Would you feel good about killing in self defense?

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I have thought about this.

and I have never been put in the position of actually firing. I have been in the position of holding a person for the police.

...Would I feel bad? That is a tough question as the answer can be either way depending on the circumstance. I would feel bad if I had to shoot someone who was drunk or high and not fully in his right mind.

But, I honestly don't know how I would feel if confronted by true evil, the kind of evil espoused by Manson and his ilk. If I walked in on them during an evil deed, would I feel any remorse? I don't know. If I could stop true evil during the course of events. If I could go back in time and kill Hitler before he rose to power, would that make me feel bad or good? I think, intellectualy, I would not have a problem with it, but emotionally, it may scar my psyche a bit.

Hopefully, I shall never be put into the position to find out.
 
Preparation

I have had a permit to carry for nearly 15 years. Before that, I was well known to be an owner of firearms, so I got the question about carrying and using.

I have three steps that I think anybody who carries (and for that matter might end up in a situation where deadly force is involved) needs to pass through:

  1. You Need to Get Your Mind Right. This is where you come to grips and make your peace with the fact that you are carrying the power of life and death. You need to walk through the various scenarios for what will happen after to be prepared for the entire event.
  2. You Have to Know Where the Bright Line to Act Is. At what point can you legally stop the threat.
  3. As John Bernard Books - John Wayne's character in his last movie The Shootist stated - You Must Be WILLING. There can be NO hesitation as soon as the opportunity/shot is cleared tactically after the Bright Line has been and still is crossed.
If someone is not comfortable to the core of their being with these steps - especially Number 1 - problems are more likely to occur later.
 
Heck no I wouldn't feel good, now my fine piece of craftsmanship is rusting away in some evidence locker!!!:)p)

In all seriousness, of course I would not feel good about taking someones life...As others have stated, I would feel good that I protected my loved ones most importantly, with myself coming in a close second.:)

As far as remorse goes, I couldn't tell you unless it happened...I hope I wouldn't, because if I had to shoot someone, they damn sure deserved it.
 
My thinking is that I would eventually be able to deal with it but if my wife or daughters were raped and\or killed and I wasn't able to prevent it, that I would NEVER be able to get over.
 
I was talking to a former special forces guy about home defense and such. He no longer owns a rifle. All he has is shotguns and pistols. When I asked him why that was he said: "I'm retired now. I can't shoot anybody unless it's in the privacy of my own home. So I don't need a long range rifle anymore."
For some reason I find this hilarious.
 
Grandpa again.

I want to thank all of you who have participated in this discussion. I would not term it a debate since the subject is not up for debate. I pray that none of you ever have to watch someone die a violent death, either by your own hand or that of another. I appreciate the time all of you took in responding and the time, however short, put into examining your own values.

I am of the nature that I debate every topic or possible action to attempt to determine which action or reaction on my part will have the least impact on the lives of other people. I have strong reactions, but have learned to put those emotions and reactions aside in the interest of a more reasoned approach to life. Whenever possible I avoid being in circumstances which will violate my emotional neutrality.

I moved to a small town in the mountains to avoid being in the position of causing harm to another human being. I operated a cash business and carried large sums of money on a daily basis. The circumstances began to make me realize that I was going to be pushed into a position of acting in a very violent manner within a relatively short time. Somebody was going to attempt to rob me, or harm me, or someone in my company and I would be forced to act. I don't like me when I get pushed into a violent act. I don't think any of you would like me if you succcessfully pushed me into a violent act. It's not pretty. I am not speculating or bragging, simply stating a fact.

I envy people who are certain of what they will do and feel in a circumstance of life. While I don't agree with quite a few of you, I still envy you your certainty. Maybe that is what will allow you to sleep at night. I would be up for many nights replaying the mental tapes of the events leading up to that final critical moment trying to discover if there were a way it could have been avoided. Maybe you folks are lucky? Who knows.
 
a long time ago some spit shined, starched officer gave me a medal and said
"How did it feel son" My reply was i threw up, pooped my pants and was alternating screaming for momma and cussing my brains out, after it was over i got the shakes, and cried but i did my job. If it happens again i will know what to expect and i pray it never will, but if it does i will do my job
 
Grandpa Shooter,

I would like to apologise again to your for misunderstanding your intentions and for my short thread hijack. Of course, nobody wants to take an innocent life, but we all have to set our limits according to our unique situations. I appreciate you taking the time to bring this important issue to light.

Take care


Marksman13, ArfinGreebly, et al;

Thanks very much for your time, candor, and votes of confidence. I always learn something here, if even about myself.

Griff
 
This thread should be called "Are you Wyatt Earp or Doc Holliday?" Based not on history, but solely on the movie Tombstone!

At the OK Corral, Kurt Russell eyes everything suspiciously, genuinely doesn't want to get in a fight, screams "NOOOOOO" before it happens, etc. But then dispatches the bad guys, is upset at the situation, but doesn't feel bad.

Where as Doc Holliday sort of, in the movie, instigates the whole thing with taunts and winks and has no problem blasting away and then going about his business without much of a thought afterwards.
 
I am sure that I would not feel good about killing someone in self defense and I am also sure that I would feel worse if I or someone I care about was killed and I did nothing to stop it. Having to take a life in order to protect a life would be the my choice of two unenviable possible outcomes.
 
I would not feel good about having to kill anyone. The only solace would be in the fact that it was necessary. I couldn't feel bad about having been put in the position to make the choice, because I put myself there in my decision to carry a firearm.
 
I wouldn't feel good about taking another life and anyone who does needs to check into a mental health facility...and they don't need a weapon. I don't think I'd hesitate to defend my loved ones or myself, but I'd anticipate a lot of sleepless nights over it.
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Not so much.

I can feel sorry for pediatric AIDS cases.
I can feel sorry for genocide victims in Darfur.
I can feel sorry for battered women who try to leave their batterers and fail.

I can't feel sorry for armed robbers, murderers, rapists and the like AT ALL. I just don't have it in me.

I've thought all of this through a LONG time ago, just as I thought through battlefield combat before I became an Army officer.

I don't waste compassion on those utterly undeserving of it.

Every dead armed robber or rapist is an object lesson to the rest that they may want to find other activities to occupy their time.
 
Feel good? No! Feel relieved to be alive or have my family alive? Yes! I have for a long time felt that if your choice of vocation is crime then you should expect to die young and violently.
 
Would you feel good about killing in self defense?
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I think that a lot of "tough guys" around here talk big, and may come across as if they would find pleasure in killing an intruder. While they may initially feel a big rush from this act, I think in the long run they will not feel "good" about it. They might not feel "bad" about it either if they had no other choice. But I think the pleasure and satisfaction of playing the hero will wear off, and they will be left with a painful emotional scar.

Is that scar worth it if you survived a terrible situation?... it's better than being dead in my book.

I have for a long time felt that if your choice of vocation is crime then you should expect to die young and violently.
Click to expand...
I agree. My sympathy level for criminals is very low. Anyone that is selfish enough to kill or harm you and your family for a few rocks of crack is not deserving of such sympathy. IMO
 
As someone that is new to the idea of carrying a concealed handgun I've thought about this quite a bit as it could someday (God willing it never will!) become a possibility. I've come to the firm decision that I have no idea how I would feel afterwards (not trying to be funny with that last remark either).
 
Feel good ? No but I think I would feel completely justified and therefore Not feel bad about it .

The criminal will have to make not one bad decision for me to kill them but a series of them in which at any time he will have had the opportunity to stop his actions and prevent his own death .

He will have to decide to tress pass on my property , then decide to in all probability break into my home , and then he will have to decide to NOT run away when he realizes someone is home , then have a means , intentions and actions that are seen as threatening to a life .

The only decision I will make is to allow him to succeed or not to , in harming or killing me or a family member .

Thats an easy decision in my book .
 
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