Victim and Predator Behavior

[Paladin]

The following is a compilation of articles from Skip Gochenour. The full articles can be viewed at:
http://www.teddytactical.com/index_files/Page451.htm

Victim and Predator Behavior

Points for practitioners(i.e. CHLs) to consider are:

1. Most Violent Criminal Actors (VCA) will attempt to get in close proximity to their prey. Predators avoid stand off engagements.

2. If the potential victim does not have a defensive weapon on his/her person, there is little likelihood of being able to move sufficiently to obtain one.

3. If the potential victim does not have some type of rudimentary plan for such an event, there is little likelihood of being able to develop one in time to defeat the aggressor.

4. When awakened by a predator, potential victims tend to awaken immediately.

5. When awakened by a predator, anticipate that you and your family will be injured. Predators invading homes at night do so with the understanding that they will injure anyone who attempts to stop them from achieving their goals.

6. Predators invading homes during daylight hours generally tend to avoid physical contact if at all possible.



Predatory behavior has seven distinct phases:

1. The hunting ground selection. Where are targets of the desired type
located?

2. Specific target selection. The target must indicate a reasonable likelihood of having the desired items, e.g. cash, jewelry, sex, etc.

3. Evaluation of the potential target. Is the target aware of the intention of the predator and can he/she be seduced into ignoring normal common sense actions? Can the potential target be surprised by the attackers actions and will they fail to recover adequately to thwart the attacker?

4. The bump or the testing of the potential target. Many predators will make an initial contact to determine if the target recognizes the threat.

5. Positioning to execute the act. Moving to the most desirable position from which to successfully execute the attack.

6. Running the attack tape. Checking the area one last time while visualizing what they will do and the response of the victim. Knowledge of what action(s) the victim will take is useful in developing the strategy for the attack.

7. Executing the attack.


In reading the situation (confrontation), there are three considerations:

1. Motive

A. Instrumental

· The violence offered is an instrument to acquire a goal.
· He wants your wallet.
· He may be establishing a reputation, especially when involved with a cohort group. This VCA is particularly dangerous.
· VCA with this motive model is most susceptible to forming a restraining judgment.
· His weapons skills are more likely to be poor. He must get close.
· He will have a strategy for getting close. The strategy will likely make use of his chosen attack venue.
· His weapons are more likely to be of poor quality and poorly maintained. Systems are not likely to be redundant. If armed with a firearm, he is not likely to have a supplemental ammo supply. The weapon may not be fully loaded.
· He is very unlikely to use a conventional weapons transport system.
· He is less likely to be interested in a fight.
· He plans on an escape and to be unharmed.
· Most likely for economic benefit.

B. Expressive

· Violence offered is an expression. It is to set the world right as the VCA sees it.
· He is particularly unlikely to be susceptible to forming restraining judgments.
· He is very likely to transfer his hostility to anyone he interprets as part of the wrong he is trying to right.
· There is a greater likelihood his weapons skills will be good.
· His weapons are more likely to be of good quality and well maintained. He will likely have multiple weapons and additional ammo. He may even have breaching capabilities.
· He is much more likely to fight.
· He is less likely to plan on escaping the venue uninjured or alive unless he has other killing venues planned.
· He is there about honor as he sees it.

C. Instrumental/expressive

· The incident begins as an instrumental occurrence and shifts to an expressive incident.
· His interactive interpretive model will be primed to accept offense at your actions that do not conform to his view deference to him and his position. He is looking for an opportunity to see an affront to his honor.
· Throwing your wallet will get you shot. Such techniques, as written about by experts are based on looking at robbery reports, not talking to killers.

2. Context

WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF EMPLOYMENT The greater the intimidation factor of the weapons system, the less likely it is to be employed. The less the intimidation factor of the weapons system, the greater the likelihood it will be employed.

This observation applies predominately to the instrumentally and instrumentally/expressively motivated VCA.

· Firearms rate of use is in the single digits.
· Edged weapon employment is about 1 in 4.
· Impact weapons are about 1 in 2.
· Empty hands are almost 1 in 1.

In a recent medical study of assault injuries done in England shows that the extent of injury and permanence of injury is greater from the shod foot than from firearms and edged weapons.

The greater the number of antagonists, the more likely there will be an assault regardless of your cooperation. If there are three or more antagonists an actual attack is almost assured.

When confronted, you must operate on a Plus 1 premise. No matter how many confront you, you must assume there is another until you have proven otherwise.

3. Circumstance


Predator and Prey Strategies

All animals, including man, are faced with the problem of predation. When a predator enters an environment occupied by prey an interaction begins in which the predator and the prey are faced with decisions on how to proceed. Each participant has a narrow range of strategies and behaviors in which to accomplish their respective goals.

For the predator the strategy generally is to construct a condition where he can approach the prey to within a critical distance where he can successfully execute his strike.

For the prey the strategy is to fight, flee or freeze.

The narrow range of these strategies sets conditions where the behaviors of the respective parties are recognizable to the other as they are being executed.

VCA Predation Strategies

Critical distance, the distance at which a predator can successfully launch an attack, may vary according to their chosen implement of attack, but most frequently is measured in feet.

There are exceptions such as those seen in the Beltway Snipers who practiced their craft in the DC area in the fall of 2002 and Charles Whitman who used the tower of a Texas university in 1966, but most commonly VCA choose to work at nearly touching distance.

To reach critical distance the VCA commonly looks for physical environments where he can take advantage of conditions that will restrict the successful flight of his prey.
Constricted areas such as rooms, areas between parked vehicles, the interiors of vehicles and such allow the VCA to acquire critical distance. VCA also use the behavior of their prey to enhance their ability to reach critical distance by observing which, in the number of possible targets, are distracted by attention to common personal duties and activities that make up the daily life. On occasion, VCA use artifice and device, and sometimes distraction, (Ted Bundy) to aid in reaching critical distance. Most commonly the VCA uses a direct, purposeful and quickened pace to close the final span of space to critical distance.

While less common, it is certainly not uncommon for the VCA to loiter about in a location that will bring the prey into critical distance, even if that location is an open area such as a street. When the prey places themselves into critical distance, the VCA executes his strike.

VCA working in teams will most often operate in concert to maneuver and restrict the flight options of their prey.

The common feature of VCA activity is to create circumstances where critical distance necessary for their strike is reached. The recognition of this feature should serve as an alarm that activates in the Practitioner a pre-loaded response designed to first confirm the actual nature of the threat and to implement the solution available.

Response Strategies

Across the animal world, including man, response strategies to predation is the same. Fight, flight or freeze is seen universally.

Fight

Predation is distinguishable from fighting. Fights have certain rules that are morality based. Whether common bar room brawls, the Rules of War, or the Code Duello, there are features that define a fight. Among those features is a public announcement of grievance, postured challenge, an opportunity to resolve the challenge short of actual engagement, an understanding of what manner of blows are and are not acceptable within the context of the actual engagement, a cessation of blows upon the injured when they are no longer capable of effective response, the obligation to provide for or not interfere with assistance to the injured party and the recognition of and the avoidance of injury to non-combatants to the engagement. Violation of these features is considered unfair and immoral.

Predation is, therefore, an immoral act. The immoral nature of the act serves as a root for the criminalization of violent predation. Even in the face of VCA predation the Practitioner who violates these moral rules places himself in jeopardy of criminal sanctions. Hence the trained verbal challenge offered to a VCA, Drop the gun!, serves a public notice, the opportunity for the VCA to cease his actions and even escape, the requirement to avoid the delivery of no more than reasonably necessary blows and the provision of assistance to the injured VCA when the threat is reduced to an acceptable level are all moral requirements of the fight response to the offerings of VCA predation. The fight response of a Practitioner will be examined by authorities to determine compliance with these rules. Specific circumstance may obviate the ability to comply with some of them, but an acceptable explanation will still be necessary to avoid assignment to a reciprocal act of immorality.

A fight can be defined as an engagement with a hostile in which every decision you make is worth your life, or in some cases, the life of another. Fight response has various forms. The one most commonly considered is a counter-attack designed to over-power the attacker. There are circumstances where that may not be possible or is less effective than other forms of assertive response. At VT some responded by tarrying Cho by obstructing his access to critical distance on others. The response of the Professor who blocked Chos access to a classroom by using his own body is no less a form of fighting, given the option circumstance, than directly engaging him with force designed to over-power him. The fight response does not guarantee survival and in some instances that chosen response can include the decision to die purposefully.

Flight

Flight to avoid an act of VCA predation is the preferred response strategy. Flight response is most effective when it is exercised before the VCA is able to reach critical distance. The concept of awareness seeks to address this issue. Flight response is complicated by circumstance such as physical obstructions, duty sworn obligations and non-duty sworn obligations to others for whom the Practitioner has a legal or moral obligation and who may not, because of personal condition or circumstance, be able to apply that response. Flight response, if possible, is the legal obligation imposed by most jurisdictions.

Circumstance may limit the available response to VCA predation to the flight option even if the VCA has reached critical distance.

Freeze

Freeze response, often derided as grass-eater response, is a response that is implemented when the predator has reached critical distance and initiates his attack with overwhelming force of violence. There is evidence that it is well known throughout the animal world. There is reason, therefore, to view it as a universal strategy, though certainly the least attractive one, to predatory attacks. The freeze response would suggest a strategy of hoping the predator is distracted from his actions sufficiently to overlook the user of this strategy. Cho, the VT killer, seems to have missed some of his prey in this fashion. He was apparently further distracted from his actions by the response of the police which lead to his self termination. The end result was that some of those who opted for the freeze strategy survived.

Predation Strategies and Response

Predation strategies used by VCA and the response strategies used by their targets seem to be universal in the animal world. It is possible these strategies are the product of other than learned behavior, though personality may impel individuals more towards one form of response than another.

Predation is an immoral act that is devoid of rules. Fighting is a moral act that is rule driven. Particularly as it applies to fight response, techniques designed to make that response more effective can be learned and practiced. Of greater importance is the learning and practice of moral decision making. The inculcation of moral behavior allows the Practitioner to instantly make decisions in the midst of real-time evolving circumstance.

The Practitioner will never know the nature and circumstance of the test imposed upon him by a VCA. None of the techniques provided to him in training may fit the test he will face. Only his moral make-up will allow him to respond with the circumstance specific improvised technique.

Practitioners must learn to recognize behaviors designed by VCA to place them inside critical distance. The recognition of those behaviors must activate an alarm that causes the Practitioner to focus on the source or sources of that behavior until the suspicion is confirmed. At the same time the self-generated alarm is activated a set of pre-loaded actions must begin to run. As with the alarm system in a house, it’s primary function is to provide adequate time to initiate a response.

Practitioners must also recognize the narrow range of specific response strategies to VCA predation. Selection among these responses will be tied to the level of penetration the VCA has established into critical distance and the imposition of circumstance peculiar to the specific test posed.

Managing Non-Specific Encounters

Non-Specific Encounters are the most common form of contact Practitioners have with VCA.

Commonly referred to as street encounters, they regularly occur in areas away from the Practitioners residence.

VCA will commonly use a series of behaviors and signals that telegraph their intentions. These behaviors and signals can be readily perceived, interpreted and reflected to the VCA.

Rude v. Ruse

The Non-Specific Encounter will begin as either a Rude or Ruse contact.

Rude

The approach will be direct and confrontational. Demands for compliance will be made. Breathtaking effrontery will be employed.
- Hey man! I got to get paid!
- Yo! Youre holding my wallet!

Common street jargon that is unfamiliar to the ordinary person will slow the reaction of the Practitioner as he tries to interpret the meaning of the uttered words.

The purpose is to be able to close the distance and control the movement of the Practitioner.

Ruse

The Ruse approach will be more polite. It will make a plea for some kind of assistance. This approach relies on the common trait of all polite people to willingly attempt to comply with a polite request for help.

Effrontery will again be employed. Polite rejection of the request will be ignored and continued and repeated requests will be made.
- Can you please help me find...
- I want to share the Word with you! Let me read to you from the Book of Fallopians?

The purpose is again to slow the reaction of the Practitioner and to be able to close the distance and channel the movement of the target.

CHANNELING

Channeling is an attempt by the VCA to control the movements of the target.

Ideally, the control of movement will be to stop the target and stake him in place.

Alternatively, the action is designed to get the target to place himself in a confined area where he can not escape.

BLUFF

The Bluff is part of the instrumental motive of VCA.

The Bluffer has no interest in wagering his life to exercise his claim of right to the mine you possess. That means he is not willing to fight. He is willing to kill.

An alternative to the Bluff is the Ruthless Bluff. It uses the immediate employment of the available weapons system of the VCA. In short, he shoots you and takes the wallet out of your pocket as you lay on the ground.

ATTACK INDICATORS

There are a series of (4) attack indicators that operate in conjunction with the action to control the Practitioners movements.

They are commonly seen in the moments before the attack.

They may occur in any sequence and any one or more of them may be repeated multiple times before the actual attack.

Grooming

Grooming is usually touching or stroking the head or face.

Assessment glances.

Assessment glances are for the VCA to make a final check of conditions before the initiation of the attack. They are typically hard glances. They may be to see that no one not associated with him has moved into the area. They may be to assure that cohorts are in position. They may be targeting glances to view the specific area of attack on the targets person he intends to strike.

Body Load

Just before the attack the VCA will prepare his body for the attack. He will take a set. He will typically shift his weight for a strike. He will expand his body and raise his shoulders and put his nose over his toes. He will usually square his body to the target.

False Starts

VCA rarely have their weapons secured in a weapons transport system. Their mode of carry is insecure. They will typically use their hands to secure their weapon especially as they move about prior to the attack.

They will also typically make false start movements towards their weapon before they actually make their presentation.

STRATEGY

An approach by an Instrumentally Motivated VCA must be met with a strategy that allows for him to understand that you are aware of what he is and what his intentions are.

Because he is not usually willing to wager his life in order to get your wallet, he must understand that you interpret his actions as hostile and are prepared to respond.

This conveyance of information to him is designed to cause a restraining judgment to be formed in him. At the same time it is designed to prepare you for a response if he is not restrained.

The VCA is aware of the process he uses is his preparation for attack. The best method of interactive interpretation for conveying your alarm and belief that he has hostile intent is to mirror his actions to him.

His preferred method of gaining compliance is the bluff. That does not mean he is not about to use violence on the Practitioner. It means he is not likely to be willing to fight. If he is inclined to be dissuaded in his hostile act, it will be because he understands the bluff is being rejected.

The ruthless bluff will likely appear as the production of the weapons system available to the VCA as he is making his approach. The (4) attack indicators will still be used though they will be used in an aggressive approach.

In such instances the Practitioner must be prepared to ruthlessly default to immediate action without mirroring.

VCA will develop an approach to the Defender that will place the two of them within arms reach of one another.

The Defenders response should seek to (1) disrupt the flow of the Aggressors attack, (2) lengthen the time required for the Aggressor to complete his deployment of a weapon, (3) allow the Defender to get off the line of force developed by the Aggressor and any cohorts, (4) expand the time the Defender has to deploy his own weapons system and (5) respond in a fashion not predicted by the Aggressor.

DISRUPT THE FLOW OF THE AGGRESSORS ATTACK

Because the Aggressor will be the initiator in an attack, the Defender must have a strategy that will “capture the mind� of the Aggressor and redirect his attack actions.

Upon recognizing he is under attack, the Defender should respond by taking an action designed to cause the Aggressor to re-orient his body, thus disrupting the flow of his attack.

As the head goes, the body will follow. A strike to the head causes an involuntary movement of the body from its assumed attitude to another. This re-orientation of the body will occur even if the strike is ineffectual or misses completely.

LENGTHEN THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE AGGRESSOR TO COMPLETE THE DEPLOYMENT OF HIS WEAPON.

A strike to the eyes or head of the Aggressor will cause him to re-orient his body and lengthen the time he needs to deploy his weapon.

An alternative to a strike to the head is a solid shoulder contact by the Defender to the Aggressors upper body.

ALLOW THE DEFENDER TO GET OFF THE LINE OF FORCE

As the Defender accomplishes his strike, he steps aggressively forward and at a 45-degree angle to the Aggressor. This action moves the Defender to a location of the line of force established by the Aggressor and his cohorts.

EXPAND THE TIME THE DEFENDER HAS TO DEPLOY HIS OWN WEAPON

As the Defender is responding to an attack initiated by the Aggressor and is therefore behind in time, his response must allow for an expansion of time available for the deployment of his own weapon. The Defender deploys his weapon simultaneous with his strike and movement off the line of force.

Using the “immediate danger distance ready position the Defender engages the Aggressor with gunfire repeatedly, while continuing to step off the respectively established line of force until the problem is resolved, observing the requirements of the law and the Gunsite 4 Rules.

RESPOND IN A FASHION NOT ANTICIPATED BY THE AGGRESSOR

Aggressors, like all people engaged in a confrontation activity, have a mental image of their actions and the anticipated response of the target. They have visualized their behavior and that of the target in mental rehearsal for the confrontation. The Defender must have a strategy in place and loaded that is outside the assumptions made by the aggressor. Execution of the unanticipated response by the Defender to the planned actions of the Aggressor will cause a momentary confusion and drag in execution of the Aggressors plan.


RECOGNIZING THE IMMEDIACY OF ATTACK

When a non-intimate places themselves within the immediate danger distance zone, a Practitioner should be alert for the possibility of a pending attack.

Using a generalized focus, the Defender observes the hand actions of the Aggressor. Upon determining that the Aggressor is engaged in weapons deployment, the Defender executes his pre-loaded response.

Because few VCA use holster based carrying systems, the manner of presentation will differ from those used when a holster is used. VCA will usually carry weapons concealed among their clothing. Often the weapon is thrust into the belt line of the pants or a pocket.

VCA will attempt to get within immediate danger distance to execute their attack. They will use various devices to accomplish the closing of distance. Some strategies will involve the use of terrain and architecture; some will involve an immediate approach. While the Practitioner should try to avoid being in such proximity to any non-intimate, he must also have a system in place to deal with the eventuality that he is caught is such a situation.

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Inside the Criminal Mind
By: Stanton Samenow, Ph.D.

Dr. Samenow began work in 1968 as a clinical psychologist, believing along with much of his peers that criminals were victims of their circumstances and station in life. In 1970 he took a position at Washington D.C.s Saint Elizabeth Hospital under Dr. Samuel Yochelson. It was there that his view of the criminal mind was challenged, and those observations became the subject of this book.

Far from a stodgy, academic book, Inside the Criminal Mind talks to the average reader, in terms he understands, of a worldview he can barely grasp. The motivations, mindset, and moral code of the criminal are revealed to us. Learning the thought processes of the criminal element in our society can help guide us when one interjects himself into our life.

The work of Yochelson and Samenow challenged the prevalent notions, rejected them, and offered their own interpretations. Chiefly: Criminals choose to commit crimes. They also experienced success working with criminals to change their lives by confronting the VCA directly with his choices. They did not allow the criminals they rehabilitated to obfuscate, dismiss, or deflect their personal responsibility for their choices.

The relevant chapters in this book begin by detailing for us the development of the criminal from childhood. As early as 4 years of age, similar patterns of behavior were commonly identified throughout the patient studies they conducted. From childhood to adolescence, remarkably consistent social interactions and thought processes were identified:
§ Lying was used, not to conceal embarrassment, but as a weapon.
§ They believed themselves smarter, more cunning, and better than their peers who followed the system.
§ They first learned to manipulate those who trusted them and loved them.
§ Later all people, including the other delinquents they formed friendships with, were seen as pawns. They also manipulated others within their own social structure as an exercise in control.
§ They learned around the age of 10 how to be charming, as overt deviousness served to only get them caught, or bring unwanted attention.
§ They chose to associate themselves with older children and teenagers seen as daring, risk-takers rather than those their own age.
§ Some are attracted to competition, determined to outshine everyone else. They take any loss or failure as a self-image crisis. They are impossibly arrogant winners or else revenge seeking losers.
§ As a youth, he must convey an image of himself to others as unflappable and invincible.

Again, these behaviors are all learned at a young age, and perfected by the time his peers are in their final years of high school.

Dr. Samenow suggests the criminal is often fascinated by the Police. Even at a young age they respect the Officer, and are awed by his power and influence over others. This often continues into adulthood. The contempt for the Officer and the law only goes so far as when they pose an immediate threat to him. They understand societys rules, and even expect obedience to them of society. A criminal who makes his living mugging old ladies sees it as just something I do to get by in life. At the same time, he would viciously attack a mugger who stole his mothers purse. Societys laws must be obeyed by all but him.

Criminals refuse to recognize themselves as bad men. They may be thieves, rapists, or murderers, but they refuse to define themselves by their acts. He simply decides that, at any particular time, he can make exceptions for himself to commit criminal acts because it suits him at that time. The rest of his life he sees himself as basically a good person, and compartmentalizes his criminal acts.

“Although the criminal may not accept what others consider moral standards, he claims to have his own set of morals. Other people are liars, perverts, scoundrels, and criminals, not he . . . even in prison an inmate is not likely to see himself as a real criminal. It is the other inmates whom he views as the real ones. He looks down on them as depraved because they do things that he would not. Specific crimes are wrong and thus off limits for him simply because he personally finds them offensive.

The criminal will even blame his victims. Embezzlers will blame company officers for being foolish with their money. Thieves and muggers will suggest their victims should have known better to walk through my neighborhood. Rapists will blame a woman for wearing an outfit so salacious, even suggesting she begged for me to take her. Murderers will proclaim, He should have known better than to do such and such. What the hell did he think I was going to do when he did that? Ignore it?

So, what does this book have to offer us as Practitioners? Why should we concern ourselves with becoming acquainted with the thought processes of The Criminal Mind? Because the knowledge of how criminals operate will help us to avoid becoming a victim. An early recognition of their behavior might help us deescalate a violent interaction when we see it unfolding.

The way criminals think are entirely foreign to the life experiences of most decent men. We have generally no experience setting up a con; or putting together a street robbery; or any of the other many types of violence we can find ourselves presented.

[casingpoint]

Great post, Paladin. People must be speechless in it's wake.

[Venus Pax]

I think more would comment, but there really isn't anything to add. It's a good article.

[fm2]

I think the bulk of the article is well written. WIth only text to go on, and realizing it's limited medium, I am curious about a few points raised.

ALLOW THE DEFENDER TO GET OFF THE LINE OF FORCE

As the Defender accomplishes his strike, he steps aggressively forward and at a 45-degree angle to the Aggressor. This action moves the Defender to a location of the line of force established by the Aggressor and his cohorts.

This assumes the BG or BGS strikes the Defender then pauses? Or does the Defender strike until they can get to the " 45 degree" position? How do you keep the BG in this positional relationship to the Defender & keep him from clinching the defender? I don't think this will be clear without pics or videos, though. I'm not sure what that last sentence means " ...to a location of the line of force established...."? Maybe the assumption is the BG's will be moving in one line towards the Defender?

EXPAND THE TIME THE DEFENDER HAS TO DEPLOY HIS OWN WEAPON

As the Defender is responding to an attack initiated by the Aggressor and is therefore behind in time, his response must allow for an expansion of time available for the deployment of his own weapon. The Defender deploys his weapon simultaneous with his strike and movement off the line of force.

I think this could use some elaboration, specifically the "expansion of time". I am not very confident that the Defender can strike & stop the BG, move off the "line of force" ( I assume to the 45 degree position) and deploy his weapon simultaneously. Maybe this happens in more of a step-wise fashion?

Using the “immediate danger distance ready position� the Defender engages the Aggressor with gunfire repeatedly, while continuing to step off the respectively established line of force until the problem is resolved, observing the requirements of the law and the Gunsite 4 Rules.

What is the "established line of force" if there are two Aggressors?

Has anyone been to a class with Skip Gochenour, maybe these questions are covered in the class?

[Paladin]

Thanks to all for the kind words!

You have some good questions fm2

I believe that the above information was presented at the NTI in a classroom with accompanying force-on-force exercises... so not everything was captured in the text.

As I understand the "ALLOW THE DEFENDER TO GET OFF THE LINE OF FORCE" technique, the defender hits the VCA in the head and then moves "forward and at a 45-degree angle to the Aggressor". On the surface, this appears to be somewhat similar to Suarez's technique, but certainly Suarez has documented his technique better.

As to the "EXPAND THE TIME THE DEFENDER HAS TO DEPLOY HIS OWN WEAPON" technique, I believe SouthNarc and Suarez have some notable training videos on how to accomplish this. These moves may not all be truly simultaneous. Exactly how it plays out may depend on the precise situation. I have to say it is a skill-set that I would like to gain more practice at.

I like to decrease the time required to deploy my weapon with readiness. If you see a potential threat, you can take steps like removing obstacles to drawing your gun (i.e. seatbelt, items keeping your strong occupied), and you may even be able to get your hand on your weapon. This helps you to deploy your weapon much quicker if needed.

[The Annoyed Man]

I like to decrease the time required to deploy my weapon with readiness. If you see a potential threat, you can take steps like removing obstacles to drawing your gun (i.e. seatbelt, items keeping your strong occupied), and you may even be able to get your hand on your weapon. This helps you to deploy your weapon much quicker if needed.

Incredible article. Thanks for posting it. I have a question about your last paragraph (above), which I've never been able to answer satisfactorily myself. I most often carry IWB, shirt untucked. In order to get my hand onto my pistol in preparation to deploying it, I would have to lift my shirttail while placing my hand on the grip. The act of doing this would expose the firearm and cancel my "concealed" status. I don't particularly care if the the VCA sees I have a gun, particularly if it is enough to cause him to rethink his decision to attack. However, does exposing one's firearm in a situation like that, before the attacker gets within critical distance, put a CHL holder in violation of his legal obligation to conceal his weapon? Obviously, it can be deployed after an attack has taken place, but can it be exposed just before an attack takes place, as a preventative measure before the VCA has achieved critical distance, without an accusation of brandishing?

I've always wondered about that.

[WildBill]

However, does exposing one's firearm in a situation like that, before the attacker gets within critical distance, put a CHL holder in violation of his legal obligation to conceal his weapon? Obviously, it can be deployed after an attack has taken place, but can it be exposed just before an attack takes place, as a preventative measure before the VCA has achieved critical distance, without an accusation of brandishing? I've always wondered about that.

Annoyed Man - You've got to quit thinking like a Californian! Texas has no brandishing law. I think 46.035(h) covers your concern.

Sec. 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.
(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the license holder's person:
(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the actor, at the time of the commission of the offense, displayed the handgun under circumstances in which the actor would have been justified in the use of deadly force under Chapter 9.

[The Annoyed Man]

Annoyed Man - You've got to quit thinking like a Californian!

It's amazing how that junk gets ahold of you, isn't it? It's like trying to kill crabgrass, getting rid of it all.

[fm2]

If you see a potential threat, you can take steps like removing obstacles to drawing your gun (i.e. seatbelt, items keeping your strong occupied), and you may even be able to get your hand on your weapon. This helps you to deploy your weapon much quicker if needed.

All excellent ideas. From what I have seen, pre-emptively establishing grip on the handgun cuts the draw time in half. But, it lets everyone know you are armed and where the handgun is.


I understand a little how Suarez accomplishes moving off line & getting a gun in play. I wonder if Skip's method is his own or similar to Suarez or like SouthNarc's. I wonder because I am curious as to what Skip suggests for getting position on the VCA when he re-orients on the Defender. So the Defender cracks the VCA allowing the Defender to moves to the 45' position. The Defender goes for his gun, but the VCA re-orients his hips & wraps the Defender up trapping his strong side arm. Granted it's a very dynamic situation, and this is only one example, but it seems like there should be some mention of how to maintain position or some concepts to follow.

[03Lightningrocks]

Does anyone have any references to sights that sell DVD's with stuff like this on them? Maybe even some DVD's that give info on proper shooting techniques for accuracy and what not?

[Paladin]

http://www.onesourcetactical.com/index. ... tegory=138

[Rex B]

That's a very good article, but I can't see myself reacting to a close-proximity movement by hitting a dangerous individual upside the head, especially if it's the first overtly violent act that takes place between us.
In fact, if I were very good at physical confrontation I'd be less likely to carry, or at least deploy.
I'm not a fighter, never done it, never trained for it.

Fortunately I'm a big guy, probably intimidating to some people, so I'm not a likely target.
If I were smaller and more agile, I'd likely have learned some martial skills along the way.

[fm2]

That's a very good article, but I can't see myself reacting to a close-proximity movement by hitting a dangerous individual upside the head, especially if it's the first overtly violent act that takes place between us..

What would you say the "first overtly violent act" by a "dangerous individual" would be? We have to be able to survive that and stay concious and on our feet. What are the most common methods used by the BG's to get paid? They stack the odds in their favor and surprise /ambush people from normal conversational distances. We know that action beats reaction, so we need to reduce the reaction gap or eliminate it.

In fact, if I were very good at physical confrontation I'd be less likely to carry, or at least deploy.

How are you at verbal confrontation? Maybe you are good at projecting your intent through body language?

I'd suggest getting the Shivwoks PUC DVD, found here. http://www.mdtactical.com/ShivWorks/dvd_puc.html