Comply with the attacker? What if a robbery turns into a rape because the victim was too compliant? I would keep running.

"Wylie said the police department always advises victims of armed robbery to comply with robbers' demands. "It's not worth fighting," Wylie said. "You risk being hurt or killed."

Wrong, Smiley Wylie. If you want things like this to stop, you have to prepare yourself to stop them yourselves. If you don't, you send the clear message that they can get away with it...every time.

That's why these days, all you need to do is take a note into a bank, and get a free withdrawal. This country and culture has lost its balls. As for me, it won't happen, because I won't let it. I'll shoot first, thanks.

Even though you don't want to lose your possessions, the police officers' experience, and the advice they give because of it, is always correct in this sort of situation. It is just a matter of having the experience with this type of incident over years and years. If I was a woman who was getting her purse stolen I would give it up. I might ask the thief if they would please just take the money and leave the rest. That might sound kind of silly (as well as a waste of time), but getting grievously physically harmed when you could have prevented it would not be a smart thing to let happen to yourself. They'll catch the person or people involved and try very hard to get your belongings back.

Good for her for fighting back. She did the right thing. First, for her own self esteem. Second, because other commenters are right, it could have escalated, i.e. rape. Do police comply? No, they fight back. Telling others to act powerless is a mistake. One should remain calm and NOT escalate the matter. But at the same time, don't comply and be a victim.

Like I said earlier this week... It's time to allow us law abiding citizens to have a CCW issued for self-defense reasons.

The police cannot be omnipresent we all have the natural right of self defense.

We live in violent times... Even here in Mtn. View we have murders, rapes, armed home invasions, armed robberies, shootings, gang violence, etc.

Mr. Big,

I have to disagree with you - the crime rate in Moutnain View has been dropping for ever. Before making outrages claims it might help to check the numbers, for example here: Web Link

One crime per person per 33 years hardly justifies carrying guns.

As for your idea of carrying guns... If you assume that people will loose guns at the same rate as they are loosing wallets (both are things people should keep an eye on)- I am much more afraid of seeing a significant spike in armed and thereby naturally more dangerous crime.

We must comply with safety issues... It could be a robber, a murderer, a raper, or as in the case of a small but vocal group of PG&E customers fear that the electronic meters are making them sick or will increase their risk of brain cancer.

Violent crime is on the rise in the Mountain view area.

Communities that support CCW will see crime drop, as criminals would prefer to go where CCW is not supported.

Nobody ever raped a .38.

That's it. I own a Colt45 and I am going to start to carry it, concealed. I will comply with one shot - one kill.

Is this redneck hicksville or mountain view, ca? Where are all these firearms comments coming from? What is wrong with you people? I'm appalled.

Pathetic human beings out there. When I ran a nightclub I suggested to the employees to walk in pairs and if they couldn't to put their keys between their fingers in case they were ever surprised like this. But I know LE will tell you to not defend yourself, but they're not the one's being accosted.

The firearms comments are comming from smart people who protect themselves and their families, insteading of depending on others to protect them.

How would you protect yourself and children from a violent crime? The police won't be there until after the crime is over.

Dear Appalled

I happen to be black, I am not a redneck. Please describe redneck.

I am former military and my weapon of choices is a Colt45 as I carried it with me in Iraq.

Where is redneck hicksville? Wherever it is I will bet the crime statistics are more favorable than MV.

Here we go with the CCW again.

Can someone explain to me what's wrong with a non-concealed carry permit? Law enforcement wears their guns on their belts, why not you?

Let me be very clear about something here, by the way.

- I have no issue with the right to bear arms
- I have no issue with my fellow citizens' need to defend themselves
- I have no issue with my fellow citizens' invoking their right to bear arms
- Several of my personal friends and relatives have permits, and they have told me of strict regulations, and I know they are well-trained in firearm safety
- I do not own a firearm, but I am also trained in firearm safety

But again, CCW does not seem to me to be neither a good idea nor directly in line with the right to bear arms. Let's remember that at the time of the Bill of Rights, personal arms were large and worn on the outside.

Let us not forget that CCW enables the John Wilkes Booths, Charles Guiteaus, Leon Frank Czolgoszs, and Lee Harvey Oswalds.

But a law-abiding citizen bearing arms in public... no sir, not a problem for me. If I'm not comfortable with you behaviour, I avoid you. If you're drunk in public while packing, I know. And if you get into a quick-draw contest with a crackhead tweaker thief in the street, my money is on your level-headed competence to win it.

CCW or open-carry; neither would have saved you from a drive-by. Unless they miss. And you don't.

I was once called a coward by my father inlaw cause he saw I was carrying a pistol in my car. I made frequent trips from here to oregon with my wife and kids and it was usually late at night. I told him that if I had car trouble and had to get help or even if I stayed with the car and family I felt more comfortable if I was armed and I was told by a CHP officer it was wise to have one when on long trips. At this point in my life, I wouldnt have a problem with emptying a clip into a bad guy....

ALWAYS fight back.

The lesson here is: trust your instincts. She should have kept running & not gone back. Fighting back when a thief want your purse may me smart on one occasion & dumb on another depending on the circumstance and the individual(s) involved. The police cant possibly imagine every circumstance but in general, their advice to let your valuables go is wise.

I'll keep it very simple...

1. Open carry makes you a target.

2. CCW makes the bad guys scared of your area.

3. CCW can save you from a lot of things, but its not a cure all.

Sal, how the hell does open carry make you a target? "I know for sure that guy's got a gun, so I should go pull a gun on him?"

There's a lot of fear of bodily harm coming from the CCW-advocating crowd here... keep in mind that most muggers really don't want a dead body in the first place: way too much trouble and attention, for just a handful of cash and maybe a cell phone. Muggers are cowards and expect you to buckle at the sight of a weapon.

The problem is that they've already got their adrenaline going and their hands are shaking, and it's a lot easier to fire a gun at you accidentally when those are happening. That's why LE recommends compliance. That being said, if you're trained in Krav Maga or something, it would probably be pretty easy to take one down.

Everyone chill out. Pay extra attention to your surroundings and don't make yourself a mark.