Have you ever had to draw your weapon in defense?

[Fox609]

Yes & no. My family owned 2 homes. We sold one and moved back into the other. It was probably the 2nd or 3rd night there & I haven't been in the house since I was 12 [this is 16 years later]. Lots of things had changed as far as the construction of the house went and I was in an unfamiliar room at the time.

I awoke to what sounded like somebody hammering away at our doorknob outside followed frustrated slamming at our screen door. Then, whoever it was RAN as fast as they could into the house. Needless to say, I'm f-in terrified at this point because my room is right next to said door [easy to miss if you run for the kitchen/living room].

I hear nothing for a little bit. That makes me even more worried. So, I decide to load up my 686+. I'm shaking, but I manage to get myself composed, thinking, "Ok, you've got to at least get this loaded. Whatever happens next, happens." My gun is successfully loaded, my heart is pounding. I still hear nothing, fearing the worst for my family.

I cautiously open my door with my back to the wall, inching towards the light switch. I flip it on, and there's nobody. Gun pointed toward the floor, I make my way toward out living room. Best I can see, nobody. I get to the nearest lamp & switch it on.. still no body.

Now I'm afraid for my parents who are in the next room. I bolt for their door, gun concealed behind me back, slam their door open, and see no one, save for them. I grill them making sure they're ok. They were.

Like I said, we had just moved in. Boxes were everywhere, so there was nowhere to hide. I inquired if they knew what the noise was about. It turns out that my mother was letting our dog out and was having a lot of trouble with the deadbolt and locking screen door. As for her running, she still does that. :| I have no idea why she does it.. she won't give me an explanation either.

tl;dr A suspected home invasion turned out to be my mother having a unreasonable amount of trouble with our deadbolt/ locking screen door, followed by unnecessary running.

No, I did NOT draw on my own mother. I was extremely careful about where my gun was pointed [the floor mostly]. I'm proud of myself for being able to overcome the stress of the situation long enough to load my weapon as well as not looking for something/one to shoot in my own home.

 

[TStick]

Yep,

A group of individuals cornered me while I was doing routine maintenance on a rental property. I had nowhere to go, there were at least 10 of them, and they were all interested in "payback" for the eviction notice one of them received.

As the group approached, feeding off of each other, I tried the "I don't want any trouble" thing, which only emboldened them more. So, then they got to look at the end of my 645 (yes I actually carried a 645). That got everyone backing up, so no shots were fired; however, when no shots were fired, they stopped running and re-assembled. The group then started closing in on me again (still cornered) so I pointed it at the "leader" and cocked the hammer. That is what did it - another member grabbed him and yelled "He's got the hammer back, he's serious!" or something like that.

To this day that is why I prefer TDA guns. Of course I had extra time in this case, and wouldn't hesitate to fire a double action shot if I had to. Luckily, in this case, I didn't have to fire. The Sheriff assisted me with completing the eviction, questioned several people (no arrests though, my focus was on the soon-to-be-evicted leader, so I couldn't identify anyone else well enough to make an arrest - something I have worked on since then and recommend to others!) and everyone in that area was very nice to me from that point on.

Like mentioned before, the only real emotional trouble I ever had was dreams re-living it where I didn't have my gun.

 

[Dikinalaska]

I haven't and hope I never do. But in regards to the vehicle, I'm seriously looking into one of these for long drives and to the "big city" that is on the top ten list for crime per capita. Anchorage. It's called the Kingston Car Seat holster by DeSantis. It would be for my BUG as I wouldn't take my primary off my hip.

 

[MaximumLawman]

You misunderstood what venomballistics was asking you. Many of us who carry would rather violate the letter of the law and stay alive then to follow the letter and end up dead. The expression is "better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6".

In speaking with people who have actually spent some time in the general population in a state penitentiary, I assure you that they came out with a much thinner line between what they were willing to do to avoid being carried by 6 as opposed to carried by 12 than had before they went in. It SOUNDS like common sense until you find out that your life is worth not much more than a book of postage stamps (a popular form of currency from what I hear) in prison. I do my damndest to avoid both.

 

[Steely Dan]

First of all great posts. Thanks to all for sharing.

I see a trend.

In many cases, the mere sight of the firearm stopped the attack.

One of my main reasons for obtaining a permit is the uneasiness I would feel when my wife and I travel.

If its just me, I don't worry as much but when the love of my life is with me, I get very defensive and am more wary.

A .357 magnum gives me peace of mind.

I pray I will NEVER have to use it. But, just like I have house and auto insurance, carrying my pistol is my own version of life insurance.

SD

 

[MaximumLawman]

In many cases, the mere sight of the firearm stopped the attack.

As a policeman, most of the times I pointed a gun at someone (who wasn't armed with their own gun at the ready), the usual response from them was "Shoot ME...." followed by a compound word that starts with "mother". Then we just had to fight it out.

 

[carpriver]

I have never had to draw my sidearm as a civilian. I did in the Air Force as Air Policeman and as a courier of classified items.

 

[GLV]

Sorry, just not the type of question

I would answer with the whole world listening.

I understand some are trying to learn, but the classroom, or a group of vetted individuals in discussion, would be the venue that I would suggest for such a discussion.

To each his/her own.

 

[badge]

Yes, in the defense of my life and the lives of my wife and (then) small children. It was an unprovoked attack by a knife-wielding thug in a parking lot. Unfortunately, I had little room to retreat and got cut up some. The attack, however, stopped. As far as I'm concerned, you don't draw unless you intend to shoot, and you don't shoot unless you intend to stop an attack. If the attacker dies, it's on him/her.

Yes, I have been accused of being cold-blooded about it. My only nightmares are when it replays and I can't seem to find my revolver.

ECS

You did nothing wrong if those were the hand you were dealt friend. Anyone who referred to you as " coldblooded ", has no idea what an unpleasant, life altering experiance you endured. Sleep well.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Sort of, both times the offending party was not aware that I had drawn my revolver but came very close to finding out the hard way...

 

[EMT_SAR]

I confronted 2 "thug looking" large grown men who knocked on my front door in the middle of the day, and then proceeded to case my house around the side and back and attempt entry. I was at home with 1 child in the house. I got my holster, loaded, and went out the back door. A holstered weapon, even concealed, is usually all that's needed to allow you to keep your cool and tell attackers to vacate immediately.

For the OP, I suggest buying a holster and snap caps. Train dry fire draws each week / month until you / holster are broken in. Don't draw your weapon unless you intend to fire. Read the combat conditions, and the carry conditions. Practice, read, practice, read.

If you do draw, you better know the laws in your own state. Especially the deadly force, Castle, Stand Your Ground, etc. I have seen bad situations get worse by people "waving a gun around", and it always turns out worse for that person if they draw in a questionable situation. Usually a holstered weapon is enough to diffuse things, keep it holstered, or pointed straight down at the ground finger outside the guard, until you need to fire.

Don't point your gun at a target that's unarmed, or invisible to you. If that's an LEO, you could end up a target. A friend of mine drew on an LEO entering his business after a midnight burglary.... identify your target.

The day I take possession / buy a handgun, is day 1 of the search for 1 good or multiple holsters for that weapon.

 

[JFootin]

EMT SAR, tell us the rest of the story.

 

[brokenprism]

"One of my main reasons for obtaining a permit is the uneasiness I would feel when my wife and I travel."

Three scenarios.

[1] I was driving from CO to White Sands Missile Range in NM to write a manual for AFSPC about a deep space surveillance telescope. Because I had to drive onto the base, I didn't bring my gun (never again). Around 0100 I pulled into a deserted public rest stop (never again) and angle parked (never again). When I came out, there were two guys in a pickup idling right behind my car. I was blocked in, unarmed, scared crapless. They mumbled something unintelligible, I replied, they left.

[2] I was speeding on a little expressway and I blew past a guy in a small car. I was rude. At the next stoplight, I could see him in my rearview getting out and approaching my car. He was a big guy in plain clothes. I had a six-inch Model 57 on the front seat (legal in CO) under a shirt. I considered reaching for it but decided to let it play out. When he got to my door, he slapped a badge against the half-open window and bitched me out about my driving. Could have been bad if he had even seen that .41. To a cop, I suspect a gun on a seat looks like a gun in a hand.

[3] San Jose, small apartment, three in the morning, a knock came on my sliding glass door. I took a Govt Model, which I racked before pulling back the curtain. When I could see outside, a tall black guy who I didn't know was backing up and apologizing for disturbing me. : ) That sound is unmistakable.

So no, I never 'pulled' but of course like most people here I imagine it. In my imagination, I'm competent, prepared, calm, but in reality I've heard noises at night that make my hands shake before I even reach for my gun. I don't want to draw, but someone made an excellent point -- when you draw, you commit the other guy to a course of action too. Who is he? What are his intentions? Remember the cop who approached my car -- that was a provocative move. He probably shouldn't have done it, but it was the 80s not the 00s, and he was emboldened by the sense of legal and moral righteousness the badge -- and my bad driving -- gave him. I leave people alone. I accept insult, inconvenience, unfairness. My general philosophy is Avoid & Evade. I'm sure the sight of a gun would stop a lot of situations from unfolding any further, but it could also precipitate events that wouldn't have happened otherwise. It's a tough call. I guess... be ready, but the Gravest Extreme should come only after the Gravest Threat.

 

[Sistema1927]

Yes. About 1977. Two hand grip on my BHP, safety off, finger on trigger and about to double tap the guy with the Bowie knife and then figure out what to do about his buddies had any of them closed the distance between us. No shots fired, and I got home safe but shaken. I never want to be in the same situation again.

 

[foxeye]

Yes and no. My GSD already had the intruder under control, and I only put the 9mm on him once I got the dog off and the Sheriff took over. But the wife had to pull her .380 on a dude that got in her car along with her when she opened up her door. He came out of nowhere and just came in on top of her before she could shut the door, wanting some money. She managed to get ahold of her .380 and backed him back out off her and out of the car. She called the cops and they picked the guy up. He was a transient at the homeless shelter looking for some money to buy some beer and cigs.

 

[CA Escapee]

"Pulled" the pistol twice, but never had to fire it.

Once was when three Pitbulls chased me back into my open garage. I'd normally keep a pistol on my truck tire in the garage for quick access while out working in the yard. I was able to keep them at bay with a rake while a neighbor's kid ran back into his garage, then I quickly backed into mine. I picked up the pistol and ran to the back of the garage standing between my two trucks. The largest of the dogs ran right up to the open door, then stopped. Even though I didn't want to fire,(no ear muffs,) I decided if the dog came any further I would. All three dogs eventually ran off down the road.

More recently one evening I was sitting in my living room when I heard someone pushing on the front door and sliding something through the weatherstrip. I didn't know if they were going to try to pry the door open or not. I grabbed my pistol and a flashlight and looked down at the door while looking over the divider between the living room and the stairway. I yelled "who is it" and it stopped. It turns out a realtor had paid someone to go door to door and distribute her business cards. Needless to say I called her the next day and explained not to do that again because I couldn't tell the difference between that and someone trying to gain entry.

Bill

 

[Protected One]

Wow! Glad you were able to talk the situation down without firing.
Kid doesn't know the trouble he almost caused with his unfounded story.

 

[Tenn2]

In the mountains of CA walking my 2 dogs. They were on leash and it was a narrow county road.

A truck came around a corner and as the 2 guys went by they just looked at me and kept going, or so I thought. As I rounded the next curve they were stopped in the middle of the road. Both men were one on each side of the truck and were holding the leash of the biggest Rotty I have ever seen.

My gut told me they were about to let it go to fight my dogs. They would not have stood a chance. I slowly pulled my 38 out of my pocket and held it beside my leg.

The 2 guys looked down at the gun then at each other and slowly returned to the truck and left. I was shaking for the next half hour and trying to walk back to my cabin hoping they had left the area.

I still thank GOD that I had slipped the gun in my pocket before leaving the cabin.

 

[Protected One]

Remember - the purpose of carrying is to protect ourselves and loved ones, NOT to "kill bad guys"...as some post seem to imply(by their "calibre" arguments)
1) The overwhelming majority of people who carry will never need to even DRAW their firearm...much less shoot.
2) Of those who do draw (or just visibly put their hand on their gun), that action alone terminates the threat 99% of the time. Bad guys don't want to get shot any more that you or I, and believe me, they don't check to see what calibre is pointed at them before making their decision!!!
3) In the instances where shots are fired, the perp decist in their action...and any accomplices flee - most of the time.
4)In roughly 100 confrontations you get 1 bad guy who is insistant and harming his victim - even when he's been shot!
So, unless you're expecting to be involved in 100 threatening situations you are probably safe without your 50cal Dessert Eagle AE!

 

[Tliryc79]

My thoughts

I'll start off with no I have never had to draw my weapon and I hope it stays that way. I had one situation were I noticed a car following me early in the morning with the headlights off, at the time I wasn't licensed to carry and didn't have my gun on me. I parked at my office, hurried to get inside and locked the door, watched out window as car slowly drove by, they turned and came back up the alley as well. Would have liked to have my gun in case they had immediately followed me in but had the sense just to get inside quick.

At what point is a person justified to ward off potential threats? If someone is following my wife and baby and I out into a parking lot, and we are being harrased, can you draw on him and tell him to get away?

I'm not looking for trouble but would like to know why others opinions are on this issue

Honestly in the situation you are describing there is no physical threat, the smart thing to do would be get away from the situation. I can see myself doing something like this. Wife and I are headed to the parking garage after leaving a store. A man/woman who I noticed watching us inside the store follows us out (and yes I do look for these things when I'm out and about) but I'm not too alarmed at this point, just aware of the potential aggressor. However at some point the pa starts to close distance with us, maybe they even say something to us to get us to stop. At this point I would turn around and face the pa while placing my hand on the grip of my gun and ask them (loudly)to stop. By doing so I've done four things:
1) Alerted other people in the near vicinity of and drawn attention to the pa.
2) Warned the pa not to approach any further.
3) Let the pa know I have the necessary force to prevent them from approaching any further.
4) Give the pa a chance to verbally state their intentions (maybe you dropped your wallet and they are trying to return it.)

If the pa continues to approach at this point I would draw my gun, and if they continued to approach after me drawing the gun, I would use the gun.

Of course this is all a what if. You said potential threat, heck if you're paranoid enough everything is a potential threat, imagine someone like that carrying. That's scary.