[JoeFromSidney]

I think police use a 21 foot rule. Even with a knife the aggressor has the chance to do some serious damage to you.

A training course I once took included the Tueller drill. I faced the target, with gun in my holster. An instructor stood 21 feet off to my left. At the signal, I was to draw and fire at the target. The instructor was to start running toward me and slap me on the back as he went by. No contest. He could have put a knife in me, or clobbered me with a club, before I finished my draw, let alone fired. Having been through that, if I ever face a threat for real, I will try not to let them get that close.

[Tahoe3002]

Thanks, Joe,
The other reply to my comment advised that, in his opinion, the display of his own gun would help diffuse the situation (my words). Ahhh, but how many times do we hear of police officers, in or out of uniform, confronting armed people (guns, knives, bats, etc.) and THE BAD GUY does not always surrender meekly.