I am absolutely amazed that I have to point out (again) that the '21 ft. rule' is utterly irrelevant if you have already stipulated that the person is only "inches to a foot" away.
Logic is definitely not your forte.
You can't see the forest for the trees, can you?
I mentioned the 21 foot rule, because it is based on a principle!
That principle is: If a person is close enough to you to stick you with something, then that person is potential threat!
Comprehension is definitely not YOUR forte, though begging the question most certainly is.