Author Topic: anyone here have to defend themselves with their weapon (Read 3531 times)

briarpatch · « **on:** August 23, 2003, 08:07:12 PM »

I was wondering if anyone here had to protect themselves or someone they knew with their conceal carry weapon.

Josey · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2003, 09:51:57 PM »

Hey Outside of my profession, yes. I have exchanged shots with arsonists. Serial arsonists were burning hay and barns. I looked out my window one morning around 3. There was fire lighting up in the field where the rolled hay was. I stepped outside and noticed a brightness like daylight. The arsonists had torched my neighbors 4000 bales and his barn. They had torched another neighbors barn also. The arsonists were just coming up out of the field. I drew and ordered them to stop. They threw a Molotov cocktail out of the truck. I fired and reloaded. They got out of there. They didn't get away clean though. No more arson fires either.

Savage · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2003, 03:02:42 PM »

Yep, on two occasions while in civilian clothes, didn't have to fire a shot, just the sight of the weapon was enough.
Stay Safe,
Savage

L-Roy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2003, 04:31:06 PM »

Unfortunately.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2003, 04:01:55 AM »

L-Roy and I feel the same. Mikey.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2003, 05:45:39 AM »

Yes, but I didn't have to pull my .45 from my fannypack holster. I just slid my hand inside it and things changed abruptly.

DzrtRat · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2003, 07:19:23 AM »

I've been carrying concealed for eight years, and fortunately I've never had to pull my carry handgun for defensive reasons. Before Arizona became a "shall issue" state though, there was a couple o times I had to pull a shotgun from a scabbord behind the seat of my truck. (in Arizona, it's always been legal to carry a gun in certain ways hidden from view as long as it's in a holster, rug, or case)

Once in south Phoenix, after working until about 2:00 AM, I stopped at a Circle K for a soda to wake me up for the drive home. When I came out, a man approached me as I unlocked and opened my truck. He was in front of my truck when he stopped and asked for a ride to where his vehicle had ran out of gas. He said he had walked two miles to Circle K for fuel so his feet hurt. I asked him where his vehicle was, he told me, and I told him I wasn't going that way, even though I was. He argued with me about it briefly, then got upset and started to come around my truck......until I pulled a short barreled Mossberg out. He said "Whoa man, I just needed a ride", and I replied that I only had two problems with his story. One, there was at least three gas stations between where he said his car was and the Circle K we were at, and all were open 24/7. Second, he wasn't carrying a gas can.

He went his way and I went mine.

~Rat

TimWieneke · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2003, 05:56:46 PM »

Bravo Rat, a sharp mind will keep you out of more trouble than any defensive tool - and if you have a sharp mind, you'll be sure to have that tool.

Tim

Brushhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2003, 08:45:39 AM »

I've been shot at--an extremely unpleasant feeling that I wouldn't wish on anyone--pulled my service revolver and the bad guy was gone before I could return fire.

Brushhunter

Brushhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2003, 09:35:56 AM »

I've been shot at--an extremely unpleasant feeling that I wouldn't wish on anyone--pulled my service revolver and the bad guy was gone before I could return fire.

Brushhunter

Highplainsman · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2003, 09:00:45 AM »

Pulled a burler out of a dark building on an alarm down call. Happened early on in my LE carreer. Have had my weapon in my hand a few other times and ready but thank God I've never had to fire a shot ! :-D

southernshooter · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2003, 01:14:41 PM »

Not a ccw story but one time I was deer hunting from a ground stand and a big dog, very mangy, ribs showing came running through the woods. When I saw it was not a deer I was going to let it go on by but somehow it smelled/spotted me. It crouched down and bared its teeth and came toward me. At the time I was using a .444 Marlin lever action. Shot him under the chin into his chest. Nothing could have worked better. For an hour after that I was weak in the knees and shaking like I had been in a shootout with a two legged creature.

williamlayton · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2003, 03:59:04 PM »

thunk i might have to a couple of times---ya know how it is when yer wife gets on a tear,

:roll:
blessings

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2003, 03:33:29 PM »

L-Roy - Mikey,

I agree, it is UNFORTUNATE.

briarpatch,

As a civilian, NO, never pulled my weapon, YET. As a LEO, YES. But remember that defending yourself is when the real trouble starts. Lawsuits. It's a hell of a thing to be thinking that, as you pull your weapon, "Now I'm going to get sued"!! Lawdog

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2003, 04:20:16 PM »

not concealed carry, but i caught two guys breaking into my apartment once. i happened to be there in my room (the room they were attempting to enter) with a few lady friends. so i was twice as angry. so i put my 890 in their face and they stopped for a second; then one decided to grab the barrel; bad, bad idea. i hit him under his eye so hard i smashed his head back and into a wall; and butt-stroked the second. they fell backwards and out. a second later they hauled tail. i returned to my previous engagement. at this point i made a critical mistake. i did not call the police. i figured that they were two college kids who were looking for booze and instead got a hard lesson in respecting others homes. well meanwhile they are at the hospital and the doc asks the one how he managed to get a perffect 12 gauge cut under his eye. well he says "a guy hit me with a gun". well, they did the right thing and called the man. the two neglected to add "while i was breaking into his house". the police showed up and i brought them inside and explained everything and even retrieved the gun for them. that is when they arrested me.
i had hard feelings for the law enforcement community for a long time and still view all cops as someone to be careful what you say to. i realized too late that they were not there to help me. being young and dumb i took a plea bargain because they scared the hell out of me. stupid.
but i learned a lot from the whole thing. first off, i should have called the man. i was fresh out of the military and was quite familiar with solving my own problems and figured that was good enough. the civilian world works different.
i also learned that cops are not always there to help. i still think they could have treated me alot better, after all, i was sitting at home and trouble came looking for me; not the other way around.
i also learned that anyone who takes a plea bargain is a damn fool. there is no way a jury would have convicted me of anything given the facts. but hindsight is 20/20 and i am a better person now for having had the experience.
if anyone ever has to use a gun in a confrontation; even if it is not fired remember my story and call the police immediatly. and as one already said, use your head. stay safe guys...

Mikey · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2003, 04:31:38 AM »

Sorry Buddy, but the lesson you learned was a hard one, and that is that the police ARE NOT there to help you, period. They cannot. I have never heard of a juristiction where the police are taught, or trained, to assist a citizen before the citizen becomes the victim. I dearly hope I am wrong but I doubt it. The police can only respond, and if they respond to you being the bad guy, the one with the gun, they will make your life miserable for you. They feel it's there job. And they usually cop an attitude, or their chief does, by saying directly or indicating that they think you are some sort of out of control cowboy, and how the hay do you dare defend yourself. That's their job, so they think, and they resent the hay out of you for doing their job, even though they can only respond.

The best thing you can ever do if anything like that happens again is to plead the victim by calling for the police first. At least you will be the first one to plead for help and to report the incident and claim victim's status, not those who tried to bust in on ya. Mikey.

myronman3 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:13:31 PM »

can t argue a bit. after the whole ordeal and some of the unsavory characters i met while going through it (on both sides of the law) i still shake my head. if only a guy could go back and do that one thing different. but you cant; so you learn form it, and try to share your expereince to help others avoid the same pitfall.
i also can understand the cops attitudes. day in, day out, they deal with the bottom of the barrel of humanity. after a while they see everyone as suspect; because of their experiences. if a guy knew the long and short of it, he would be the same way.
bottom line is be the first to call the man, and if uncomfortable with the way things are going, shut up and get a lawyer before your mouth hangs you. i have since made it a point to get to know the l.e.o.'s in my area and communicate with them as much as possible. the more they know i am reasonable and fair the better chance they treat you right. but it can still boil down to personality so be careful.
btw, i have two close friends that are leo's, so i dont view them all as bad.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2003, 06:36:46 PM »

Returned to the house one Labor Day Weekend and got to bed by 10 pm. About 1 am I heard someone down stairs yelling. I removed a Ruger .22 mag for the night stand and went down stairs. As I approched the kitchen I saw an outline from the streetlight. I pulled the hammer back as I kept my torso behind the right side of the entrance wall to the Kitchen. I cocked the hammer loud enough so the guy heard me and "Yelled what do you want?" When he opened his mouth I was close enough to smell the beer. He said:daaaaaaaaaaa doooooooooooon't shooooooooot meeeeeeee. I told him to put his hands on his head which he did. I had heard enough of his stuttering to determine that he thought he was in the correct house that used to be occupied by my wifes uncle several months ago. I turned on the light enough to see him and true enough he was a drunk friend of my wifes uncle. He had pulled the hook lock off the front door banging it when he came in.

He was a lucky guy. I was the only thing between my wife and son. If he had made one wrong move I would have dumped his ass. As I taught my wife, fire 5 for effect, place the last one in the head and it is his word against yours. Sounds cruel but I would not want to burden the courts with a trial. "He was reaching for the butcher knife on the counter with the mustard on it. And fearing for my life and the lives of my family, I shot him! :roll:

willis5 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2003, 06:12:43 AM »

woke one night to some noise in my living room. Gun in hand, I snuck out and hit the lights while telling him to feeze. The "perp" was fooling around with the electronics in my appt. When he turned, i realized that it was a friend of mine who wanted to stay the night (without prior consent). he had a DVD in hand and was trying to put it in the player. i was so mad at him. he was terified. he borrowed a key from my roommate...

willis5 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2003, 06:47:37 AM »

woke one night to some noise in my living room. Gun in hand, I snuck out and hit the lights while telling him to feeze. The "perp" was fooling around with the electronics in my appt. When he turned, i realized that it was a friend of mine who wanted to stay the night (without prior consent). he had a DVD in hand and was trying to put it in the player. i was so mad at him. he was terified. he borrowed a key from my roommate...

S.S. · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2003, 03:47:15 AM »

Four different times.
One while in uniform three while in plain clothes.
Three protecting myself one protecting someone else.
I hope you folks don't have the bad dreams I have
because of it. I guess they will never go away.

Mikey · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2003, 05:30:14 AM »

S. Sumner - those dreams will always be with you, just don't let them control your life. You will remember every move you made and every move the others made. Use them as learning experiences but don't let them control your life or poison your sleep. You did what you had to do when you had to do it - there is nothing more that someone with psychotic intent wants than to be forever emblazoned in your memory. You can deny them that and give yourself the respite you need without it always eating at you. It is difficult, but the first night you succeed, sleep always comes easier after that. HTH. Mikey.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #22 on:** December 19, 2003, 07:29:19 AM »

Just be thankful your still capable to have the dreams. If you weren't, you'ld be dead.

I still get quezzy when I watch Platoon.

Lawdog · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2003, 10:02:54 AM »

Daveinthebush,

Platoon, Firebase Gloria will both make the stomach churn.

S.Sumner,

The dreams don't ever go away. You just have to learn to live with them. Time is the great healer. Talking with someone that has been there helps, don't hold it in. Take care.

And to all here have a Safe Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Lawdog and Family

:-D

Castaway · « **Reply #24 on:** December 29, 2003, 05:42:09 AM »

Around 2200 one evening I was sitting on a bench, waiting for a buddy who was away on an errand. In front of me, across the parking lot 30 yards away a mangy character saw me, turned off the sidewalk and started in my direction. When he got within 10 yards I placed my right hand under my jacket. I didn't show the pistol, but he decided he business elsewhere, turned around and disappeared into the night.

Ruger4Me · « **Reply #25 on:** December 30, 2003, 04:17:23 PM »

I had to twice when living in NY: still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I just backed my truck into my driveway, the guy approached the truck and asked me to give him all my money, I told him I didnt have any money, he repeated himself, I told him to get lost, he pulled a knife, I pulled my .45, he ran I called the police.

Second time I was walking to my truck from the grocery store, late afternoon , the guy was hiding on the far side of my truck, I had just set my box of groceries in the back when he came at me telling me to give him my keys and wallet, I dont even remember drawing my gun, but could hear myself yelling FREEZE @$%HOLE! he stopped dead in his tracks and laid on the ground, someone called the police and he was still face down on the ground when they got there.

I was a lot more careful and watchful after that, no more of that it's my hometown I shop where and when I want attitude.

I no longer live it that crapy place.

Bikenut · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2004, 03:24:07 PM »

The dreams.... and the second guessing.....

My room mate came home with a lady friend one afternoon and they were argueing. I was sitting at the kitchen table cleaning my .32 after coming home from the range when they came in.

As I was reloading the gun (the .32 is one of my carry guns) he threw her onto the couch and started punching her. I stuck the gun in my pocket, kept my hand on it, and started for the living room where they were. By the time I got there he had thrown her to the floor and she was kneeling. He pulled his gun from the holster (he also carried) pointed it at her head... counted to three ... and pulled the trigger. I saw (in seemingly slow motion) the hammer come back half way and stop. This happened several times as he repeatedly pulled the trigger. The gun never went off because, in his agitated state, he had failed to release the manual safety. He stared at the gun.... muttered that it didn't go off... and stomped out of the house. He took a plea bargain and is now in prison. He also is a bit angry (serious threats have been made) with me because I made it abundantly clear I would testify against him.

I never did draw my gun. Never pulled it out of my pocket. But it seemed like I had lots of time to think of what to do... and even agonize about it. I was half an eyeblink from pulling my gun and shooting him.... but didn't.

As it turned out my inaction ended up being the best possible course of action.... only because he forgot to take the safety off.

But that didn't stop the dreams... or the second guessing.... that is still going on and the incident was almost 3 years ago.

And I'm still looking over my shoulder because of the threats...... and I carry 24/7.

If anyone ever thinks the police are going to be there to protect them before, during, or after, a bad situation.......... they aren't paying attention to reality. Not that police are remiss or don't care...... they just can't be by your side during a normal life. During this incident and what followed I met many officers who honestly did care and did their best to help me. But the reality is... they just can't be by your side 24 hours a day. But a gun can be.... and definately should be. In fact, I was advised by the prosecuter to keep my carry guns close at all times.

S.S. · « **Reply #27 on:** February 17, 2004, 07:45:58 AM »

I wonder how many times in the course of
a day a concealed weapon "almost" has to be used
and no one ever knows it but the person carrying it.
Example, I was out walking up my street,
and 2 very large Rotweiler strays were in very close
proximity to a child playing in their yard. I did not know
what was about to happen so I quickly grapsed the grip
of my handgun. Other dogs began barking from the fence
behind the house and the Strays ran off.
I never had to clear leather, but a couple more seconds
and I would have.
Another time I was in the local Wal-Mart. It was probably
about 1 in the morning and a man walked in wearing
a Ski Mask Pulled over his face. I took a few steps away
from my wife (if anything happened I didn't want her near me)
and again grasped my pistols grip. The man got about 30 yards
into the store and reached up and pulled the mask off. and
grabbed a vacant buggy from the isle and off he went to shop.
Peaceful outcome!
Who knows how many times things like that happen every day!

(Masks are illegal to wear in public in a lot of states now
for reasons like this I guess)

Ruger4Me · « **Reply #28 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:25:03 AM »

I guess living in Georgia that would be a strange thing to be wearing. Living here in Wisconsin you see it all the time.

Talking of dogs, while living in upstate NY, my "crack head" neighbor let there Doberman Pincer come after me whenever I walked down my driveway. He would run up to within about 6 feet and barking, growling and bearing his teeth until she would call him off.
Aafter a few times I asked her to keep him off my property. Her reply was "Oh he wont hurt you". Then her and her boy friend would laugh, they used to think it was the funniest thing to see me jump. I pulled my carry gun only once to get the point across that I didn't. After that she kept the dog on a leash.

bconway84 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2004, 05:37:54 AM »

Never have had to and hope to not ever have to.