My head just exploded

DontBurnMyFlag · Jul 7, 2008

My head just exploded from trying to wrap my brain around something completely irrational that was said to me the other day.

I take a martial arts class with a guy from Philadelphia. He grew up in the kensington section, which for those who dont know, is a very rough neighborhood. He's been in more streetfights than I have fingers and toes. Its why he got into martial arts. As a form of SELF DEFENSE.

So i start talking to him about CCW and other forms of SELF DEFENSE. He says that there is no way to defend yourself with a gun in philadelphia. He says that the only people who should carry guns are those in the wilderness protecting themselves from animals.

I said, well, the city is a wilderness with animals of its own. He says that if you are carrying a weapon, one guy will approach you while another hits you from behind and take your gun. :scrutiny:

He is dead set on believing that there is no way to defend yourself in the city with a handgun. However, martial arts is the answer to everything...?

ugh. I know its just one of those conversations where you shrug and walk away. Which I did. After my head exploded.

Blackbeard · Jul 7, 2008

Did you ask him why cops carry guns? Do they often get their weapons taken by assailants?

alemonkey · Jul 7, 2008

He says that if you are carrying a weapon, one guy will approach you while another hits you from behind and take your gun.

And they wouldn't do the same thing to someone relying on their fists?

I don't get it either. But people aren't logical.

psyopspec · Jul 7, 2008

Some people's kids... :uhoh:

geekWithA.45 · Jul 7, 2008

Do they often get their weapons taken by assailants?

Er...actually, cops get their guns snatched more frequently than armed citizens.

Partly, this is a function of how they carry. Partly, this is also a function of the fact that they're paid to go looking for trouble, they usually find it, and trouble usually objects to being found.

TexasSkyhawk · Jul 7, 2008

Never bring a fist to a gunfight.

Jeff

JesseL · Jul 7, 2008

Most people seem to have a few cognitive blind spots, concepts that they can't (or won't) bring themselves to ponder in a logical matter.

Just be glad he's not making your choices for you.

Vern Humphrey · Jul 7, 2008

Reminds me of a lad who said we don't need guns to defend our liberty, but if we did, we could take them away from the police and miltiary by "using martial arts."

SsevenN · Jul 7, 2008

My guess.

he WANTS to believe the only way to defend himself is hand to hand.

If he confronted the idea that one must take every advantage given, he would be less encouraged to stay focused on just martial arts.

IMHO it's his self defence mechanizism protecting his ego from a realization that he might not be as invincible as he thinks.

just some thoughts...

Husker1911 · Jul 7, 2008

I'm mentally picturing Indiana Jones confronted by the big, sword-wielding fanatic................

Blackbeard · Jul 7, 2008

Of course, if the assailant takes your gun away, then he's in a bad spot because he has the gun and you don't. You'll just take it away from him.

misANTHrope · Jul 7, 2008

Blackbeard said:
Of course, if the assailant takes your gun away, then he's in a bad spot because he has the gun and you don't. You'll just take it away from him.

TCB in TN · Jul 7, 2008

I guess that since guns are so in-effective that we just need to take away their guns and train the military and LEO's in martial arts and save sooooooo much money and make them even MORE effective!

Yep, that makes perfect sense!

And as someone who used to do just a little bit of rough and tumble, and even tried one tough man contest, I can say from personal experience that there is ALWAYS someone who is a bigger stronger and tougher and now that I am in my late 30's I really don't want to take a chance on getting hurt by one of them!

La Pistoletta · Jul 7, 2008

JesseL said:
Most people seem to have a few cognitive blind spots, concepts that they can't (or won't) bring themselves to ponder in a logical matter.

Just be glad he's not making your choices for you.

+1

Blackbeard said:
Of course, if the assailant takes your gun away, then he's in a bad spot because he has the gun and you don't. You'll just take it away from him.

I LoL'd. The logic is just beyond comprehension. And it's got an infinite loop to boot.

Vern Humphrey · Jul 7, 2008

Of course, if the assailant takes your gun away, then he's in a bad spot because he has the gun and you don't. You'll just take it away from him.

But then you'll be in a bad spot, and he'll take the gun away from you. Then he'll be in a bad spot . . . Lord, when will it all end?

Blarelli · Jul 7, 2008

He says that if you are carrying a weapon, one guy will approach you while another hits you from behind and take your gun.

Just tell him that your .40 wushu is better than his wushu. You have to speak the language to get through.

misANTHrope · Jul 7, 2008

Vern Humphrey said:
But then you'll be in a bad spot, and he'll take the gun away from you. Then he'll be in a bad spot . . . Lord, when will it all end?

Duh, when the police show up and shoot you because you're holding a gun.

Cougfan2 · Jul 7, 2008

Does he have the special boots that let him climb walls? :neener:

La Pistoletta · Jul 7, 2008

Which film was it where Bruce Lee said something to the effect of "why not just shoot him with a .45?"

wheelgunslinger · Jul 7, 2008

Gecko45 Reference! Sweet Cougfan.

Just tell the guy that even the Power Rangers carry weapons...

Though, this may be a good argument against open carry, it doesn't make sense to me.

LaPistoletta: That was Enter the Dragon

Vern Humphrey · Jul 7, 2008

Duh, when the police show up and shoot you because you're holding a gun.

Oh, yeah. I forgot. Guns are baaaad. If you have a gun, the bad guy will just take it away from you. Or you'll shoot yourself. Or the police will shoot you when they show up.

Yup -- gotta outlaw all them eeeevile guns. :barf:

30 cal slob · Jul 7, 2008

La Pistoletta said:
Which film was it where Bruce Lee said something to the effect of "why not just shoot him with a .45?"

Enter The Dragon.

grimjaw · Jul 7, 2008

He says that if you are carrying a weapon, one guy will approach you while another hits you from behind and take your gun.

However, as Hollywood shows, if you are only fighting with your fists you may be approached by as many as 100 assailants but they will oblige you by attacking only one at a time . . .

The situation he presented could be fatal regardless of whether or not you had the gun. If a group gets the jump on you, you're pretty much screwed and that's just the way of it.

jm

Bartkowski · Jul 7, 2008

If he is repeatedly getting into fights, shouldn't he try to get away from that area? Move somewhere or just don't walk around parts he knows to be dangerous.

Regen · Jul 7, 2008

Don't let them get close

I said, well, the city is a wilderness with animals of its own. He says that if you are carrying a weapon, one guy will approach you while another hits you from behind and take your gun.

Which is why I never let anyone get within 21 feet of me. Generally, I wind up walking down the yellow divider in the middle of the road. Don't want anyone to sneak up on me and get my gun.

Back to reality here, if an assailant is very close to you a gun can be very difficult to use quickly. In my CCW class, we did an exercise were the target moved towards you from 3 yrds at 1.5 yrds per second (not very fast) and you had to draw and shoot the target before it got to you. Very, very difficult to do.

If you have a semi-automatic, and the guy crashes into you, it would not be unlikely to knock the slide out of battery and prevent you from firing while he stabs you or whatever. Revolvers are better in this situation, but still you don't want the assailant to get too close when you are defending yourself with a handgun.

My head just exploded

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