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Old December 29, 2011, 09:34 PM   #1
Friar Whently
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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.
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Old December 29, 2011, 09:42 PM   #2
hoytinak
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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.
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Old December 29, 2011, 10:08 PM   #3
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Quote:
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.
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Old December 29, 2011, 10:18 PM   #4
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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.

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Old December 29, 2011, 10:38 PM   #5
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No.
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Old December 29, 2011, 10:39 PM   #6
Sheikyourbootie
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Yes, a few times.
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Old December 29, 2011, 11:19 PM   #7
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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.
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Old December 29, 2011, 11:28 PM   #8
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 12:58 AM   #9
Onward Allusion
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Quote:
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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 02:16 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by kraigwy
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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 03:54 AM   #11
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 04:50 AM   #12
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 07:59 AM   #13
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 08:26 AM   #14
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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!
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Old December 30, 2011, 11:59 AM   #15
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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.

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Old December 30, 2011, 02:21 PM   #16
Rj1972
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Quote:
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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 02:39 PM   #17
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 02:45 PM   #18
kraigwy
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Quote:
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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 03:16 PM   #19
Jim March
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 03:33 PM   #20
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 03:59 PM   #21
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 06:38 PM   #22
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 07:15 PM   #23
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 09:12 PM   #24
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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.
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Old December 30, 2011, 11:18 PM   #25
Deaf Smith
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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.

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