What would you do if someone walked up behind you and aimed a gun at your back? Even though it seems far-fetched, this is a possibility that you should be ready for. Having a plan for unpleasant situations such as these is critical if you want to escape them unharmed. A face-to-face confrontation with a person holding a weapon may be the most terrifying event of your life. There are steps that you can take to make the scenario less dangerous, even if you have no self defense weapon or other tools at your disposal.

First, make sure that the scenario is inescapable. If you have walked in on a robbery in progress, or have otherwise spotted someone pointing a gun, it doesn’t suggest that you should get in the middle of the scenario immediately. If the gun is not pointed at you, run away if you feel secure doing so. This is mainly true if the armed assailant hasn’t yet noticed you. If there is a weapon involved, never try to protect any amount of money or property. It’s not worth risking your life to do so. Instead, call 911 as soon as you can, and stay safe.

If you cannot get away from the attacker holding the weapon, try to stay as calm as you can, even though your heart is racing. Make your moves carefully, avoiding escalating the situation. There is no reason to rush things along at this point. Instead, your plan should be aimed towards buying yourself time for help to arrive or for the possibility for escape. If you are close enough to get a good view, make a mental note of the perpetrator’s appearance, which can help police catch him if he escapes.

Keep talking to the attacker, letting them know that you are trying to work together. Maintain eye contact and try to stall for time. Conform with your armed attacker’s demands for cash, jewelry, or other possessions. Do not try to ‘play hero’ unless you have law enforcement training. If you do so, you risk serious physical harm not only to yourself, but also anyone else with a gun trained on them. Do not challenge the perpetrator verbally or physically, or try to seize his weapon from him.

However, this advice is not to say that resistance is futile. In some situations, it is absolutely vital to fight back against your attacker. If the main point of the perpetrator is violence, rather than a burglary, you must defend yourself in order to escape unharmed. If you are carrying self defense devices, such as a stun gun or a pepper spray canister, use them as soon as you can to put an end to the situation.

Before using your self defense product to stop an armed attacker, check the reality of the situation. Are you within range of the aggressor? Can you get a clear shot? If a gun is pointed at you from a distance, you may need to slowly close the gap while talking or pleading with the assailant. If you can, momentarily divert the assailant. Once you see your opportunity, move quickly and confidently to disarm the attacker.

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