Is it possible to defend oneself from an attacker armed with a gun?

Question

It is commonly said that since fire-arms were invented, there hasn't been any BRAVE man, not even the bravest man that can confront another person armed with a fire-arm.

Answer 1

The defense against a gun is simple:

1) Give up whatever they want - immediately
2) Let them walk away and keep your mouth shut while they are doing so
3) If you feel you are going to be shot no matter what you do, then try something

Answer 2

Well the politically correct answer is yes. The honest answer is still yes. I love the people who say that they can squeeze a trigger faster than a person can disarm them. While this is very true. You can squeeze a trigger quicker than you can be disarmed. There's a lot more to shooting someone than squeezing a trigger. Anyone who is in law enforcement trains for a "one second rule." A person can close a gap of about 10-12 feet in 1-1.5 seconds from a standing position. It takes approximately 1.-1.5 seconds for a trained person to draw, aim, and fire. Seeing the math here. This confrontation will be a 50/50 toss up. If you were being drawed upon from 10 feet. As the person pulling the gun gets closer, then the probability of disarming gets higher. Officers are trained not to let someone get within that 10-12 feet of "safe space." Which is why you seem them place their hand on their weapon and get in a firing stance when a person reaches that 10-12 foot mark. Honestly, you have a greater chance of being killed by a knife than a gun within that 10 foot distance.

Now if the person already has the gun drawn and aimed then obviously their reaction to your movement is faster. However, the fact that you are still alive at this point encounters another issue. The gun in this scenario is not being used as a weapon but as intimidation. There's two types of people, the type that say they are going to shoot you and they type that just shoot you. Being alive here dictates who we are dealing with. So we have some things working in our favor here as well. One, the hesitance to fire. Two, killing you is not their goal. While I would not flinch or make fast movements, a calm, presence will get you in a favorable position. For if you don't freak out, they probably won't either. They are betting on your compliance at this point, not resistance. So there's another thing working in your favor, they have to first reason, and recognize you are not compliant before then react. Which can take all of about .5 second. Add in all of these factors and the reaction time to pull the trigger grows to roughly under a second. Also keep in mind, that moving downward and sideways will make them readjust and reaim. All of these things take time, even if we are speaking of partial seconds. If a person is threatening you from over 10 feet away, then move around. Most people who "shoot" couldn't hit a moving target at 15 feet if their life depended on it. They all think they can, but fact is. Most shooters shoot things standing still. Shooting range, target does not move erratically. Hunting, you wait until the animal is still to get a good shot.

Yes it is possible, and highly possible. Yet, it's not smart. If you have a way out, then take it. It's your life on the line when you make a mistake. But fear someone with a knife more. A gun has a very small damage zone (9-15mm) It is deadly inside that 9mm hole, but it's still 9mm. A knife can have a damage zone of 3 feet or more (during a slash) The chance of not getting hit by that 9mm hole on the move is good. The chance of not getting into that 3 foot slash zone on the move.. bad.

Answer 3

I would advise handing over your wallet or anything else an assailant would demand. However, if they tell you to get into a van or come with them, I would instead think of how best to disarm them.

If the gun is pressed directly to your forehead or the back of your head, there are techniques to disarm your assailant.

As the distance between the gun and you grows, it becomes harder and harder to disarm, and should not be attempted.

If you are far enough away, you might consider running. This would depend on the skill of your assailant, as well as the availability of obstacles to hide behind while running.

Answer 4

Yes there is but you have to be sneaky about it. If someone is pointing a gun straight infront of you as you begin to bring your hands up in surrender mode begin saying a phrase that is easy to remember in such a stressful situation. Lets say the phrase is "please dont shoot". Once you begin saying that sentence begin attacking your attacker in mid phrase so you have the element of surprise behind you. So as you say "Please don't sh" attack before finishing saying the word shoot.

Remember you are raising your hands as you are saying this so your hands will be close to the gun when you say your phrase and the element of surprise is behind you. Now when you attack hit the elbow of the arm holding the gun and press it in towards your attackers body (at the same time dodge yourself more to one side so you are out of the line of fire) By pressing on the elbow you control the arm much easier and also off balance your attacker. From there keep pressing the elbow and with your free hand palm thrust your attackers chin and place one of your feet behind one of your attackers legs to drop him down to the ground.

Remeber the most important thing is to always control the arm holding the weapon so the gun never points at you and you are in the line of fire. Once he is on the ground step on the hand holding the gun and with your other foot stomp down on the elbow of the arm holding the weapon to crush the elbow and release the gun from your attackers grip. There is a similar tactic for someone pointing a gun at you from the rear position also.

Answer 5

Your biggest weapon or defense in this case would be your mouth and this involves keeping it shut what I'm saying is give them any material thing there heart desires the only reason to do anything would be if he is going to shoot you, your family or friend anyway. It only takes .33 (faster if the person knows what they are doing) from trigger pull to bullet speeding down the barrel, so sweeping the gun out of the way is out of the question. EDIT: Oh wow we have a "Ninjutsu" person on here boys.

Answer 6

It's possible. It kinds of depends on the persons level of comfort (the guys with the gun). Say it's a 17 year old kid performing a robbery for the first time. You can hear the panic in his voice and his trembling. You might have a better chance then. Say he looks like a badass mobster? Don't mess with him.

Answer 7

If the attacker is attacking with gun, (not using it a aclub or cosh but firing it) no. If he's already attacking you're gonna have to be pretty quick to beat the speed of a bullet!.
Not a chance.

Gun threats are a different matter though. Yes.

Answer 8

Depends on the situation. One of your best weapons is complete awareness at all times. If you are glancing into the mirror next to the ATM at 12 in the morning as your taking money out to go to a strip club, you've got a better shot at catching someone creeping up on you. Your best bet is the art of interception. That is: Intercepting the person before he gets into a position where its necessary that you submit. If you see someone reaching down to their pistol, obviously hes got his guard down and the opening is there. Drop the bomb and lay him out, then flee.

Is it possible to defend yourself from a gun aimed at you? Of course it is. But if your lacking confidence, if your shaken up, and if your not willing to commit yourself fully to your action, your chances will be limited. If your a punked out family man, obviously you will be second guessing your actions, possibly, on a number of levels(unconscious level as well). The root of incompetence will be burried inside of yourself, and this lack of confidence may cost you your life if you try something. If you are afraid to die, you might as well not even attempt.

Why don't you try developing some sort of device that will somehow magetically reflect bullets that are fired at a person. Once you develop one of those, give me one.

Answer 9

I wouldn't want to try. have been taught many moves, but wouldn't like my odds. it is dependent upon the gun being right up and almost if not already touching you (like in the back), and relies on the surprise of your attack and stuff like that. good ideas, and plausible, but if the assailant has any reason to kill you, it would be as soon as you resisted of looked defiant in any way.

better to not be there, or give the money over and hope he isnt high on crystal meth and shoots you anyway. seems like here in NZ, all victims of meth addicts get shot, even if they complied with the orders.

guns made winning easy, even for the wrong cause.

Answer 10

I love this question and the idiots that say they can take a gun away in the blink of an eye.... do you know how long it takes me to pull the trigger of the gun pointed at your head and empty your intelligence all over the floor? The realistic answer is if you are caught in this unfortunate position... do all and everything you can to get out of it first. Then if its apparent that you will be shot or a loved one hurt.... its up to you as an individual to decide what you are willing to do.

Would you rather give up all your belongings and save your girlfriend? or try and be brave... get shot... and got knows what happens to her? As for myself... you can take anything from me but my loved ones or my life.... all else is replaceable.