Always be on your guard...

[Jewish Highlander]

Once when I was standing in line waiting to get some ice cream cones for my daughters at McDonalds I noticed in a reflection off of some doors. Some young guys trying to laugh quietly as they pointed out my kilt. What I then saw to my dismay was one of the two of them making hand gestures to the other about going up behind me to lift up my kilt and that the other one would take a picture. Needless to say although this was a public area with children present, I was ready to confront these hooligans face on even if they dared trying. Yes, I know that there were cameras around and that management would probably back me up, but in case of an real emergency I was also armed with my sgian dubh as well ! With one eye on reflection and myself ever approaching the counter, the two young men thank goodness lost the nerve to do so. I just wonder what it would have been like though for them to have to tell people from that point on that the reason they got arrested was sexual assault on a guy! I guess for all those people that truly appreciate our kilts, there are a few out there that might be up to mischief.

[Laird_M]

Unfortunately, as has been said before, you can't fix stupid.

Several years ago I got stood up by a girl and after about 1 1/2hrs of waiting I was quite rightly not in a good mood. Some idiot decided to try and lift my wallet.

Not being in a very convivial mood as I removed his hand from my jacket I accidentilly twisted and broke his wrist - he tried to get me done for unaggravated assault but luckily the copper who strolled over used his brains.

[Jay]

The best way to handle that is not to wait for it.

Turn around, state them down and say " go for it"

See how fast they slither away like the reptiles they are.

[Frank McGrath]

I was accosted by a n older woman in Atlantic City, New years Eve. I was standing in the crowdd with my back to the seats. This incredibly drunk woman put her hand up under my kilt and groped me. I turned around and glared at her and asked what she would do if I did that to her. her. She said she would love it, and that she wasn't wearing any underwear. I told her off and looked for security. My wife was at the bar ordering drinks and missed the show. The woman's companion was shocked at her behavior. Needless to say, I won't go there this New Years.

[CopperNGold]

I am so sorry that happened to you. Just think that those men were so threatened by what you were wearing. They must not get out much! It's a sad commentary on`today's society of closed-mindedness, an insular view of the world, and lack of parenting skills.

This sort of thing should never happen, and I'm glad you were not attacked or worse. You were very aware of the situation and handled yourself admirably.

All of you have every right to proctect yourself in the situations described above. But try to take the high road and diffuse the situation if possible. We wouldn't want to see any of you hurt, injured or in jail. It's a scary world out there. Be safe, everybody! Returning the violence to protect yourself is the last resort.

Peace,

Jocelyn

[Joshua]

in case of an real emergency I was also armed with my sgian dubh as well !

I know you put the twisted tag on there, but this still sends a red flag up with me. In truth, you are better off with an *** whoopin on the right side of the law than to stick some morons and keep the area grey.

This is coming from a man who solidly believes in self defense, and carrying a real sgian dubh. But you must be responsible. You mentioned kids around... what would be a better scene for them to see, some idiots exposing your buttocks and getting arrested, or some idiots pushing their intestines back into their torso because the man in the kilt stabbed them?

[Dale Seago]

I know you put the twisted tag on there, but this still sends a red flag up with me. In truth, you are better off with an *** whoopin on the right side of the law than to stick some morons and keep the area grey.

This is coming from a man who solidly believes in self defense, and carrying a real sgian dubh. But you must be responsible. You mentioned kids around... what would be a better scene for them to see, some idiots exposing your buttocks and getting arrested, or some idiots pushing their intestines back into their torso because the man in the kilt stabbed them?

Sorry for the thread drift, just want to make a technical point. (I also believe solidly in self defense, am a martial arts teacher and I teach effective use of knives, swords, impact weapons, flexible weapons, polearms, firearms, as well as empty-hand stuff. . ."on the side", apart from my full-time day job as Director of Security for a synagogue.)

A knife is considered "deadly force" under the law exactly as a firearm is. If someone verbally or physically expresses the intention to, let's say, punch you in the nose, if you were to draw your sgian "just to warn him off" you have just escalated things to "use of deadly force" even if you never give him even the tiniest little poke or scratch. Use of deadly force is only going to be legal if you can successfully argue to a jury that you were in fear for your life. That doesn't mean "bare fear", as in "the big bad man scared me so I drew my knife". It means a "reasonable person's" assessment that it was the most prudent and effective way at that time to avoid death or potentially life-threatening serious injury.

(EDIT: I'm not "Monday morning quarterbacking" the OP, as he did specifically say ". . .in case of an real emergency I was also armed with my sgian dubh as well. . .". Just pointing out for "general edification" that the employment of this utilitarian tool as a weapon is, indeed, something that should be reserved for "a real emergency".)

[thescot]

David Seago is right. Deadly force should always be accompanied by, "I am in fear for my life." Make sure they hear you say it; make sure any witnesses hear you say it.

But remember that deadly force is deadly; don't offer it if you don't mean it.

[Meadcrafter]

The best way to handle that is not to wait for it.

Turn around, state them down and say " go for it"

See how fast they slither away like the reptiles they are.

Please, let's not go putting down our reptile friends like that. They fill their niche, as they were meant to do. These hooligans, not so much, I think.

[xman]

... that the employment of this utilitarian tool as a weapon is, indeed, something that should be reserved for "a real emergency".)

Most certainly. If one doesn't have a trick or two up one's sleeve before resorting to such a thought then I doubt there can be a good result.