How would you have responded?

[tizod]

This happened to a guy I know over the weekend.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/03/29/news/coastal/80727.txt

He said that the story is a little inaccurate because they all gave their wallets but one of them turned and ran and the got shot.

He is okay and out of the hospital.

My question is how would you have handled this?

I have not been trained in disarming someone yet so I don't know what I would have done.

[CLFMak]

Its hard to say if disarming would have worked. Unless you're there, you don't know the range, and you don't know your own mindset. It seems that only one guy had a gun. Against three people, it seems like you're best chance would be actually taking away the gun (because you've got three people to deal with) and making some space in case you have to shoot. Seeing as how they weren't caught, they don't know if there was only one with a gun. I'd guess there was some concealled weapons, too. I've heard that if you run, your chances of being shot aren't very good, but this runs conrary to this.

[tizod]

I got more info...

They were all armed.

I have no idea what I would have done in that situation but I am glad this person got out okay.

Well, except for the whole getting shot thing.

[jerry68]

Being in condition Yellow, I would have never let them get close enough to me to make a disarm an option. More than likely it would have came down to a test of shooting skills as I introduced them to my Glock and 20 years of combat handgun training. If Krav training does anything, I hope it makes you more \"aware\"... Aware of your environment, other people, potential situations, etc.

[Anonymous]

In that situation complying with the robber's demands is probably the best thing you can do. Even if only one of the robbers holds a gun, who knows, the others might have guns also and would draw them as you attempt to take the gun from their friend. They'd draw their guns quicker than you could make the disarm and then they might shoot you or your friends.

You also have your untrained friends to worry about. They probably won't be much help, because they don't know what to do, if anything they might get in the way. And if they end up being shot and killed, because you were trying to do a gun defense, you would have to live with that.

So, unless you are getting the feeling that they will shoot anyway, even if all of you comply with their demands, it's probably better to do what they want. If you think they will shoot anyway and you have no choice but to try and fight I'd say try and move, if you can, while negotiating, in such a way that at some point the gunman will be off to the side or in front of the other two attackers (not in between them). Then do the defense as quickly as possible, get the gun, make space, yell for your friends to step back or run and hope the other guys don't have guns also. If they seem to reach for a weapon or are already holding one by the time you have finished your defense, start shooting.

This might end up in some type of blood bath, so, if any possible, it should better be avoided. So, just comply, give police a good description and hope they'll catch them later and recover your property. Even if they don't it's always better to live to fight another day....

[atakrav]

I would have thrown my money down and ran. NOT my wallet, I have too much stuff in there that would be too freakin hard to replace.

[jerry68]

Here is something I learned a long time ago... Always carry a money clip or money roll with twenty $1.00 bills in it. If you are mugged and throw down a big wad, the perpatrator is very likely to grab it and run, thinking he made the big haul. I strongly suggest yopu then immediately vacate the area, go home, and work on your OODA loop.

[CLFMak]

I make it a point not to keep my life in my wallet. It would be too hard to replace.

Like I was saying, it would be best to comply. But if there is a moment when you feel that someone will shoot, its time to fight or run. Or if they plan on taking you somewhere else- fight or run. If you've got a glock and 20 years of combat handgunnery, well, you're much better off. Thats about the scariest type of fighter I've ever heard of.