Psychological Stops are grossly underrated.

[Wise_A]

Nah, they're just swirling, self-sustaining vortexes of stupid. Same deal--low-effort posts, lack of quality contributions. Lots of just general dumb echo-chamber stuff.

The two that I mentioned both have cultures that are way less tolerant than we are here, and as a result, are pretty easygoing and polite. The population is more homogeneous.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

BB57: OK. I got your point. I'm not that fast, anyway.

 

[Wise_A]

To HOPE that a criminal will suddenly become very fearful and afraid when presented with armed resistance. Is not a good idea at all.

I don't think anyone takes it seriously in the perspective of actually stopping a fight--more of a footnote to Ellifritz stats, or something to fling up in a caliber war, like when people durr-hurr-durr about 12-ga and .44/.45 muzzles.

Now, I can see DHC's point regarding muzzle blast and whathaveyou. There have definitely been some instances of .357 Magnums in enclosed spaces having a "discouraging" effect on individuals, sometimes to the detriment of the user's hearing! But I would point out that, even on SBR-length ARs, I haven't seen any professionals out there using linear compensators.

Hence, it wouldn't factor enough to change my mind about a cartridge, even if said cartridge promised not to blow my eardrums out and came with no drawbacks. And .357 Sig, as a rather pricey bottleneck cartridge, definitely has some drawbacks.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Well, I always knew what it was, I just didn't know that there was a name for it. My "don't **** with me face" also known as my Keith44spl face has produced many piss-a-cological stops without even having to allude to the fact that I might have a readily available firearm.

 

[Warren Sear]

^^^ AKA "my poopin' face".

 

[LPD256]

Well, I always knew what it was, I just didn't know that there was a name for it. My "don't **** with me face" also known as my Keith44spl face has produced many piss-a-cological stops without even having to allude to the fact that I might have a readily available firearm.

We used to call that face "giving the hairy eyeball". My personal observation is that caliber sometimes matters as well with causing someone to stop. Specifically, wielding a 12 gauge 870 while having a commanding presence and the right verbiage has prevented a few potential shootouts in my experience.

 

[Rule3]

We used to call that face "giving the hairy eyeball". My personal observation is that caliber sometimes matters as well with causing someone to stop. Specifically, wielding a 12 gauge 870 while having a commanding presence and the right verbiage has prevented a few potential shootouts in my experience.

How about the old "racking the slide of pump shotgun" makes them tremble in fear and run away!

 

[Rustyt1953]

How about the old "racking the slide of pump shotgun" makes them tremble in fear and run away!

I have that app on my phone. Who needs a gun?

 

[biku324]

Just checking; how many angels really CAN dance on the head of a pin?

 

[Buford57]

1) I am thankful for every suspect who decided he didn't want to be shot, and I never stopped to ask their opinion of my ammunition.

2) While marking the passing this week of a former coworker who participated in the arrest of Charlie Starkweather (Google it) I was reminded that after many rounds had been expended on both sides Starkweather surrendered when he was hit by flying glass from the rear window of the stolen Packard (Google it) he was driving and was convinced he had been shot. The ammo was military M2 hardball, but he was suffering only from a small cut on his ear and another on his neck.

I'd call that a psychological stop.

RIP Ray.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm really not into over thinking that kind of thing, if I'm successful in stopping a threat I'm good with however it's accomplished.

The NRA's "Armed Citizen" column often includes stories of self defense weapons being shown and criminal activity ending forthwith. It can and does happen. Just don't count on it.

 

[LPD256]

How about the old "racking the slide of pump shotgun" makes them tremble in fear and run away!

I've seen a couple that actually lost bladder control.

 

[LPD256]

1) I am thankful for every suspect who decided he didn't want to be shot, and I never stopped to ask their opinion of my ammunition.

2) While marking the passing this week of a former coworker who participated in the arrest of Charlie Starkweather (Google it) I was reminded that after many rounds had been expended on both sides Starkweather surrendered when he was hit by flying glass from the rear window of the stolen Packard (Google it) he was driving and was convinced he had been shot. The ammo was military M2 hardball, but he was suffering only from a small cut on his ear and another on his neck.


I'd call that a psychological stop.

RIP Ray.

A couple of us on the forum knew or were mentored by the Detectives that investigated the homicides.

 

[Buford57]

A couple of us on the forum knew or were mentored by the Detectives that investigated the homicides.

I don't think people who came up in the Internet era can appreciate what it was like to work a spree killer before DNA, security cameras, 24/7 real time news coverage and instantaneous communication. Knowing what it took with the tools available in the 70s and 80s I can only imagine the challenges 20 years prior. Old school shoe leather police work.

 

[Xfuzz]

I'm glad my old department made it simple.
Only actual shootings were recognized.

Simple term....."DF".

Deadly Force.

 

[sotexas]

Whatever will make the threat stop or go away is all I need / require and I honestly hope it would be "psychological" but am prepared for the alternative.

 

[Whitwabit]

The NRA has been keeping all sorts of statistics concerning the use of firearms in self defence for many years. One of those statistics is the number of times a SD situations is solved merely by the good person having possession of a firearm, pointing it and saying something like, "Don't do that". The NRA says that happens 93% of the time. Only 7% of the SD situations involving firearms result in something else happening.

BTW, that happy ending statistic is increasing slowly.

That implies that merely showing a weapon would defuse most situations.. Yet in many states showing a weapon can get you arrested for brandishing !! I will not draw my weapon unless I fear bodily harm and if I do have my weapon in hand there will be no vocal commands at that point .. All vocalizing will happen before I fell the need to protect myself with my weapon !!

 

[Wise_A]

I can't think of a state where unjustifiably brandishing a firearm is legal.

And I'm pretty sure all of them recognize "this person communicated their intent to harm me, and was capable of doing so, but deadly force was not yet necessary".

I would also point out that vocalizing can be helpful proving your self-defense case (presuming you live someplace where the burden of proof is on you). Aside from the whole thing about how it's better to not have to shoot some mook, even if said mook qualifies for a shooting.

Situation #1: "I heard three shots, and when I turned to look, there was a body on the ground and that guy had a gun out."

Situation #2: "I heard a man yell, 'Back off!', and then 'Drop the knife or I'll shoot!'. A few seconds later, I heard three shots. That's when I saw a body on the ground, and that guy had a gun out."

I know which one I'd prefer.

EDITED for atrocious grammar a long-dead nun would yell at me for. And yes, I'm dating myself by saying the nun would yell.

 

[BC38]

That implies that merely showing a weapon would defuse most situations.. Yet in many states showing a weapon can get you arrested for brandishing !! I will not draw my weapon unless I fear bodily harm and if I do have my weapon in hand there will be no vocal commands at that point .. All vocalizing will happen before I fell the need to protect myself with my weapon !!

FWIW your post implies that the assailant who is being scared off by the sight of your gun is going to then go to the police and file a complaint against you for "brandishing" your gun at them.

How great are the chances of them wanting to attract that kind of attention from law enforcement? And how are they going to believably explain the circumstances that lead up to your unjustified "brandishing"? Even if it does get to that point it is their word against yours and you're innocent until proven guilty.

I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six, but I'd also rather have to prove that there was good reason for pointing a gun at an assailant than to have to prove that I had to shoot (possibly kill) said assailant.

 

[Wise_A]

FWIW your post implies that the assailant who is being scared off by the sight of your gun is going to then go to the police and file a complaint against you for "brandishing" your gun at them.

How great are the chances of them wanting to attract that kind of attention from law enforcement?

Uh...they kinda do that stuff all the time. First to the phone, and all that.