Sorry, but this "just be a victim" attitude is nauseating, and does nothing but embolden the criminal element as a whole. There have been plenty of successful self-defense shootings here in the South, where plenty of people carry, and quite a number of them against multiple attackers. There have also been plenty of people who complied with everything the criminal wanted, only to be knelt down in the back of their place of business and had a bullet put in their heads (if they were lucky and they weren't women to be made a plaything of first).
It's important to know when to fight and when to flee, and how to avoid having to do either, but when the gun or knife comes out, sorry, the full-tilt boogie has begun and you had BETTER assume it's life or death.
I love your post.
What you said...
I don't have a victim attitude. Assume that fact without reservation. However, the best defense against muggers is simply to not put yourself in a position to be mugged. That is, playing the odds. Knowing where you are and who is there with you at all times. If you are mugged, then complete the transaction as quickly as possible.
Right. These people were likely at least a little drunk and had probably never even been in a fight. And since they, for whatever reason, didn't avoid coming face to face with these thugs, they should have done whatever possible to make the encounter with them go as quickly as possible and then get the hell out of there.
Give them what they want (especially when they have a gun and you don't) and don't engage in any unnecessary talk with them. Don't keep them there and don't give them any reason to still be there with you.