Ever been in a situation where you needed your gun?

[Friar Whently]

Hi all, I have a question I've been wondering about since I've made the decision to buy a gun (haven't made the purchase yet...still reading and shopping). I've been contemplating taking a CCW course and getting a permit, but I can't help but wonder if I would ever need it. In my 27 years of life I've never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun on me. Maybe I've just been lucky? Anyway, I'm just curious as to how many of you have ever had to draw your gun in SD from a CC position. I'm NOT talking about pulling a gun out of the drawer by the bed when you hear something going bump in the night. I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

The decision to get a gun was based entirely on the fact that I like to go shooting at a range with my friend's and father-in-law's guns...SD or CC haven't at all factored into the equation.

[hoytinak]

The closest I've come to pulling a gun (as a civilian anyways): Got a call about 2am from some drunk buddies at the bar needing a ride home so I went to pick them up. Of course they were hungry and wanted to go to Waffle House but didn't have any cash on them. So I pull up to an ATM machine and when I get the money out of the machine a guy comes outta no where (from drunksitting I guess I just didn't see him walk up ) with a knife and tells me to hand the cash over to him. I had my Springfield Champion between my seat and the center console. Well I pulled it out, set it on my lap and said "I don't think so"...the guy dropped the knife, said he was sorry and ran away. This happened across the street from the local police station so right after I went in a filed a report.

About 2 weeks later another guy was robbed and killed at the same ATM....they think it was the same guy that did it.

[kraigwy]

In my 27 years of life I've never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun on me.

In my 64 years I've never "needed" my seat belts. I've never needed my smoke detectors either.

You never kwow. Take Class, get some good training (out side the class), follow that up by constant practice and dry firing and pray you never need it.

I'd rather go through life with training I didn't need, then spend one minute in hell for failing to protect my girls because I never thought I would need a firearm to protect them.

As a side note, you just might find a new sport you like and end up with a great hobby.

[Deaf Smith]

Yep.. ONCE. Caught a guy breaking into my parents house in January. Very cold year that one was to!

Using a Colt Agent .38 all I could think of saying was, 'Just stay".

He stayed... and sat down when I told him to.

Sheriff's deputy came and took him away.

That was back in '76 or '77.

Deaf

[JerryM]

No.
Jerry

[Sheikyourbootie]

Yes, a few times.

[Hiker 1]

Need - no. Glad I had it - yes.

Once with a charging black bear who decided to dart up a tree at the last second instead of up me.

Another time with a young man exhibiting classic predatory behavior coming toward me and my date date with his hand in his pocket.

In neither case did I have to fire.

[LockedBreech]

Never a need to draw, but a time or two when I thought it might, and dozens where I was happy it was in my pocket.

[Onward Allusion]

Friar Whently
Ever been in a situation where you needed your gun?
Hi all, I have a question I've been wondering about since I've made the decision to buy a gun (haven't made the purchase yet...still reading and shopping). I've been contemplating taking a CCW course and getting a permit, but I can't help but wonder if I would ever need it. In my 27 years of life I've never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun on me. Maybe I've just been lucky? Anyway, I'm just curious as to how many of you have ever had to draw your gun in SD from a CC position. I'm NOT talking about pulling a gun out of the drawer by the bed when you hear something going bump in the night. I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

The decision to get a gun was based entirely on the fact that I like to go shooting at a range with my friend's and father-in-law's guns...SD or CC haven't at all factored into the equation.

Twice. Once for me and once for my wife at the time. For me happened when I was younger and still went clubbing. It was about 2AM and 2 ladies and I were heading back to my car when a group of 4 guys try to herd us into an alley. Was carrying via ankle holster back then (NEVER again) and it took a couple of seconds for me to draw. The guys thought I was running away when I dropped back to get the gun out. They continued to focus their attention on the women. They scattered when I drew.

Another time my wife who worked as a retail store manager had a couple of guys follow her home after work. This was around 10 PM on a weeknight. Her space was in the alley and she drew on them as they approached her. They also ran. After that incident, she started parking on the street. This was in 1987 so cell phones weren't the norm but we got walkie-talkies after that incident. On nights she closed the store, I would have mine on so that I could be outside watching for her as she came home. We got bag-cell-phones a year later.

No shots fired in both situations, but I'm pretty sure bad things would have happen if either of us weren't armed at the time. I hope that I or a loved one will never have to draw or shoot a BG, but let me tell ya - I would rather have that option than not.

[nate45]

In my 64 years I've never "needed" my seat belts. I've never needed my smoke detectors either.

I was going to say my fire insurance, but you get the idea OP.

No one wants to have to use their fire insurance, seat belts, etc, but its only wise to have them.

[Edward429451]

Wearing my seat belt did save my life in a crash. I wear it more than ever now. Sadly, I have been in a couple situations where I needed my gun. Somehow, by the Grace of God perhaps, I have never been forced to actually shoot anyone. There was no mistaking the presence of the gun to be the deciding and calming factor in either incident.

I had a dog incident where a dog attacked me while I was walking down the sidewalk. The owner had just let the dog out and it immediately charged me one house over. The dog was big. I think maybe a Shep/Rottie mix? Desperate for a solution to the charging dog without shooting it, I shot once down into the grass in front of it hoping to turn it from the noise...it worked! (that time). It was just after dark and as soon as the dog turned I safetied and started running home. They never even seen me but they bought him a new chain the next day so I know they heard.

[MikeNice81]

I have never had to fire a shot at anyone. I have had to draw three times. Each time I was cleared after reporting the incident. I have even pulled a rifle to stop a home invasion next door. No shots were fired, and they were later arested.

Tonight I was amazingly glad I had my gun on me. I came home from the gym and there was a strange car parked on my road. That doesn't sound unusual to most people. However, I live on a private dirt road shared by about ten or eleven families. I know every car that comes through here on a regular basis. I also know about what time they usually come and go for work.

So, there was an unoccupied Ford parked on my road. It was parked in a manner suggesting they didn't want to be seen from a particular house. I slowed as I neared the car. I scanned the area and saw somebody in dark clothing step out of the trees. When they noticed my car they ran back in to the trees. I pulled my pistol and pulled in to my drive way. I hurried in to the house with my head on a swivel and my pistol in my hand. When the door was locked behind me I called the cops to report the car and the person.

Turns out he is an ex-boyfriend of a teenage girl in the neighbohood. She has a restraining order out against him and has filed stalking charges. She has pressed charges on him in the past for assault and sexual assault. Also he beat up her last boyfriend after seeing them kiss at a football game.

The guy isn't exactly stable or friendly. One cop asked why he ran when he saw me pulling up. The response was roughly, I didn't know if he was coming to see her and I wanted to make sure before I jerked him out of the car.

Even in my safe/nice neighborhood others can drag danger in to my life. So, I'm glad I made the decision to start carrying.

[Mobuck]

There have been several times I "thought I might need it" but didn't draw when the perceived threat did not materialize.
Once, I drew and pointed my HiPower at the driver of a vehicle containing 3 young men whom I caught spotlighting on my farm. I was chewing out the drvier and the passenger door opened. I took a step away from the driver's door, drew the pistol, and told the driver if the passenger got out, I'd shoot. Apparently, they got the message. After describing the guys and vehicle to the local game warden,I found that the threesome were known poachers, burglers, and dopers.
In afterthought, the whole thing was not my smartest move but there was no more spotlighting. That has been the only time in the last 20 years that I have actually pointed a gun at a person.

[hangglider]

Did anyone hear about the Lt colonel just back from multiple tours who got shot in FL? He sounded more worried about life stateside than in a warzone!

[catnphx]

I pulled my CW9 for the first time yesterday (while hiking) but it was for 2 off-leash Rhodesian Ridgebacks (aka African Lion Dogs) that ran about 100 yards to get to me and my German Sheperd. Long story short, they didn't attack but many non-dog people would possibly have shot them. I say this because there were some small clues that they might not attack. It was a close call and if I had seen one tooth touch my dog I was prepared to shoot (the gun was pointed at them for about 3 seconds) ... my finger never touched the trigger. The 31 year old man I was hiking with didn't respond to my commands (I told him to take my dog's leash) ... he later admitted that he had an adrenaline rush and that his heart rate was very high.

Bottom line - turned out well, finger was never on the trigger and I am going to Sportsman's Warehouse today to pick up some bear spray for situations like this. I'd rather have some bear spray be my first line of defense, IF POSSIBLE.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/img/products/original/707387_1.jpg

[Rj1972]

I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

I've only had my CCW for a few months, but this is an interesting question. I'd say since I got more into firearms (and forums such as this) I'm more AWARE of situations than I was before (so there always was plenty of nails, I just never noticed them). In fact having a CCW permit makes me more careful of getting into bad situations in the first place.

It's comforting to me. Just like having life insurance and knowing that my wife would be financially fine is comforting. I'd prefer to never have to use either.

[TXAZ]

Yes if you're counting non-human threats. Was out walking and had a German Shepard not on a leash charge me, no control from the owner who was with his 3 year old son / grandson. Grabbed weapon from fanny pack, dog stopped after repeated sit commands ~ 1/2 second before...

Glad he was trained, would have hated for a 3 year old to witness that.

[kraigwy]

I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

I think I'm more of carpenter without a hammer kind of guy.

I've carried since I was a kid, carried a 22 revolver while trapping, or fishing (lots of cotton mouths where I grew up). Use to hunt crows for a bounty in corn fields.

When I was in HS, my parents were separated, mother in Arkansas, and I lived with my father in Portland. I'd make summer trips to see my mother on a motorcycle. Carried then too. (back then, it was no big deal for kids to carry guns).

Then in to the army which I'll skip. Back to civilian life and back to carrying. Of course after joining the PD, it was a no brainer. Carried after I retired, even when I wasn't suppose to. Now we have the LEOSA, so that's that.

But, hind sight kicks in. I don't worry about carrying now, I've had tons of training and do training, but I cringe when I think how lucky I was carrying as a kid with no professional training. I was lucky.

However, just because you carry, doesn't mean you are protected or safe. I'd no more suggest one carry without training then I would suggest getting a heart transplant from a doctor without training, Both are deadly.

I'm not going to get into how many times I had to use my gun, I will say, if I hadn't received proper training I wouldn't be writing this.

PS: Shooting beer cans off a fence post ain't training.

[Jim March]

I've had to draw knives three times when I lived in Cali. First was a mugger who tried to deal with me with a wrench, second was pulling a guy away from four lunatics trying to kill him with hammers and boots, third was a pair of dogs trying to chew on some guy and his smaller dog.

Interestingly, two out of three of these cases involved defending somebody else. No legal problems in any of these cases and the four lunatics were rounded up and pled down to misdemeanor assaults (in Oakland Cali). One of said lunatics later tried to kill an Oakland cop with a knife about 9 months later - I assume that particular one is still in prison. Worst part was, a year later the deputy DA handling the case killed himself about a year later, probably due to a bunch of these kinds of cases.

Anyhow. Been out of Cali and legally carrying since 2005, daily without fail. Never even had to mention a boomthing in anger, which is how I like it. Knowing that I'm wired to try and help out others in dire need, I'd have to be nuts not to pack.

I pack something very big, scary and weird and I *think* that will increase the odds of a "chase-off" if I ever do have to draw. No guarantees of course, and I doubt the odds shift all that much (5% maybe?), but I'll take what I can get.

[Silent Bob]

Closest I have come was one windy night when we forgot to make sure the front door was locked (stupid) and a gust of wind blew it open around midnight and set the dog off. In the seconds after the commotion it was comforting to be able to immediately reach over to the nightstand and have a cocked and locked Colt Government Model loaded with 230gr JHP in my grasp.

[Skans]

St. Petersburg Florida, July 4th 1988. Me and a girl I was dating were driving to the Pier for the fireworks. Just west of downtown, a riot broke out when black guys pulled some white girls out of stopped pickup truck and started beating them. White guys with ax handles/bats jumped in and started beating black guys - then lots of people got out of their cars and jumped in. There was absolutely no way to drive out of that explosive situation. I had a little pistol, cocked and ready to shoot if someone tried to break into my locked car.

Fortunately, the riot disbursed enough to where I could drive away, which is exactly what I did. The Police were nowhere to be found - there would have been no way for them to get to the core of the riot unless they were already there.

Several things I learned from this:
1. I immediately felt that my little 6-shot .22 was totally inadequate.
2. It took too long for me to reach my gun - it was under my seat and hard to get to.
3. I didn't have a concealed carry permit (don't even know if they were available back then) and had I used my gun, it would have potentially been a big legal problem.
4. Keeping a cool head and driving away when I could was the smartest thing I did in retrospect.

[MTT TL]

Lots of times. Mostly in combat. Not always in combat.

A better question would be; How many times did I really, really want one and not have one?

Twice. There is nothing like really, really wanting one and not having it.

[357 Python]

I have had to draw mine several times when I did private security work. Most were building searches where it appeared that there was a break-in. One was an arrest for burglary at a client's location. Forunately I have never had to fire my weapon except on the range at paper targets.

[5whiskey]

Well, I won't count my occupations of past and present as having an occupation where carrying a weapon is required is apples to oranges with the OPs question.

In the civilian world, I have drawn and actually fired a weapon one time in defense of life (my daughters). It was July 4th 2008. We were walking through the subdivision to get a good spot to watch fireworks from. Three dogs I wasn't familiar with charged at my family looking rather ferocious. There were 6 of us walking and we were keeping a pretty loose group. One of my girls was walking by herself about 20 feet away from me. One of the dogs appeared to be going straight for her. I started running toward my oldest girl, screaming at the dogs, and pulling my pistol all at once. Two shoots fired into a steep ditch bank sent the dogs running. I would've shot at least one dog (not because I was "itching" to, but the situation really did warrant it) but I did not have a safe shot. After firing into the ditch bank the dogs ran, and all was well.

With people... well I try to avoid situations when I'm not at work to ever have a need to present a weapon on a person. I don't carry like I used to, but I still do on occasions when I feel the need may arise at my destination.

[Deaf Smith]

Did anyone hear about the Lt colonel just back from multiple tours who got shot in FL? He sounded more worried about life stateside than in a warzone!

Yea but in the warzone he had a rifle, bullet proof vest, buddies, two-way, etc..

Don't have that here in the US.

Deaf

[Friar Whently]

I don't carry like I used to, but I still do on occasions when I feel the need may arise at my destination.

Then why go there?

[5whiskey]

Then why go there?

Mostly when I don't have a choice... but good question though.

IE, instances when I don't have a choice.

Going there for training, Wife demands it... then puts her foot down... and she hasn't put foot down in awhile, Must conduct business there that I cannot conduct anywhere else, number of other reasons I suppose.

[OuTcAsT]

While I typically and purposefully try to avoid places where trouble may exist, I have had trouble find me in odd places. My habit of carrying has saved my life, and those of others on at least 3 occasions that I am aware of. Who knows how many times my appearing as a "hard target" have caused trouble to look elsewhere.

[bikerbill]

Always have it, have never needed it ... knock on wood ... ~taps head a few times~

[pax]

I have never drawn my gun "for keeps."

Having it with me has saved me from trouble at least twice that I know of. Perhaps more than that, but at least twice.

And given me a measure of peace in dicey circumstances countless times over the past dozen years.

pax

[wun_8_seven]

I've posted this one before:

i was on a cell tower site at 2am in the boondocks of se oklahoma. i had left the farm gate open as there were no livestock in this pasture and it was open when i got there ,i saw truck lights come through the gate and head for the cell site. i walked toward the compound gate thinking it was probably the land owner seeing what i was doing.

the pickup pulled up behind my work truck and four very large very intoxicated men got out. i asked can i help you and one replied we're just gonna take what ever you have ,it was then i realized i had taken my pistol off and layed it in the floorboard to be more comfortable on the long drive.

suddenly i felt like i was in slow motion , my heart raced and i kept hearing in my head "think,think". i had waited way to late to react. i knew i couldn't let them get between me and the truck, i wanted to run for the door but thought they would know i was unarmed if i did that.

i had a flash light in my hand that has a laser pointer on it so i flip on the laser and put it in the middle of the closest guys chest and said bad idea fella's stopping them in thier tracks while i made my way to the door of my truck opened it grabbed my pistol and stepped back to the front of my truck for cover.they went back to thier truck and high tailed out of there. after they were gone it hit me i got week and threw up a couple times.now i never take my gun off til i go to bed

[wayneinFL]

I've been contemplating taking a CCW course and getting a permit, but I can't help but wonder if I would ever need it. In my 27 years of life I've never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun on me. Maybe I've just been lucky?

Considering only one out of three people are ever violently attacked in their lifetimes, you stand a pretty good chance of never needing it. But if you need it you're REALLY going to need it.

I don't expect crime to happen to me, but I always prepare for it.

As for anecdotes, I have a few where I wished I had a gun, but made it out okay despite having one. I interrupted an attempted carjacking/abduction one time. That was one of the times I'd have liked to have been armed.

Had a couple where I had one and was relieved to have it. Can't say definitively that carrying has saved me, but I still carry in case it happens.

[wayneinFL]

i was on a cell tower site at 2am in the boondocks of se oklahoma.

Remote sites have always made me a little nervous. People know you have money, or you have tools to pawn, and you're far from witnesses or help. That's one of the reasons I started carrying.

[Sgt.Fathead]

I now live in TX where carry is an option but grew up on the east coast, in NJ, and there is no carry there, no matter what any site might list as the virtues of May Issue. I had two incidents back east involving the need for a gun.

In 1994, not long after I'd gotten out of The Corps, I visited some friends at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY, for an autumn afternoon. We were heading back to their apartment from dinner and a couple beers, at dusk, and were accosted by two black kids in hoodies demanding cigarettes. My defenses went up but so did my hands, and those of my friends, when they produced what appeared to be a .38 snubby, visibly loaded.

It was myself, my pal Dan and his housemate. The thieves were calm and cavalier as they worked, one with the gun on us as his friend casually went through our coat and pant pockets. All the while, the gunman exhorted us to be cool. They took the cash from our wallets and threw the billfolds in the bushes, took our watches, which were uniformly cheap, my Camels and my Zippo! and Dan's friend's ring. Then they demanded we remove our shoes, which they threw down the storm grate, and called us chumps and sauntered away around a corner.

It was very cold with no one out on the streets. They were cool and obviously well versed in robbery. I dug in the hedge and retrieved our wallets and we went to a bar on the next block in out stocking feet and called the police who were blase and less than helpful. I drove home in my wool socks, fuming! But, I considered myself lucky. I hadn't been shot, lost my ATM or credit cards or ID and was shaken but unhurt. Fresh from service overseas and a combat vet, I never once thought about taking them on barehanded.

That same year, I was driving down the Garden State Parkway around three in the morning, heading south to my home coming from north Jersey where I'd done some shooting with friends. In NJ ammo and guns must be stored separately during travel so my ammo can was in the trunk of my car and my S&W 686 and Rem 870 were on the back seat in their cases with my range bag. It was a clear spring morning, few cars on the road and I was wide awake and stone sober, listening to the radio and considering a diner stop for coffee and pie.

A Ford Taurus appeared on my passenger side, driven by a guy with his hat pulled low and several other people in the car. He was beeping and making obscene gestures so I sped up a little. Again they paced me, gunning the motor and beeping. Now the window was down and they were waving a baseball bat and what appeared to be a kitchen knife of some kind. I had no cellphone, there was no one else around, I saw no police, we were pretty far between exits. I sped way up, as fast as my little VW Golf could go, and reached back and fished the 686 case into my lap. As they got close to me again I raised it up, so they could see the stainless gun in profile and then extended my arm straight out, pointed the empty revolver at them.

The driver slammed on the brakes and I drove on, setting the 686 back in it's case. I got off at the Cranford exit and went straight to a diner and asked them to call the police. I had the car's plate #, the make, model and color. I was informed in a few minutes that the car had been stolen from a nearby town and went on my way. I did not mention the guns in my car, nor what I had done.

So, there's twice when a firearm MIGHT have helped. In the first, I was not being situationally aware so maybe I'd never have drawn. Or, maybe I'd have had to, given that we were frisked and robbed. In the second, I wasn't in any real danger but had they attempted to run me off the road, the rounds in my hatchback were far away in a locked ammo can and would I have time to get it open, get the gun loaded? Doubtful.

I carry every day, everywhere I can. I am grateful to finally be able to exercise my right to do so. I avoid trouble, dark places, lonely streets, etc. when I can. I am more aware, older, wiser. In the end, Be Prepared and Keep/Bear are part of my daily life. It is better to need my gun and have it then need it and not.

[kilimanjaro]

I've never felt like a hammer looking for a nail, I'm a pretty easy-going fellow and don't pick fights, go out of my way to avoid them, that sort of thing. The pistol in the pocket hasn't changed my basic nature. If you find yourself thinking you are now invincible and in fear of no man, will suffer no insult or rudeness, no matter how slight, it's time to reconsider your habits, company, and personality.

[bird_dog]

Twice. Four-legged threats, though, not two.

Fishing with my young daughters (this was several years ago...) and a rabid, very sick raccoon had taken up residence at the end of the fishing dock on a fairly remote lake. I sent him for a swim with the blessing of a park ranger.

Bowhunting in Maine for bear, I came out the trail at pre-dark and out near my truck was a sow with three cubs. I nearly ran into them as they came around the end of my truck. I was less than 20 feet from the sow. Had my S&W 629 out of the holster so quickly that I don't even remember doing it. I talked to the sow for a moment, and all 4 bears suddenly ran off into the brush. The encounter lasted no more than 20 seconds, but I clearly remember thinking "I'm going to be mauled...". A minute later, I was shaking so badly, I couldn't have hit the broadside of a battleship.

Both times I was glad to have a handgun handy. With the bears, though, had she wanted to attack me, I wouldn't have had time to shoot. Too close.

[trex1310]

I have been unfortunate enough to have been involved in two
separate shootings, both robbery attempts. I don't ever want
to be involved in another.

[Rifleman 173]

Around the house, I carry a .40 Glock 22-C and a knife of some sort. If I expect trouble, I break out the shotgun or a rifle and use the handgun for a back-up. Both guns are then backed up by a good knife of some sort. I learned a long time ago to layer my defenses. A shoulder-mounted firearm for primary, a pistol for back-up and a knife or tomahawk/hammer for melee fighting. 19 months of combat in Viet Nam with the paratroopers taught me a LOT, like how to fight smart. The local cops who know me have actually said that the only reason why I would contact them is "to help clean up the bodies."

[markj]

Ever been in a situation where you needed your gun?


Yes, every time I go out hunting :)

[9ballbilly]

I know I've posted this before, but not including my time as a LEO, there were two occassions.

1. I was forced to shoot a large dog that was on our property and within
seconds of attacking my grandmother. The dog was some type of bulldog
mix in the sixty to seventy pound range. Gram weighed in at about 120.

2. While fishing at sunset I was backed into a very cold lake by a pack of eight
feral dogs. No gun with me.

Both of these incidents were over twenty years ago. I will tell you honestly, I have never felt one second of remorse for killing that dog. I haven't gone fishing
unarmed since that night.

[markj]

Here is a gun story, we were fishing on a lake was posted. we were not supposed to be in there, we were sitting there a bunch of kids like 12 or 13 when a guy opens up over our heads with his shotgun. We scattered and I ran to the bar was on the highway called 911. They arrested that guy and he was convicted of a felony.

My cousin shot at a guy that had just shot his son 3 times on his porch the 22 round went thru a wall thru another wall in a house across the street thru a closet wall and thru all the cloths in that closet. Cousin lived, bad guys are in jail for like 200 years, insurance paid for the damage. My cousin was shot with a 357 mag, 3 times in the lower abdomen. HPs, didnt get deep enough he is still walking around to this day.

[firefyter55]

I have drawn twice. Once was while working for a security company doing high risk areas. The second was in defense of a co-worker. We were at lunch and he got there before I did. A vagrant entered the restaraunt and immediately began to chase another guy through the place. My co-worker gave chase and as I found out quickly the guy had a knife. As they left the door, the suspect turned on my co-worker with the knife. He was backed up against a wall and a fence. I kicked the door open which protected him and drew down on the suspect. After what seemed like 5 minutes (said to be only 30 seconds or less) he dropped the knife and we took him down till PD arrived. The LEO's were surprised I had not fired on him. If he would have moved an inch I would have.

I would much rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. That is why I carry everywhere it is legal to do so.

[wyohusker]

Yes...... Huge advocate of CCW.

[MLeake]

I have not. My ex, my best friend, my great uncle, my second cousin, and a co-worker all have. Two instances ended with dead carjackers; the others ended up with deterrence achieved through presence of guns and/or large dogs.

[HALL,AUSTIN]

I have always thought its better to have it and NEVER need it than not have it and need it, even once. I usually end up learning things the hard way but that is something I wouldnt want to learn the hard way. I can't CC because Im only 18 but I will apply for mine the day I am of age.

[dev_null]

Hard to tell whether I "needed" it or not, but I did once brandish in the car when another car with 2-3 guys were high on road rage (and possibly other things) and trying to run my (former) wife and I onto the shoulder. I simply held it up where they could see it, pointing upwards, and they decided they had urgent business elsewhere. Not tactically sound, but in my defense I was 20-something, hadn't educated myself on self-defense tactics, and it was the best I could think of in the few moments the altercation spanned (though it seemed like much longer). Fortunately, it worked. Had they been gangbangers things might have turned out much worse for me.

[dunerjeff]

I had to put mine in my lap and do over 110mph on an interstate to loose a couple "dudes" that were following me after I drove into a dark hotel parking lot at 3am and happened upon their drug dealings going down. My truck has the rev limiter removed,theirs didn't.

[MLeake]

Putting a gun in your lap is a good way to lose it if you get run off the road, or otherwise wreck.

Check the FBI Miami Shootout; this happened to one of the agents.

Get a holster or other accessible but secure rig.

[Brian Pfleuger]

I carry a gun almost every day but....


I have not personally nor do I know anyone who has ever needed a gun. Nor have I or anyone I've known ever been in a situation where I thought I MIGHT need my gun.

I fully expect, absent the collapse of society, to make it the rest of my life without needing my gun and to die a painful death due to heart disease, pancreatic cancer or some other such uncured disease.

But, I carry almost every day and know quite a few others who do also.

[Stevie-Ray]

Diffused situations by reaching for gun on two seperate occasions without actually having to draw. Was relieved to be carrying on many more occasions. Carrying gives me the confidence I need to still be living in a rather iffy area. Can't wait to get out of here.

[Nnobby45]

In my 27 years of life I've never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun on me.

Unfortunately, that doesn't buy you anything whether you've needed a gun or not. You're still in the same "victim pool" as the rest of us. Not saying you don't know that, but a point worth noting.

[cheyenne'sfinest]

i had a girlfriend once that used to screw around on me, and one of her hundred thousand boyfriends came to a party i was at with my bodies and asked me to come out to my car over the phone. i went out the back door and came around the back way to my car out the alley way. when i rounded the corner him and 3 of his buddies were sitting on the hood of my car facing towards the house. my old 16 gauge pump was in the trunk. i didn't say a word and began to creep up and unlock my trunk. they immediately heard me and turned around and began to threaten me. by this time i had opened the trunk and had a hand on my loaded shotgun. i just told them to leave and that they didn't want to see what i was about to get out. they believed me and i haven't seen them since. didn't even have to get the gun out.

[Nnobby45]

I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

NO!

When I got my license, I also got a list of restrictions on where I could and couldn't go, and conduct that was expected of me, and pretty good knowledge of how the law works.

I took notice of a warning about a bunch of old retired folks (like me:D) who don't own guns, and who might be sitting in judgement of my actions someday.

Maybe you don't take crap off people, normally. When you're armed, you take crap off everyone and walk away.:cool:

[B.N.Real]

Yes,but the three guys parked right next to my driver's door,smoking pot in a practically empty parking lot that thought they were getting a free,bright red,brand new,Honda Civic thought otherwise when I put my nickel plated Mauser HSC in my shirt pocket before I tried to get in our car.

My wife was with me then too,it was her car.

Funny thing was,that Mauser was so unreliable it was ALWAYS a one shot handgun.:rolleyes:

Still,I thank the old gun salt Archie for selling it to me years earlier.

Sometimes you just have to have the gun and look like you know what you are doing and the bad guys will go elsewhere.

I own better guns now.

[Willie Lowman]

Two times.

Once in my apartment when I was 21. Two guys broke in to try to attack my roommate while he slept. He was a big guy and liked to run the bars. These two waited till he went to bed because they thought they had a chance against him then. Got out my Mossberg and "diffused the situation" They left and we called the cops. Small town, we knew them by name and so did the cops...

The other time was a stray dog. Nastiest animal I have ever seen. It was between me and my car in my driveway one day. It was sick, malnourished, missing hair. It saw me and barred its teeth and began to growl. I showed it my GP100 and it ran. The dog seemed to know what a pistol was when it saw it. The dog came back later, chased my girlfriend from her car into the house. I shot it twice in the head with my AR 15.

[ltc444]

Twice as a LEO in South Arkansas. Both time involved clearing unlocked churches with suspicious vehicles parked in hidden locations.

The first church was empty. The second was kind of funny in retrospect.

We entered with the classic I went (first) left and partner went right. I hit a wall and was sillouted against the light. End result the paster was trying to finish his sermon and had parked his truck in the back so his parishners would not disturb him.

I had one incident were two thugs tryed to goad me into a fight at a convience store. Finally, I had had enough and told the clerk to call 911 and tell the operator that "chuckles husband", my wife was a dispatcher/Secratary for the PD, was about to get into a fight and they needed to send an ambulance. AR did not have a carry law at the time so I was unarmed.

They did follow me home. I entered my house picked up my Raid Jacket and trusty 1911 went back outside and they quickly vacated the area.

Had the privilige of picking up the instigator a couple of weeks later for Drug, firearms and burglary. He spent a good deal of time in Cummings Prison.

[FairWarning]

Not a situation where I would have drawn it, but there have been a couple of times when it would have provided considerable comfort. But that's not the point. You don't decide when you will need a gun. It is decided by others.

[Jim March]

I'm also wondering if since you started carrying if you felt like a hammer always on the lookout for a nail...

You need a non-lethal defense plan too. Either you can fight, or you carry pepper spray. A strong flashlight at night is also very effective both at temp blinding somebody and as a kubaton if it's the right size and type. Mine is.

First time I ever put my hand on a gun out of nervousness was a couple of weeks ago. Five coyotes were trotting towards me on a suburban Tucson street. Yeah, real coyotes, not stray dogs, and moving at a fast trot (probably just their traveling speed). They went around me, went on my way. Interesting :). The bigger Javalinas around here are more dangerous but a .357Mag could put either down.

In California I reached for knives against the dreaded "two legged rattlesnakes" twice, once in my own defense, once when pulling some guy out of a four-on-one stompdown, victim already down hard. That was pretty wild...opposition had a couple of hammers and just before I showed up had knocked the victim down with one. I pushed them off, the victim shot to his feet and then passed out in the next subway car behind me. I plugged the hole leading to him, they backed down. The other, I chased a mugger armed with a wrench off (me at the intended victim). I also chased two dogs off of somebody else, with a drawn knife on my part. So...three knife incidents, two in defense of somebody else. Interesting pattern I guess.

[Hard Ball]

Yes having a pystol has saved my kife twice