I have received a kind recommendation for an update to this post from a friend. What I posted below is when you are directly confronted with an attacker. However, as we have all heard previously, especially when attackers are on a campus is the warning … “Shelter-in-place!”
This, of course, is the first line of defense and protection. That is, you “evade” the threat. As my friend says: “Get the heck out of the area!” Or, in the case of a campus, stay where you are and do not even get close to the threat area.
The next step for sheltering-in-place, is to barricade doors and hide. Do not be visible. Of course, call 911 as soon as possible.
But, if you are directly confronted and cannot escape, then proceed as recommended below. And, again, I recommend that everyone take a class in karate or self-defense so that you become more alert to what needs to be done.
In view of recent attacks by gunmen against large groups of people, and especially the most recent one in Texas in a church, I want to provide possibly a measure of hope for those who are caught in such a situation.
Many years ago, a man walked into a bank with a single-shot hand gun and ordered all in the bank to go to a back room and lay face-down on the floor in a line. He then proceeded to shoot each one twice … once in the back and once in the head! After each shot, he had to reload! No one jumped up to attempt to overpower him, which 2 or 3 of them probably could. As a result, everyone died!
If you are in a situation where someone says, “Everyone is gong to die“, or it is obvious that such is the intent, then it is best to at least attempt to do something to protect, not only yourself, but everyone else in the room.
The response to such a situation is possibly counter-intuitive, but your best plan of action is to … RUSH THE ATTACKER!
At least then it may also shock others into doing so. Unfortunately, most people freeze in fear with the hope that they will not be shot. You cannot count on that! Yes, you are scared, but being scared is not being dead. Especially if the attacker has to reload, RUSH THE ATTACKER. Disrupt his concentration and ability to function as he planned. If you run away, you will most likely be shot in the back! RUSH THE ATTACKER! Take the initiative. Do not wait for someone else to protect you. YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOURSELF! But, by taking the initiative, you will also give others a chance to help, which they will, once they see someone acting to protect everyone else.
And, girls, this also applies if you are caught in a situation that you know is dangerous. Kick, scream, scratch, sharply thrust your fingers in his eyes! Do not hesitate. If he is attempting to seriously harm you, he does not deserve to see. Do not worry about it. Attack him, and then run away as fast as you can as you scream and call for help. Never get into a car with someone you do not feel right about. Especially if he is attempting to force you into the car. Turn and run away as fast as you can as you scream and call for help. But, if you are seriously threatened, kick, punch him in the philtrum (just below the nose) with a sharp punch, or kick or punch him hard in the solar plexus. Take karate lessons if you want to.
I trust that this will get all of you thinking about what you would do if you are in a threatening situation where you may die. Do not lay down and just get shot. Fight back. Think about what you are going to do now. “Visualize” what you will do so that you act instinctively when needed. Talk to others about what they will do, and think through again what you will do. Again, “VISUALIZE” what you will do to save your own life and those around you. “Visualization” is a very powerful tool. You will be surprised just how well it works when you then just instinctively respond in a threatening situation. “Visualize” day-after-day about what you will do, and then when you are in public, be aware of your surroundings and think about what you would do if you had to escape or fight. Do not wait for something to happen. By then it is too late. Think now and visualize what you will do.
