Diesel_Bomber
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2006
- Messages
- 1,772
This evening my wife and I dined with some friends of ours that don't live in a very nice neighborhood. After dinner we were walking the block and a half back to our car when a man ~30 feet away pulled out a knife and demanded that we hand over any money we had. I blasted him in the retinas with my lowly 40 lumen SL PP Lux AA, which was already in my hand. He put up his hand as if I had actually struck him, which gave my wife enough of a distraction to draw her Beretta. I turned off the light and, with my wife covering me, drew my Taurus. The gentleman who wished us to make a contribution to his ailing finances actually said "C'mon man, I was only joking!" :ironic: My wife and I were not amused. Before we could say so, he started backing up slowly and then ran away. My wife and I didn't reholster our weapons until we were safely in our car and had driven several blocks.
My wife and I were stupid. What we should have done is light the idiot up, and then use the time given to run away, back to our friend's house to call the police. While I have no qualms about drawing my weapon on someone threatening my wife's or my safety, there was another option available and that's what we should have done. We've already reported the incident to the police and our friends in the area. I'm taking time to remember how much I love my wife, be thankful for our safety, and to be thankful I don't live in the city.
Another point I'd like to touch on is: A flashlight is not a defensive tool in and of itself. Anyone who thinks so is wrong. Without a backup plan to make use of the possible(NOT assured) opening created by blasting a night-vision adapted person with a bright light, blasting them in the eyes is only going to **** them off.
Any suggestions for next time? Ideas? I'd really like to hear LEO's opinions. :buddies:
My wife and I were stupid. What we should have done is light the idiot up, and then use the time given to run away, back to our friend's house to call the police. While I have no qualms about drawing my weapon on someone threatening my wife's or my safety, there was another option available and that's what we should have done. We've already reported the incident to the police and our friends in the area. I'm taking time to remember how much I love my wife, be thankful for our safety, and to be thankful I don't live in the city.
Another point I'd like to touch on is: A flashlight is not a defensive tool in and of itself. Anyone who thinks so is wrong. Without a backup plan to make use of the possible(NOT assured) opening created by blasting a night-vision adapted person with a bright light, blasting them in the eyes is only going to **** them off.
Any suggestions for next time? Ideas? I'd really like to hear LEO's opinions. :buddies: