Answers to Quora Questions by Yair Davidiy
What if there was a gunman pointing a gun to your chest, and you have 30 seconds to react (gunman is at least 8 feet away)?
https://www.quora.com/What-if-there-was-a-gunman-pointing-a-gun-to-your-chest-and-you-have-30-seconds-to-react-gunman-is-at-least-8-feet-away/answer/Yair-Davidiy
(13 March, 2018, 26 Adar, 5778)
If the thought of really shooting you has crossed his mind he is more liable to do it if you stay still. You do not know in advance that you have 30 seconds. You might have less!
Move quickly but not aggressively slightly inclining your body out of the line of fire and then run! If he looks like he knows what he is doing and is bigger and tougher than you then run for cover, and flee from the scene.
If there is a chance you can take him, move at him. That may be preferable. If you have something, anything, in your hand throw it in his face to deflect his aim. Kick his gun arm. You will probably connect and even if you do not he will be startled and you can grab his arm.
The kick may not have much effect but it will have displaced his focus. Take the gun off him or cause him to point it at himself. You have no time. If may be your life or his. Do not have mercy. If you can shoot him with his own gun, do not hesitate. If you do not move, he will shoot you! The security manual will probably say you should first shoot at the lower half of the body. They have to say that but people have been killed because they tried to do that. There is no lower half of the body from close range!
There are really no hard and fast rules. The above scenario was written after reading newspaper accounts, the observations of experts, and a few defence drills. It is better than nothing.