Simple Assaults Can Turn Deadly: Are you Ready?

This is a horrible report out of Wisconsin regarding a man who died after being assaulted and punched by a scumbag.  Apparently, the scumbag did not like the victim’s tattoos.  First point of consideration: it does not matter how good you are at minding your own business, violence can find you no matter how you try to avoid it.  The majority of problems can be avoided, but some can’t, and it is not up to you.  It is up to the criminal.  And, as demonstrated here, sometimes scumbags just have a problem with the way you look. 

The second point of consideration is this: simple assaults can turn deadly, very quickly.  It appears that this incident involved the victim hitting his head on the ground, which led to death.  This is common; the damage from hitting the ground is often more traumatic than the damage sustained by the blow that puts the person on the ground. 

Legally, if you are an able-bodied male who is not elderly, you are going to be limited in your options for force against a situation like this, where the aggressor is not armed and is assaulting only with hands.  However, even though the legal system demands a less-lethal response for a less-lethal assault, bear in mind that such assaults can turn lethal, as seen here.  How would you react to such a situation?  If you are female, or frail due to some limiting physical condition, you are not expected to take a beating, and going to deadly force is much more acceptable in such a circumstance.  If you are an able-bodied male, however, you need to be able to deal with such an assault with less-lethal force.   

First, carry OC Spray.  As soon as a guy like this gets hostile and is displaying his intention to assault, its time for the hot sauce.  Second, have some basic unarmed fighting skills.  Know how to cage up/default position so that you protect your head from incoming blows.  Know how to lay someone out with a quick counter assault of open palm strikes.  When a scumbag comes in to assault, they are not expecting a victim to cage up and deflect the blow, then immediately retaliate with a spearing elbow and a flurry of blows.  Learn how to do this.  It is not advanced or difficult, it just takes training and some practice. 

Statistically, you are more likely to need your OC Spray and your hand skills than you are to need your gun, so be well-versed in a less-lethal skillset.