Civilian Armed Self Defense Stories

[BCDWYO]

I would like to apologize for coming off rude. I recently was hearing a kid talking about open carrying for the fun of making people afraid of him and gave you some of the pent up lecture I wanted to give him. I remember before my above described situation, I used to have the whole "bada**" fantasy. I understand you're motive for the thread and wish I would have read such a thread beforehand. I regret nothing I did after drawing my weapon, though I wish I would have taken better steps to deescalate before hand. I didn't notice the tunnel vision at the time, but in my memory it plays out that way. My mind was racing. I replay it in my head pretty often. My point is that afterwards, you have a completely different mindset when carrying, or at least thats the way it happened in my case.

No problem Kid and thanks for the response. It is difficult to appreciate intent and tone in a written forum like this so I understand how meanings can get misinterpreted. (maybe that is why I get irritated with texting!). Anyway thanks for sharing your traumatic experience.

 

[chud333]

I've only had one instance where i "used" a gun. I was on my way to a buddies house in a rural area/small towns and country. As i was pulling into a small convience store to get some "chewin' backy" i noticed a dude had a girl in a bear hug bending her over the hood of a car in the parking lot. She was obviously distressed and crying and trying to get
out of his grasp. This was mid-day. My first thought was "Domestic", and stay out of it. I parked my truck and just sat for a minute to see how it played out. As i did i could'nt help but hear her crying, yelling at him to let her go. I decide to act. As i got out of my truck, in his sight, i reached under my front seat and made sure he saw me get my S&W model 10 out and safely tuck it in my belt. She started screaming," Help me, shoot him, he's gonna kill me. I watched him very closely.
He was just bear hugging her, but not hitting or beating her. I told him to let her go. He did'nt even answer me but continued to hold her tight with both arms around her as she struggled to get loose. She kept screaming at me to help her. So i told him i was going inside to call the police. As i walked away i kept an eye on him. I told the cashier to call the police as someone in the parking lot had a young lady held up against the hood of her car and she was crying and screaming. The cashier said, That no good ***, steve or whatever his name was, as if she knew what was going on or it had happened before. She called the police and i got my chew and walked out. As i was walking out the girl ran inside crying and the perp was driving away. I figured it was a Boyfriend/Girlfriend dispute and don't regret stepping in and making sure he knew i had a weapon.


Chuck

 

[Old cop]

In 1974 I was a working street cop when I became involved in a gunbattle with three guys who just held up a liquor store. I won't go into a lot of detail b/c I did kill one of the suspects, and the other two were wounded and subsequently apprehended by other responding officers.

I did experience tunnel vision and auditory exclusion but no real problems after that, at least not to my knowledge. More a source of comfort than anything else, but I've carried every day since my retirement in '97 after a 30 year career.

 

[USAF385]

I have un-holstered my carry gun twice thinking I might need to use it for protection. Both times the dual was between me and some wild critters.

The first time was with a medium-large momma black bear standing between me and my basement door one night. After I got out of my truck and started heading toward the door, she came out of the shadows like some sort of ninja. She took a few steps toward me and I drew my 681. She stood there for about 30 seconds looking and sniffing until she decided I wasn't that much of a threat... or that I smelled rather unappetizing.

The second time was when I was putting tools away in my shed one evening with my late canine friend and heard a pack of coyotes. There was nothing wrong with that until the yelps got louder and louder and my faithful companion started growling up a storm. As soon as I caught a glimpse of one darting through the woods about 20 ft away I drew my Glock 27 and quickly ushered my dog indoors. I was definitely most concerned about a brawl between my dog and the pack in that case. I don't know how well he would have done. He was too much of a friendly soul... he once chased down and squirrel and when he caught him, just stood there with him in his mouth looking at me not knowing what to do. He decided to let him go and chase him some more.

 

[9c1 lover]

Had to pull one time, at home though.

Was waiting for a buddy to come over, heard a knock on the door, so I went and opened it with no gun on me, and without looking outside. Next thing I see is 5 guys in all black, wearing gloves and hoodies, mind you it was about 70 degrees in the middle of the summer. They asked if I had any weed (later found out, they had the wrong house the nieghbor in the other half of the house sold pot), I told them they had the wrong house and they just started looking at each other, almost like they were getting the nerve to act, at this point I noticed the gloves and tried to slam the door.

One guy caught it with his foot and they all jumped on it, trying ot force it open, as I was yelling they had the wrong house, and that they were about to get shot. They just laughed, and kept forcing the door. I was lucky at the setup of the door because I put one foot on the door and both hands, my back was against the wall. The only way they would get in is if the door came off the hinges. I was looking at them a foot away through the now open curtain.

My girlfriend at the time come to the top of the stairs, saying she was calling the cops and they laughed louder and pushed harder. I yelled for my gun and she hesitated, so I said it a "little meaner" to her and she decided that would be best.

At that time she came back to the top of the stairs, this time holding a large framed nickel plated .45, and she started to come down the stairs. Now eyes became wide and they started trying to get the guys foot out of the door which was pinched by me. She handed me the gun, when one hand came off the door to grab the gun, they all pushed hard and got his foot out.

I ripped open the door, and they were fighting each other to get off the porch and one got a pistol pointed right at his face. There was force applied to the trigger from adrenaline, one flinch by him, was all it would have taken They took off.

They came back one week later to the day and got the right house, woke the drug dealer up by pistol whipping him. (huge commotion outside at 3 am, guy was standing there bleedin BAD from his head, told me what happened.) Time to move none the less. It was a bad area, but all I could afford.

Had they got in my house, I don't know what would have happened. Me (I'm not big at all) and my 18 year old girlfriend against 5-6 large males. Would not have been pretty, that's for sure.

I have NEVER answered my door without a pistol in my hand since that day.

 

[BCDWYO]

That's an amazing experience 9c1. I'm sure lots of people would think that I'm paranoid but I actually carry almost all of the time when I am home...even in a "good" area with the doors locked. I won't leave a loaded gun lying around unattended for obvious reasons, and locked in my safe just might not be handy enough, so the safest place is on me. I'm so used to it now that's it's like putting on my glasses or watch.

 

[papajohn428]

I won't leave a loaded gun lying around unattended for obvious reasons, and locked in my safe just might not be handy enough, so the safest place is on me. I'm so used to it now that's it's like putting on my glasses or watch.

I agree...........My gun goes on with my britches as soon as my feet hit the floor. If I'm going out and I deem the gun I'm wearing "not enough", I'll swap one for another, and pack extra ammo. The scariest thing I can think of is realizing that an attack has been launched in your direction, and you have to stop and try to remember where the danged gun is. If you're wearing it in the same place all the time, there's no thought process..........you draw it and assess the situation from there.

If I'm planning on being in the car over several hours, I'll usually add a 4" 38 in a shoulder holster, it's FAR faster to access than any gun in a belt holster, especially trapped under a coat AND a seatbelt!

 

[Yiogo]

This is a great thread. I'm more afraid of the 4 legged critters than those with 2. I rarely carry but I like to take walks at night and carry then to ward off coyotes that are quite large and prolific in this part of the country. An incident has given me pause though. I was recovering from surgery a few years ago. A car pulled up to the top of my driveway. I stood up to see who it was and it was no one I knew. He saw me and took off. I'm sure that burglary was on his mind. Years ago in another country my wife and I were vacationing with our daughters. We were in the subway system and needed directions so my wife went up to a seedy looking character to ask directions. Next thing you know she was surrounded my subway rats intent on grabbing her pocket book. I saw the situation developing. I ran towards her and they took off and left her alone. My wife has very little situational awareness unfortunately. One other story and again in another country...in the capital city of that country. We were coming back from a river cruise and about to enter the subway system when a young man looks at my wife and at me. He makes eye contact with me. Strangers don't usually make eye contact with strangers so my danger antenna went up. I told my wife to stay in front of me and near me. He then nodded at his girlfriend. We headed down the stairs. I let my wife go first because I was expecting trouble. He ran towards us. I turned around and stepped between my wife and me. He went around us on the stairs all the while looking at my wife's pocket book. As he was going around he kept his hands to himself because he was in a compromising position and off balance. One little push and he would have been rolling down the stairs and he knew it. Sigh...just the other day my wife told me that the psychologist she was listening to said that people who carry end up being injured by perps and that I shouldn't be teaching my daughter how to shoot and carry which incidentally was by my daughter's request. I bought a small pistol for home defense and carry. She's married and often alone a night if her husband works late. Sigh. I've tried to teach both of my daughter's situational awareness. One has it but the other one is still working at it. I'm not getting any younger. A couple of friends like Smith and Wesson won't hurt. Yiogo

 

[Jccampbell]

After reading some of your stories it brings a realization that being here is scarier than being in a foreign country. And I am proud to have the right to bear arms. I have never had to draw my weapon but I have tazed someone before at a friends house who was assaulting his gf. Police were called and all was forgiven.

 

[OLDFED]

1976 in Maryland...

...a guy "honked" me over to the side of the road as if I had some problem with my car that he noticed. He pulled in behind me and exited the driver's seat. I checked him in my sideview and saw his right hand behind his back. When he got up to my door, he started yelling at me for cutting him off...which I hadn't and told him so. He didn't like my very kind answer and pulled a BIG box wrench. The sight of my S&W Model 39 changed his attitude and he ran to his car and drove off. I went on my way.

 

[HalfStack]

Long ago I was visiting a friend and it was getting late so I went home but stopped at an icehouse to get a pack of smokes. I noticed a guy with silver paint on his face at a payphone by the corner of the store. I went in and got my smokes.

When I exited the guy started talking to me while standing by the phone. I ignored him as I got in my truck. He walked over and tried to open my passenger door but it was locked. I yelled at him to get away from my truck but he kept wrestling with the door handle yelling let me in. It's obvious he's high as a kite and never dawned on him that the door is locked but he kept wrestling with it.

I reached over my glove box and pulled out my 1873 Calvary replica chambered for 357. I tapped on the window with it and he looked up. his eyes got big and he stumbled back then walked away.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

I've only had to point my gun the once. More than once my brother has stumbled in the door after 3 a.m. and heard me click the safety off of my 1911 I keep hung in my shoulder holster on the bed post (I sleep lightly in an open loft at home). He of course imminently shouted "don't shoot, it's just me" and once one of his friends walked in the back door without knocking. I recognized him before he saw the working end, but I had cleared leather. (I had recently arrived home and was watching the news before putting my weapon up)

 

[photoman]

Since I got my LTCH in early 1971 I have carried religiously, and have had thirteen different occassions where I have needed a gun. I have been attacked twice, three times I have been involved in carjackings, once at knife-point in my own driveway. I stopped my truck from being stolen by a guy with a wrecker, and he attacked me with a chain. Three times neighbors have come home to a burglar, and have come to my house for help. Once I caught a peeping tom, who I later found out had raped two children in the neighborhood. I have had three attemped home invasions. Once they got in with my wife, and children home.

Keep in mind that I am just an average Joe, live in a nice neighborhood...

Tom... I've got news for you. You don't live in an "average Joe" neighborhood!

 

[BurgerBoy]

In 1972 my wife and our kids were out in the yard and a car with 4 men in it stopped and wanted to buy some dope. I told them we didn't sell dope - they must be at the wrong house. They called me a liar and the men got out of the car and one said - I'll take care of him and the rest of you go into the house and get the dope.

I pulled a sw 38 chief special out of my pocket and stuck it in his face and told him he would be the first one to die. They almost stomped each other to death trying to get in their car so they could leave.

Today I carry a m642-1 with me. You never know when you're going to need a gun to protect you and your family.

 

[tomtheturner]

Average Neighborhood

Tom... I've got news for you. You don't live in an "average Joe" neighborhood!

Photoman; If you saw my house, and my neighborhood you would be absolutely amazed that these things have taken place here. Some occurred when I lived in a different house in an older neighborhood that was used as a "pass through" for people that lived in adjoining less desirable neighborhoods.
The majority have taken place where I live now. I would guess that most people would describe it as an "upscale" neighborhood, but certainly not extreamly affluent by any means. The houses were built in the early 70s, and at that time were probably close to the upper limit of what was being built at the time. A lot of the area is heavily wooded, and the lots vary from about 1/2 to 1 acre in size. All the houses are very well maintained, and most people know everyone that live around them. I have lived here for almost 35 years.


When I first joined the Forum I felt kinda "strange" always carrying a gun, even when home, but it was sure nice to read all the other posts about - what gun to carry when mowing the lawn, etc." I don't feel near as "strange & alone" as I previously did.

I do some custom woodworking, and I once had a U S Marshall stop in for some work. He noticed the 3" 629 on my hip, and after inquiring if I had a licence said,"I wish more people would be prepared at home. People just don't realize that the police can only respond."

With having to defend myself, and my family so many times over the years I can readily say that things can happen anyplace. The point of all the above being: You just don't know WHEN, or WHERE something can happen. It is best to be ready, and prepared wherever you may be.

Best Wishes,
Tom

 

[viceunit]

One day I had to run some errands in the morning. Additionally, my wife asked me to drop off a gallon jug of apple cider to my kids school for a halloween party. She left it out on the back porch to stay cold because the refrigerator was full. Then, she went to work. When I left, I could not find the cider. I could not reach her at work so I went onto my errands. This was in the days before everyone had a cell phone. I had my Glock 23 with me.

When I got home I noticed that my rear gate at the back of the yard was open. It never is because we had a dog then, so I went to check it out. I looked around and behind my neighbor's garage it looked like someone had been camping out. About the same time a saw someone hiding behind a tree I noticed a half drank gallon of apple cider on the ground. I told the person to come out of there and he only backed up a little and had his hands concealed. I told him to show his hands and he did not react. I had enough of this and drew my G23 and again told him to show his hands. He immediately did and I ordered him out of behind the garage.

Up to this point I was acting as an armed homeowner. But being a police officer and knowing about recent thefts in the area I decided to detain him. I ordered him to interlock his fingers and put his hands on his head and turn around. I secured my gun and checked him for weapons - he had none.

OK, now what? No one was home. Cell phones weren't common yet and I did not have one. I was not going to take him inside my house to call the police. I thought my neighbor Lucy might be home so I marched him over to her front porch. Thinking he may try to bolt if I get distracted getting her attention I told him to kneel down on the porch and cross his legs. I still had hold of his hands on top of his head. I rang Lucy's doorbell and she came to the door. I asked her to call the police. She became so panicked she could not make the call, but instead handed me her cordless phone and I made the call.

The PD showed up and took the guy into custody. We checked behind the garage and found a backpack loaded with stuff from people's cars - loose coins, cassettes, somebody's work uniform, whatever he could lay his hands on - and my apple cider!

Later when I talked to Lucy about this she said when she was coming to the door she recognized me, but she didn't know who the little short guy was!

 

[cracker57]

this may not be what you are looking for but a will share something so hopefully people will know why some of us believe its a good idea to be armed and have a plan.
My brother a long time ago was expecting a friend to come over when he heard a knock at the door at the same time his friend was to arrive, he walked over and open the door. As he turned to walk back into the livingroom he said come on in John. After turning around he noticed his nose was in the barrel of a handgun. It wasn't John but a armed robber, he took a roommate and his gf and had my brother tie them up with duct tape in the bathroom. My brother did a real bad job of tieing up his roommate and he was able to free himself. The only weapon his room mate had was a hunting knife and he freed the gf but couldn't decide what to do next. the bg had my brother hauling stereo equipment and electronics to the bg car. when they could make a break for it the roommate and gf made a break for it down the hall of the apartment, the bad guy and my brother just entered the building again and when the bad guy saw the two making a get away he fired on them but they made it out to call the cops with no hits. The bad guy took off leaving my brother there wondering if his friends were alive. The girlfriend was the sherrifs daughter and the response time was immediate, they found no bullets and concluded he was firering blanks. I week later the roommate and gf had to go to the morgue and identive him as he was shot by an officer on his last day of duty before retireing, the bad guy was robbing a hotel downtown. The officer had never had to draw his weapon before this. This time the bad guys gun had real bullets in it
Lessons learn
Never open the door if you don't know for positive who is there.
Make sure your only weapon isn't a hunting knife.
Always date the sherrifs daughter (just kidding there)
Stay alert and safe never let your guard down
Cracker57

 

[5906fan]

the last edition of 'american rifleman' had an interesting story about a 90 yrs ww2 vet takeing a pistol slug into his face in a home-invasion robbery.
while the crook was gathering loot the tough oldster managed to grab a .38 snubby s&w and announced to said crook 'now it's my turn' the crook turned to face him whereupon the vet put 3 slugs into the crook who was listed in critical but stable at hospital after emt got him there. the vet was listed as serious but stable. and gave leo his report

 

[HalfStack]

A good lesson there cracker57. Don't take things for granted. I don't though because I think up too many possibilities that can happen.

It's like what if?

 

[oldman45]

I find some things difficult to talk about. Shooting someone is one of those things. My father loved talking about his years in the military but never would talk about his battles that got him a few medals.

I have experienced times that I had to use my sidearm but they were not pleasant and I did not enjoy doing so.

When things go bad, a person does what they feel best at the moment. There are few things that prepare someone for the unexpected event.

The funny things that happened are a lot easier to talk about.