[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Daradon

The biggest self defense mistake by far here was made by the mother. Now I know the reasoning behind co-operating with the attacker was because 'he had a gun', but really, once you agree to do anything an attacker asks you to do, you are just playing into their hands. It's one of the first things they tell women in self defense classes, and it's good for anyone really. Gun or no gun, knife or no knife, don't go with the attacker. Don't make anything easier for them. Do you really think they are going to be nicer to you if you do do what they say? They say, 'get in the car or I'll shoot you', well what do you think they will do after they get you in the car? Or in the house? Or tied up?

The mother agreeing to tie up the family was the dumbest part and really the story would have probably been much different otherwise. They probably would have gotten to a part to where they could overpower him much sooner.

I mean they were able to overpower him while tied up and the father had been stabbed!

A horrible, horrible story, but could have been much different. I guess that's one of the morals, don't let fear do your thinking for you. If you're ever attacked you should fight, run, (order can go either way depending on the situation, and sometimes you have to do one to get the opportunity to do the other) and try to get to as visible or public place as you can. Go as wild kingdom as you can, trust your instincts.

But never go along with the attacker.

(Now before everyone tries to come up with what if scenarios, there might be certain circumstances especially if the attacker is known to you where talking to them and placating them may be your best opportunity, but I'm talking about random violence. And really, it's good advice in most scenarios anyway.)

That's pretty much the logic behind my 'plan'. Go along with them to a point, but not to the point where you severely restrict your options (getting tied up). I came to this conclusion after reading about Dennis Rader (The BTK Killer), which I know is an extreme example.