Tips for Surviving in a Dangerous Urban Environment

First of all, we need to define what constitutes a dangerous urban environment. We can achieve this in part by reviewing yearly crime statistics. Orlando is ranked as number 18 this year overall out of 385 cities surveyed, but in the survey of cities with a population of 100,000 to 499, 000, out of 215 cities evaluated, Orlando is ranked as 9th overall. The State of Florida is also ranked 9th overall out of 50 states surveyed. This is usually a fairly good indicator, as well as what is being reported on the nightly news. Based on this information how dangerous is Orlando? The answer is that some parts of the city and surrounding areas do qualify more than others, as evidenced by the 115 homicide victims thus far this year, as well as the recent daylight armed robberies in the tourist district, and armed robberies of restaurants. Any city with a relatively high crime rate can also have safer areas, and cities like Detroit are an example of this. So now the reader is probably thinking “Okay Gun Shy, so what would you recommend as a means of personal defense?” First of all, steer clear of areas that are known trouble spots. If there is no reason to travel into those areas why tempt fate. If you end up finding yourself in an exchange of gunfire, the little voice in your head should be telling you that you have probably made a number of serious errors in judgment. My next tip is, if you are going to carry any weapons for personal defense, make sure of the following:

1) That they are legal for you to carry to carry concealed (different states have different restrictions)
2) That you understand the hierarchy of weaponry both defensively and legally to avoid being charged criminally, or even worse yet, being hit with a civil suit.
3) That you are extremely proficient in their use in all applications.

As stated above, there is a hierarchy of weaponry, with the options being hand to hand combat (blocking, punching, kicking, grappling skills, disarms), chemical weapons (defensive sprays), impact weapons (baton, metal flashlight etc), energy weapons (taser, stun guns), edged weapons (knives), and firearms. It is best to start out by learning some *realistic* hand to hand combat, which takes time, practice, and commitment, as well as live training with a partner to be proficient at it. In order to protect yourself legally, you need to have these unarmed combat skills and non-lethal force options available, because you cannot justify using lethal force to defend yourself in non-lethal situation, and it should only be used if a jury would determine upon review that it was necessary to avoid death or serious injury. Also keep in mind, that a pistol will be of no value defensively if an assailant takes it away from you before you have it un-holstered and ready to discharge. This also creates the dangerous possibility of them now using your own weapon against you. The same holds true for a knife or any other weapon. I should also state for the record, that the best way to gain the proper understanding of how to defend against a knife attack, is to first learn how to be an effective knife fighter. All of this, of course takes time, hard work, and dedication, and those who want the quick fix will try to take the short cuts.

It always puzzles me when I see people wearing T shirts with slogans on them such as “Body piercing by Glock” complete with a human silhouette punched full of bullet holes. Does anyone think that this shirt will somehow deter an armed assailant? What you have effectively done, is announced that you have a concealed firearm which eliminates your element of surprise. All the assailant has to do is beat you to the draw, and he now not only has your wallet, jewelry, cell phone, and credit cards, but also a spare firearm to be used in future crimes that is probably worth more than the cash you had in your wallet. If he is forced to shoot you in order to get your firearm it will not trouble him, because now that you are terminated this will afford him even more time to max out your credit cards before they are reported stolen reducing the risk of him getting caught. If you are going to carry concealed, make sure you have a firearm and holster that does not imprint (not easily detected by outline) because this will announce that you are carrying a concealed firearm.

So what are some of the writers more specific thoughts on this you might ask? Gun Shy likes to explore the full range of weaponry so there is no defensive stone left unturned. This would include, but is not necessarily limited to the following:

A)*Realistic* hand to hand combat training
B) Defensive Spray (I recommend Sabre Red with OC/CS combo)
C) An ASP Expandable Baton (some prefer a tactical flashilight with a crenelated bezel for striking)
D) A high quality folding knife (also a useful tool)
E) If you are at a perceived threat level that warrants carrying a firearm (make sure you are licensed), then I believe that carrying two pistols is the best option (with different draws of course) Make sure you are trained for handgun utilization (with correct ammo) in a close quarter environment, because there may be innocent citizens around you during the confrontation, and their safety should be a primary concern always.

By having the full spectrum of defensive weaponry available, the use of deadly force will be justifiable in the event that the other options were not enough to subdue the assailant first. If the assailant is armed with a firearm, go immediately to plan E if the situation allows and or demands it, with the primary objective being to protect yourself and others from bodily harm, and not to force the assailant into an unnecessary shootout. Always keep in mind that material possessions are not worth people dying over.

As an additional note, there are some who might also add a tazer or stun gun to the list as well (not this writer). Keep in mind, that the inexpensive devices are typically not effective and some what unreliable, so when it comes to defensive weaponry, spare no expense to get the right tool for the right application (threat level). Your life, and more importantly the lives of others may depend on it.

Please check out these previous entries on personal defense:

Surviving a Knife Attack

How Close is Too Close

OC (pepper spray) and CS (tear gas) used as deterrents...how effective?

Pistol Accuracy in a Combat Environment