Rick:
Man, what an experience! Sounds to me like you're carved out of solid rock. You're right about seeking an equalizer in such a situation, but sometimes the level of drugs can render even guns ineffective. My first Aikido instructor was a police officer in Colorado for several years back in the 70's. One night, he, his partner, and two other officers answered a call where a PCP-filled psychopath was shooting up his family. The officers demanded that the man come out of the house, and come out he did, blazing away with his .44 magnum revolver. Fortunately, the cops were hunkered down behind the engine blocks of their cars, and didn't catch any bullets (not to mention that this guy couldn't hit a barn wall in his state). After the junkie had emptied all six shots, the cops popped up and proceeded to empty their guns into the criminal. I am told that he was shot a dozen times, mostly center body mass, but he was still able to come around the cars and severely beat one officer before he was subdued. He died minutes later, but even after being shot so many times, he was still able do inflict horrendous damage.
I am worried about my knife or O.C. spray having a similar lack-of-effect on a druggie. I make sure to make thrusts to the eyes one of my primary knife techniques — I figure if you can't see, it doesn't matter how much crack you have in your system.
Burton: I am glad you mentioned the choke. It has served me well in the past against the "mentally altered." I have used it so far on one raving schizophrenic and one drunk and it has worked like a charm.
Thanks for the great discussion,
Jim
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We cannot live better than in seeking to become better.
-Socrates
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