concealed carry "did you draw your weapon" poll

[historynut]

I'm wondering...of those of us civilians who legally carry a concealed firearm... How many have had to actually draw their weapon during a "situation" outside of home defense?

I'm not asking if you actually fired, but simply were forced to draw your weapon. I'm not concerned with "I almost did..." or "in another minute I would have..." situations, though I know they exist.

As far as detailing the situation when you reply - it's up to you, but please only explain the situation if you actually drew your weapon.

Fortunately, I have never had to draw mine...

 

[TIMC]

I have not been in a situation where I needed to draw mine and hope I never am.

 

[igpoobah]

I'll reserve my vote until you answer my question

In my mind there are 2 distinct possiblities with a very fine line to the question of "have you had to draw your weapon?"

#1 - threat definately coming, no choice but to draw and engage; or to a lesser degree...threat possible, taking no chances; draw weapon and let it be known you are armed and potential perp should back off NOW.

#2 - things could get hairy; draw weapon and keep it to yourself as you hastily find a way out of the situation, but want to be immediately armed as you do so. In the end, no one knew you had a weapon in hand and you beat it out of there unscathed.

#2 has happened a few times to me. #1 not yet. You tell me if #2 qualifies for what you are asking and I'll vote.

My guess is that others who have been carrying for very long would like the same information...

 

[igpoobah]

double post

 

[M2 Carbine]

I answered Yes but it was before handgun carry was strictly legal.

It was during an attempted Quick Stop robbery. Long story. No shots fired.

 

[Nitrogen]

I drew my weapon when a road-rager came at me with a tire iron about a year or so ago. He retreated as soon as he saw I was armed.

 

[Walkalong]

A rifle once, never a pistol I was carrying.

 

[REPOMAN]

Did you draw?

I've never had to but, there have been a few times I placed my hand on my sidearm . The person I was dealing w/ didn't know because when I repo we have a talker (my partner) and me as the back up in case anything goes wrong. With my sidearm in the 4 o'clock position I can cock my body to the side and block their vision of it. I hope I don't ever have to draw it.....

 

[19-3Ben]

Ummm....why did you ask this in the autoloader sub-forum rather than in the general handgun sub-forum. There are plenty of people who carry revolvers who might have had more to contribute to this poll.
Personally, I carry both a semi-auto and a wheel-gun (not simultaneously). I have been carrying for 2 years and have never had to draw on a threat. The closest I came was when I was carrying at home last week and a heavy baking pan fell over in the kitchen and I could have sworn it sounded like someone at the front door so I drew my gun and approached just to check it out.

 

[rantingredneck]

Draw: Once, was in vehicle and someone was attempting to break in. Drew weapon and he backed off.

Once also had to put hand on weapon but not draw.

 

[ArkansasHunter]

I haven't yet draw my pistol ut I did pulls a shotgun on a feller who wanted to leave after he purposly pushed over my mailbox...A.H LOL

 

[mjrodney]

Yes, but it was at my home.

Someone was attempting to break into an enclosed area where I kept a motorcycle when I appeared at the window with a handgun.

Once he saw it, he couldn't get out of there fast enough.

 

[historynut]

igpoobah - your #2 question would qualify, though I will admit that I hadn't thought of drawing a concealed weapon and have it not be seen. I know it's possible, I just hadn't considered it for the question.

19-3Ben - no real reason as to why I didn't put it in the general section other than I own/carry a revolver and I'm thinking of buying an autoloader and was in that forum at the time when the question crossed my mind. You are correct in that it could be applied to both/all.

 

[NoScreenName]

yes... but only due to the #2 situation above.

never drew down on a person thankfully.

 

[mljdeckard]

No. In 13 years as a permit holder, I have never pulled.

I was in one situation right before I got my permit, in my vehicle late at night downtown, a guy approached my car and lifted the passenger-side door handle, which was locked. I started the car and drove away, but as I replay it in my mind, I wonder if I would have pulled.

 

[nwilliams]

Thankfully I could vote no on this poll.

I believe that the only time I would draw my weapons is if I intended to pull the trigger. My gun is not a deterrent device, if I pull my gun on a assailant in a self defense scenario that means I felt my life was in danger and the attacker would be on the ground before he knew what hit him. Even if I felt threatened I would keep my gun holstered and try to get away, if there was no place to go and seemingly no other alternative then I might have to draw.

Of course this is only the mindset that I try to maintain, never been in a situation that has required me to consider drawing so I can't say with any certainty how I'd react. However I never want to draw my gun on anyone and I really hope I never have to either.

 

[AndyC]

Yes, a number of times in South Africa - which speaks for itself

 

[usp9]

Yes...once, didn't have to use it thank God.

 

[HisSoldier]

Never. It does seem wise to pull the gun and have it ready (Unknown) if "bad looking people" are approaching, have it out and ready. Watching "The first 48" on A&E I see a lot of homicides where both were armed, and the first one who got his gun up was the guy who survived. I want the first shot to be mine. I hope it never comes to that.

 

[S&Wfan]

The closest I came was after checking into a Holiday Inn in Tifton, GA about 15 years ago. It was 2AM and my room turned out to be on the back side of this motel, which was just off the interstate.

Out of nowhere appeared a "brother" in a hooded black sweatshirt, pants and jogging shoes.

I was carring a bag towards my room, which had an outside entrance.

"Say main, you need some help carryin' your stuff," he asked, as he came nearer.

I reached in the bag and wrapped my hands around my Model 65 3" S&W .357 . . . glared at him sternly in the eyes and said the sailor's version of, "Get the flock out of my face NOW!"

I'm sure he wondered if I was bluffing, or whether my hand was on a knife or a gun. Luckily for both of us, he chose not to find out!

T.

PS: I called the front desk and requested a front room, per my initial reservation. They accomodated me. Fifteen minutes later, I relocated to the other side of the large motel.

Guess who I saw roaming around on THAT side too? This time, he didn't approach me though!

BGs want soft targets. And . . . they'd like us ALL unarmed . . . if they can get the dems to go along with 'em!

 

[doc2rn]

I pulled but never showed them what. A group of young people tried to car-jack me at a gas station. I sat down into the car drawing as I went backwards. One of them on the far side must have seen me pull my G32, since he yelled at the leader to run away. I called 911 and they were caught pulling two girls out of a Grand Am up the block at Mc Donalds. Thank the man upstairs that it only went as far as it did, 5 BG's busted, good enough for me.

 

[kwelz]

I have had to draw my weapon twice. Thankfully I have never had to pull the trigger.

 

[jahwarrior]

i almost drew over the summer. i was forced to ealier this week.

i take the bus mon-fri at 6am to work. this past tuesday, some guy was walking down the street, hood down, hands swinging at his sides. i watched him of course, and he saw me looking. he started to cross the street, and walk towards me, picking up the pace. when i saw him put his hands in his pockets, i said loudly, "what's up, dude?" he put his head down, and his hands shifted in his pocket, and he kept walking at me. i then said "hold it there, man." he laughed, and was about 30' away. i had oc spray, but like an idiot, i put it in my bag. i decided better safe than sorry, so i drew my pocket pistol, a little cobra .380, and yelled at him "BACK THE F@&% UP!" the guy finally looked up, said "holy s%!#!", and took off down the street. he still had one hand in his pocket. my hands were shaking until 8am.

i normally carry a S&W 9VE on my right hip. i bought the cobra on a lark, more out of nostalgia than necessity; i had a similar gun when i was a young punk, and i thought "wow, how cool would it be to have a saturday night special next to my other guns?" it cost me less than $100. it's small, so i figured it wouldn't hurt to pocket carry it.

good decision, huh?

 

[msb45]

But

I was accosted by someone at a carwash one fall day, said we were old school buddies. Told him I went to school out of state. I spoke clearly and confidently so the person went away. Oh yeah he did notice my hand in my pocket holding a 642, wondered "why I had to be like that" (not a victim).

Been told a few times a civilian carrying a bug is paranoid. Still here to listen.

Also use an ankle holster. Try getting a 1911 out of a 4 o'clock position wearing a winter coat and seatbelt.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Had to pull once when a pitbull charged my dog on our walk. Didn't have to fire since she just dropped low and brought up her growl from the depths of hell. Pit decided he wasn't that interested and wandered back up into his yard. Truth be known, my girl is a half dane, half healer and wouldn't have stood a chance, but she's got 'tude like you wouldn't believe. Stopped carrying that P32 that day, I remember as I drew thinking, "this is a 32."
Funny thing about that gun, my neice took a shine to it. Other than my 22's it was the only pistol she would shoot, so when she went off to college I gave it to her. One night walking home after dark she noticed a guy following her. She made several turns on the trail, but he just kept on, getting a little closer all the time. Finally she made a turn behind a tree and when he made it he ran nose first into that little pistol. He turned around and ran off without saying a word. Tends to hint that he wasn't up to any good. Since then she's graduated up to a 9, but I'm sure glad she had that little 32 that day.