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Once a sufficient level of violence or violent intent has been shown, I am not leaving the decision to them on whether I live or die. The fact is, if you have an armed response, you are MUCH more likely to survive a violent encounter.
I agree, on the the principle. You can attempt to de escalate. Or you can hope that you're more capable than they are. As someone with training, (as I mentioned earlier) I can guarantee you I have been taught to disarm an opponent and make their weapon mine. Do you want to run the risk that your aggressor can't do the same thing to you?
I'm with you on the them or me stance. It's going to be them everytime. But if you try to de escalate and become less of a threat, you are more likely to survive than if you gambled on if you could shoot first. You also stand a shot as you try to de escalate for them to get comfortable, theyll come in close and you now have your shot to strike and disarm.
If you're in a stand off. They're not going to shoot you, they'd have already done so. De escalate and you stand to make them believe they're in control and you're not a threat whilst what you've done is taken full control of the situation. If they were going to shoot they'd have shot the moment they saw you had a weapon. Be unthreatening and you live long enough to actually come out on top.
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I guess you misinterpreted my meaning, I was not advocating for drawing from the drop (though there are situations where that might be the only choice).
Yes, if there is already a gun drawn on you, feign compliance and hopefully disarm or draw and shoot as appropriate.
Its always good to de-escalate social situations, but if a gun is in play, that is my red line where action is required. That is when a person has shown that they don't care if you live or die.
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I'm with you here, but I think it's key to be able to assess whether the holder of that gun is really a threat. Sure take control but putting them down because they have a gun, is a very swift escalation of events, you've not given any chance at all for them to volunterily put their gun down. Stay focused and any advancement from them sure. Do what you have to, but there are clear rules of engagement, those should apply in civvie street too.
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