“If the guy sticks a gun in my face, I’ll just give him my wallet. It’s stupid to fight back, because I might get shot!”
… Have you ever heard someone say something like this?
Usually they’re justifying their opinion that they don’t need to carry a gun or think about self-defense because if an armed robber holds them up, they’ll just give them what they want.
In other words: they assume that compliance with the bad guy will save their life and make things easier. Well, the sad truth is that you and I are not violent criminals, so we don’t think the same way violent criminals do.
And some violent criminals may just murder you … even if … you give them everything they want.
“But, I’ll Just Comply And Give Them What They Want!”
That’s a stupid strategy in my opinion.
Most people think that a violent criminal thinks like they do. That is, they’re logical.
“The guy is only sticking a gun in my face because he wants my wallet, he doesn’t actually want to kill me”
Maybe.
Maybe not.
The problem is, you have to wait and find out until AFTER he shoots you or not to figure out if you were right.
Do you see the problem?
Some Violent Criminals Will Murder You Even If You Give Them What They Want …
Tom Givens was the first to point this out because he has lived for a long time in Memphis, which has one of the highest murder rates in the USA. Tom explains in a past newsletter …
“In 2013 there lived in Memphis a man named J.P. Shelley. He was a contractor who remodeled houses. He had a wife and a couple of small children, and by all accounts he was a good man.
At the same time in Memphis there lived three parasitic vermin who produced nothing but pain and suffering. They decided one afternoon to rob someone, so they piled into a car and cruised the neighborhood.
They spotted Mr. Shelley standing in the driveway of a home he was working on, talking with one of his sub-contractors. They pulled over. One of the thugs remained behind the wheel of the car, while the other two got out to commit the armed robbery.
According to the surviving victim (the sub-contractor), Mr. Shelley had already given over his cell phone and wallet at gunpoint and was standing there with his hands raised in surrender when one of the assholes shot him in the face, killing him. The thugs then got back in their car and left. Of course, they were caught. Physical evidence, an eye-witness, and eventual confessions leave no doubt whatsoever that the correct three people were apprehended. Last week, the last of the three was in court for sentencing. Here is what they all got…
The driver was sentenced to eight years. With credit for time served awaiting trial, he will probably be out of prison in about a year. One of the robbers who got out of the car was sentenced to fifteen years. The actual shooter was sentenced to thirty years. If he served every day of that time (no one does), he will be in his 40’s when he is released, with a lot of life still ahead of him. Mr. Shelley, on the other hand, will still be dead.
Jeff Cooper said it best, thirty years ago: “If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it. The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury. Therefore, what he must be taught to fear is his victim.”
Having been to a few Tom Givens classes, that’s just one of many heart-breaking stories he could tell you about people who did everything the bad guy wanted and were still murdered immediately after.
Instead, choose not to be a victim
Choose to fight back.
Choose to carry a gun.
It might just save your life …
The biggest thing an armed robber has to fear after he has successfully robbed you at gunpoint is the fact that he has just created perhaps the only eyewitness to his crime that there will ever be. So what makes sense, assume that the victim will never tell the cops, or to tie up that loose end? Add to that the fact that in all likelyhood, the perp is a sociopath or very close to it, and defending yourself is a far better plan than just hoping that the perp is “deep down inside, a nice person.” He ain’t. Or he would never put another human life in such a perilous position.
Great point Jeff!
Also never, EVER get in the car with someone who demands that. However bad the treatment you might (MIGHT) receive from refusing to get in the car, remember it will be at least 10 times worse once the “bad guy/girl/whatever” has you in a lonely place where your screams will never be heard. Shoot me here or sod off because I’m not getting in a car with you! Being a woman changes the dynamic in significant and scarier ways. They don’t just want to kill you anymore; now they want to torture you, rape you with whatever falls to hand, THEN kill you and leave your remains somewhere your family will never find them and thus never get the opportunity to “bring you home” for burial. Nope, not giving you my wallet and definitely not getting in the car with you. God help you if you get in the car with me because I can and will wreck that mother making sure YOUR side hits whatever I hit, first!
Great point!
Whatever bad your odds are with regular compliance, compliance to a “second location” of any type DRASTICALLY lowers them
There have been almost 130 murders in Memphis so far, i haven’t check the news today..21 july. I only go to Memphis for work or the doctor, but when i do, i carry. It’s a sad generation that feels they can do what they want and have no regard for human life. I will say that MPD has solved about 80 % of the cases, but that brings nobody back from being murdered.
So sad …
At least Memphis allows concealed carry — wonder if that’s why year to date — chicago has had 370 homicides? That’s nearly three times the homicides in another violent urban area … hmmm …
My cousin got mugged in New York city once a long time ago. The mugger came up to him and shoved a knife at him. My cousin side stepped and swung his attaché case full of paper (he was a paper salesman) hitting him in the head and knocking him out. Saved his life and his wallet!
The mugger picked on the wrong guy. My cousin was raised in a tough neighborhood in Chicago and didn’t take shit from anyone!
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