Solution to gun violence

[mvccd1000]

Finally!!! I've heard this from several of the gun control advocates here, but I never realized it could actually work. Now we have a case study in the effectiveness of this method: Train everybody in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighting!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/04/26/20120426surprise-martial-arts-intruder.html#comments

David Jennings slowly emerged from a deep sleep, sensing that someone was standing by his bed.

In the dark room, the blue glow of the television illuminated a man's silhouette. The stranger was pointing a gun at Jennings' head.

"Don't move," the stranger said.

Crime victims often have just moments to react, as they decide how best to keep alive and protect loved ones. With his three children sleeping down the hall and his wife lying next to him, Jennings had a second to decide.

He moved.

Jennings, who was lying on his stomach, reached around behind his back with his left arm and grabbed the intruder's hand that was holding the gun -- the same gun Jennings kept by his bed for protection, a Bersa .380 semiautomatic. (ed. - dummy!)

Jennings used his free hand to push himself off his bed and swung his left leg off the edge. Turning toward the intruder, Jennings lunged. He slammed his shoulder into the man's midsection, and with his arms wrapped around the stranger's torso, lifted him off the ground to take him off balance. With the stranger digging his fingernails into Jennings' back, the two crashed to the floor, about six feet from the foot of the bed.

Sitting on the stranger's torso, Jennings wrapped his leg around him to constrict his breathing.

"I was smashing his head into the ground, trying to keep him disoriented," Jennings said.

He shouted for his wife to call 911.

If we could only train the good guys with these MMA skills (while preventing the bad guys from getting them), we could finally end all gun violence. I think I'm becoming a believer.

[Meiko]

1. I used to be able

to scuffle with best of them but I am just too old and sick to do it anymore, that's why I carry a gun.

[safeinOhio]

2. One solution of many.

In this case the victim may have been able to stop this attack way before his response to it.
Securing ones home can be very cheap and easy to do.

Please google
"cheap home security"

Easy to make stops on all windows, 3 inch screws on all door hinges and strikers, motion lights outside the home, fake warnings of alarms or dogs and even the purchase of a dog that barks. These and other cheap and easy precautions can stop 90% of all home invasions. Having a gun and self-defense skills can become the last resort.

[mvccd1000]

5. Agreed.

If you're able to take all of those steps and someone still manages to make it to your bedroom, your "decision tree" regarding the shoot/don't shoot choice becomes much simpler.

[BiggJawn]

3. Not going to happen.

I'm old, slightly arthritic, obese and in poor physical condition. The idea that I'm going to mix it up with a home invader barehanded like Stephen Seagal is LUDICROUS! Just like the idea that I'm going to out-run some 20-y-o punk w/a knife on the street.

And how do you think you're going to prevent convicts from gaining these skills? Did you know every prison in this country has a gym and weight room?

I'll trust my M1911 in the biometric safe by the bedside, thank you...

[safeinOhio]

4. Sorry big guy...

in the story above you'd be dead reaching for your safe. On the other hand, if you'd been awakened by a dog, alarm or the extra kicking of a secured door, you might have had time to grab your weapon.

[Clames]

6. You need to read the story again...

..as there is an important detail you badly missed when addressing the big guy.

[BiggJawn]

12. How would I be dead?

The intruder grabbed the homeowner's unsecured weapon to use on him, thus I think we can assume said intruder didn't have a gun.

He'd make enough noise breaking down the door and tripping over bicycles and books that I'd have ample time to prepare his reception.

[safeinOhio]

7. I don't think we can end all gun violence.

We can reduce our chances of being a victim. At home and on the street.

On the street we can be aware of what's going on around us. Act confident as those looking for a victim look for those that act like a victim. Stay away, as much as possible, from dangerous places at dangerous times. Stay away from illegal drugs. Stay away from triangle relationships. Learn anger management.

The odds will be on your side.

[mvccd1000]

8. Ironic

I started to post about how I almost got caught at home in a similar situation to the OP, then deleted it... now that you mention "triangle relationships," I dug it up in my history and pasted it below:



I've been on the other end of the situation in the OP. A recently released felon who had been a MMA cage fighter before he went to prison decided his ex-girlfriend had shacked up with me. He brought two friends, one for the front yard and one for the back in case I decided to escape, then broke into my house to let me know what he thought of the situation. I worked 6am - 2:30pm at the time, and fortunately for me he figured 6:45am would be a good time to catch me unaware; I'd already been at work for almost an hour.

I'm not a small person, but he's a 6'4", 240 lb hardcase who had just spent 3 years pumping iron after several years of cage fighting. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done much besides get my ass kicked until he decided I'd learned my lesson. With any luck, I wouldn't have been injured so badly I missed work or worse.

[Meiko]

16. It's called

situational awareness...good points.

[geckosfeet]

9. Uh huh. I see. A seventy year old senior citizen smashing the head of an intruder into the floor.

Good thinking.

At a reasonably fit 56 with some Aikido training, my first choice would be my firearm. Engaging an intruder who is younger, fitter, possibly trained in MMA, possibly carrying a a knife or other weapon in hand to hand is not very smart.

I have to think you purposely left off the sarcasm smiley.

[mvccd1000]

10. Nope, didn't forget the sarcasm smiley.

But I do wish they had one for Satire.

[geckosfeet]

11. Try this.

:satire:

People will get it and eventually there will be a satire smiley.

[Simo 1939_1940]

13. My bad-ass neighbor who's into kickboxing was in his driveway one day

hosing off his boat with half of his face black and blue one day. I assumed he beefed really badly surfing - so I asked him if that was the case. Nope. He got into a scuffle with another guy who punched his eye right out of the socket. This is a pretty big guy too, who's not fond of guns.

[Common Sense Party]

14. I keep a can of beans next to the bed for just this type of a situation.

[Nanjing03]

15. Properly Armed and Trained is a Martial Art

Firearms, the armed use-of-force, and the training that goes with them is a martial art in itself -- or part of the Mixed Martial Arts equation.