Originally Posted by
CDR_Glock
As for your experience, apart from meth they may have Hepatitis C or HIV so a close contact confrontation is something to avoid.
Sidestepping to the left is more important than stepping backwards to get out of line from an attacker.
Particularly for a right handed gun wielding assailant (as most people miss low and to the left - your right side).
I can think of all kinds of reasons to move left, as an example, it is more difficult for a right handed shooter to track you if you move to the left.
DEspite that, the most important thing is to just move, get off the threat axis. You will not have time to determine what hand the weapon is in and move accordingly. I believe it was Jeff Cooper who advised against falling prey to the 'paralysis or analysis.' Don't do that get moving.
Additionally the fight happens where the fight happens, not in that nice environment we imagine in our mind. What happens if there is a wall to your left, or busy traffic?
The important thing is move. Move fast and move far, not just a side step or two. Practice sidestepping left and right, practice driving in at an angle left and right (driving in at an angle is my suggested default) even practice backing out - although that is usually not the best option.
I'm left handed so I always walk with anyone I'm with to my right, which works well because the less evolved members of society (everyone but me LOL) are right handed. I'm by nature set up to move left.
As a right handed person, if you make the choice to walk to the left of your companion, you run the risk of them grabbing an arm if startled, or bumping your arm during the draw stroke. So I'd buck normal convention and walk on my partner's right side.
In this situation, moving left cuts you across your partners line of sight. I'd avoid that. Upon initial contact your response should be to move away from your partner - the assailant will normally focus on movement, you are creating distance between you and your partner and clearing lanes of fire. Discuss these things with those with whom you work and/or associate.
When the time comes the most important thing is to move, get off the bullseye. If you want rules: 1) move as drawing, don't draw and move; 2) move away from those in close proximity.
If you don't agree with my logic on this, that is fine, supply your own, but know why you are doing what you are doing and share that info with those who need the info.
As a trainer I long ago realized that I could talk all I wanted about SA and that really had no bearing on what condition the guy was in when the shit hit the fan. Most often things happen because the person is on auto-pilot - just walking into the store from there car, or approaching a vehicle to issue a speeding citation - not thinking about anything in particular. I came to conclusion that the best thing I could do to ensure their survival under those circumstances was to instill the movement response.
I hesitate to say instinctively move, because it is not instinct, but damn, in case you haven't been listening MOVE AGGRESSIVELY.
BTW - I would advise against making a shoot decision based on the probabilities of your assailant having an infectious disease.
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.
Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee
Bookmarks