Thread: What is wrong with people today?

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Really? Only if they had reason to assume you would use it as a weapon or any knife? I know of quite a few belgians that doe carry knives and never seem to have any problems with the local law.

that means 1 of the following:

- they were never searched or had to explain the knife to a police officer.
- they have a valid reason for the knife like going hunting, or being a groundskeeper (boswachter) or taking it to a flea market, etc.
- the knife is not deemed a weapon (such as a swiss army knife).

I strongly suspect that the only reason they didn't get into trouble was that noone simply knew.
Realistically, I could carry a handgun and I would not get into trouble either. As long as the police never knew, I wouldn't have any problems.
And given that police searches are very rare here, that could be my entire life.

However, as soon as I used it and the police became involved, the story would be quite different.

Some street smarts:

Brandishing a weapon is Illegal, the only thing that stood between you and being charged was most likely his drug addled brain.. the reality of this confrontation was that he could have shot you and then might have not even been charged, if he claimed self-defense, after all you were armed...
If he was un-armed and you engaged in combat you might have been charged also if you had used the knife or not.. It would have come down to his word against yours, and courts don't look kindly at weapons other than a handgun...
I know that sounds weird but Courts understand a gun and have legal precedence to fall back on, they don't understand knives as a defensive weapon and you will probably not fair well in the legal system..


Think about what a witness out of earshot would have seen, He walks up to you and talks to you, you take an agressive posture and bearing, and then pull a knife on him and threaten him with it.. He steps back and pulls a gun and shoots you...


Edit: In case there is a question of what really happens in court let me explain,,, They Lie, and they Lie Big, so always be prepared for it...
I used to love the court cases we ended up in, listening to all the lies, then finally watching our Attorney's say simply "Your honor we would like these Video/Audio tapes brought into evidence... Oh my god the look on their faces = Priceless

Never mind...

NEVER bluff with a weapon, if a situation warrants a weapon, use it, if not keep it put away at the ready until needed.

Ya'll need to get off the kid's back about HOW he defended himself. I'm sure all of your suggestions were the furthest thing from his mind. He was confronted, commanded w/ imposing posture, and likely threatened. We all need to be thankful for his sake that he didn't just go ahead and gut the worthless piece of crap.

Originally Posted by Costabro

Ya'll need to get off the kid's back about HOW he defended himself. I'm sure all of your suggestions were the furthest thing from his mind. He was confronted, commanded w/ imposing posture, and likely threatened. We all need to be thankful for his sake that he didn't just go ahead and gut the worthless piece of crap.

He was lucky, period end of story... he might not be so lucky next time... he should know and understand the consequences of not turning on his heel and running away.. I mean RUNNING... First thought to the brain should always be "Can I run"

Only stand your ground when you can't run

If you've ever had any martial arts training at all, you begin learning ways to hurt people and quickly. You have to also remember that you can be hurt just as quickly and easily. I'm very glad that your defense worked, and I'm not going to say one shouldn't defend themselves but Glen is right. If running is an option, it's normally the correct one to take.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

He was lucky, period end of story... he might not be so lucky next time... he should know and understand the consequences of not turning on his heel and running away.. I mean RUNNING... First thought to the brain should always be "Can I run"

Only stand your ground when you can't run

If you'll remember, he was injured and wearing a boot.

"A knife is a TERRIBLE bluff. Every training I have engaged in held the same common principle: If you must use a knife in a defensive situation, the ONLY way the other guy should learn that you even it is when he/she looks up from the ground and sees it."

"NEVER bluff with a weapon, if a situation warrants a weapon, use it, if not keep it put away at the ready until needed."

Where do you guys get that the OP was just bluffing? I've pulled a knife as a defensive measure exactly three times in 24 years, and was not bluffing, fully prepared to use it each time. In all of the cases, there was not even a question of justification - one crackhead in NYC (yep, where knives are illegal ), right by the Park at 108th, pulled a belt-knife and started advancing with ill intent, thought better of it once he saw the blade I was carrying at the time. The other times were against multiple youths who had announced their intention to stomp me. In one case, I did have to slash someone across the forearm to make them go away. In general, I agree that pulling a knife (or gun) as a deterrent is unwise, and I never pulled mine with that intention, but in my experience sometimes it just works out that way, and ends the situation before you have to cut or shoot anyone.

If you can run, great, run. In many states in the US you are not obligated to run from a threat, but have the right to stand your ground. Nevertheless, running may be the wise choice. In the three cases I was involved in, running was simply not an option. In one, I was kinda cornered, and in two cases, there were other people to consider as well. Nowadays, I just have a bad knee, and can't run for s**t anymore...

As far as breaking the law by brandishing a weapon, that varies from state to state. I think Colorado calls it "felony menacing", but it always depends on the circumstances. If someone is outnumbered, outsized or otherwise in reasonable fear for his life and/or physical safety, he is not obligated to wait for an attack to actually commence prior to drawing his weapon. Far as the BG running straight to the cops and pressing charges, that did not happen with any of the individuals I had to deal with. Perhaps they were all of a persuasion that tends to stay away from John Q. Law as much as possible?

I promised myself I would never engage in these discussions years ago.

I blew it...sorry....never mind.

For anyone interested...please seek professional guidance on self defense. Things can get VERY ugly VERY quickly even if you make GOOD choices. Bad choices only lower your odds.

Please, prepare accordingly based on your perceived needs.

Stay safe!