Would your action be the same if armed with knife but no gun?

[Wynn]

Edit: I may have posted in the wrong section. Mods please feel free to move if necessary.

Lets say for the sake of this discussion that for whatever reason you have only your knife on you, but no gun. We'll say the knife is a 3" folder for the sake of my example. You are out and about with your wife and child, and are approached by a man who pulls a knife and says "give me your wallet". Many people say that they would shoot if they had a gun as they would be in fear for their life. In this scenario, you dont have a gun. Would you attempt to pull your knife and attack to stop the threat? If not, then why?

What I'm getting at is this- if I had a gun I'd draw, but if I had a knife I dont know if I'd try it. But if thats the case why would I be justified in using deadly force without hesitation if I had my gun (superior firepower) even though I would hesitate/ possibly comply if I merely had a knife? Wouldnt an anti prosecutor argue that I couldnt possibly have truly feared for my life if I were to shoot, when given the same scenario armed with only a knife I would have second thoughts?

This has been bugging me all week. Thoughts?

[Wynn]

FWIW after pondering this I've decided a life fearing event will be responded with life saving defense, whether I am armed with a gun, knife, or simply my hands. If I am not in fear for my life I will obviously walk away/ de escalate.

[tuts40]

Prepare to get cut. Being cut is serious, deadly. It will happen fast and furious and usually when you are not expecting it so you will get cut. It's a flipp'n drag no doubt. Unless you have lots and lots of training you will get cut when a thug who fights for fun and survival who has cut others before jumps out at you with a knife. Yeah, a flipp'n drag for sure.

Would I react the same? Hell, I don't know how I'd react if I had my gun! ...Nobody does unless they've "been there".

Fun discussion I suppose, tho.

[NavyLCDR]

An action being legal does not make that action wise. In your scenario, I will use a gun to defend myself, but not a knife, unless it is a sword. I would hand over the wallet and hope for the best if I wasn't carrying a gun, and I would be in fear for my life if I had a gun or not.

We had hand to hand combat in pre deployment training... the first rule the Army taught us was not to engage in hand to hand combat without a gun, if we could avoid it.

[ironmike86]

I grew up with the sport of Kali. My actions would be the same. Walk away if i can fight back if theres no choice.

[Wynn]

My thought is that my life would be in the hands of somebody. Rather trust MYSELF with my life than some criminal. Best to just have good SA, and always have your gun with you if you can.

[VERDAD Investigations]

Part with the wallet, intend to leave with your wife and child and not the wallet. Until the agressor wants more than a material thing, you may not want to engage. Once more than the wallet is at risk...it's ON.

[Iam2Taz]

Having been involved in a few rough and tumbles in some adult establishments as a younger man, I would say, give the BG the wallet. The limited cash I carry is not worth the hospital bills. I can cancel the credit cards.

As noted above, I would be in fear for my and life and given the option of a gun, I'll shoot. (Don't bring a knife to a gun fight comes to mind.)

There is always a tough, wanna be Chuck Norris, guy who would try to take it away. Good luck with that one.

[Tucker's Mom]

You have already stated the obvious -- you are with your wife and kid. With those two lovely people with you, you do not go out without a gun. Period. Make it a habit, if you will, never to go out without your gun. It is a nuisance at first but you'll get used to it in time.

[mappow]

My question would be do you have any training with a knife and or hand to hand? IF NOT, surrender that the BG possibly has and or is high and desperate so give him your wallet. You really don't want to be sliced an diced in front of your family. Of coarse as MOM states, NEVER go out without a sidearm. This will ensure at least you don't have to be sliced and you'll be able to defend your family better. As for the D.A. and your position with a gun verses a knife. Your in fear of your life or your families life. Draw and drop him.