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I haven't had regular internet access so I don't post all that often anymore but hopefully my friends on this forum still remember me 
Without getting into too many personal details I live in Atlanta, GA and was laid off from my job with a big corporation last fall. Shortly after my (parked) car was rendered undrivable in a hit and run so I walk pretty much everywhere. Now I'm working on getting certified to teach high school English and in the mean time I'm making ends meet by waiting tables at a restaurant and jazz club that is about a 45 minute walk from my house. Anyway, I walk the same way to work every day and on my way home (pockets full of the night's tips that pay for my groceries and mortgage) I heard some yelling. This was just a few blocks from my house so I suspect these guys have seen me walking that route for that last couple of months and decided to take a chance. They weren't set up to really ambush and mug me; I was about a block away from them when they started yelling. When I realized they were yelling at me I yelled back "Yeah what" without stopping. They yelled back "come back here or we'll kick your ass." I answered "Yeah I'm sure you will" (sarcasm- these guys were just teenagers and I'm not going to let myself be intimidated, especially by a bunch of wanna-be children) At that point I pulled out my cell and dialed 911. I heard them say "I've got a gun, I'll blast you" which I'm pretty sure was a bluff but it was dark (a little after midnight, I work late) and I was too far away to be sure. I explained my situation to the 911 operator and they backed off into the apartment complex they came out of when they realized the police were coming. The police came and met me at my house a few minutes later which is important because now the incident is on record.
That's about all there is to the story. They never got closer than a block from me, but the thing is that for the last couple of months I've been walking to and from work, the grocery store, my friends' houses etc. This neighborhood is a lot nicer than it was four years ago when I bought my house and I refuse to be afraid to walk down my own street no matter what time it is. I don't usually carry a weapon but my first impulse was to buy a big heavy mag-light to carry with me. The light is nice and all but they're almost as good as a cop's night stick if you swing them. Frankly I think I'd rather have my mag lite than a knife. Other than that I filed the police report and told my neighbors. I'm friendly with all of my neighbors and I hang out with many of them so we look out for each other.
In conclusion I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts, how you might react and any ideas that you might have. Believe me, from my perspective urban combatives can't get any closer to home.
Without getting into too many personal details I live in Atlanta, GA and was laid off from my job with a big corporation last fall. Shortly after my (parked) car was rendered undrivable in a hit and run so I walk pretty much everywhere. Now I'm working on getting certified to teach high school English and in the mean time I'm making ends meet by waiting tables at a restaurant and jazz club that is about a 45 minute walk from my house. Anyway, I walk the same way to work every day and on my way home (pockets full of the night's tips that pay for my groceries and mortgage) I heard some yelling. This was just a few blocks from my house so I suspect these guys have seen me walking that route for that last couple of months and decided to take a chance. They weren't set up to really ambush and mug me; I was about a block away from them when they started yelling. When I realized they were yelling at me I yelled back "Yeah what" without stopping. They yelled back "come back here or we'll kick your ass." I answered "Yeah I'm sure you will" (sarcasm- these guys were just teenagers and I'm not going to let myself be intimidated, especially by a bunch of wanna-be children) At that point I pulled out my cell and dialed 911. I heard them say "I've got a gun, I'll blast you" which I'm pretty sure was a bluff but it was dark (a little after midnight, I work late) and I was too far away to be sure. I explained my situation to the 911 operator and they backed off into the apartment complex they came out of when they realized the police were coming. The police came and met me at my house a few minutes later which is important because now the incident is on record. That's about all there is to the story. They never got closer than a block from me, but the thing is that for the last couple of months I've been walking to and from work, the grocery store, my friends' houses etc. This neighborhood is a lot nicer than it was four years ago when I bought my house and I refuse to be afraid to walk down my own street no matter what time it is. I don't usually carry a weapon but my first impulse was to buy a big heavy mag-light to carry with me. The light is nice and all but they're almost as good as a cop's night stick if you swing them. Frankly I think I'd rather have my mag lite than a knife. Other than that I filed the police report and told my neighbors. I'm friendly with all of my neighbors and I hang out with many of them so we look out for each other.
In conclusion I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts, how you might react and any ideas that you might have. Believe me, from my perspective urban combatives can't get any closer to home.
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