re: #73 Daniel Ballard

When feasible retreat is the best. But Reine had a great point. Often the attacker gets us by surprise and the fight to even escape is on. Like when a womans hair is grabbed. Tough escape right? At least without those skills you “hate to see touted”.

Which I’ve already covered— in a situation like that, it’s not feasible to escape, so any means of defense are okay with me. You do see that I”ve said that, right?

Please remember retreat is often attempted and the bad guy is too much to evade. Literally turning your back is a deadly mistake against a weapon or physical assault. How fast can you run backwards? I do say and teach that you give up the wallet and go in a mugging.

Then don’t literally turn your back. I’m not saying that when attacked you should instantly turn on your heel and run pell-mell. I am saying the completely goddamn reasonable thing- which I really hope that you teach people— that whenever you’re presented an opportunity to retreat, you should take it.

Frankly I want the victim to have some reasonable advantages. I’m not afraid of victims, I’m afraid of attackers.

I’m afraid of victims like Zimmerman, and many others who resort to deadly force when ‘attacked’.

I’m afraid of victims who open fire in a panic and shoot a passerby.

I’m afraid of victims who think they’re being attacked when they’re not.

I’m afraid of people claiming to be victims who were actually the attackers.