Florida Guy
Member
Excluding LEO's, wondering how many of us that carry, have actually ever had the need to draw it, or heaven forbid, use it.
I never have.
I never have.
Have you ever had to draw/use your handgun?
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CW Spook
US Veteran
Drew mine once about 40 years ago, didn't have to use it fortunately. I was riding, as a civilian with a deputy sheriff friend when we wound up doing a felony stop and we could see the other guys in the car had guns. The deputy had his gun drawn, so I drew mine just to let the other guys know the odds were even.
Drew it? Yes.
On a human? Yes.
Used it? Almost.
My now ex-wife's family drama showed up on my doorstep one night almost 20 years ago. Her mom and small siblings came over in the middle of the night, on the run from her abusive, drunk step-dad. They hid out in a back bedroom while I sat in my Laz-Boy with my Ruger Blackhawk .357 in my lap, waiting. Sure enough, my door was kicked open about 30 minutes after they arrived, and a 6'6" drunk appeared at the threshold. " Where's my family??!!??" he roared. I said nothing, but raised the revolver, got a good sight picture, and thumbed-back the hammer..... waiting for him to cross into the house. He was sober enough to understand what I was waiting for, so he stood there for a few seconds before jumping in his car and driving away.
Summary: The cops came and took a report, my MIL refused to press charges, my young wife, baby, and I were asked to move by the landlord the next day, I had to pay for repairs to the door-jamb, and we moved a week later. We were divorced within a few years, her crazy-*** family being one of the reasons(the other being that she wouldn't stop having sex with men other than her husband, but that's another story for another time). As far as I know the ex-MIL and her drunk are still together...
I was only 20 when this happened, but that's the closest I ever got to killing another human being on purpose. In my mind, if he got past me, MY family was at risk, so he was going to have to go down.
On a human? Yes.
Used it? Almost.
My now ex-wife's family drama showed up on my doorstep one night almost 20 years ago. Her mom and small siblings came over in the middle of the night, on the run from her abusive, drunk step-dad. They hid out in a back bedroom while I sat in my Laz-Boy with my Ruger Blackhawk .357 in my lap, waiting. Sure enough, my door was kicked open about 30 minutes after they arrived, and a 6'6" drunk appeared at the threshold. " Where's my family??!!??" he roared. I said nothing, but raised the revolver, got a good sight picture, and thumbed-back the hammer..... waiting for him to cross into the house. He was sober enough to understand what I was waiting for, so he stood there for a few seconds before jumping in his car and driving away.
Summary: The cops came and took a report, my MIL refused to press charges, my young wife, baby, and I were asked to move by the landlord the next day, I had to pay for repairs to the door-jamb, and we moved a week later. We were divorced within a few years, her crazy-*** family being one of the reasons(the other being that she wouldn't stop having sex with men other than her husband, but that's another story for another time). As far as I know the ex-MIL and her drunk are still together...
I was only 20 when this happened, but that's the closest I ever got to killing another human being on purpose. In my mind, if he got past me, MY family was at risk, so he was going to have to go down.
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feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Several times or three. In the most dramatic incident I was given back my revolver and ammo along with some thinly veiled thanks or admiration from some los angles police officers a few hours latter. I wouldnt want to try the newer generation of LEO out on the same incident today though! I was lucky it was almost 40 years ago. I was in the right every time.
Snapping Twig
Member
Cleared leather twice on BG's.
First time I was shooting .22 rifles with friends and when we had our cease fire to check targets one of the acquaintances of my friends thought it would be funny to shoot over our heads.
I had my rifle with me and zeroed his mellon and instructed him to drop the rifle and step away. He thought I was joking and tried to BS his way out of it, but ended up saving his life by complying and being sent home w/o his rifle.
The next time was in the middle of nowhere at 2:30am camping with my 8 month pregnant wife. Our last camping trip before our daughter was born.
2 BG's pulled into our camp in a truck and I heard one of them say to the other, "Watch this".
I slipped out of the back of our camper with a Sig P220 and took cover and drew on them. They apparently saw me because shortly after that I heard the same guy say, "we better leave now". And so they did.
Had someone try to intimidate me while I was fishing, so as they got in my face, I flipped off the snap on my holster and put my hand on the grip. They must have heard someone calling them because they took off.
First time I was shooting .22 rifles with friends and when we had our cease fire to check targets one of the acquaintances of my friends thought it would be funny to shoot over our heads.
I had my rifle with me and zeroed his mellon and instructed him to drop the rifle and step away. He thought I was joking and tried to BS his way out of it, but ended up saving his life by complying and being sent home w/o his rifle.
The next time was in the middle of nowhere at 2:30am camping with my 8 month pregnant wife. Our last camping trip before our daughter was born.
2 BG's pulled into our camp in a truck and I heard one of them say to the other, "Watch this".
I slipped out of the back of our camper with a Sig P220 and took cover and drew on them. They apparently saw me because shortly after that I heard the same guy say, "we better leave now". And so they did.
Had someone try to intimidate me while I was fishing, so as they got in my face, I flipped off the snap on my holster and put my hand on the grip. They must have heard someone calling them because they took off.
JohnnieB
US Veteran
Since you didn't exclude Military (at least Non-LEO Military), my answers are Yes and Yes.
As a civilian: No & No.
As a civilian: No & No.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Well, I've had a gun ready sometimes when someone knocks on the door late at night, but the only time I've fired one was when a Peeping Tom visited my mother's home soon after I left the USAF and was attending college.
I slipped out the back door with a six-inch M-19 in hand, loaded then with Super-Vel 110 grain JHP .38's, for house gun duty.
I confronted him, and he walked toward me aggressively. He was a big man and probably dangerous, considering that he had been caught red-handed, and didn't run.
I put a bullet in the ground between us and he loped off and escaped in one of those El Camino cars that thought they were PU trucks.
I called the police and they took a report, but he was never caught.
I carefully didn't mention the warning shot, and the neighbors didn't tell, if they had heard it. (The officers didn't ask, so it probably wasn't reported.)
Today, I probably wouldn't fire a warning. I think a man that size, doing what he was, and not fleeing is either crazy, on dope, or an aggressive adrenaline junkie who deserves to die for his bravado...before he can grab my gun and maybe use it on me!
Does this count? When my kids were still in their early teens (in my car), I was stopped at a red light. A dope on a motorcycle pulled up on my driver's side window and started shouting obscentities. I have no idea why, or who he was. He started gesticulating wildly, and I slipped my lockblade knife out of its belt pouch and opened it. If he broke my window, I'd have cut him, and just hoped the cops and judge would side with me. Maybe seeing the knife would have seen him off?
The light changed and he raced off.
A few weeks later, I had the considerable satisfaction of seeing ths guy run a red light and get t-boned by an oncoming car. He shot up about 15-20 feet in the air and came down dead. I must say, I felt relieved. My best guess is that he was an adrenaline junkie on dope. Some idiots think they're invulnerable.
If I had had a gun, I might have drawn and tried to keep it out of sight unless he produced a weapon. There is NO doubt in my mind that such people are dangerous.
And, NO, I had not cut off his cycle in traffic. I never saw him until he appeared after close to a minute after I stopped at that light. I have no idea why he started raving!
There have been times when I was working security when I was on the verge of drawing, and I did a few times when checking out offices that were left unlocked at night. No one was there, but there could well have been burglars. And I've had confrontational men look at my gun a couple of times and decide to leave the premises when asked, after hours when they gave the impression of being about to break into stores. There have been other cases when suspicious persons seemed to be trying to edge around and see if I was armed. When they saw that I was, they left the stores (and one bank). Go figure.
The guy who lived across from me a few years ago came home about six PM one evening and a tall black man who fitted the description of an armed robber in the area walked up to his car. He (neighbor) had just taken his GP-100 out from under the seat, preparing to exit his Volvo. This worthy looked at the gun, turned abruptly and left the area.
T-Star
I slipped out the back door with a six-inch M-19 in hand, loaded then with Super-Vel 110 grain JHP .38's, for house gun duty.
I confronted him, and he walked toward me aggressively. He was a big man and probably dangerous, considering that he had been caught red-handed, and didn't run.
I put a bullet in the ground between us and he loped off and escaped in one of those El Camino cars that thought they were PU trucks.
I called the police and they took a report, but he was never caught.
I carefully didn't mention the warning shot, and the neighbors didn't tell, if they had heard it. (The officers didn't ask, so it probably wasn't reported.)
Today, I probably wouldn't fire a warning. I think a man that size, doing what he was, and not fleeing is either crazy, on dope, or an aggressive adrenaline junkie who deserves to die for his bravado...before he can grab my gun and maybe use it on me!
Does this count? When my kids were still in their early teens (in my car), I was stopped at a red light. A dope on a motorcycle pulled up on my driver's side window and started shouting obscentities. I have no idea why, or who he was. He started gesticulating wildly, and I slipped my lockblade knife out of its belt pouch and opened it. If he broke my window, I'd have cut him, and just hoped the cops and judge would side with me. Maybe seeing the knife would have seen him off?
The light changed and he raced off.
A few weeks later, I had the considerable satisfaction of seeing ths guy run a red light and get t-boned by an oncoming car. He shot up about 15-20 feet in the air and came down dead. I must say, I felt relieved. My best guess is that he was an adrenaline junkie on dope. Some idiots think they're invulnerable.
If I had had a gun, I might have drawn and tried to keep it out of sight unless he produced a weapon. There is NO doubt in my mind that such people are dangerous.
And, NO, I had not cut off his cycle in traffic. I never saw him until he appeared after close to a minute after I stopped at that light. I have no idea why he started raving!
There have been times when I was working security when I was on the verge of drawing, and I did a few times when checking out offices that were left unlocked at night. No one was there, but there could well have been burglars. And I've had confrontational men look at my gun a couple of times and decide to leave the premises when asked, after hours when they gave the impression of being about to break into stores. There have been other cases when suspicious persons seemed to be trying to edge around and see if I was armed. When they saw that I was, they left the stores (and one bank). Go figure.
The guy who lived across from me a few years ago came home about six PM one evening and a tall black man who fitted the description of an armed robber in the area walked up to his car. He (neighbor) had just taken his GP-100 out from under the seat, preparing to exit his Volvo. This worthy looked at the gun, turned abruptly and left the area.
T-Star
About ten years ago I came home one night to my acreage at about 2330 hrs. There was a strange car in the drive, which I figured was somebody visiting. Got out of car and had a notebook in the crook of my left arm, and behind it I had my M696 S&W, tucked behind the notebook. The way it was positioned the muzzle would be visible pointing to my left to anybody in front of me. I didn't have it like that on purpose, it was just a convenient way to carry it in the house. As I walked behind the house on the North side, which was lighted, a man I had never seen before stepped around back from the East side. That side is not lighted, there are no doors there and there was about 6" of snow on the ground which was not shoveled on that side. I immediately stopped and said "Hi". He kept walking toward me with a disturbing smile on his face with his hands in the pockets of his coveralls. He kept walking toward me until he got about 20" away and then stopped, the smile leaving his lips. I'm sure the reason was he noticed that muzzle, still not in my hand and not pointing at him. I asked what he was doing and he said he rang the doorbell and got no answer and was looking for somebody. When I asked who, he said he'd rather not say. I suggested he might want to leave now. He readily agreed. He walked to his car, opened the door and before he got in asked "do you always get home this late?". Now, if he's just looking for a friend, why does he need to know that? I once again suggested he be on his way, he got in and drove away. I went in the house and told my Wife, she said nobody rang the bell. I went out and looked at his footprints in the snow on the East side of the house, they went right up to a window. My Wife and three young kids were inside. Totally unaware he was there. I'm glad I came home when I did and had that .44 Spl visible, although I never even put it in my hand, it stayed in the crook of my elbow, but it kept me safe that night.
I called the PD and told them the story, including the fact I had a gun. They offered to send out an officer, but I told them everything was OK. Nothing further came out of it.
This is just another fact the anti-gunners won't acknowledge. Most of the time when a gun is used defensively, it is never fired.
Jim
I called the PD and told them the story, including the fact I had a gun. They offered to send out an officer, but I told them everything was OK. Nothing further came out of it.
This is just another fact the anti-gunners won't acknowledge. Most of the time when a gun is used defensively, it is never fired.
Jim
nogoodnamesleft
Member
In 2001 there were race riots in Cincinatti, Ohio .... as the mob was tearing down the street, we had to go into on of my friends business' and remove his computers (at least) .... I stepped out of the car with my Ruger M14 and kept it pointed toward the ground but the stock in my shoulder and watched as the crowed talked a lot of BS, but slowed down considerably ...
It's times like that I wish I had a shotgun with bean bag rounds .... I'd have no problem unloading on a crowd like that when they start throwing rocks ..... 'about to die' is the only reason I could justify sending a few rounds into someone.
It's times like that I wish I had a shotgun with bean bag rounds .... I'd have no problem unloading on a crowd like that when they start throwing rocks ..... 'about to die' is the only reason I could justify sending a few rounds into someone.
Loy Loyola
Member
as a civilian, yes, once.
guy nearly ran me over when i was crossing at a corner, I shouted the f bomb, he left his car in the middle of the street and I introduced him to my Springfield Mil Spec. He moonwalked his way back to his car.
And this was in San Fernando valley in Los Angeles County.
No one paid attention to us, daily occurrence.
Ed
guy nearly ran me over when i was crossing at a corner, I shouted the f bomb, he left his car in the middle of the street and I introduced him to my Springfield Mil Spec. He moonwalked his way back to his car.
And this was in San Fernando valley in Los Angeles County.
No one paid attention to us, daily occurrence.
Ed
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you mention the mil failed to take legal action...why didn't you simply obtain an arrest warrant for kicking in your door?
You say all except Law enforcement. I was a cop in NYC, less than 1% of cops ever fire their weapon. I just wanted to let people know that few Cops ever use deadly physical force. The way the thread started sounded almost like Cops shoot a lot. Sorry for the interruption
Yup, pulled my Sig 239 357 on a County Deputy. When he realized just who he was messing with, Ok, there's more.
It was early am and animal control wasn't in yet. We had a pair of stray pit bulls here at work. They dispersed earlier when I threw some rocks at them but still came around. Coupla Deputies showed up and I went in to go to the bathroom and leave my gun inside, since I'll let them do any shooting at that point.
I heard my dog go nuts, so I kept my gun on. I went out and they were going for each other with a fence in between. I heard that pits can climb a chain link fence, so I drew on him while I threw some more rocks. He wandered away and I re-holstered. I looked up and saw there was a deputy in my line of fire. I hollered "Sorry, didn't see you there", and he said "That's ok". Good thing I went to the bathroom before that.
It was early am and animal control wasn't in yet. We had a pair of stray pit bulls here at work. They dispersed earlier when I threw some rocks at them but still came around. Coupla Deputies showed up and I went in to go to the bathroom and leave my gun inside, since I'll let them do any shooting at that point.
I heard my dog go nuts, so I kept my gun on. I went out and they were going for each other with a fence in between. I heard that pits can climb a chain link fence, so I drew on him while I threw some more rocks. He wandered away and I re-holstered. I looked up and saw there was a deputy in my line of fire. I hollered "Sorry, didn't see you there", and he said "That's ok". Good thing I went to the bathroom before that.
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irishjig
US Veteran
big old alabama rattler, to close to dogs
David LaPell
Member
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Before my job in law enforcement?
Did I draw my gun on someone?
Yes.
Did I use it?
No.
Don't ask me anymore because I still don't care to talk about it.
Did I draw my gun on someone?
Yes.
Did I use it?
No.
Don't ask me anymore because I still don't care to talk about it.
DeathGrip
US Veteran
Nope.Been close though.
Praise God.
Praise God.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I shot rattlers too, but one got me in the dog house. I went through a bad divorice and had a live in nanny from england just so I could see my daughter as I worked graveyard and a lot of ot. I had her one weekend that I was working. I got off work and took the pair to a nice creek where they could swim and camp for about 4 hours while I went home and caught a couple hours of sleep.
I went back to get them that afternoon and was carrying their stuff back to the truck when I almost stepped on a big rattler. Since there were a couple other people in the area at first I wasnt going to shoot the snake as this was liberal los angeles county. The snake slithered in some brush just off the trail and here come my nanneys pomerainian. Yipping and I knew it would take after the rattler. In those days I packed a model 60 S&W with a snake shot load on top. I shot the snake and got bawled out by both the nanny and my very young daughter! The nanny snapped at me that I was trigger happy! Also some other liberal dude nearby looked like he wanted to say something. I didnt bother telling them I saved her mutts life. It should have been obvious but you cant win with a liberal!
I went back to get them that afternoon and was carrying their stuff back to the truck when I almost stepped on a big rattler. Since there were a couple other people in the area at first I wasnt going to shoot the snake as this was liberal los angeles county. The snake slithered in some brush just off the trail and here come my nanneys pomerainian. Yipping and I knew it would take after the rattler. In those days I packed a model 60 S&W with a snake shot load on top. I shot the snake and got bawled out by both the nanny and my very young daughter! The nanny snapped at me that I was trigger happy! Also some other liberal dude nearby looked like he wanted to say something. I didnt bother telling them I saved her mutts life. It should have been obvious but you cant win with a liberal!
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snowman
Member
To Florida Guy: I have not done so, and pray regularly that I will never have to.
To the other posters: Thank you for sharing your experiences. I know that many don't want to talk about such matters and I certainly can understand that. But these real life stories are often very instructive to us who want to be as well-prepared as possible in the event a similar nightmare awaits us. May you never again be threatened as you have been in your past.
Andy
To the other posters: Thank you for sharing your experiences. I know that many don't want to talk about such matters and I certainly can understand that. But these real life stories are often very instructive to us who want to be as well-prepared as possible in the event a similar nightmare awaits us. May you never again be threatened as you have been in your past.
Andy
BigBill
Absent Comrade
This happened 40 years ago and I'm not proud of it but i pulled my 6'' python on a druggie who told me i was lucky i had an alarm system in my truck and he couldn't make any money on me. I pulled it out and told him if i catch him or anyone in my truck i'll stick this up your @SS and pull the trigger. Since that happened i never seen him outside. When i came out he went in his house to hide. Sometimes there is only so much sh!t we can take. I do regret it but i never had a problem there.
This was in my old italian neighborhood were my 3 brothers grew up too were everyone knows everyone and were like family. Drugs does change people. If my older brothers ever knew this they would kill this punk. I didn't want any trouble....
This was in my old italian neighborhood were my 3 brothers grew up too were everyone knows everyone and were like family. Drugs does change people. If my older brothers ever knew this they would kill this punk. I didn't want any trouble....
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