What would you say? Language you would use?

[Purplehood]

If I was really getting alarmed about the guys following me through the parking lot, I would immediately head back to the mall or any visible rent-a-cop or LEO that might be about. If, as described above this looked unfeasible, I would probably rely on body-language. I would place myself square behind a vehicle and make it blatantly obvious that I was putting my hands into my garments to presumably withdraw a weapon. At that point I would watch for reactions from the aforementioned individuals.
Are they even really after me? Did they notice my action and give some sort of reaction indicating that? At that point I would see if they continue towards me, and wait for them to say something. If they got close enough to charge (11 second rule?), I believe I would be making statements such as "Stop right there" and at that point possibly brandishing my weapon in the air with my trigger finger along the side.
This is all entirely based on each and every reaction of both parties and could change.
Specific verbage (tone, volume, and emotion) would vary based on my perceptions of the situation.
I doubt I could come up with a standard verbage.

[pedalman]

Kind of like" "HALT, HALT, {bang}, HALT, {bang) and which bang was the warning shot?

Or could it have been {bang} HALT, OR I'LL SHOOT!!! Oops.

[jimlongley]

Kind of like" "HALT, HALT, {bang}, HALT, {bang) and which bang was the warning shot?

Or could it have been {bang} HALT, OR I'LL SHOOT!!! Oops.

Yup, that would be it.

[kw5kw]

Use whatever verbiage that the situation dictates.

[srothstein]

While I have to admit that I think you will figure out the language you need if you ever need it, I also wanted to second Jim's earlier advice. Simple, short, clear, "positive" commands should do the trick. Avoid most profanity and definitely anything that could be taken wrong by witnesses. By positive commands, I mean commands they should do as opposed to commands they should not do: things like HALT or FREEZE instead of DON'T MOVE. I was taught that people are much more likely to obey positive commands than negative ones. It also helps when the tone of voice shows that the person fully expects the command will be obeyed and that there will be consequences for failure to obey.

[Skiprr]

On the standard verbiage front, I've had instructors tell me that it's important to develop a "tape loop": a few, practiced phrases that you can respond with and not have to think about it. This is less important in the earliest stages of a possible situation, but if you're gettin' down to the point that you're reachin' for your gun, adrenaline is surging, your heart is pounding, small blood vessels are constricting, and your ability for on-the-fly oratory may very well go right out the window.

But your voice may still help you stave off a dangerous confrontation, so you don't want to be at a want for words at this crucial moment. And, and has been mentioned, if the situation collapses into the use of deadly force, you can guarantee that any witnesses will be interviewed by responding officers. What they remember about the seconds leading up to the use of force will be important. Your shouting something like "Stop! Drop the weapon!" does a lot more on both fronts than "You're messin' with the wrong dude!"

So in this context, "practiced" doesn't mean just deciding what you intend to say while watching Monday Night Football one week. It means using it at the range in conjunction with your live-fire practice scenarios. If you don't have a range where you can run defensive scenarios, it means working it into your dry-fire practice. You need to be able to deliver your message under extreme stress without having to think about it.

The advice from these instructors makes sense to me, so I've tried to take it to heart.

[KD5NRH]

what is the best professional language to use in confrontation.

Klingon. It's remarkably universal under those circumstances.

[KD5NRH]

By positive commands, I mean commands they should do as opposed to commands they should not do: things like HALT or FREEZE instead of DON'T MOVE.

I think this is where "SHOW ME YOUR HANDS" comes in handy: it's a simple, positive command made up entirely of single syllable words, that demands something useful to a defender, and clearly communicates to witnesses that you believe the suspect is - or is likely to be - armed. It also doesn't demand anything unreasonable for most circumstances, so refusal to comply is a pretty good reason to fear attack.

Anybody know how to say it in Klingon?

[Morgan]

If there are witnesses and you have time to remember it, throwing in "Don't hurt me" or "I don't want any trouble" is always good. The witnesses will remember you as the non-aggressor. This is something we throw in for martial arts self defense classes.... yelling SOMETHING while attacking is good...it makes you breathe OUT when you might get hit... it might as well be something useful. LOL

[fm2]

On the standard verbiage front, I've had instructors tell me that it's important to develop a "tape loop": a few, practiced phrases that you can respond with and not have to think about it.

So in this context, "practiced" doesn't mean just deciding what you intend to say while watching Monday Night Football one week. It means using it at the range in conjunction with your live-fire practice scenarios. If you don't have a range where you can run defensive scenarios, it means working it into your dry-fire practice. You need to be able to deliver your message under extreme stress without having to think about it.
The advice from these instructors makes sense to me, so I've tried to take it to heart.

Excellent advice! I Bolded a sentence there to give you a Why. You'll want to use your brain space for more important functions, like watching the unknown contacts (UC) hands, judging distance & timing to the UC, looking for UC's tells, looking for BG #2, formulating a plan, etc... than thinking about what you have to say.


Why do we want to talk to the stranger? What is it we want, or hope to accomplish by talking to them?

[toddlinder]

Thanks to eveyone for the information. I appreciate the suggestions. I also appreciate the information about eye contact.

[Bunkins]

Once I knew that they were following me, and I still had some distance, I'd turn around and normally ask if I can "help" them. Observe their body language, somebody is going to make it clear what their intensions are, though tone of voice, or body language ( making a tighter group, taking hands out of pockets etc. ). At that point I'd move off to the side and see if they start heading my direction.. At that point I'd tell them to back off, and put my hand on my firearm. Once you bring attention to yourself, move off and stop, 99% of the time they will move off in a different direction, unless they plan on messing with you.. If they moved my direction, I'd move my hand towards my firearm, if they intend to do you harm they will take notice of that. They will either move off, or become defensive, if they become defensive I'd yell BACK OFF! and put my hand firmly on my firearm. I still wouldnt show my firearm, but if they change pace, I will pull it. If I see hands moving like they are trying to grab for something then I'd let the bullets fly.

You big city guys have parking garages, we dont here. Just parking lots, and it's very easy to find out if someone is following you. I tend to walk through cars, keeping an eye over my shoulder. Before I leave a store, I always take a look around to see who's out there in the lot, and I dont take the path where there is a group of people. Thats hard to do in a parking garage. I always park at the very end of the lot too, not so much a good thing, because of the wide open space, but I used to run track, and I can still run pretty quick. I can get in the truck faster without having to dodge cars. I'd much rather try to retreat, and call LEO's if I suspect something is up, to prevent someone else from becoming a victim. Pulling my firearm is the last thing I plan to do before I pull the trigger, though in most cases I would give a warning unless I know for sure they are going to attack.. As my CHL instructor said, it's only legal to pull it, if it's legal to use it. I dont want to get in trouble for showing my firearm unless I know without a doubt I'm going to need it. You might think that's to many step's, in some situation's you'd use less, but getting a clear picture of the situation can be the difference between a honest misunderstanding, or taking a life.

I wouldnt want to come across as being paranoid, I've noticed that when people are paranoid they get nervous, and thats not what I want to show to a group of guys. I'd rather be aware, and totally skip the paranoid part by moving straight into figuring out their motive. Let them know that I'm aware they are there, that I know whats going on. Something to remember too, humans are basicly herd animals. Meaning people will follow the person in front of them, if you haven't noticed that, do a bit of people watching next time your out and about. You will probably notice yourself doing it. This is why I dont take the path of "least resistance", because it's not often someone will follow me unless they are actually intending to do something.. A great example of this, is when someone is parked right next to you. Ever think it was funny you both took the exact same path? Least resistance, just like a trail. Mix it up a bit, and it wont be very often you'll see someone following you.


It seems like a lot of people run scenario's through their heads when they are getting their CHL, or have had it.. For some reason I dont. I guess because I've done that in the past because I needed to, and it has served me well in many situations. About the only time I think about what I would do is when you guys bring something up, but my answer is always the same. Figure out what they intend to do, warn them, then act.. I people watch a lot to, so reading people is something I'm good at. Every situation is different, but if your not good at reading body language ya should probably work on that.. I'm no expert by any means, my surroundings and even the type of people are different too, it just really depends on the situation, as no 2 are the same.

[Weg]

JUST SHOUT STOP! Thy should know what they need to stop.

[subsonic]

Know your audience and tailor your communication accordingly. I have heard instructors advise the use of street language when communicating with street people. Note however there is a distinction between using George Carlin's seven dirty words as interjections and using them as insults.