Could not disagree more based on my experience as a 1%er, bouncer in some bad-ass bars and some more experience in 'high risk professions'.
The "element of surprise" is a definite advantage when dealing with serious contenders.
You should be careful when making sweeping statements.
Having spent more than half of my adult life in somewhat high-risk professions (special operations, undercover narcotics agent at home and abroad), I would bet that we are closer to seeing things the same than not.
I've done way more than my share of ambush operations while in the military, so I have a little bit of experience working with and utilizing "the element of surprise." It's essential for offensive operations.
But here, we're talking about self-
defense.
The key word here is DEFENSE, not offense. It's been said that the best defense is a good offense. Per this discussion, anyone who wears/carries a firearm SHOULD already have a heightened situational awareness about them. Too many of us (including agents I worked with) trust that the gun alone will protect them and save them.
It will not. You have to know/see/sense/feel what's coming and use the gun to save you from harm. The gun is a tool.
If you are looking for trouble, then "the element of surprise" of having a weapon is on your side. But that is not a self-defense scenario. You are the aggressor.
However, if you decide you want to start some crap and you go looking for a likely recipient and you bump into me--and I'm wearing a t-shirt with the Budweiser on it that says "The only easy day was yesterday," and I have a ball cap that reads "Semper Fi" and a tatto on one arm that says "So that others may live" and on the other arm one that says "De oppresso liber" and the front of my jacket says, "Pain is weakness leaving the body," and you see a shoulder holster with 45 ACP inside, do you
really want to choose me as your Huckleberry?
Your choice. If you have any brains whatsoever, you'll move on. Thugs are already in the risk management business. They want an easy mark.
I want to be left alone. I don't want to have "the element of surprise" on my side in a self-defense situation. Unlike a lot of would-be wanabe heros, I don't want to ever have to draw my weapon and point it at another human being again.
How you carry yourself with posture, attitude and awarenss helps negate a large number of potential problems.
If you're looking for trouble, then by all means stay with "the element of surprise." But for self-defense, if you have to "surprise" an assailant, you've already been victimized. Now we're just determining what level and to what extent you're going to be victimized.
How does the element of surprise help you then?
Jeff
