How many of you guys have actually had to use your gun in public?

[GotToyota?]

I plan on buying a pistol, and while I can't CC carry for a few years, I'm wondering for those that do, have you ever had to use it out in public? I'd like to hear your personal stories about you and your CC weapons.

-Matt

 

[TooTaxed]

Twice just showing a gun saved me from unprovoked assaults...plus the time in NYC when I made it seem like I had one.

Santa Rosa, CA:
I met this nice woman and invited her out. We had dinner, then an ice skating session. I took her home (no kisses), and on my way home I noticed a car behind me I thought I had seen earlier. I went past my residence, made a couple of turns, and the car was still there. When I made a third turn I found myself on a dead end street. Upon trying to turn around, the car blocked my way, and a big bruiser got out, getting a 2-foot piece of reinforcing bar from behind his seat. I rolled down my window and asked if there was a problem. Walking toward me he said "You've been dating my ex-wife and I don't like that!" Upon which I reached down and held up a pistol so he could see it, not even pointing it at him. He stopped, backed away, and without another word turned, tossed his rebar into his back seat, and quickly departed...as did I! (Side comment: I did not report this to the police...who knows what local laws I was unwittingly afoul of?)

Years later, Fresno, CA:
I was walking along a road without houses behind the Wal-Mart a block behind me. I car pulled past me and parked...three young fellows got out and waited for me, driver behind the wheel. One said, "We want to see what you have in the backpack, old man!" One of the guys was leaning against the car, picking his fingernails with a switchblade knife, grinning like the rest, They evidently thought I was returning home from the Wal-Mart. Without a word I unslung my backpack, reached in and pulled out a .45 Auto. When I looked around, the three guys were gone...running as fast as they could in three diferent directions, half a block away and picking up speed! The driver was frantically trying to get the car going. I was actually returning from a session at the pistol range...where I had shot up all my ammunition! Since, I've always retained a full clip of ammo. I did keep the switchblade as a souvenir. (Once again, I thought it the better part of discretion not to notify the police.)

In my opinion, most of these successful defensive encounters don't get reported to the police...for fear of unwarranted harrassment or unknowingly getting into trouble. It would be nice if the police could be trusted regarding gun issues with good citizens...my relations are just fine with them otherwise, and I've never been in trouble with the law...

 

[Snapping Twig]

I never fired a shot, but I was ambushed at a deserted camp site by two BG's in a truck at 2:30a. I popped out of my camper and and pointed it at them as I kept on the move behind cover. They soon left.

 

[GotToyota?]

Anyone else with some stories?

 

[Owen Sparks]

I am involved in several shooting sports that are often conducted on public shooting ranges, so yes. I have used my gun in public.

 

[tn-dave]

I was actually returning from a session at the pistol range...where I had shot up all my ammunition! Since, I've always retained a full clip of ammo.

I got some good advice to always do this.

Never had to use my gun in public but there have been a few times when I was glad I had it.

 

[2Ais4U]

before my dad died when i was really young i saw him draw on a man in public.
We had stopped at a local gas station to fill up on the way home from my grandparents house. my dad had finished filling up and was walking inside to pay, just after he went through the door two men in a black pick up pulled up and went inside. As soon as they were through the door one revealed a sawed off shot gun, and the other a revolver and announced that they were robbing the store. Not two seconds after this announcement the cashier/owner produced from under the counter a SxS 12 gauge and my dad produced a rossi .357 both men then dropped their guns and the police were called.

 

[jhco50]

I have had to show it 5 times, not counting the time I shot the cat in the hinie (for beating my in heat dog up with rat shot.

The first time was someone slipping into my window in Denver. My gun was in the closet, but I turned the light on and grabbed my revolver in one fell swoop. The BG was gone before I could get a bead on him.

The second time, a gentileman knocking at my door at about 3 in the morning. He got real nervouse and then ask me how to get downtown Denver. He left quickly.

The third time was at St Mary's Glacier. we were camped in the woods and early in the morning I heard someone going through our camp. It turned out to be a dog. I have no idea where he came from as we were quite isolated. I let him go.

The fourth time I was laying on the floor by our couch watching TV. My wife was sitting in the easy chair knitting. I fot the feeling someone was watching us and glanced up to the picture window. There was a guy standing to the side watching my wife. He couldn't see me. He took a wide berth of the window and knocked on the door. Imagine his surprise when I answere with a .38. He quickly made tracks.

The fifth time was in Zavalla Texas when I got after a young man for riding a 4 wheeler to fast down our road several times where my little girl was riding her bike. To make a long story short, I headed to the house, after seeing how big he was and that he wanted a showdown, to call the sheriff. Our neighbor boy saw him following me and I got my Rugar .32 mag instead. I stepped out on the driveway, where the guy was busy choking the neighbor boy and told him to get the hell out of my neighborhood. He fired back that he had a rifle and I told him he had better go get it, but first get out of my neighborhood. His folks and I both called the sheriff. He came out and tried to bully me about pulling a gun, but ended up telling the other people to leave me alone.

While in Texas, I used my revolvers to good effect against wild dogs, snakes, and 2 bannana spiders.

 

[takhtakaal]

It happens. People who think about it usually don't discuss it in a public forum.

 

[Gator]

^ Yeah.

You may have better luck with a poll.

 

[eric.cartman]

I put my hand on my H&K P2000 once.
That quickly ended the fishing expedition two thugs were on.

 

[XDKingslayer]

Santa Rosa, CA:
I met this nice woman and invited her out. We had dinner, then an ice skating session. I took her home (no kisses), and on my way home I noticed a car behind me I thought I had seen earlier. I went past my residence, made a couple of turns, and the car was still there. When I made a third turn I found myself on a dead end street. Upon trying to turn around, the car blocked my way, and a big bruiser got out, getting a 2-foot piece of reinforcing bar from behind his seat. I rolled down my window and asked if there was a problem. Walking toward me he said "You've been dating my ex-wife and I don't like that!" Upon which I reached down and held up a pistol so he could see it, not even pointing it at him. He stopped, backed away, and without another word turned, tossed his rebar into his back seat, and quickly departed...as did I! (Side comment: I did not report this to the police...who knows what local laws I was unwittingly afoul of?)

Did you see her again?

 

[Claude Clay]

+1 on not talking about it.

 

[cyclist]

....

 

[serrano]

I took out a rattlesnake with my Daisy Red Ryder.

 

[DerbyDale]

+1 on not talking about it.

Why? As long as you were not carrying illegally, or were the aggressor. Cases of a law abiding citizens using their CCW to protect themselves or others is a good thing. It shows that guns in the hands of good guys can prevent crime and save lives.

I for one love to read "The Armed Citizen" (CCW encounters) in American Rifleman every month. The story's I read there (and here) give me food for thought as well...

 

[thorn726]

i haven't but two friends have, one much crazier than the other.

first guy hears a guy screaming at a woman outside his house, goes out with his .45 to see what's happening. guy starts advancing on him, friend shows .45-
guy runs and calls COPS!!
police were fortunately VERY cool to him, because he was technically illegal by leaving his property (by going into the street), but they told him not to leave his prop. with the gun.

OTHER friend- is one of these guys who firmly believes the "twelve before six" rule- walking in west oakland, to keep it short, he heard a shotgun get racked, he fired a shot. this guy is a serious expert though.
it was a warning shot, and the aggressors ran.

 

[thorn726]

Please expand on this.
How can you legally buy a pistol if you can't legally CC for a few years?

uh, CCW is another world from pistol ownership. states vary, probably can buy pistol at 18, no ccw till 21

 

[cyclist]

....

 

[jad0110]

I haven't, but I know of two instances of friends who did.

1. A friend of my mom's was coming home one night, and was being followed by a big mean dude in a pickup. She made a few turns just to see if he'd keep following her ... which he did. Once or twice, he pulled alongside her as they were moving and made threatening/obscene gestures to her. He continued to follow her. She considered pulling into a Police Station, but there weren't any in driving distance and her gas light was on. Next time he pulled up beside her she retrieved her Ruger SP101 and showed it to him - she didn't even point it at him. He did a 180 and headed back the other way, last she ever saw him.

2. A co-worker of my fathers was out driving one night and made a minor booboo - failing to yield to another vehicle. He nodded his head to the other driver and held up his hands, as if to say "sorry, my bad." Not good enough for the other driver. He and 3 big guys got out, one of them was armed with what he said looked like a tire iron. Without pointing it at them, he held up his 1911 for them to see. They scrambled back into their SUV and took off, again, he never saw them again.

Couldn't have turned out any better in either circumstance. I'm glad both encounters ended peacefully for those involved.

 

[Claude Clay]

DerbyD

i also like the armed citizen but they all end with police involved. all mine (no shots fired) , i phoned it in to report the incident BEFORE the BG's could call in their 'story'. nothing ever written up, just my collection of knives & 2 pistols ive thrown in the river over the past 3 decades. thankfully, i haven't added anything in the last 2 years.
i use to do rent collection & skip tracing in an inner-city. lately, just rents & thats easier now with electronic transfers.
ps. 1/3rd just situational awareness & talking got them to leave, 1/3 revealing it worked & 1/3rd actually had to draw. 3/3 had my hand already on my concealed back-up, but they did not know it was even being pointed at them as we spoke.

 

[brentn]

IMO this is these stories are the answers to what CCW can give a citizen, protection without causing harm. All of these stories are the same, the firearm is brandished and the BG's bolt it. I'd say almost all petty criminals who harass the general public know that their antics aren't worth their own life given the situation shows that the defender can take theirs.

What I find really surprising is the fact that criminals still harass people even though they live in a CCW state, even though they live in a country in which so many homeowners own guns!!! !
whats up with that?

 

[DerbyDale]

What I find really surprising is the fact that criminals still harass people even though they live in a CCW state, even though they live in a country in which so many homeowners own guns!!! !
whats up with that?

LOL... You make it sound like we live in Deadwood or Tombstone during the late 1800s.

I live in Kentucky one of the most gun friendly states in the US, and the majority of people are not carrying. Allot of my friends who own guns only carry them on the way to the range or a hunting trip. If you run into them at a restaurant, most won't be armed; nor do they keep them loaded at home. The criminals know this too... This is why they are so surprised when someone is carrying and pulls their own gun. Criminals are also stupid, so that may account for allot of it too.

I don't/can't carry most for the time since I work for a public school system and its a "Gun Free Zone".


Claude Clay:
I guess I don't understand whats wrong with having the police involved...

 

[TallPine]

Well, I dunno ... does meeting someone who comes on your property with a gun in your hand count ...?

Last one seemed fairly shook up about it. Doesn't bother me - he was another one of those long-haired guys "just out of the service"

 

[Kind of Blued]

Please expand on this.
How can you legally buy a pistol if you can't legally CC for a few years?

Maybe you should read more carefully.

I plan on buying a pistol, and while I can't CC carry for a few years...

The fact that he "plans" on buying a pistol means that he will be older in age when he in fact does buy said pistol.