I've been reading this thread from day one, it interests me because I've been in similar situations on quite a few occassions with different results. It is becoming obvious that there are those who have never been in a real hand to hand fight who's opinions are monday night quarterbacking, and those that have been in a win at all costs fight. For me posting the "results" of sitting on my computer and analyzing how I would handle it vs. what really happened when I got "into it" is completely different. Unless I'm different than most people, the only emotions I felt when the fight started was RAGE, consequences, other than avoiding getting beat, were not considered in the heat of battle. I'm much older now and can't successfully fight back against a younger stronger attacker. I know what damage can be done by them and that is the reason I carry and I will use it if necessary. I retired from the Colorado Dept of Corrections and I have first hand knowledge of how many men are in prison for killing someone in a fight. Yeah I know, turn the other cheek and walk away is the mature sane thing to do, but for me, living with that "cowardice" will eat me to death.