Ignorance Is Not Bliss

[sigsauer]

Thought I would bring up a article in HandGunner magazine. First off I believe this magazines deserves commending. This article is in the January/February editorial and I suggest those who are interested to pick it up.

The reason I am so appreciative to this magazine is because they are standing up for knife rights as well as gun rights. When the guns go so will the knives. They recently started a column in their magazine about knives tactically. In a recent article they took some ignorant opinions about how what they showed was inappropriate. Specifically the comment was about how they showed a technique for slashing a throat, which the individual told them was out of line. They go on to make this comment.

"Curiously, we have never received any sort of complaint about head shots or, as it is sometimes known, popping the melon. Whole articles have appeared on the subject of terminal ballistics-the effects of bullets in human flesh-without a squeak of protest. As one martial art instructor put it." "How is it acceptable to write about high-velocity punctures but not low-velocity punctures?"

I have found this to be very true about the opinion on knives. People seem to be more comfortable about the use of guns versus knives for defensive reasons. I believe that only through articles such as this shall we be able to educate some of the ways for individuals to protect themselves.
I have found it funny how self defense classes for women often suggest using their finger nails to gouge an eye out. But if a women were to slash an attackers throat, I would be willing to bet that she would receive a stoning from some media groups.

I hope to see many more articles in this magazines as well as others with this kind of view. I have read many post in the tactical forum about the use of serrated blades versus plain edge in self defense. Well what would prove better that some actual test involving penetration and slashing test into animal carcasses, this has been a long tolerated test for bullet ballistics and I see know reason why we shouldn't have the same in knife coverage.

 

[cerulean]

Interesting topic...

I've also noticed that some people who are into self-defense, either with a gun or empty handed, are extremely reluctant to even consider using a knife. Of course, you can debate what is more practical, effective, or legal or whatever, but some people have a deep resistance to knives that goes beyond all logic.

You're probably dealing with an ancient prejudice here. For thousands of years, knives have been seen as sneaky, underhand weapons for thieves and assassins. There's an idea that if you use a knife, you're somehow not "playing fair".

Also, for some people, I think there's an element of fantasy in self-defense. Most people have never been shot before, so it's easy for them to fantasize about shooting someone. When I was a kid, my friends and I would always run around with toy guns and pretend to shoot each other. That was a lot of fun, but for some reason, we never ran around pretending to stab each other with knives. It's generally not as fun to fantasize about cutting someone because we've all been cut before at some point in our lives. We know that getting cut is scary and gross and painful. It really brings the reality of self-defense into focus.


[This message has been edited by cerulean (edited 12-27-2000).]

 

[sigsauer]

Cerulean, thanks for the reply. I had never thought of it that way, but you make an excellent point.
I unfortunately feel that someday we will come to the cross road where everyone has to decide if they will fight for their rights or just lie down and take it.
Forums likes this are great ways for us to organize are plans to keeps are rights. We have to organize and not allow the censorship of material that can be benificial. I only hope that when the time comes we can stop fighting among ourselves and join eachother so that we can keep this nation free as it was intended.

 

[glockman99]

I KNOW that IF "the chips were down", and I HAD to use a weapon to defend MY life with, I SURE as hell wouldn't hope to have a knife in my hand at the time (NOT EVEN my Cold Steel Trail Master Bowie!), but rather one of my .40 or 10mm Glock pistols. No mater what, a knife just DOESN'T possess the QUICK "stopping-power" that a JHP bullet (or two) does.

That MIGHT be one reason for the dim view towards knives as "fighting instruments". (They simply don't "work" quick enough.).

------------------
Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663

 

[Jeremy Reynolds]

Glockman, while I agree with you that a gun is definately a better choice, I wouldn't mind having that knife either. A lot of states do not have CCW permits. Guns are not always options for people. Sometimes, is the best or only choice. If I am in a fight for my life, a gun is definately what I want. If not, then I want a knife. If not that, I want any weapon in my hand that will give a better chance of making it home to my loved ones. Sometimes the "best" choice is not always an option. If you didn't have that Glock or Sig, i bet you would change your mind about not wanting that knife in your hand.

 

[jackG]

This is an interesting subject. I'm sitting here trying to anaylize my own response to the notion of "cutting" someone and there does seem to be, shall I say, an aversion.

By way of background, I studied MA for many years, and usually carry a concealed handgun (legally of course) so the prospect of doing whatever it takes in order to defend myself is not foreign. With MA I spent thousands of hours conditioning myself to strike an attacker (in various ways) if needed. Every time I executed a technique, it was at another imaginary human being.

With a firearm, particulary a handgun, I put up a target and practice over and over again, placing shots quickly and accurately to a precise point. To me, my handgun practice is essentially a mechanical MA exercise. I doubt I would even own a handgun if not for self defence. It's merely an extention of MA.

If I take a knife in my hand and consider confronting an attacker it's as if I'm not conditioned to know what to do, unlike with MA or a hand gun. In fact it would seem easier to throw down the knife and go after him with my hands, feet, elbows, etal! I think to use a knife it would require that I be trained, that is, practice for bzillions of hours until its use became automatic.

There is one other niggling little suspicion in the back of my mind. I've never punched myself, I've never shot myself (I'm happy to report on both counts), but I've cut myself, and it's no fun. Whenever I'm handling a knife the automatic, primary objective, is to keep the business end from coming in contact with human tissue (namely mine). It "feels" as if I'm conditioned NOT to touch, first me, and by extention, someone else, with that blade. For the knife to be effectively used as defense tool, would require that this response be trained out of me. Just some rambling thoughts. Jack

 

[Lukers]

Interest thread guys. I would hate to have to fire on or cut another human being but if it meant saving myself or my family or friends I would certainly rather have a gun. However I don't think that I would choose a knife next. I would rather have a big stick of baseball bat. If this were at a distance I'd prefer to slice them accross the face or neck with my whip. A knife makes sense at close quarters but I would prefer to keep them as far away as possible.
Just my $.02