I still am waiting for someone to stick to the script and address the issue of how to defend/protect yourself when A) you are caught up in a mob that is not overtly threatening you with death or serious bodily injury, and B) the only obvious self defense impliment you have with you is your handgun?
I believe these mobs are inherently a serious bodily threat, otherwise we wouldn't have to consider this question of how to defend against them. Perhaps some mobs are a little nicer than others and leave behind fewer broken victims, but it's hard to determine that until the day is over, and if you judge wrong you could end up disabled or dead. If it's a nice mob handing out candy and helping people across the street with their groceries, then there is no need to defend. If they are doing and threatening nothing physical, then neither can you. If they are roughing people up and there is mayhem, then we have to assume it's a deadly situation, wouldn't we?
If you're athletic you could run away and completely escape harm and legal issues. However, there might be other defenseless innocent people around, left behind to get beat up and robbed. I think that as a society we should not let thuggery rule. And some people are not able to run away. You could hide, it might work, but they might notice you and then you'd be extra vulnerable.
You could try to talk the mob out of it, but I doubt it would work. I've watched several of the thug mob videos and they tend to be the kind of people that don't respond well to either reason/kindness or to threats; they just attack while those on the fringes laugh, cheer, and record video with a stolen phone. ("Why are doing this?" - Wham wham - "I didn't do anything to you" - Pow pow - watch some of the videos.)
You could hand them your wallet and phone and say take this peacefully. They might take it and leave you alone, or they might take it and then club you on the head and go through your pockets to see if you held back on any goodies, or just take turns kicking you for fun. (I also feel that we shouldn't encourage criminals in their ways by using the "here, take the stuff" tactic.)
These are large groups and I think only a real kung fu legend or top commando could fight off so many attackers with bare hands or weapons of opportunity. A Marine got beat up in a parking lot by one of these groups and was saved only by a man nearby who had a gun in his car. If someone does have the skills to defend against 20 or 30 attackers without a gun, maybe even without seriously hurting anyone like the good guys in old TV shows, that's awesome, but most people can't do that.
You could look tough, hoping they'd pick a softer target, but it's more of gamble than a game plan, and they may just attack some else nearby. Doing OC might really do the trick though, discouraging the thugs altogether from you and anyone else in the area. Some thugs have guns so it could result in a shootout, but I think that's unlikely because they are looking for easy prey and fun looting/beating.
You could have some anti-thug gear with you at all times, maybe sparring armor or a helmet, but I doubt most people are going to wear that around. I'm not against it, but most people will not consider it practical. You could have nonlethal weapons but could still have a legal review of your actions and use of force.
So, I think the most realistic self-defense option if threatened by a mob is to use the handgun to scare them off, and open fire if you have to. Since we are blessed with the right to own firearms, it seems like the best solution to this situation. OC to begin with if it's legal. I don't see any other way of ensuring that you don't sustain serious injury, other than running away if you are fast enough and not leaving someone else helpless in the mob's wake.
I tried to play along with the "script" but I don't see any other way with a good enough chance of avoiding serious harm. Do you have another method?
You can say that we have an anti-GFSZ in effect.
