This video is amazing. It shows clearly and for anyone to see how easy and how quickly a dedicated aggressor can close on someone to engage in violence. 

There is a big misunderstanding in the Defensive Gun community that Bad Guys will remain motionless at a set distance to commit their violence. The need to ensure safety on live fire ranges puts severe limitations on how we can train for the real world, and it is easy to believe that there is a direct 1:1 correlation on shooting on the range and how the people act when they are free to do what they want in life. This does not mean that every bad guy will aggressively encroach into grappling range, but it does mean it does happen often, and standard range practice does not prepare us for that contingency. 

Furthermore, all too regularly, online gun commentators fail to take into account how the bad guy is armed. What he has to inflict his will on you will absolutely dictate his actions to include whether he gets close or not. Next week I will have an article going into more depth on this matter, and I will cite empirical data to back this up. 

But for the moment, this video serves its purpose well. 

I know someone will say “but this is not a private citizen. It is a security guard!” Yes, a security guard without the force of law behind him, who is interacting with someone who doesn’t want to be told what to do. Thiscould just as easily be a road rage type incident. What do you think would happen if you as a private citizen came across this guy and he was blocking your car in a parking space and you asked him to move? Do you really think he would act any different? 

The key thing to remember is the bad guy goes from opening the car door, and crossing roughly 5-6 yards in 2 ½ seconds. How many people will recognize what is happening and can get their gun out and on target before the bad guy is close enough to foul your gun? Note in the video, he closed that distance all the way and went hands on to the good guy’s body. He does not have to get that far if all he needs to do is grab the gun you produce, which means there is even less time to react. Even with a sub second draw, the chance that the gun can get it’s work done before the bad guy is on you is slim to none. 

Not all incidents will have a bad guy close on you. But it does happen frequently, and it happens faster than you think. And if you have no answer other than getting a gun out, you may find your choice is extremely sub-optimal.