[glock45]

Fellow DCers,

This is a scenario that we all dread but I wanted to learn what most of you think. I believe there was a previous thread with something similar but here we go.

I was with my wife and baby walking back to your car in the Walmart parking lot at night. I went by a group of guys that were checking us out. I felt danger and changed direction... Guys started to curse me and my family.

I thought: What would happend if one of them charged me unarmed?

We all know what would happen if any of them are armed or it becomes a situation of multiple assailants BUT, what if just one of them threatened you? Would you risk a physical confrontation before drawing your weapon? What happens if you get knocked to the ground or separated from your weapon in a scuffle leaving your family vulnerable?
If you drew your weapon and the person does not stop, would it warrant shooting? Would it be justifiable self defense?

 

[Bfunk]

If he is charging you and you feel like he is able and willing to cause you great bodily harm, draw. Especially with family around you to protect you. It only takes 1 good hit from a BG to keep you from protecting yourself or your family.

 

[razor02097]

:nutkick:

^^^ and don't look back

 

[Treo]

Any fight you are in is a gun fight because you have a gun. If the BG overcomes you physically you may lose your weapon. How do you know the rest of the pack isn't going to jump once you go down or beat the first guy?

 

[jnev]

If I felt that myself and/or my family were in harm, I would draw.

 

[Rcher]

IANAL. In Utah, you cannot draw your weapon due to a fist fight unless there is a disparity of force. Even then, you may be labeled as the aggressor just because you have a gun. In this situation it would be best to avert the situation either physically (walk away) or verbally and not get into the fight at all. If a fist fight ensues, you either fight back "mano-e-mano" or run. If the whole clan gangs up on you, now you have disparity of force. At my age, fist fights are not a resonable option. I would do whatever I had to so as not to get into one in the first place.

 

[pcon]

Hey Jnev...welcome to the Forum!

Agreed, if someone charges me, I have no way of telling that his intentions WERE NOT to hurt/kill my family and I. You'd better believe I'd protect myself.

 

[farronwolf]

Would I risk physical confrontation, well that depends on the individual. More than likely I would attempt to put something in between my family and the other guy. That would be me in between the two, then I would attempt to put something in between myself and the other guy as well. That might or might not be my gun.

In Texas you can use the threat of deadly force to stop someone that is threatening you, and it is not classified as deadly force.

 

[Yankee83]

If that were the case I would draw. If he continued to charge, he is attempting harm and will be dropped! Just a hint I learned in class. Dont talk to police first, but your lawyer. You may say something they can twist around to through you away! Always talk to your lawyer first....

 

[ragifiro]

How do you know he is charging you and not your child? How do you know the first kick wont be to his or her head? With small kids around all bets are off if the other part pursues aggression.

If you can walk away, distance yourself from the threat then great and that's your best option. Unfortunately the aggressor has more control in the situation as you are tied to your family so many of your options are gone from a defense standpoint, i.e. run away, fist fight, etc

 

[chiefjason]

With my family around things are much different. 4 of us cannot flee like one of us could. I also carry pepper spray. They will get marinated in pepper sauce first if they refuse to stop. If they keep coming they have escalated the force continuum and and I will do the same. Remember that you can use the shopping cart to keep separation as well.

 

[V10]

Multiple assailants with a wife and child around... draw. No two ways about it.

If I was alone with one, maybe two assailants, it depends. If the assailants got a weapon... draw. If he's strolling over like some kind of thug with clear intent but not foreseeable plan of attack... I'd probably draw. If he's running at me like some kind of moronic bulldozer... obviously intending on grabbing, tackling, pushing, or throwing a crazy John Wayne style punch at me.... combat jujitsu might kick in first. There's nothing easier to defend against than a top heavy force with no breaks. I'd rather draw afters he's come to a stop on the ground than have him knock my gun out of my hands even after putting one in him. IMO

 

[archer51]

Now is the time for less than lethal force, pepper spray to stop the attacker. If it does not stop him or his friends decide to join in, the odds have changed and you do what you have to do to keep your family from harm.

 

[RETSUPT99]

First of all, unless you are in the WW parking lot of a nudist camp, you have no way of knowing that he is really unarmed.
You say that you have already been 'called out or cursed at'...that would get my attention and prepare me for defensive action. When I am charged, I immediately try to move away and place objects between us, give a command to stop the attack (directions given could not be included here ). If the charge/attack continues...so do my defensive actions :comeandgetsome::yup:.

 

[Ram Rod]

Fellow DCers,

This is a scenario that we all dread but I wanted to learn what most of you think. I believe there was a previous thread with something similar but here we go.

I was with my wife and baby walking back to your car in the Walmart parking lot at night. I went by a group of guys that were checking us out. I felt danger and changed direction... Guys started to curse me and my family.

I thought: What would happend if one of them charged me unarmed?

You act surprised at first, and let them come. Then at the last minute, you tactfully move out of the direct path and facilitate their continued movement in the original direction by physical means necessary to point their head to pavement with the help of Newton and the laws of gravity.

 

[mengel4228]

I'm not so sure I would draw. I carry a asp baton; so I would defend myself with that. If it came down to me losing my baton then I would do what I needed to do.

 

[Eagleks]

Only a very stupid man would continue running toward the barrel of a gun pointing at him.

 

[JohnK87]

I'm a big guy- 6'2" 300 pounds. I'm also in my 40's with two bad knees; running is a VERY short term option and not likely to be successful against a younger thug. Physical limitations are also part of disparity of force.

With my wife and 5 yr old along? It's not even an option. I put myself between them and the threat, drawing. If they get past me, well... my wife carries to

 

[paramedic70002]

Harold Fish

 

[CEW58]

Draw and present deadly force. If they keep coming they obviously mean you harm and at that point I'd open fire. If they turn and run call the police and report the incident before they do.