Would you have fought or just given up the jewelry? This “Best of ASP” video first was narrated on our website in November 2015. There are over 700 narrated defensive encounters on our Videos tab of our Facebook page…come see what you’ve missed!

I think this mugger got what he paid for, personally. Don’t think for a moment that you don’t need every bit of Active Self Protection you can muster in the moment that a mugger attacks you. This guy had it and it served him well.

Original video of the mugger getting his just desserts available here: https://get-asp.com/pve1

What do we learn here about fighting off a mugger?

1. There’s a well-worn joke that ATM stands for “Accessory To Mugging,” and it’s not far from the truth. The ATM is of course a likely place to be attacked because it is a transitional space. A mugger or armed robber can easily ambush you if your attention is engrossed in the machine or your phone, and they are built to allow for easy access and escape. When you’re at the ATM, be sure to be extra aware of what is going on around you. I even suggest standing with your back to the machine, or at least with your shoulders perpendicular to it so that you can constantly see what is happening around you!

Want to learn more? Our website has five more lessons from this incident: https://get-asp.com/pve1

Attitude. Skills. Plan.

(music in the intro and outro courtesy of Bensound at http://www.bensound.com/)

It amazes me how fast this encounter goes from verbal to physical to deadly. How would you have practiced Active Self Protection if you were the intended victim?

News story with details and the decision of the DA: http://get-asp.com/7a86

What lessons do we learn from this encounter?

1. Racial violence is real in America, and it is terrible. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, Jr. I long to live in a country where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, and that desire goes all ways. These attackers were despicable all around, and violence based on ethnicity or race has no place in our society. None.

2. Thank God that Williams had his firearm on him that day. Four or five angry drunks bent on doing someone harm could quickly have put him in the hospital or killed him. Unless you’re Bruce Lee, one person against 4 attackers is a losing proposition if you don’t have a force multiplier like a firearm.

3. Gunfights are close quarters, mean, nasty fights. This was three shots at under 3 yards while moving and trying to avoid being hurt. That’s the reality of a gunfight, so once you’ve mastered basic marksmanship make sure to train in those skills. You’re likely to need them if you need your firearm.

4. Williams showed good restraint. In the face of slurs he kept his cool. I don’t blame him for not shaking the guy’s hand because he could well have seen it as a front for an attack, and that’s exactly what happened. He drew his firearm in the face of danger but retreated and sought not to use it, which was fantastic. When the time came, he shot until the threat stopped which was exemplary. This is a textbook case of what we train for as armed citizens.

5. The caliber debate is shown to be silly here. This attacker was fatally wounded by a .40 S&W, and yet died 6 miles from the scene and ran away. The myth of “stopping power” is just that: myth. Anything that passes the FBI ballistic protocol is acceptable, so carry what you’re best with and feel good about. And a psychological stop is as good as any other stop!

6. Generally, as a first blush, the one who calls 911 first is seen in the eyes of the law as the victim. Don’t overshare with 911 because the call is recorded and is evidence, but tell them where you are, what happened, and that you need police. Williams did a great job of being ready and being non-threatening when officers arrived, and they did a great job of not coming in ready for a fight.

7. Note as well that it took a good 5 minutes or more for police to arrive; the old adage, “When seconds count, the police are just minutes away” is utterly true and any cop will tell you that.

Attitude. Skills. Plan.