two teenagers flanking him in the parking lot. He started maneuvering to keep them from getting behind him. Once they were within range one of them pulled out a section of two-by-four and struck him across the forehead. They took his iPad, cell phone, and wallet(?) and took off running. I don't know whether or not he attempted to fight back.
I could have put this in any of a number of sections here, as there are multiple issues:
2nd Amendment: Yet another instance where "gun free zones" turn us into victims. In Ohio, no gun signs carry the weight of law, so if you're a law-abiding citizen you're "ripe for picking" for any activities like this while walking from class to your car (assuming you left your weapon on your car).
Need for self-defense capabilities beyond our firearm: It's not always going to be available to us, so we need to have other ways to protect ourselves.
I've thought about this quite a bit and thought about the different options:
- Run? Even keeping in good shape, at 48 years old there's a good chance two teenagers could catch up with me, although it might make if more effort for them than they're willing to expend. If I were still dressed in my work clothes (office professional), the shoes I'd be wearing wouldn't be ideal for running in. Maybe I should change that?
- Ask them what they want before they get in striking range? If I'm in a place where I do have my firearm, do I reach for where I keep it so that it's obvious to them I'm armed (even if I don't make it visible yet)? If they continue to close, tell them to keep back? If they ignore me, at what point do I either draw (if armed), or attack (if unarmed)?
- Forcefully tell them to keep back? My Krav Maga instructor recommends yelling at them to keep back, both from a "command" presence, and as a way to attract attention if anyone else is in the area. He also says men have a problem doing this because they feel like it makes them look scared, but it's actually supposed to be fairly effective. If they continue closing within range at that point, it's on.
- Maneuver a few times so that it's obvious they are trying to get to you? At that point it becomes pretty clear that they're "closing" on you. I think you'd be clear to engage at least hand-to-hand at that point if they get within range. If you're someplace where you do have your firearm, at what point do you either draw or at least make sure they know your armed?
By the way, I love how Xavier posts this in the "Safety" section of their website, but the school's posted policy is no weapons are allowed on campus to defend yourself with.
What are everyone's thoughts?
This week while having lunch with a coworker, I was telling him about the drills we had done the night before in Krav Maga. He said "Oh yeah, I meant to tell you. One of the guys in my masters class showed up to class the other night with 3 inches of stitches across his forehead."
Apparently he was leaving the university a little after 9:00 PM, walking to his car, and noticed two teenagers flanking him in the parking lot. He started maneuvering to keep them from getting behind him. Once they were within range one of them pulled out a section of two-by-four and struck him across the forehead. They took his iPad, cell phone, and wallet(?) and took off running. I don't know whether or not he attempted to fight back.
I could have put this in any of a number of sections here, as there are multiple issues:
2nd Amendment: Yet another instance where "gun free zones" turn us into victims. In Ohio, no gun signs carry the weight of law, so if you're a law-abiding citizen you're "ripe for picking" for any activities like this while walking from class to your car (assuming you left your weapon on your car).
Need for self-defense capabilities beyond our firearm: It's not always going to be available to us, so we need to have other ways to protect ourselves.
I've thought about this quite a bit and thought about the different options:
- Run? Even keeping in good shape, at 48 years old there's a good chance two teenagers could catch up with me, although it might make if more effort for them than they're willing to expend. If I were still dressed in my work clothes (office professional), the shoes I'd be wearing wouldn't be ideal for running in. Maybe I should change that?
- Ask them what they want before they get in striking range? If I'm in a place where I do have my firearm, do I reach for where I keep it so that it's obvious to them I'm armed (even if I don't make it visible yet)? If they continue to close, tell them to keep back? If they ignore me, at what point do I either draw (if armed), or attack (if unarmed)?
- Forcefully tell them to keep back? My Krav Maga instructor recommends yelling at them to keep back, both from a "command" presence, and as a way to attract attention if anyone else is in the area. He also says men have a problem doing this because they feel like it makes them look scared, but it's actually supposed to be fairly effective. If they continue closing within range at that point, it's on.
- Maneuver a few times so that it's obvious they are trying to get to you? At that point it becomes pretty clear that they're "closing" on you. I think you'd be clear to engage at least hand-to-hand at that point if they get within range. If you're someplace where you do have your firearm, at what point do you either draw or at least make sure they know your armed?
By the way, I love how Xavier posts this in the "Safety" section of their website, but the school's posted policy is no weapons are allowed on campus to defend yourself with.
What are everyone's thoughts?
