I haven't read but the first couple pages but I wanted to make a couple quick comments. Back when I was gambling nightly if somebody grabbed me from behind the least I would do was make a quick evaluation which way to spin and cock a fist, it might fly. Once a girl working in a place was kinda behind the front door when I went in. We knew each other pretty well and she thought it would be funny to grab my back aggressively with both hands. My right was coming up and across as I spun, no way to stop it. I managed to pull it a few inches and the fist went by her nose instead of probably knocking her clean out. I was punching with everything from my feet up and we would have both regretted it for a long time had I hit her solid.
Just a week or two ago I was notified of a must attend meeting with the fire chief. My back was giving me seven kinds of hell but "thou shalt be there" notices weren't to be ignored and the place I live in is too small to pretend I wasn't home. About twenty of us in the meeting and I had picked a spot at the far end of the room where there was a door for a quick exit and hopefully some better chairs. I was paying attention enough to hear that we were getting the same old fire blah-blah I had heard more times than I could remember at job sites. I was more focused on containing my pain and ignoring it than watching every move he made so he was on top of me and reaching for my shoulder before I realized it. I didn't want anyone touching me, I didn't even want anyone breathing too hard in my direction.
My right arm was in my lap with the chair pulled back and turned to face the speaker. My eyes were straight ahead so with him standing and me at chair level I got no warning. When his arm came out I snapped a knife or sword hand parry up and blocked the contact forearm to forearm. I didn't even look up to see his reaction. I haven't been in a real fight in decades and never was seriously into open hand fighting. No idea where that parry came from but it was fast as lightning and that's a fact. His hand was already within a foot of my shoulder when I started moving. The blow wasn't hard enough to injure or even hurt much and I didn't even look up. I figured the white oak walking cane was a a big enough hint that I might be a bit fragile.
I don't question runscott's intentions but I have to agree with all of the posts that say you don't invade somebody's personal space in this day and time. I see Greg laughing at the backyard legal advice so I will add mine from my reading of the laws when getting my concealed carry.
A substantially larger person comes at you from behind and "physically attacks you." Aside from the fact that most states don't let you legally carry in a bar he could have spun and put a couple caps in runscott and depending on the prosecutors office's funding and how smart the guy is telling his story he might walk without even being charged. Of course Runscott didn't see it as an attack, from his description I wouldn't either. However, the action is in the eye of the beholder to a certain extent. The grump's story would carry a lot more weight if Runscott couldn't respond to it.
We all have to remember we are in a different world the last ten years or so. France is pretty much up in flames right now. People are edgy. If you want somebody's attention in a pool hall when they are ignoring you and facing away, best to keep your distance and poke them in the shortribs with a house cue a time or two, no chalking required!
It's a crazy world out there. I was a bit surprised how many people didn't see any humor in the incident. Hate to say it, but I think they are right!
Hu
