2. Predator has identified you as his potential victim. Be alert, confident, and look like you might be armed.
3. Assailant approaches you from a distance. You recognize the potential danger and maneuver to avoid the conflict by crossing the street, to get to a safer place.
4. Assailant reacts by continuing to approach you. You yell, "Stop, don't come any closer!" and head quickly to a place of safety and dial 9-1-1.
5. Assailant continues to approach you, trying to distract or confuse you with assurances or questions. You yell, "No! I said stop!" You position your hand on or near your firearm without exhibiting it. If you can't see the assailant's hands, you yell "Show me your hands", while being ready to draw your gun if he displays a weapon.
6. Assailant refuses to comply with your verbal commands and continues to approach. You yell, "I have a gun", and retreat, if possible, to put more distance between yourself and the assailant. This will make your actions seem more reasonable to the police, prosecutors, and juries.
7. Assailant begins to rush you, refuses to show his hands, and gets within 30-feet of you. You draw your gun to low ready (do not point at him), and yell "Stop or I'll shoot" (don't say kill). If the police believe your actions are not justified, they can charge you with a serious misdemeanor - "brandishing", or "aggravated assault" (a felony, if you pointed your gun at him).
8. Assailant threateningly enters your 21-foot "safety zone". You point your gun at the assailant with your finger on the trigger. If your actions are found to not be justified, you committed assault with a deadly weapon, a felony.
9. Assailant reveals a deadly weapon. If you have retreated, and you reasonably believe that assault with a deadly weapon is imminent, you are justified in using deadly force to stop the threat. If you are not justified, you will be charged with manslaughter, attempted murder, or murder.
10. If assailant skips the in-between steps and displays a deadly weapon, threatening deadly force, you may draw your weapon and fire if the deadly threat is imminent. If your actions are found to not be justified, you will be charged with manslaughter, attempted murder, or murder.
