| What would you do if someone came up behind you | | | | is not worth the risk. Your life is worth more than |
| and pointed a gun at your back? It may not be | | | | replaceable material possessions. |
| pleasant to think about this possibility, but the fact is, | | | | Unless you have law enforcement training, do not try |
| having a plan for such situations is crucial if you want | | | | to play hero. You risk serious physical harm to |
| to escape them. If you are in a face-to-face | | | | yourself and anyone else in the situation with you. |
| confrontation with someone holding a weapon, there | | | | Never try to grab the weapon away, or challenge |
| are steps that you can take to make the situation | | | | the perpetrator verbally or physically, especially if you |
| less dangerous, even if you have no self defense | | | | are unarmed. |
| weapons at your disposal. | | | | However, this is not to say that resistance is futile. In |
| If you walk in on a burglary in progress or otherwise | | | | some situations, it is absolutely critical that you fight |
| spot a perpetrator with a gun, but do not have a | | | | back mentally and physically. If the main purpose of |
| gun pointed at you, escape if it is safe to do so, | | | | the perpetrator is rape, assault, or other violent acts, |
| especially if you have not yet been spotted by the | | | | rather than robbery, it may become necessary to |
| armed assailant. Never try to protect any amount of | | | | defend yourself. If the weapon has already been |
| property if there is a weapon involved. Call 911 as | | | | used, and it is likely that the perpetrator is preparing |
| soon as you can do so without alerting the | | | | to use it again, it may be time to put an end to the |
| perpetrator, in order to increase the chance of | | | | situation. If you have devices such as a stun gun or |
| apprehending the suspect quickly. | | | | canister of pepper spray, and feel that you can use |
| If you cannot escape the situation, staying calm and | | | | them without risk to yourself or others, now would |
| collected is essential. Maintain eye contact with the | | | | be a good time to use them. |
| assailant, no matter how scared you may be. Try to | | | | Once you have made the decision to try to disarm |
| stall for time or signal quietly for help. Do not make | | | | the aggressor, first consider the range of your |
| any move that could escalate the situation even | | | | device. If they are out of your range, you may need |
| more. At this point, there's no reason to rush things | | | | to get closer. Do not just start walking towards an |
| along. Instead, you should try to buy yourself time, | | | | assailant with a gun for no apparent reason, or you |
| waiting for help to arrive or for the possibility for | | | | will be seen as a threat. Talk, perhaps pretending to |
| escape to a safe place. If you are close enough to | | | | plead or negotiate, while slowly closing the gap. You |
| the perpetrator, try to get a good description of his | | | | will need to get within range to use your device, |
| appearance and clothing, which can help the police | | | | while avoiding the possibility of violence directed at |
| catch him later. | | | | you or anyone else stuck in this situation with you. If |
| Keep talking, and let the assailant know that you are | | | | possible, try to momentarily distract the assailant. |
| trying to cooperate with them. If the armed assailant | | | | Once you spot your chance, move quickly and |
| asks for your cash, jewelry, or other possessions, | | | | confidently to disarm the attacker. |
| comply with his demands. Trying to keep these items | | | | |