For those going now and in near future: What is best to do if you get held up?

[piglett]

Ok say it happens.... you are in colombia and a guy pops out gun pointed at you and your girl.
What is the steps to do to get away from him safely asap?
IM GUESSING the following....add input from anyone with experience in colombia:
1) SLOWLY nod and go for wallet ensuring he sees your hands at all times. slowly hand to thief (same with your ladies purse).
2) Assuming you dont have anything else on you of value, slowly nod and back away if he doesnt back away.
3) Turn around and walk away brisky showing him hes got your stuff and you arent a threat.I dont know if RUNNING after giving him all your stuff and backing away slowly is better...any ideas?

I'm sure some of the Monday morning quarterbacks here will say "oh I'll do this & I'll do that" let me tell all of you would be tough guys something.
when the shyte goes down you will then know what you will do
till then you are just guessing
take it from a guy who had had a gun pulled on him TWICE


take care
piglett

[euforia51]

I'm sure some of the Monday morning quarterbacks here will say "oh I'll do this & I'll do that" let me tell all of you would be tough guys something.
when the shyte goes down you will then know what you will do
till then you are just guessing
take it from a guy who had had a gun pulled on him TWICE


take care
piglett

Exactly ... so what did you do to get out of it, twice, pig? This is part of the OPs question.

[ignorante]

I've had people start to pull a gun on me several times, which I stopped by pointing my gun at them and starting to sqeeze the trigger.  All stopped or dropped the gun and did not move.  I put all of them in jail.

I was a police officer then, so maybe that does not count.

I carry every day.  Never had to pull a gun since - although I started to when a teenage black kid I did not know thought it would be a good Halloween joke to tease an employee at the video store where I was perusing the available rentals - He is peeking in through the glass, puts on a ski mask, and bursts in the door, "This is a robbery!"  The only reason I did not shoot him is that his hands were empty.  My heart was up in my throat.

I have made arrests twice since then, citizen's arrests, including one burglar, but never had to pull my gun.

[Researcher]

     Unless you can get your hands on a gun while you are there the point of pulling a gun is,well, pointless.

          Researcher

[ignorante]

     Unless you can get your hands on a gun while you are there the point of pulling a gun is,well, pointless.

          Researcher

  Sort of my point.   

[ignorante]

This thread makes me miss Robert's input since he left the site.  I think he was the only one on the site who carries a gun besides me (and we live in the same state).

[fathertime]

FT:

If three guys jump you and have you pinned in, your not going to make it out unhurt.  Then, you add the fact they armed with a gun or knife, it is even bleaker for your situation.  Most people do not have the skills to fight their way out of that situation.  If it does happen and you have to fight to get out; make a lot of noise, fight to win and tell your wife to run like hell! Her staying there to watch and cry will do you no good.  She needs to run for help and you should talk about this in advance and make sures she understands.  My ex-wife thought I was crazy and over thinking situations but, I told her the drill.
 
The idea is to avoid going into an area where that can happen.  Stay in busy areas, don't go down empty side streets, and be watchful of where you are.  Situational awareness is important.  watch the people around you and be mindful of anyone who might be following you. If you see stranger more than once while walking around, become suspicious. What you wear and how you dress can be important.  Never wear sandals!  These shoes leave you at a tactical disadvantage.  Your feet are not properly covered, easy to trip and not good for running.  A light jacket/vest can be used to avoid knife cuts if wrapped around your arm, thrown in the attackers face as part of escape and worst case, to help stop bleeding. If you are really concerned, there is a lot of information out there, here is one source:

http://www.bombshock.com/theft/how-to-protect-yourself-on-city-streets.html

Thanks Tanuki, that was a really good website and your suggestions are superb. 
The thing is, I can't see conforming to demands after giving a thief my wallet.  I wouldn't want to allow  him/them to tie me and/or my wife up and isolate us further.  I'd rather hand over the goods and start walking, if there has to be a physical confrontation and/or death I'd rather have it happen when I have a reasonably good chance of getting away, rather than being helpless to do anything about it. 
I do know there is a lot that can be done to prevent and I practice these sort of things, but there are always vulnerabilities and I do have concern about them.

Fathertime!

[mudd]

Well damn mudd ... your friend got robbed at gunpoint ... twice ... and the original question relates to how did he get out of it alive? You didn't mention this! 

he gave them what they wanted and ran as fast as his short  legs  would go. he doesn't live in Medellin any more, but i  picture him  in my head, running down the street, must have been a funny site to see.