Flashlight Stopped Possible Shooting

[orangeninja]

Hello All,

last night after work, about 12:30AM or so my wife and I took our dogs out for a quick walk in our neighborhood. We walked about 100 yards or so out and I heard a dog bark. Looked around, didn't see anything, so we walked about 25 or so more yards when a white and brown pit bull about 85lbs comes from between two cars towards us and our dogs. I had a Glock 19, and started to reach for it, but remembered that I brought along my Inova XO3 http://www.inovalight.com/site.html?XO3-ov with a lanyard cord hanging out of my pocket. I had just enough time to get the light out and illuminate the dog about 5 feet from my dog. The pit bull stopped in his tracks, turned around and hauled butt behind a large truck in the driveway. That light in his eyes had a reaction as if he had hit a wall.

My wife noticed the dog's owner watching the whole thing through the front window, yet she did nothing until I lit the dog up. I suppose that owner would have found it real funny if I had not had my flashlight, (which normally I don't) and simply had to shoot the dog. When I illuminated her dog, she came running out and called the pit into the house.

My wife asked me, "would you have shot the dog?" I told her that if it had attacked us or our dogs I would have......our neighborhood is lit, dimly, but lit, so normally I don't carry a light, but last night, for some reason, I felt I should have one. Weird.

Lesson learned, I suppose a light can save some heartburn a shooting would cause.

 

[crofrog]

I normally walk around with my light, (right now a blackhawk gladius) in my hands at all times at night.

It's the lowest level of force I weild, even below verbal. It also allows me to clearly see them, let them know I've clearly seen them, and momentarily blind them. Allowing me to move off the line of attack.

 

[50 Freak]

I sure as heck carry my CCW and a flashlight when I take a walk at night. Didn't use too, but recently have been hearing a lot of gunshots at the park near to where I live.

 

[ball3006]

When the wife and I....

walk around the block, when it is dark, we always have a Surefire in one hand and a pistol in a pocket. chris3

 

[Lonestar]

Check your scorecards guys. I looked up the flashlight stats on the website. Apparently 82 lumens will stop a Pit Bull. I don't have a dog to walk, but I am definately going to look into a high intensity flashlight as a less than lethal weapon.

 

[Hoppy590]

being too young to have a CCW. ( sure kids my age are dying in iraq and trusted enough to pay taxes. but not to carry a pistol ) i carry my surefire with me. its got practical and defensive. it, and having many large friends, an moto of avoidance and deterance and a fast car are my only means of defense at this time.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

I'm not allowed to carry when I deliver (pizza) because of company policy. I keep a .22 in the car anyway. But when I'm on foot I have a 4 cell Maglite with an LED bulb replacement. I carry it resting on my shoulder, use it to read mailboxes and driver tags and such. The homies hassle the other drivers, but by and large they stay away from me. Plus, with the 3 watt Luxeon conversion I can flash blind people out to a considerable distance.

Never underestimate the potential of a big, powerful flashlight.

 

[crofrog]

I'm not allowed to carry when I deliver (pizza) because of company policy

Dead or fired. Seems like an easy call to me.

 

[Kentak]

Zero--

I just recently got the 3W LEDs for a 4 and a 2 cell Maglite. I'm very impressed with them. Very bright and nice beam pattern. Makes 'em a whole new animal. Highly recommend for anyone who has a Maglite, but only the Maglite brand conversions. Don't waste money on the ten dollar LED bulbs.

K

 

[trapperjohn]

what is this ? 7 responses already and no one has come to tell you that if it was aggressive it wasnt a pitbull and that if it was a pitbull it just wanted some lovin? gee where are all the apologists? remeber we are supposed to to refer to agressive dogs not as pitbulls but large dogs.

aside from my rant, the fact that a flashlight had that affect on a dog is good to know. I wonder how long after getting lit up a dog will regain its vision.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I think you have confused naysayer with apologist.

How long before the dog regains it sight? Not long. First of all, you would have to determine how much was "lost" and then measure its return. Of course, the amount of "lost" would depend on intensity (at the eye, not the source), time of exposure, etc.

And you are right, the orginal description of the dog did not include a single bit of information to indicate that it was acting in an aggressive manner. Good catch, Trapper. From all accounts, the dog simply may have been interested in socializing, as noted.

Since there is no indication that the dog was attacking, it is hard pressed to claim the dog was 'stopped' by the light in the sense that the light beam might be considered an effective defensive weapon. Stopping a dog not attacking isn't the same as stopping one that is. No apologies, just facts.

 

[Bob F.]

Main reason I bought a Surefire! Rarely turn on a light upon arising at night as my eyes are acclimated to darkness/ambient light. But motel room, dark parking lot, etc....Surefire in off-hand, dominant on G-19 if needed. Also carry Fox Stream.

Stay safe.
Bob

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

and if the light fails...

its a heck of a club. i saw a dc cop bend a big mag light over a guys head batteries and end cap popped out. scariest thing was it DIDN'T put they guy out staggered him and the cop used night stick to put him down but the look of incredulity on cops face (and mine) when guy didn't hit dirt was priceless. first time i ever saw first hand what pcp did. this guy had already kicked my butt and 3 or 4 other guys as we tried to get him to quit pounding his girlfriend.

 

[mrmeval]

Navy Battle Lantern.

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/

I was pretty much sold on Sure Fire until several instances where they refused to resolve issues with their lights. My leather holster would not hold the light after about a week of use. A friend and soldiers tail cap failed and some issues with a nitrolon. I bought four of these, one for me and the rest for soldiers. The bulb in it is the key and a hell of a design. The 120 lumen is stunning. I've been looking for a different company with as good a product but better customer support. I think the next try will be streamlight.

For Three Thousand Lumens (3000 lumes) of tacticool lighting you may want to look at one of these. I bought two of these at auction for $40.00, one worked and one needed a bulb. I could not find the original easily so bought a 6v tractor/motorcycle bulb and it's awesome. The spotlight bulb is better for some things but nothing beats this for lighting up a large area. With some effort I could make a mount for my AR15.

http://www.calibersales.com/new_page_8.htm
http://www.jaymoulding.com/emergencylighting.html
http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=1047&cid=94

 

[orangeninja]

Since there is no indication that the dog was attacking, it is hard pressed to claim the dog was 'stopped' by the light in the sense that the light beam might be considered an effective defensive weapon. Stopping a dog not attacking isn't the same as stopping one that is. No apologies, just facts.

Good point guys......I didn't catch this either.

My indicators were that:

A.) the dog was barking at my dog.

B.) my stupid (but on a leash) female dog wanted to mix it up with the whole growling, bristling, foaming thing.

C.) the pit, seeing my dog, comes running straight for her. He was about 15 to 20 yards away and I barely had time to get my light.

D.) the pit was doing this gutteral growl thing while running, not barking, not growling........kind of an in between.

Could he have been interested in socilizing? Possibly but my female (and I know her) wasn't.

So in reality would this have stopped a dead set, hell bent on biting you pit bull? I don't know honestly....I'm not 100% sure that this pit fit that description, I don't personally know this dog, but it was scary enough to raise my instincts to reach for a gun at first and I'm not a trigger happy type of person at all......and I know and love dogs....my mom has a pit and it's a neat dog.......that being said, I'm a pretty good judge of a dog's intentions being that I've had one since being a kid (not the same dog of course, a variety) and I feel that this was going to get ugly. No doubt in my mind.

This is just my experience, your results may vary.

 

[mbt2001]

When I go walking...

1. A little knock around Lorcin .25
2. something along the lines of a mini mag light
3. MACE pepper spray / tear gas combo

No that I had heard your story, I think I will invest in an innova flashlight or some tac light. All I need is one or two... Nice to have some tac gear close at hand.

I carry the knock around peice as it is light weight and would put a hole in something, but I carry it mostly as backup to the pepper spray...

As a point of interest, what kind of Dog do you have? 85lbs is MASSIVE FOR a pit. Usually they get to be 60lbs on the very large side.

Glad you came out with all your limbs... Write a letter to the home owners association regarding that pit and to the local police... If you ever have to cap it, then you are documented.....

 

[orangeninja]

I have a 60 lb mutt.........the pit was bigger than my mutt.......so perhaps 75lbs.....but not much smaller if any.

 

[mbt2001]

I am surprised that no one has flamed me for my .25 lorcin....

 

[jondar]

No flames on my part. I had a Jennings J-22 that I took apart and couldn;t get back together. I put a brick of Thunderbolts thru it. No misfires or FTE. I replaced it with a Beretta .25 which also goes bang with each pull of the trigger.

 

[oregonshooter]

I walk my "pit-mix"

late at night and have had mixed results with charging dogs.

The Surefire A2 in their face has stopped semi-aggressive, but it's not a defensive tool against dogs by any means. A shout would have probably stopped them also. Good to have though for other reasons.

A gun against dog at night is a recipe for disaster also! Pepper spray may work, may not. Only sure way I know to stop a dedicated attacking dog is to feed the arm and stab it to death. Don't underestimate them!

 

[Bob R]

I live where there are numerous dogs roaming. Whenever the wife and I go for a walk, I am armed with a pistol, my 951 Lumen maglight, and my wife has a walking staff that has had the end sharpened just a little to get rid of the flat blunt end.

I see dog bites everyday where I work, and if I happen to become one of them, the dog will die.

bob

 

[carterbeauford]

being too young to have a CCW. ( sure kids my age are dying in iraq and trusted enough to pay taxes. but not to carry a pistol ) i carry my surefire with me. its got practical and defensive. it, and having many large friends, an moto of avoidance and deterance and a fast car are my only means of defense at this time.

I was in your shoes 3 years ago, you'll be 21 before you know it! You obviously have good taste in flashlights, hopefully that good taste will extend to handguns and you'll be legally carrying a nice one before you know it.

I need to start carrying a light whenever it's dark. I've really needed one a couple times lately and been without one. Girl dropped her cellphone at a concert. Yeah, I have 20 flashlights... at home. Want a Surefire E1 elite badly, but can't justify $80 for one, so I ordered an Ultrafire 1x123A LED for everyday carry.

Yeah, the consensus here is that flashlights are handy. Don't know why more people don't realize this, my girl still makes fun of me for being so obesessed with them.

 

[Hoppy590]

I was in your shoes 3 years ago, you'll be 21 before you know it! You obviously have good taste in flashlights, hopefully that good taste will extend to handguns and you'll be legally carrying a nice one before you know it.

S&W 360 ( 357 revolver) or a full sized 1911. i like big guns. haha.

 

[mbt2001]

Pepper spray on a dog is infallable... It always works, no exceptions... Carry it. Mace makes a special one called muzzle, that might be the best way to go, however it is an excellent tool to have. Just make sure you walk with it in your hand.

Cool... I have quite a few guns, but the little Loricn is just handy and it is already a little beat up. If I beat up my Kimber on a walk I would cry....