Would we dare to fire to protect ourselves

[ClayCow]

Tonight i got out of the shower. I heard noises in the hallway. Legit noises, weird as my dog was next to me. I froze and slowly reached over to.my nightstand and grabbed my glock. Went out and checked a room then further down the hallway. Turns out it was a piece of paper, that made it sound like rustling.

Gotta say my heart was beating pretty hard, i dont live a life of paranoia but i was certain this couldve been someone right in my hallway. Glad it was just paper against the vent. I say now and before that i would fire in self defense, but, we wont know until we know if i would freeze and not pull the trigger if it ever came to that.

 

[SilentKnight]

I am ready to protect my home and my family. I have good security cameras, motion detectors, and alarms. I also have no trespassing signs and warnings about security cameras on my property. Anyone trying to enter my property has been warned. Every CCW person should have read "In the Gravest Extreme" by Massod Ahoub. It is the best guidance you can get for CCW carry. Training is essential. Being willing to take the shot had best be well thought out ahead of time. Retreating from opportunities to use your firearm is the best defense and not going places where it might be needed is smart. But, if someone kicks down your door in a State that has the Castle Doctrine is a best case defense scenario. On your property, do not retreat. Do not wait for the police. Do not interfere with the evidence and call the police right before you call your lawyer. Do not talk to the police until your lawyer is present. Do not own a gun unless you are prepared to use it in the "greatest extreme." As soon as you see a situation developing outside your personal residence retreat unless there is no other option. If there is no other option, be accurate, deadly, and safe.

 

[BudMan5]

I have been carrying a gun since i was 18.

First, for four years in the Army, 32 months of that in VN, then as a cop, 1969 to 1987 when I retired early and went back on active duty with the Army and then since 1999 when iIwas med retired from the Army and as a LEOSA concealed carry permit holder.

My point to all this is not chest beating but to demonstrate I have a long time experience with being armed. And as you have already surmised, i am freaking old. I will be 68 this summer.

I have shot people and I have been shot. It was in the lower left leg and it broke my tib-fib. Ever been kicked in the shin? I was shot in the shin.

The point of all this rambling is I saw first hand the riots in the late sixties and the seventies. I have been involved in crowd control a number of times and I have seen the country go through some really tough times.

But it is my gut feeling that right now we are at the edge of something really bad. The crowds in Ferguson and the mobs in New York and all of the support protests , mini-riots all over the country that have not stopped, only slowed down even though winter has set in.

I read a story tonight that a number of groups (in Chicago we called them 'gangs") have banded together in Dallas to form the "Huey P, Newton Gun Club". Their intent is to patrol Dallas neighborhoods while armed with rifles to prevent further police terrorism directed at "their people".

Inner-city gun club takes issue with Dallas police

You know that's going to turn out well, eh?

I think every law abiding citizen in this country needs to ready to defend themselves and their families. Based on my experience, I don't ever remember a time that things seemed to be on the verge of really breaking loose.

All of us need to sit down and have a long conversation with ourselves and get some stonger thought considering "what if" because I think a time is fast approaching when more of us are going to be faced with that decision.

And when it happens it will be to late to come up with a plan on how you're to proceed.

 

[REM 3200]

Legally? According to the Times-Picayune, 16 officers who shot shot people were prosecuted. The rest of the reported legal shootings were at people who were shooting at officers.

Looters and the Lessons of Katrina

You would have though a legal looter shooting would have made the paper. Or at least the documentary. I searched "katrina looter shot," "katrina looter killed," "citizen shoots katrina looter," and several other variations. Not a single story about someone being shot for looting.

Can't speak about New Orleans, don't live there.
There where looters shot and/or held at gun point on the
Mississippi coast in the aftermath of Katrina.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Well, first I would have to be arrested, and then indicted and formally brought to trial, etc, etc. In most of the scenarios stated here, that probably wouldn't happen, but even if it did, I would not be found guilty of a crime because I had defended myself or others, at least in MOST places. But whatever the case, I would be a very quiet and calm fellow during all of whatever went on. It's their dime, and I'm not going to spend a dime to defend my self from something that a jury won't convict me of. All the way through, I'll have the truth of the only story I have to tell: I was in fear of my/family's life, and I was given no choice other than to allow this individual to harm me/mine. They want litigation-they can pay for it. Now-after I am acquitted, there might be a civil matter that I would be willing to throw a few bucks at, regarding things that happened to me in the process of deciding to prosecute me for defending myself. But, the bottom line is that I like to sleep well, and I'm a Sheep Dog, and the wolves need to fight shy of me. Woof Woof-Boom Boom. Let the law dogs sort it out for themselves.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Budman5-I read you Lima Charley Brother.

 

[ClayCow]

Well, first I would have to be arrested, and then indicted and formally brought to trial, etc, etc. In most of the scenarios stated here, that probably wouldn't happen, but even if it did, I would not be found guilty of a crime because I had defended myself or others, at least in MOST places. But whatever the case, I would be a very quiet and calm fellow during all of whatever went on. It's their dime, and I'm not going to spend a dime to defend my self from something that a jury won't convict me of. All the way through, I'll have the truth of the only story I have to tell: I was in fear of my/family's life, and I was given no choice other than to allow this individual to harm me/mine. They want litigation-they can pay for it. Now-after I am acquitted, there might be a civil matter that I would be willing to throw a few bucks at, regarding things that happened to me in the process of deciding to prosecute me for defending myself. But, the bottom line is that I like to sleep well, and I'm a Sheep Dog, and the wolves need to fight shy of me. Woof Woof-Boom Boom. Let the law dogs sort it out for themselves.

I am confused. You seem to have some faith in the legal system which i believe is dangerous.

 

[CTI1USNRET]

Not only will I shoot to defend myself, I will shoot to defend YOU. If I'm close, you won't be in it alone.

We must stick together.

 

[diggler1833]

If I felt the need to defend my life or my loved one's lives from death or grave bodily injury...not only would I fire, but I would continue shooting until the threat stopped.

I'm not out to be John Rambo, but I am also not out to be a victim.

 

[BigBill]

I tend to avoid trouble areas more after I got my ccw in '75 as much as I can. Trust me if we look for trouble it's out there. It's best to be low key.

I brandished my python once and the guys eyes popped out like on a cartoon. No problem after that. It was in '77 the only time I felt threatened.
Did I over react? No this was a criminal with a long history of ripping people off. He was intending to shop at the wrong place. I was 911.

I hope I never have to defend myself or my family using deadly
force. But I can be a pit bull when confronted by a bad guy. Don't grab the tigers tail.

 

[BigBill]

George will find troule no matter what.Hes just that dumb [emoji57]

He's like OJ Simpson too dumb to avoid it. He loses it.

 

[CTI1USNRET]

Zim keeps coming up as a BAD example.

Has he been found guilty of ANYTHING? Has any accusation held up under scrutiny? He still has a carry permit. What does that tell you?

The media is spinning every mention of him to make him look bad. They are pushing hard, relentlessly, to convict him in the court of public opinion. Are you falling for it?

 

[Rastoff]

Zim keeps coming up as a BAD example.

Has he been found guilty of ANYTHING? Has any accusation held up under scrutiny? He still has a carry permit. What does that tell you?

What it tells me is that there are still many good people in this country.

I would not recommend doing what Mr. Zimmerman did, but he didn't do anything illegal. He had a genuine concern for his neighborhood which is generally seen as lacking today. Further, a group of his peers was able to see that his firearm use was truly self-defense. This is a very good thing.

 

[CTI1USNRET]

...
It is lawyers who resolve disputes without violence, disputes which the litigants cannot resolve by themselves, which is the main reason for civil law.

And, it is lawyers who make mountains out of molehills for personal gain. They 'peacefully' ruin innocent lives in court for money. Many of them run for office in order to gain more control and ruin more lives.

The law and lawyers discarded the concept of 'right and wrong', and embraced 'control' long ago.

Many lawyers should live in fear for the WRONGS they've done. Many should be hung in the town square.

 

[ClayCow]

And, it is lawyers who make mountains out of molehills for personal gain. They 'peacefully' ruin innocent lives in court for money. Many of them run for office in order to gain more control and ruin more lives.

The law and lawyers discarded the concept of 'right and wrong', and embraced 'control' long ago.

Many lawyers should live in fear for the WRONGS they've done. Many should be hung in the town square.

Jesus man. Those are a minority

 

[Waywatcher]

You should be prosecuted.

At a minimum, you should be sued.

I completely disagree. We should not be in the habit of using the law to 'right' every single minor transgression. A simple punch in the face might indeed be what's called for, from time to time. A person should not be able to run their mouth with impunity, all day every day, not caring about those they hurt.

 

[crsides]

To the OP, if YOU have a question in your mind, best leave that gun at home... locked up and unloaded.


Charlie

 

[ClayCow]

I completely disagree. We should not be in the habit of using the law to 'right' every single minor transgression. A simple punch in the face might indeed be what's called for, from time to time. A person should not be able to run their mouth with impunity, all day every day, not caring about those they hurt.

You can sue them if they run their mouth. But i do wonder if we allowed simple punches to the face, if lawsuits would die down

 

[mtrvl]

If you carry a gun, but are not willing to use it, there is a good chance you will be killed by the gun you are carrying.

 

[Rastoff]

If you carry a gun, but are not willing to use it, there is a good chance you will be killed by the gun you are carrying.

No, this is not a logical conclusion.

I would be better to say, "If you are attacked and are unwilling to use the gun you have with you, there is a chance you'll be killed with that gun." But even that isn't really a logical statement.

I think it's better to ask, "If you're not willing to use the gun you carry, why are you carrying it?"