Reality Check

Danmc

Danmc

New member
My wife and I visited Las Vegas last week-end for the very first time. We walked the strip, went to a show, and overall had a great time. We had never been around so many people. There certainly is a lot going on, and it is nearly impossible to have total SA under these conditions. As we were walking on the sidewalk, along with thousands of other people, we were suddenly approached by 2 men selling their music CD's. The next thing I know, there is a 3rd man, a 4th, and then a 5th. In a matter of seconds, we were totally surrounded. I immediately grabbed my wife's hand and pushed through these guys and blended back in to the crowd and carried on. The point I am trying to make here is that if these guys had been attackers intent on causing us harm they would have succeeded, as it happened so fast. It was quite a reality check in the art of SA. I hope I can do better next time.

EDIT: This happened within the first 3 hours of our 4 day trip. I will say that my SA did increase, as I scanned the crowd a lot more.
 
Look at the bright side, since you were on the strip it would have been on camera. If that had happened a block off the strip you might not have been able to post the experience...
 
You probably got the 'deer in the headlights' look that isn't all that uncommon to people seeing that for the first time. Just learn to say "NO" firmly and strongly, and they'll leave you alone. Your biggest danger in crowds like that on the strip is usually a pickpocket.
 
Sorry you had a "bad" experience in Vegas. The strip is actually pretty secure. The best time (IMHO) to be a tourist in Vegas is through the week. Fly in on Sun/Mon and out on Fri/Sat.

The crowds are smaller and the place still rocks.

Stay out of North Las Vegas though...the crime capitol of the Vegas Valley.
 
Lesson learned... ego bruised... but alive and unscathed. At least you leave Vegas with your most valuable assets intact. I find that when I tell the street vendors (or the like) that "I live here," they leave me alone.
 
What if scenario coming.....

What if they were attackers and they did begin to hit you? What would be your best line of defense against 5 people within arms reach? You are with someone that means a lot to you (wife, gf/bf, family, friend).

What do you carry on you and what kind of training would help in this situation? Would a knife be better than a firearm? Who and what do you defend first, yourself or your other party member? Is your best defense an offense?
 
They were trying to intimidate you into buying their bootlegs. It's even worse in NYC. Don't fall for the "secret room" and you'll be ok.
 
Firefighterchen said:
What if scenario coming.....

What if they were attackers and they did begin to hit you? What would be your best line of defense against 5 people within arms reach? You are with someone that means a lot to you (wife, gf/bf, family, friend).

What do you carry on you and what kind of training would help in this situation? Would a knife be better than a firearm? Who and what do you defend first, yourself or your other party member? Is your best defense an offense?
Click to expand...

5 to one, it's a no brainer. In this situation, if they start attacking, put your wife behind you and start shooting. As soon as the first round goes off, you should get a crowd around you who are leaving. Keep shooting until the attack stops.
 
fudo said:
5 to one, it's a no brainer. In this situation, if they start attacking, put your wife behind you and start shooting. As soon as the first round goes off, you should get a crowd around you who are leaving. Keep shooting until the attack stops.
Click to expand...
Call 911. Call your lawyer. Smile and wave at the camera.
 
Firefighterchen said:
What if scenario coming.....

What if they were attackers and they did begin to hit you? What would be your best line of defense against 5 people within arms reach? You are with someone that means a lot to you (wife, gf/bf, family, friend).

What do you carry on you and what kind of training would help in this situation? Would a knife be better than a firearm? Who and what do you defend first, yourself or your other party member? Is your best defense an offense?
Click to expand...

Well, I will begin by saying that I am not formerly trained in any type of self defense, but here is my take on it. A swarm of Bees will attack the face. So with that in mind, in the particular situation that I was in, pepper spray or mace or whatever probably would have been my best weapon. If they can't see me, they can't hurt me. Too much of a crowd for shooting a gun. If I had a knife, I might get in a few slashes, but I might just piss them off and if 1 of the 5 got the knife away from me, I would surely get sliced myself. As for who I would defend first, I would try to defend myself first while telling my wife to run like hell. Only because I am stronger than her and preserving myself is essentially preserving her. If I try to defend myself first, then the concentration of the attack is all on me, allowing her to get away. As for an offense being better than a defense, in this particular situation, my defense was simply getting the hell out of there! That is my take on it, I am open to suggestions.

Now if the situation was in a dark alley, then the gun comes out and the bullets start to fly.
 
fudo said:
Firefighterchen said:
What if scenario coming.....

What if they were attackers and they did begin to hit you? What would be your best line of defense against 5 people within arms reach? You are with someone that means a lot to you (wife, gf/bf, family, friend).

What do you carry on you and what kind of training would help in this situation? Would a knife be better than a firearm? Who and what do you defend first, yourself or your other party member? Is your best defense an offense?
Click to expand...

5 to one, it's a no brainer. In this situation, if they start attacking, put your wife behind you and start shooting. As soon as the first round goes off, you should get a crowd around you who are leaving. Keep shooting until the attack stops.
Click to expand...

You would start shooting in a crowd of people? Curious if you have been to Vegas before, the crowds can be enormous on the strip...
 
Danmc said:
Firefighterchen said:
What if scenario coming.....

What if they were attackers and they did begin to hit you? What would be your best line of defense against 5 people within arms reach? You are with someone that means a lot to you (wife, gf/bf, family, friend).

What do you carry on you and what kind of training would help in this situation? Would a knife be better than a firearm? Who and what do you defend first, yourself or your other party member? Is your best defense an offense?
Click to expand...

Well, I will begin by saying that I am not formerly trained in any type of self defense, but here is my take on it. A swarm of Bees will attack the face. So with that in mind, in the particular situation that I was in, pepper spray or mace or whatever probably would have been my best weapon. If they can't see me, they can't hurt me. Too much of a crowd for shooting a gun. If I had a knife, I might get in a few slashes, but I might just piss them off and if 1 of the 5 got the knife away from me, I would surely get sliced myself. As for who I would defend first, I would try to defend myself first while telling my wife to run like hell. Only because I am stronger than her and preserving myself is essentially preserving her. If I try to defend myself first, then the concentration of the attack is all on me, allowing her to get away. As for an offense being better than a defense, in this particular situation, my defense was simply getting the hell out of there! That is my take on it, I am open to suggestions.

Now if the situation was in a dark alley, then the gun comes out and the bullets start to fly.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good start. I don't know the answers, probably never will unless I'm in the same position as you. I do carry a knife though with my firearm, I do not carry any kind of spray
 
Lowjiber said:
Sorry you had a "bad" experience in Vegas. The strip is actually pretty secure. The best time (IMHO) to be a tourist in Vegas is through the week. Fly in on Sun/Mon and out on Fri/Sat.

The crowds are smaller and the place still rocks.

Stay out of North Las Vegas though...the crime capitol of the Vegas Valley.
Click to expand...

We learned quickly to either say we lived there, or "no thanks" and keep walking or to simply not say anything at all. Las Vegas was a blast, and we will return sometime in the near future for another visit!
 
Firefighterchen said:
You would start shooting in a crowd of people? Curious if you have been to Vegas before, the crowds can be enormous on the strip...
Click to expand...

If I am with my wife and attacked by 5 on 1, I'm not waiting for the attack to start. If it does, you better bet I'm going to start shooting. My life and the life of my wife is more important to me than any attacker.
 
fudo said:
Firefighterchen said:
You would start shooting in a crowd of people? Curious if you have been to Vegas before, the crowds can be enormous on the strip...
Click to expand...

If I am with my wife and attacked by 5 on 1, I'm not waiting for the attack to start. If it does, you better bet I'm going to start shooting. My life and the life of my wife is more important to me than any attacker.
Click to expand...

What about the 30-50 lives that will be around you? The, "know what's in front and behind your target", deal. To each his own, I just don't know if it's possible to take shots in that situation without hitting multiple innocent people.
 
I take a different track, although I carry in NV, the large number of folks on the strip do provide a degree of help.
 
Firefighterchen said:
What about the 30-50 lives that will be around you?

I don't plan to shoot them, I believe that the first 9 rounds will, in all likelihood, settle the problem.

The, "know what's in front and behind your target", deal. To each his own, I just don't know if it's possible to take shots in that situation without hitting multiple innocent people.
Click to expand...

For me it's the "prevention of death or grievous bodily injury" deal. This situation is "closely surrounded by 5 people who attack you and your spouse". I'm in a wheelchair, so I'm not going to run away, therefore, I must stand my ground. anyone who attacks me and my wife might get us, but I'll be taking the first one or two of my attackers with me.:butcher:
 
fudo said:
5 to one, it's a no brainer. In this situation, if they start attacking, put your wife behind you and start shooting. As soon as the first round goes off, you should get a crowd around you who are leaving. Keep shooting until the attack stops.
Click to expand...

Chances are one or more of the 5 bad guys is behind you. Bad situation that probably won't end well no matter what.
 
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