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I can only speak for myself here, but at the risk of appearing paronoid, I believe one must always view any approach by a stranger on the street as a threat. If you are approached on the street by a dog you initially view it as a potentially threatening situation, and it is incumbent on the dog to change that. The same should be true for a person. In either case you must take control of the situation, not allow it to control you. That requires that you forget your good manners and protocols that you were taught. It requires that you firmly and forcefully portray to the person who approaches you that you are perfectly capable and willing to do whatever it takes to control the situation. Personally, I do not care about the other person's circumstances, disadvantaged surroundings, damaged self-esteem, or anything else at that point, no more than I empathize for a rabid dog. People like those in the story simply do not have the right to do that.

I believe in most instances you need to be prepared to fight your way to the ability to draw your weapon.