23Oct06

I just finished an Advanced Defensive Handgun Program at my good friend Tom

Given's wonderful Rangemaster indoor range an gunshop in Memphis, TN . Tom's annual "Polite Society" event is now scheduled for the weeke nd of 24-25 Feb 07 at the expansive MPD training facility in Memphis.

Like the NTI, it is an event not to be missed by serious students of our Art! Get hold of Tom at:

Tom Givens Range Master 2611 S Mendenhall Rd Memphis, TN 38115 901 370 5600 _Rangemaster@peoplepc.com_ (mailto:Rangemaster@peoplepc.com)

/John

23Oct06

Aggressive Disengagement:

I tell my students to be particularly careful and alert while getting into and out of cars, because, when a car stops, predators know the people associated with it will always be distracted for a few moments as the embar k or disembark. I confirmed that lesson today:

While stopped at an interstate rest area this afternoon, I was in the restroom briefly, as Vicki remained in our car. When I returned, I entered the passenger side, sat down, and closed the door. A man approached the passen ger side. He was fiftyish, well dressed, and well groomed, and he was holding a cell phone in his hand. He motioned toward our right, front tire, and I though he was about to do me the courtesy of telling me the tire was soft.

I opened my window part way. He started by saying, "Do you know an ything about Texas?" Surprised by his question, I replied, "No. " "Where are you from? He continued. "We're from Colorado," I replied.

He then commenced with a rambling, disconnected, convoluted line about how he lost his wallet, how his dog was having puppies, and how he didn't know m uch about where he was. He stood just behind our outside mirror, so we couldn't back out of our stall without hitting him. He talked so fast, the re was no time to interject a response, and he progressively waxed aggressive . Afte r a minute, Vicki and I simultaneously said, "We can't help you, =9D as we began to slowly move the car backward. By that time, I had my Fox OC bottle in hand. The mirror did nudge him slightly, and he finally stepped aside, mumbling something about us being heartless. We were quickly on our way!

In retrospect, I handled the event poorly, allowing it to go on far too long. Like most of us, I've efficiently and briskly disengaged from many s leazy panhandlers, just as we teach the procedure in our classes. However, this character threw me off my normal tempo, because he was well dressed and did n't appear to represent a threat. I should have noticed that he waited to approach until I was getting into the car and that he made a point a seizin g the agenda immediately, throwing out a dozen story lines simultaneously, trying to get a sympathetic response from at least one of them.

Many times, while getting fuel, someone will ask about our car. How we lik e it, what kind of mileage it gets, etc. I regard most such contacts as harmless, and I usually engage in a brief conversation with the person. Bu t, I know a fictitious line where I hear one, and I'm good at aggressively disengaging, or so I thought!

This con-man was smart! He knew his jaunty, nonchalant appearance, complet e with cell hone, would cause me to initially take him seriously, and he knew

I would likely be too polite to interrupt his rambling story line, and it worked! In retrospect, when he asked his first incongruent question (abou t Texas), I should have noted that the question did not fit the circumstances and replied with, "What do you want?" When he then launched in to his rambling story line, I should have immediately come back with, "Sorry. We c an't help you. Now, step back please!"

I was too indecisive for too long. Not next time!

/John