Are there three basic classes of adversaries in a defense gun scenario?
 

Thread Title: Are there three basic classes of adversaries in a defense gun scenario?

It goes something like this maybe:

Class I Adversary:

He thinks he is about to become powerful with whatever weapon he posesses, and you must be easy prey... often wants to feel big ... he wants to control the game for once. He is an OPPORTUNIST. He may be a man or group following a woman who may be your wife, or a co-ed or an elderly person as easy 'prey'.

Animal equivalent?
Maybe a maybe an alligator, maybe rat. He is vulnerable and knows it, he acts by stealth or overpowering attack.

He is repelled by opposition, standing tall, picking up a stone... or in the case of a human the sight or a shot or single pellet from an unexpected gun in your hand.

Class II Adversary:

He has a job to do, could be a crime, and that is to continue to oppose your gun until he bows out of the fight. He acts from duty to his task to compell him to resist your potentially lethal counter-force. He is MISSION BOUND. A lawman or soldier is said to be 'mission bound', perhaps like a bank robber may or may not be also.

Animal Equivalent? He is perhaps like one in a pack of wolves. Or a black bear or cougar fighting hounds to the death, ONLY after all avenue of escape is gone.

This adversary attacks with overwhelming force usually fatal. He is also deadly when cornered. He expected a fight. But he is 'sensible'. Only if wounded he falls back from the fight or retreats, seeks medical attention. It takes a painful hit to stop him but not death.

Class III Adversary:

He wants you DEAD right now, foremost in his mind. This is where the old gunfighter's phrase, "Dead Man's Ten Seconds" came from. His ONLY GOAL is to kill YOU.

Animal Equivalent? This man is perhaps likened to an enraged grizzly or wolverine for us to imagine in combat. Once committed he will not stop until he must due to his own unconciousness.

A pistol is underpowered in most cases and head shots or fast repeat shots are advised. It takes a head/spinal shot or femur shot to drop him.

Why do I post this? For us to think about WHO we may be facing at some point in the future... they may require three levels of resistance and threat awareness.

I ask myself, what are the chances of me, in my most likely perceived gun altercation, meeting a Class I adversary? Answer for me personally is about 80-90%. A small pistol, perhaps a quick warning shot will deter a Type I unless he fires in fear. He's a mugger with a knife, or a gang of teenage street thugs.

Many old city police issue guns were .32, or .38 ... a .45 Colt was for highway use ONLY. I've heard my old kinfolk say that .38s were for wounding and the man who later might be saved... almost as a taser is seen today ... .45s were when you wanted him DEAD. Those city police must have anticipated Class I adversaries ... what do you think?

Consider that many cowardly mass-killers commit suicide with their own guns when faced with any police opposotion, dropping out of the fight rather than 'fight'. They are only killers, not fighters. Maybe they are often Class I, like little weasels in a chicken coop?

Police might fall in that 10-20% I'd call a Class II ... but I NEVER carry a gun to face police, so I (sometimes) do not carry an appropriate gun for that contingency. Otherwise I feel a severely wounded attacker, solidly taking a hit from my pistol of whatever caliber, will deter from his attack when seriously wounded and defer to his comrades if they still are present. He may take cover but I will try and retreat as 'duty bound' by law and my survival. I'm not out to win his war.

And for Class III attacks when he wants me DEAD at all costs ... even his own life and well being, resisting the pain of a gunshot? As far as I know -- no one hates me.

• So I figure I carry for Adversary Class I, 80%.
  
• Class II, 20%.
  
• Class III, 0% since no one wants me dead at all costs that I'm aware of. I don't carry my 870 12ga 16 pellet #1 buckshot around town here ... but hopefully I'd know to put my reasonably sized pistol shots in the head or femur depending on weapon and distance and threat level. Who knows I may be surprised by a Class III and not know it. I try NOT to p-off anyone ... No need or want... plus I've got a damn-blessed gun.

• What do you guys at GIM think about this?
• Any supportive/nonsupporting real data you know of?
• Do we often carry a caliber designed for Class III?
• Please let me/us know what you think? I'm trying only to figure out what is REAL.

I'm just writing my thoughts here now quickly, first draft always, as they are. THANKS! :ok: