Many years ago we were chasing a young man for a minor crime when I cornered him on a service station lot after dark. He reached under his jacket & into his waistband & I drew my gun and was pulling the trigger when he put his hands up. I saw the hammer coming back but let off the trigger just in time. After I got him in custody I told him I almost killed him. He said he was just playing w/me. I’ve been in that Fairfax County cop’s shoes.
Have you ever had to draw your weapon for self defense?
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The first was in a bar, I was negotiating with a known bad guy to attempt to purchase more time to repay a debt from a smuggling operation gone bad. He brazenly placed his weapon on the table, pointed it right at me, in plain view of the other bar patrons. I played it cool and very carefully and quietly drew my broom handle under the table from an OC thigh holster. Just before i was sure he was going to fire, I blasted him to pieces. He slumped down onto the table, quite a mess. It was a tough bar, the music only stopped for a moment, then the band continued on playing the same song as if nothing happened.
Sounds like a Clint Eastwood western flick.
rednichols
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OP, I treated your thread as if it were a poll, then went through to see the results you had gathered. 144 posts, about 30 'yes' to displaying to humans, many/most not from the holsters, and few shots fired. NO references to speed of the draw from a holster, few references to caliber of the firearm choice.
My initial reaction is that this confirms my bias, that folks on forums are not gunmen and can't really justify carrying. Not with those anecdotes on a percentage basis. I had a CCW while living in San Diego and gave it up: I wasn't willing to be THAT guy in the liquor store who had to defend the clerk, myself, and everyone else in the shop and out on the sidewalk. And was never sorry about that choice.
Some of you will know my name as I'm The Holstorian and holster designer/maker of extensive experience. I'm also Ayoob trained and have a lot of respect for Mas. He has made a good living as a gun scribe (I gave him his first break when he asked for an interview of my boss then, who was John Bianchi, in the '70s). That being said I can't carry where I live and I don't wish I could. Because I'm mighty glad the other guy can't carry, here, either.
Why would I pay any attention to this anyway, when I live overseas after 50 years in USA? Because carry guns for citizens spend virtually every second of their existence IN the holster, RARELY ever drawn in anger, and the brand of holster they swear by has NO relevance to the course of a conflict. Or the result of one.
We holster makers are a dime a dozen, I've seen 'em come and go and most of 'em are dead already. Buy any brand you want, there's no good reason to wait eons just to claim you've waited X years for your Sparks or whatever. So you can win your next gunfight. Which you are not going to be in. According to the replies to this thread.
Oh, yeah, count me as a 'NEVER' have drawn my carry pistol against a human. But I've been a gunnie since 1963 . . ..
My initial reaction is that this confirms my bias, that folks on forums are not gunmen and can't really justify carrying. Not with those anecdotes on a percentage basis. I had a CCW while living in San Diego and gave it up: I wasn't willing to be THAT guy in the liquor store who had to defend the clerk, myself, and everyone else in the shop and out on the sidewalk. And was never sorry about that choice.
Some of you will know my name as I'm The Holstorian and holster designer/maker of extensive experience. I'm also Ayoob trained and have a lot of respect for Mas. He has made a good living as a gun scribe (I gave him his first break when he asked for an interview of my boss then, who was John Bianchi, in the '70s). That being said I can't carry where I live and I don't wish I could. Because I'm mighty glad the other guy can't carry, here, either.
Why would I pay any attention to this anyway, when I live overseas after 50 years in USA? Because carry guns for citizens spend virtually every second of their existence IN the holster, RARELY ever drawn in anger, and the brand of holster they swear by has NO relevance to the course of a conflict. Or the result of one.
We holster makers are a dime a dozen, I've seen 'em come and go and most of 'em are dead already. Buy any brand you want, there's no good reason to wait eons just to claim you've waited X years for your Sparks or whatever. So you can win your next gunfight. Which you are not going to be in. According to the replies to this thread.
Oh, yeah, count me as a 'NEVER' have drawn my carry pistol against a human. But I've been a gunnie since 1963 . . ..
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Autonomous
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Just because you carry, you do not have to engage the bad guy and/or protect the whole room.
Even LE does not have to protect the whole room, this concept has been ruled on three (?) times by the SCOTUS.
As far as this thread acting as a poll? Don't read too much into it. Generally, guys that really have done certain things don't talk about it.
Even LE does not have to protect the whole room, this concept has been ruled on three (?) times by the SCOTUS.
As far as this thread acting as a poll? Don't read too much into it. Generally, guys that really have done certain things don't talk about it.
rednichols
Member
'real gunmen don't post'
We'll have to agree to disagree. For me this thread confirms that forum members don't have a rational reason to carry a pistol daily. My view is that it's US TV and film programming that makes members THINK they do.
Perhaps we CAN agree that 'real gunmen don't post'.
We'll have to agree to disagree. For me this thread confirms that forum members don't have a rational reason to carry a pistol daily. My view is that it's US TV and film programming that makes members THINK they do.
Perhaps we CAN agree that 'real gunmen don't post'.
Autonomous
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It appears you can't see past certain preconceived ideas.
AJ
US Veteran
It was the Cantina Band!
I have a couple fire extinguishers in my home. I am not a fireman, and with the very small percentages of home fires in my community, I suppose I really can't justify having fire extinguishers in my home...but I do anyway, and feel safer by doing so.
I think the same can be said for those individuals who feel safer by exercising their right to own and carry a firearm. Like my fire extinguishers, they may never need it, but are grateful they have the right to own and carry one.
And aren't we grateful for that!! It would be one heckuva terrible world if the carry guns for citizens spent the majority of their time out of the holster and drawn in anger.
I, for one, am glad that citizen carry guns spend most of their time in the holster. I'd like to think that most rational people would be happy about that, too. Aren't you?
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rockquarry
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Good post. Different perspective, but that's okay. Gunfighting disciples won't agree. That's okay, too.
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I have needed a gun exactly one time in my life but that one time I needed a gun.
The problem is five minutes before I needed a gun I had no idea I was going to need a gun.
Since I'm not psychic I default to carrying a gun every time I leave the house.
You are very fortunate to live in an area where everyone obeys the law. Here, there are places where an individual is not allowed to carry, yet shootings still happen by those who refuse to obey the laws. It's illegal to carry in public schools and in most theaters, but we've had mass shootings in schools, theaters, and in shopping malls...the only ones not armed were those obeying the law.
So when you say that you're "mighty glad the other guy can't carry here either," it sounds as though everyone in Australia obeys the "shall not carry" laws. I wish all individuals here would be as obedient.
Consider yourself extremely fortunate.
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I doubt many here need a reason to carry. I also don't think many feel the need to rationalize or validate why they do. I certainly don't.
While I am finding myself carrying less these days the times that I do are akin to me dragging a woobie with me. A security blanket that bites as it were.
Also, I won't be lectured by someone from a country that surrendered its guns.
While I am finding myself carrying less these days the times that I do are akin to me dragging a woobie with me. A security blanket that bites as it were.
Also, I won't be lectured by someone from a country that surrendered its guns.
rednichols
Member
Interesting assumption. NO ONE can carry pistols here except LEOs and even they cannot carry concealed when off duty. Only one police force per State and only 7 of those. No
SOs, no highway patrol.
I'm watching The Rookie on Netflix here. I know it's been a quarter century since I lived in California but I don't believe you all rwally live that way today. Excluding the school shootings that began the year I moved here with Columbine.
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So let me see if I've got this straight....
You made a career out of selling gun leather - including concealed carry holsters - when you lived in the USA.
And now that you live in the gun-free utopia down under, you think that carrying a concealed firearm is pointless, because the laws of Australia make it a crime for criminals to carry a firearm?
And you REALLY believe that criminals in Australia are going to SELECTIVELY obey the laws that prohibit them from possessing a gun?
Sorry, but to me that seems incredibly naive.
Wanna' buy a bridge? I have a couple for sale....
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mckenney99
Member
LE war story that I swear is 100% true.
Luckily I've never needed to draw or fire in self defense against a 2 legged critter but I absolutely needed it one night against an injured 4 legged critter who was not happy to see me.
I was investigating a vehicle deer strike in the rural and very dark area of our county late one night. The deer was not immediately found on scene but from the damage to the vehicle I figured it was likely injured. I never liked to leave a scene without thoroughly checking for the injured animal so it didn't suffer, wander out into traffic again or possibly pose a threat to a civilian who may encounter it. The crash occurred alongside an old Victorian house with a large backyard, filled with old vine covered trellises, that backed up to a large wooded area and crop fields. I knew from previous crashes at the location that the house was occupied by an old widow, and being late at night I went to the house to warn her that I would be in her backyard with a flashlight and it was likely that she might hear a gunshot(s).
I had a county Sheriffs Deputy on scene with me and we started to track the deer through the dew covered grass in the pitch dark backyard. I was working the track with my flashlight in my left hand and my Beretta 96D in my right (strong) hand just in case. The Deputy was following alongside with only his flashlight in hand. As I raised my head to check the area ahead, I swung my flashlight up just as the antlered Buck lunged out from behind a trellis, dragging a broken rear leg, straight at me and not 7-10 yards away. I reflexively yanked up my Beretta into a classic Harries flashlight stance (extensive practice pays off) and fired 1 flash shot. The buck literally flipped over backwards, gave a couple kicks and expired. When the deputy and I examined the large bodied Buck we found that my one shot had hit him square in the face, just inside his left eye and exited out the back.
My heart was pounding in my chest, my hands were shaking and I could not believe what had just taken place BUT I did manage to keep a cool exterior. I managed to reholstered my pistol like it was just another day on the range. The deputy was absolutely flabbergasted and I certainly wasn't about to tell him that it was a completely lucky shot.
The Deputy told others about the incident and for years when any of the local villages or cities had deer to be tracked and euthanized I got the dispatch.
Luckily I've never needed to draw or fire in self defense against a 2 legged critter but I absolutely needed it one night against an injured 4 legged critter who was not happy to see me.
I was investigating a vehicle deer strike in the rural and very dark area of our county late one night. The deer was not immediately found on scene but from the damage to the vehicle I figured it was likely injured. I never liked to leave a scene without thoroughly checking for the injured animal so it didn't suffer, wander out into traffic again or possibly pose a threat to a civilian who may encounter it. The crash occurred alongside an old Victorian house with a large backyard, filled with old vine covered trellises, that backed up to a large wooded area and crop fields. I knew from previous crashes at the location that the house was occupied by an old widow, and being late at night I went to the house to warn her that I would be in her backyard with a flashlight and it was likely that she might hear a gunshot(s).
I had a county Sheriffs Deputy on scene with me and we started to track the deer through the dew covered grass in the pitch dark backyard. I was working the track with my flashlight in my left hand and my Beretta 96D in my right (strong) hand just in case. The Deputy was following alongside with only his flashlight in hand. As I raised my head to check the area ahead, I swung my flashlight up just as the antlered Buck lunged out from behind a trellis, dragging a broken rear leg, straight at me and not 7-10 yards away. I reflexively yanked up my Beretta into a classic Harries flashlight stance (extensive practice pays off) and fired 1 flash shot. The buck literally flipped over backwards, gave a couple kicks and expired. When the deputy and I examined the large bodied Buck we found that my one shot had hit him square in the face, just inside his left eye and exited out the back.
My heart was pounding in my chest, my hands were shaking and I could not believe what had just taken place BUT I did manage to keep a cool exterior. I managed to reholstered my pistol like it was just another day on the range. The deputy was absolutely flabbergasted and I certainly wasn't about to tell him that it was a completely lucky shot.
The Deputy told others about the incident and for years when any of the local villages or cities had deer to be tracked and euthanized I got the dispatch.
AJ
US Veteran
I have CCW'd for over 50 years (permitted or not). I only carry on vehicle trips and when going places that I may run into someone who would not like me for monetary gain. As I got older stopped going places like that. I still carry once in a while, but usually when I go to places where there maybe trouble, my CCW is my Son-In-Law (a Deputy Sheriff). He is on the large size side and has his own gun.
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REVCHARLIE
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Yes. Twice on criminals and once on a vicious dog. The dog took three rounds from a 38 snub before it crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
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