What would you do if you were held hostage and had a knife?

Question

Let's say that you're in an office or something like that with lots of other people, and armed people come in with guns and say that you all get on the floor. Basically, you're hostage. But lucky you, you have a sharp concealed knife with you (from a Swiss army knife, for instance). Would you risk the lives of others by trying to kill the hostages and saving everybody? Or would you only try to make a run for it and save yourself? Or would you just lay low while the hostage-takers threaten to kill you all if police barge in? Would you wait for the police, or take the law in your own hands? Do you have sufficient combat training? What would you do if the hostage-takers say they will kill one hostage every thirty minutes if your government does not comply with their demands?
It's a horrible decision and situation, but it's unfortunately one that's faced by countless people.

Basically what I'm asking is if you will go in Rambo-style to save everyone, save yourself in selfish way, or just lay low with the other hostages?

Answer 1

fight terrorists using only a swiss army knife? Crazy.

Answer 2

The first thing is to stay vigilant. By being extra vigilant there is a better chance of seeing it all before it really happens and giving you extra time to make your escape so you can call 911. In the McMassacre in CA. two workers escaped because they saw the killer before he got going. Now if that alternative is shut down and you are caught with the hostages, then you look for an opportunity to isolate a terrorist (bathroom, sick, aids, bubonic plague, whatever). That is your best opportunity to take the terrorist by surprise and sever his carotid artery, stab into his eyes and groin in staccato fashion, like a wolverine. You immediately upgrade to his weapon and ammo and move, move, move to a different space. They will stalk you but you need to surprise another one if possible. You are fully committed. They will kill you if they have the chance. You fight for your life. Hopefully in the confusion hostages escape out of windows or wherever they can. There are no guarantees except one. If you do everything they tell you to do you can expect that they will kill you. Oh they will promise they won't but they lie. This is not the time for fear to control; this is a time to fight to survive. If you don't you will die; if you fight you may die or you may live. I like those odds better.

Answer 3

Captain Hero, amazing question man. You gave a really good scenario, so people can really take into consideration what they would do. Personally, I'm not really physically equipped, so I'd definately cling to the knife for defense. For getting out of the situation, I'd first pray, seriously. Because odds are not very good, going into battle yourself.

I'd try to find a few allies, who are reliable. Not the coward person, that would tell my plan, sacrifice me, and end up dying anyways after begging for safety. If a small group, with the will to live, thought, under the extreme, obvious pressure and came up with a plan. They, or we, would have a chance.

Take that knife, other people, the villian's insecurities, personalities, flaws The enviornment, take Everything to use toward your advantage. And aim for staying alive, and helping those around you.

Answer 4

I'd lay low with the other hostages unless I thought I personally was going to get shot, then I'd have nothing to lose. Going after a whole gang with only a knife, only works in the movies.

Answer 5

1) a swiss army knife would probably not do the trick, you would only end up pissing them off more.
2) haven't ya ever heard...Don't bring a knife to a gun fight?
3) the timing and situation would have to be just right to have any chance of not getting yourself killed on the spot and the likely hood of one person with a knife taking out a group of armed terrorists is pretty slim.

Answer 6

Depends on what is at risk.
Are they killing people one by one? Are you waiting for slaughter? What do you have to lose?
Are you taking a knife to a gun battle? Ya know I'm not Rambo. The movies are for entertainment. The only thing a knife would do against a gun is get me killed. Common sense would have to prevail. First off I won't run and save myself. But I will get a strong male to help me slit the one guys throat and take his gun and go for it if they are killing us all anyways.

Answer 7

I come from the old school if your mate is in trouble get in there and help him! which I have been known to do over the years and will never stop doing!!
Today I think about my actions and then would make a decision not just go in blindly.
Jesus Christ said" greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.
I do not understand how people can sit on the sidelines and do nothing!

Answer 8

All the rambo's of the world look good only in movies... if i were to be caught up in a situation like this... first thing would be to keep myself calm... think of a strategy and then act.....Thats also the reason the head is above the heart....to restore Sanity and not to go Bang Bang Boom....Rambo Style.

Answer 9

well depends on how many ppl are armed with guns. if there are 1-3 itl be quite easy for me since i have a knife. especially if it has 2 blades. but if more than 3 ul need another person to help out. for a prson like me this situation is just about as easy as it cud get unless they r well armored and well trained for combat.

Answer 10

I would lay low until an opportunity arose to take them out. They might get some of us but if others follow suit they wouldn't get us all. I do have military training so I would try to get everyone else out as safely as I could especially if I knew that they were going to kill us no matter what the gov. does.

Answer 11

Not initiate, but wait for the best opportunity. As soon as someone makes a move, back that play. If it looks hopeless, or gets down to a "shoot one every half hr" scenario, then there's no choice but to try something. I'd prefer my switchblade to a swiss army, and I'd prefer my katan to the switchblade...
I keep handcuffs, switchblade and pepperspray in my purse...
I'm not the girl to mess with.