Firearm Defense in Reality - Case Study #1
- Alex
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
In the world of “self-defense” & “combatives” we always see two extremes;
On the one hand, there is the claim: “With our technology, an armed attacker is no problem.”
… this statement is dangerous – and in many cases life-threatening nonsense!
On the other hand, there is the counterargument: “That can’t possibly work – anyone who trains for something like that is wasting their time.”
This attitude also falls short and ignores the simple truth that sometimes the only choice is between fighting and giving up.
With this blog series, I'd like to shed some fact-based light on this topic. As the Operations Manager for the EU region at AEGIS, a former conscript, H2H instructor, and an internationally active security consultant, I'm fortunate enough to have exceptionally deep insight into the subject matter.
I also wrote my bachelor's thesis (Security Management) in 2023 on exactly this topic:
“Irregular intervention in serious armed crimes”
The study involved evaluating real cases, scope for action, psychological factors, and legal and tactical limitations. The results show that there is a realistic, albeit narrow, window within which such interventions can be successful.
This blog post is the first in a series of case studies.
We examine documented incidents in which people without official authorization (i.e., police officers or similar) acted against armed perpetrators.
This is not about hero myths – but about learning value , risk assessment and realistic training approaches .
The aim is to leave the maze of marketing promises and blanket criticism – and to create clarity:
What works – when, how, why?
What is extremely dangerous and should not be trained?
How can you teach and train responsibly ?
But let’s consider the first case:
In Yuma, Arizona, a gas station was the target of an armed robbery attempt in 2021. Three masked assailants entered the store, one carrying a handgun.
A customer who happened to be there—a former Marine named James K.—acted quickly and immediately disarmed the armed attacker. Two of the accomplices fled,
K. held the main perpetrator until the police arrived.
He was later awarded the Citizen's Valor Award for his actions – for exceptional courage and commitment at the risk of his life.
The surveillance video of the incident is publicly available:
We see here: firearm defense can certainly work , especially in the case of:
clear situational advantage (here: element of surprise)
decisive action
tactical understanding
(often) professional background
This can be summed up well with the rule “Surprise, Speed & Aggression” , which I also used in my first book
discussed.
This incident isn't a free pass for heroic fantasies—but it's also not an isolated incident . There are documented situations around the world in which people have successfully stopped armed attackers—sometimes with their bare hands, sometimes with tools or improvised means, sometimes with tactics.
Stay aware, stay safe!
Alex
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