Have you actually used a weapon in an SD situation.

[JCFindley]

It is not something often reported by the media unless the situation escalates to the point where deadly force is actually used. My guess is many if not most situations that are de-escalated because of the threat of deadly force do not even get reported.

Have you had such a situation that you are willing to talk about? (Remember the internet might as well be public record so don't incriminate yourself if you think you might be in the wrong legally.)

I would say the vast majority of civilians that legally carry a weapon never need it and that is a good thing IMO. I also think that there are probably some good lessons to be learned from others that have been there.

If you are willing to share tell us what happened. How you reacted. How the situation might have been avoided in the first place if possible. In hindsight, would you have done anything different? Did having a weapon change the scenarios outcome in your opinion and did it in fact save your bacon?

I have had a few over the years I will share in a bit but believe it could be a really interesting subject and perhaps some good lessons to be learned.

 

[cmort666]

Have I shot or shot at somebody? No.

Have I made it very clear to somebody he was ABOUT to get shot... and with an HK-93? Yep. He took the hint. Probably wrecked his engine getting out of Dodge too...

 

[Rpg]

Years ago while hunting doves outside Austin I stepped on a rattle snake.

Jumped higher than I thought possible.

Shot the snake with my shotgun when I hit the ground.

Does that count?

 

[OKFC05]

(Remember the internet might as well be public record so don't incriminate yourself if you think you might be in the wrong legally.)

Also suggest you remember the NRA Defense class advice that you never make a public statement, especially to the press where it can be edited and republished, even if you are certain you are in the right.

One Oklahoman talked his way into a civil lawsuit which he eventually won, with legal costs into 6 figures.

 

[quinn]

Yes, but it was on a dog attack. I missed hitting him but the muzzle blast was very effective.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Yes, twice. Once during a home invasion and once trying to get to my car after a late movie. Success both times.

 

[Targets Guy]

No. And I hope it stays that way.

 

[Big Cholla]

yes, twice; once in a bad business deal with deadbeats and once in a road rage incident that went from bad to worse. I didn't have to shoot either time and both turned out in my favor. With no gun I quite well could have been beaten to death in one and much more than I cared to endure in the other. ...............

 

[Hunter8282]

No. And I hope it stays that way.

This! ^^^

 

[FPrice]

No. And I hope it stays that way.

Same here.

 

[poordevil]

3 maybe even 6 times, while living and working in San Diego , CA . I think the confidence I exhibited because I could back up the fact I was not going to be victimized, saved the day. Never showed or threatened a weapon.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Years ago while hunting doves outside Austin I stepped on a rattle snake.

Jumped higher than I thought possible.

Shot the snake with my shotgun when I hit the ground.

Does that count?

I know that this was not funny when it happened, but it's sure funny now.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...years ago my wife and I were in our dually pickup with the big camper in back looking for a camp ground in Missouri...right where the Ohio flows into the Mississippi...we were running way late as usual...no moon...dark as it gets...we noticed lots of cars and old pickups off in the weeds and between the trees...lights came on on one car and it pulled out...4 salty looking dudes inside...fairly well liquored up...driver asked us if we were looking for something...I told him the camp ground...he said straight ahead at the end of the road...we proceeded ahead and found the camp ground had one forty watt light bulb for the entire area...I looked in the mirror and saw the car turning around and coming back our way...I put my Colt 1991a1 on the seat next to me...my wife put her Star 45 on the seat next to her...and we turned around and headed out...about half way to the car it stopped...turned around and and took off...we were relieved and started breathing again...drove half the night to a KOA up north along the Mississippi...alls well that ends well I guess...also...we live at the end of a dead end road...had a car stop out in the turn around about midnight one night and cut the lights...it stayed for a long time it seemed so I grabbed my Winchester pump 12 gauge and slipped out into another moonless night...snuck out to where I could see the car...and about that time the lights came on and it left...another exciting evening...

 

[Old cop]

Once, while off duty many years ago I blew my car horn at some local kids drag racing and ran me off the road. They cornered me, forcing me off the road again and all four of them got out of their cars. I did not have a gun but badged them, acted like I had a gun and ran them off. I carried ever since.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...Old cop reminded me of another incident that was the reason I started keeping a piece in the car...when we first moved up here on the mountain...my wife was working at a bakery about 12 miles down the hill and her shift started at 3 am...during my off season I would drive her and I was glad I did one night...we were about half way when we passed a car on the shoulder...the lights came on and it quickly passed us...slammed on the brakes and stopped...I passed it and it did the same thing...we pulled a u turn and headed for home...the car turned around and pulled up along side...the guy on the passenger side front flashed a badge at us and motioned to pull over...we gassed it but their old Chevelle was faster up hill than our little Fiat x 1/9...after going through the stop and pass routine a few more times I finally got out and headed for the car...unarmed...and fortunately they left...got home and called the Sheriff...we had the plate number...found out later the kid with the badge was the son of a Sheriff's deputy and he had one of his dad's badges...the badge was removed from the son and the car was removed from the driver...we were assured that it wouldn't happen again...they were all high school kids and we happened to drive a car just like two little high school blondes in the county...case of mistaken identity...I bought a pistol grip 12 gauge Mossberg and carried it in that little car from then on...

 

[jmace57]

I answered my door at about 9:30 at night and two young men were standing there. Looking nervous and looking at each other. I could tell they were each waiting for the other one to rush me. I opened the door about another 4 inches where they could see the S&W Model 64 in my hand (pointing down at the ground). They beat feet. Closest I have come, and I've had my LTC for 7 years now)

 

[cmort666]

...Old cop reminded me of another incident that was the reason I started keeping a piece in the car...when we first moved up here on the mountain...my wife was working at a bakery about 12 miles down the hill and her shift started at 3 am...during my off season I would drive her and I was glad I did one night...we were about half way when we passed a car on the shoulder...the lights came on and it quickly passed us...slammed on the brakes and stopped...I passed it and it did the same thing...we pulled a u turn and headed for home...the car turned around and pulled up along side...the guy on the passenger side front flashed a badge at us and motioned to pull over...we gassed it but their old Chevelle was faster up hill than our little Fiat x 1/9...after going through the stop and pass routine a few more times I finally got out and headed for the car...unarmed...and fortunately they left...got home and called the Sheriff...we had the plate number...found out later the kid with the badge was the son of a Sheriff's deputy and he had one of his dad's badges...the badge was removed from the son and the car was removed from the driver...we were assured that it wouldn't happen again...they were all high school kids and we happened to drive a car just like two little high school blondes in the county...case of mistaken identity...I bought a pistol grip 12 gauge Mossberg and carried it in that little car from then on...

My previously alluded to incident was similar.

A driver passed us, pulled in front and started slowing down while weaving from side to side to prevent us from passing. He looked up in the rear view mirror to find himself staring down the business end of an HK-93. He was just about to eat a forty round magazine full of M-193 when he literally stood on the gas pedal and took off going about 100mph.

 

[JCFindley]

I would say a dog most certainly counts as they can certainly inflict some serious damage. I suppose a rattlesnake would count though you can always just step away from them once you see them.

I truly believe it is much much better to avoid a situation in the first place than rely on physical self defense or needing a weapon. I also know from experience that not all situations are avoidable.

The first time I drew a weapon I was 23 years old. I had graduated from Auburn as a newly minted LT in the USAF and was driving through a small town AL that I had driven through a hundred times before. This time a Cadillac with FL plates was driving 10 mph just kind of touristing his was through. I passed him.

I guess that ticked him off and he got a foot or two from my bumper. I tried 15 over the speed limit and he was still so close I could see his face. Now, something I wouldn't do now is a jammed on my brakes making him lunge into his steering wheel then accelerated before he hit me. (Yeah, dick move on my part.)

He accelerates back to me and I can see him reach across and pull something out of his glovebox and fiddle with it on his lap. My thought then and what I still think in hindsight is he got his gun.

I had my wife with me and said that was enough for me so I accelerated as I got out of town. Eventually as we made it out into the country I was hitting over 100 mph and he was staying with me in the Deville. I took some back road shortcuts that I knew off that no Florida tourist should go and he followed. At those speeds I was eventually going to kill myself or someone else so this needed to stop.

I got maybe a third of a mile ahead of him and turned down an even smaller road and topped a hill. I pulled over at an angle and sent my wife out into a cornfield to hide. I took a position behind the car.

The guy in the Caddie topped the hill and stopped. I surmise he assessed the situation to be exactly what it was then did a three point turn and left.

Lessons? Well, I wouldn't go that fast and risk killing anyone else for one thing. I should probably have just driven to the local PD and pulled in the parking lot. With cell phones today I could have called the police. Perhaps showing my gun would have got him to back off sooner but there is a serious danger doing that as well today.

Things I did right IMO was not simply pulling over after it had escalated as that could have lead to a gunfight and got my wife shot. Now, could I have simply pulled over when he first got on my tailgate? Probably and I would now.....

Side note on showing a gun:

The leading SD/gun attorney and many would say SD legal expert in FL states outright that he has handled many many where someone simply shows a gun, the BG decides to get the guy, calls the police and says that you pointed it at him and poof, you are charged with aggravated assault. He says if you think you must show your gun from inside the car call 911 first so you can establish yourself as the GG.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Yes. I was in college, and my girl friend and I had parked in the desert near Phoenix one evening after dark. A truckfull of yahoos pulled up and put us in their headlights. A couple of them got out of the truck and came toward us. I pulled my Ruger .22 pistol out of the glove compartment, and making sure they could see me, jacked a round into the chamber. One of them yelled "He's got a gun" - the two ran back to the truck, and the truck peeled out muy pronto.

I'm pretty sure a bad scene was avoided that night.

John

 

[Wise_A]

In my pre-gunny-person days. One was a crazed law-abiding citizen, he took the hint that continuing to assault me wasn't gonna end well for him. Another time, some 6'6" mook in the parking lot of a strip mall decided that while he and his buddies might be confident with fists and feet, but they liked their chances a lot less against 2000 pounds of Ford steel.

The former, I don't think a handgun was going to help me with. The latter, I definitely would have needed it if they were smart and waited until I exited the car.