Disarming a Handgun: A Last Resort Guide to Survival

Disclaimer: This article provides information for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional self-defense training. Attempting to disarm an individual with a firearm is extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last resort in a life-threatening situation where you have exhausted all other options for escape or de-escalation. The risk of injury or death is extremely high. Prioritizing avoidance and de-escalation techniques is always the best course of action. If you find yourself facing an armed assailant, your primary goal should be to escape or comply if possible.

The information presented here is compiled from various sources, including law enforcement training materials, martial arts techniques, and expert opinions on self-defense. However, every situation is unique, and no single technique is guaranteed to work. The success of any disarming attempt depends on numerous factors, including your physical ability, the assailant’s size, strength, training, the environment, and their mental state. It’s also crucial to understand that even if you execute these techniques perfectly, there’s a significant chance of failure and being shot. Therefore, this information should be treated with utmost seriousness and used only when absolutely necessary and as a desperate measure.

Understanding the Reality of a Handgun Confrontation

Before delving into the techniques, it’s crucial to grasp the grim reality of confronting someone with a handgun. Here are some key points to consider:

* Speed and Decisiveness: The individual with the gun has a significant advantage in terms of speed. They can react to your actions almost instantly, and even a slight delay on your part can be fatal. Any hesitation or indecision can be exploited by the assailant. You need to commit fully to your chosen course of action, however risky that action may be.
* Mental Fortitude: The psychological impact of facing a loaded firearm is immense. Fear and panic can hinder your ability to react effectively. Practicing visualization and mental preparation can help, but real situations are vastly different from mental exercises. Recognize the fear but strive for clarity of thought despite it.
* Proximity: The closer you are to the firearm, the more dangerous the situation is, but paradoxically the greater your chances of controlling it. Maintaining distance is generally safer if escape is possible.
* Positioning: Your physical position relative to the assailant is critical. Being face-to-face puts you at a disadvantage. If you can maneuver into a position where you are not directly in front of the barrel, it may afford you a fraction of a second’s advantage. However, this may not be possible in all situations.
* The Risk of Failure: Even with proper training, disarming someone is incredibly challenging. The risk of failure is high, and failure usually means serious injury or death. Therefore, every attempt should be considered high stakes and requires full commitment with the full knowledge that you might not succeed.

Preparation and Mindset

While disarming should be a last resort, there are several steps you can take to better prepare yourself, and to improve your chance at survival. Note that the word “better” is relative in the sense that any of these options still come with very low probability of success, and can make the situation worse. These steps can potentially improve that chance, but no amount of training will guarantee success in a situation as dynamic and dangerous as trying to disarm someone:

* Situational Awareness: Develop a habit of being aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to exits, potential obstacles, and people who might pose a threat. Early detection allows you to avoid potentially dangerous situations entirely.
* Mental Rehearsal: Visualize yourself reacting to a threat. Imagine different scenarios and plan out potential actions. Mental preparation can help you react quicker and more effectively when confronted with a real-world threat. This isn’t a substitute for physical training, but it will build mental fortitude.
* Physical Fitness: Being in good physical condition can significantly improve your chances of successfully executing a disarming technique. Stamina, strength, and speed are key elements for survival. Regular exercise is always a good idea for overall health, and it can provide you with an advantage should you find yourself in a deadly situation. Even basic fitness will be more helpful than nothing at all.
* Self-Defense Training: Ideally, seek out professional training in self-defense techniques, preferably focusing on close-quarters combat and weapon disarming. Choose a reputable instructor who can demonstrate the techniques they are teaching, and who focuses on practical application as opposed to flashy moves. A good self-defense course won’t teach just techniques, they will teach how to deal with fear, how to read body language, and how to escape danger, which can be just as effective, and often more so, than just a physical fight.
* Acceptance: Fully accept the possibility of failure, injury, and death. Understand that no matter how well-prepared you are, disarming someone with a gun is a high-stakes gamble with a low probability of success. This acceptance should make you more decisive when you act, instead of hesitating because you fear for your safety. Hesitation at that point will likely be fatal.

Disarming Techniques: When and How

The following techniques are explained for information purposes only and do not guarantee success. It is imperative to seek professional training before attempting any of these techniques in a real-life situation. These moves are dangerous, complicated, and require years of training to execute with any degree of reliability and without hurting yourself.

General Principles:
* Control the Weapon: Your first goal is to gain control of the weapon, if it’s possible to even do that. Grabbing the gun, or the hand holding it will prevent the attacker from shooting, and it is a crucial first step in any successful disarming attempt.
* Create Space: Once you control the weapon, attempt to put space between yourself and the assailant. This could involve moving sideways, or backwards while keeping control of the weapon.
* Off-Balance: Attempt to destabilize the assailant. Pushing or pulling them can create an opening for disarming.
* Disarm and Escape: The goal isn’t to win a fight, but rather to disarm the assailant and escape the situation safely. The last thing you want to do is engage in a prolonged fight. Disarming should be your singular goal, followed by escape.
* Act Decisively: You cannot hesitate in this situation. If you’re going to attempt a disarm, you need to commit fully, with no hesistation.

Here are a few techniques that are sometimes taught in self-defense courses:

1. The Grab and Twist Technique

When to Use: When the assailant is within reach and the gun is pointed at you.

Steps:

1. Move to the Side: Quickly move to the side, out of the direct line of the muzzle. This is the most important step of this technique, as it limits the chances of being shot as you begin your attempt to control the firearm. It can also be more difficult than it sounds, as the assailant is likely to move in order to continue pointing the weapon at you. Every fraction of a second counts.
2. Grip the Hand: As you move, simultaneously reach for the gun with both hands. Grab the hand that is holding the gun, not the gun itself. The hand is a better target than the gun itself, as you can more easily control their grip by controlling their hand. Get a firm grip with your dominant hand on the back of the assailant’s hand, near the wrist, and wrap your other hand around the wrist of the dominant hand for added security.
3. Twist and Pull: In one fluid motion, twist your wrist and the assailant’s hand outward and away from your body while pulling the hand that is holding the weapon. This combined twist and pull should force the weapon away from your body, while ideally making it very difficult for the assailant to fire the weapon. At this point, you’ll want to exert as much force as possible, and this is the point where many attempts fail because the person doesn’t have enough strength or determination.
4. Secure the Weapon: Once the weapon is dislodged, use your free hand to immediately secure the gun. Try to point the muzzle in a safe direction, either at the ground or away from people.
5. Create Distance: Immediately create distance between you and the assailant by moving quickly away. This is not the time to engage in conversation or in combat. The goal is to escape, not to fight.

2. The Outward Block and Control Technique

When to Use: When the assailant is within arm’s length and you have a slight advantage in reach or positioning.

Steps:

1. Outward Block: With one hand, forcefully block the gun arm outward, moving the weapon away from your center line. This must be done decisively and with aggression, as a weak block will allow the assailant to readjust the weapon.
2. Grab and Control: As you block the weapon, simultaneously use your other hand to grab the hand that is holding the gun. Grab the back of their hand, with your thumb wrapping around the base of their thumb for a better grip. The goal here is to achieve a firm grip and control the gun by controlling their hand.
3. Twist and Pull: With both hands, use a combined twist and pull motion, attempting to force the assailant’s hand away from your body. Try to get the muzzle away from yourself, and ideally pointing downward, or in a direction that is safe.
4. Secure and Escape: Once the weapon is dislodged, immediately secure the gun and create distance by moving quickly and decisively away from the assailant.

3. The Inside Defense and Disarm

When to Use: This technique is considered an “inside” defense because you will be moving *inside* of the weapon. This can only be used when the attacker is somewhat closer, as it requires moving *into* the space occupied by the weapon in order to control it.

Steps:

1. Step Inside: As quickly as you can, step *inside* of the arm holding the gun. This means that instead of moving away from the weapon, you will be moving closer to it, but out of the direct line of the muzzle. This step will require a lot of speed and explosiveness, as it is a very dangerous step to take.
2. Control: As you step inside of the weapon, use both of your hands to grab their wrist or forearm, pulling and pressing against the bone to control the arm that is holding the weapon.
3. Push and Twist: With your body, push into the attacker while twisting their arm away from yourself. This should force their hand to angle away from your body, and if you’re lucky, dislodge the weapon.
4. Secure and Escape: Secure the weapon and quickly create distance. Do not engage. The goal is to survive, not win a fight.

Important Notes Regarding These Techniques:

• Speed and Surprise: These techniques rely on speed, decisiveness, and the element of surprise. The quicker and more unexpected your movements, the better your chances of success. If the assailant can anticipate your moves, they will likely readjust the weapon or simply pull the trigger.
• Full Commitment: You must commit fully to the technique. Any hesitation or half-hearted attempt can lead to failure and being shot.
• Practice: If you’re going to attempt any of these techniques, they should be practiced repeatedly and under supervision. These moves are not as simple as they may seem, and the stakes are simply too high to not prepare adequately, which will probably take years of practice to achieve any kind of realistic reliability.
• Situational Awareness: Assess the situation before acting. Consider the assailant’s demeanor, your surroundings, and your options for escape. A disarm is not always the best solution, and should be used only as a last resort when every other option is exhausted.

After the Disarm

If you manage to disarm the assailant, you are still not out of danger. It’s crucial to take immediate action to ensure your safety:

* Secure the Weapon: Take the gun far away from the assailant, while keeping it pointed in a safe direction. Check if it is still loaded, and if it is, put it in a position or location where it cannot be used, if you cannot take it with you. This can be putting it in a bag, or smashing the hammer or slide to make it inoperable, if there’s a convenient hard surface that can be used.
* Create Distance: Quickly create as much distance between you and the assailant as possible. Get yourself out of the situation quickly.
* Call for Help: Immediately contact law enforcement or emergency services. Explain the situation and follow their instructions. The worst thing you can do is to stay, as the assailant may attempt to regain the weapon, or have another weapon they can use against you.
* Seek Medical Attention: If you have sustained any injuries, seek immediate medical attention. Physical or psychological injuries should be treated by qualified professionals.
* Do Not Re-Engage: You disarmed to escape the situation, do not re-engage in a fight with the assailant. Your goal is to survive the encounter, not to win a fight.

Conclusion

Disarming an assailant with a handgun is an incredibly dangerous undertaking that should be avoided at all costs. The techniques described in this article should only be considered as a last resort in a life-threatening situation where escape is not possible. The risk of failure is very high, and no technique is guaranteed to work. Your safety and survival are paramount. Prioritize prevention, de-escalation, and escape whenever possible. If confronted with a situation that forces you to consider disarming, you have to commit fully to your actions, with the understanding that you might not survive the attempt.

Remember, the best way to survive an armed encounter is to avoid it entirely. However, in the event that you can’t avoid such a situation, prepare yourself mentally and physically so you have a slightly better chance of survival. Seek proper training from a qualified professional in order to learn how to deal with violence, rather than trying to “wing it” in a deadly encounter. With proper training and awareness, you can significantly improve your chances of surviving a deadly encounter. This is not a guarantee however, and it is important to understand this reality, and to not put yourself in dangerous situations if you can avoid them.

Stay safe.