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You can’t draw on a drawn gun.

Like a lot of advice on FR about guns & self defense, this is wrong.

1. You need to know how fast you can draw and fire.

2. You need to know what the chance of you actually hitting the bad guy is. Movement? Range? Distance? Backstop?

3. You need a plan.

4. You need a diversion to get you past #1. It sounds like the robbers would have easily been taken in by a well thought out diversion.

5. In addition, you need to be inside and ahead of their ooda loop.

6. You need to genuinely fear for your life. Some states are less strict and some more strict judicially speaking (and lets not get into cities and counties) but from a morally and ethical standpoint I think you do.

But the greater concern here is how did these guys get the drop on Laz? Not knowing any of the details, but situational awareness and carrying go hand in hand, and perhaps just carrying the firearm would have boosted Laz’s awareness enough to avoid the encounter.

No way, shape or form is any criticism implied at Laz. I don’t know any of the details, and Laz won the encounter anyhow and learned more about himself at very little cost.

It’s risky unless you do it properly.

For example, if you have the gun in your dominant side pocket, you can say “Ok, I’m getting my cash,” move slowly, put your hand in the pocket, and then fire for effect from inside the pocket.

Other techniques involving guns or knives can be used. (I actually prefer knives at close range.)

Note: not for amateurs. Get instruction and then practice practice practice.