Two times without a shot in S. Florida
In 1985 it seemed all the rage among crooks to block the roadway and rob folks. Toss a tire on a rim into the street in front of cars and they stop and turn stupid. Block the road by stopping in front of them, and they wait while they walk back to them to rob them...don't even try to drive around...
When returning from dinner one evening back then, I was driving my wifes car, with her holding our 5 year old asleep in her lap in the passenger seat. (I know, no comments about the lack of restraints please.) We were in our own development, a reasonably new and nice area, it was late. I NEVER drove her car, but this evening some friends wanted to see it (it was a new model and "cute"), so we drove it. I am not sure what the motivation was for the perps, but it could have ended badly for them.
As we cleared a bridge, a parked car suddenly turned on the brights behind us and roared after us. As the car passed us at very high speed, I hit the brakes fairly hard and stopped. They slammed on their brakes and slid to a stop in front of us - going sideways a little and blocking most of the two lane road a bit in front of us. They had been really flying! I backed away as quickly as I dared in the jeep-style vehicle, as they put it in reverse and gave chase. I told my wife to give me her gun (legally carried in her glove box as we did not yet have concealed carry permits). This was before Marion Hammer got the "shall issue" concealed carry law passed and it was impossible to get a permit in my county. I knew I could not hope to escape them in this car, so I put the rear end on a side street and slid to a stop. They were not able to make a turn at the speed they were going and slid slightly past the front of my car as they stopped, putting them to the left side of me and in front. A blonde teenage boy popped out of the front passenger window holding a gun in a two handed grip and shouted. "This is a stick up!" 20-30 feet in front of the left headlight of my car.
I used to shoot NRA Bullseye for a awhile, and being left handed, the would-be robber was in the perfect place for me to shoot. As I drew down on him I could hear the crickets, the valve train noise - everything so clearly that it was almost surreal. My hand was steady - never was that steady at a match, but now it was rock solid. I could only see the face and hands of the "robber", so that's my point of aim. No choice but to fire before he does with only some glass and aluminum between him and my 5 year old and my wife. I am squeezing the trigger of the .380/1911 look-alike, but it doesn't fire. The hammer is back but- crap the safety is on, of course! I was used to my gun which was revolver and had forgotten! It seemed like an eternity had passed while all this happened, but it was probably a second or two. Being left handed I had to reach around the rear of the gun with my thumb to release the safety, and as I did the movement displayed the gun to the other car more clearly I suppose. There were 4 in the car and from the back seat I heard a young voice shout "He's got a REAL gun!" That word, REAL, saved the blonde boys life, of that I am sure. I had already decided I had to shoot, and in fact had tried to shoot. Better lucky than good for him I guess. Summary ending was no charges, no record for the teenagers. Wonder what they'd have done to my 5'4" 110 pound wife if she was unarmed and alone? They managed to convince everyone that it was just a joke and I overreacted...Did I? The officer who took my report said I was wrong for NOT shooting, but I did what I thought was best at the time. And I know what would have happened to me if I'd popped a kid with a toy gun. "NRA Gun Nut kills unarmed teenager" would have screamed from the front page.
A year later, heading up an entrance ramp to an interstate late at night, the car in front of me suddenly stopped and a large black male exited each side of the car and started walking back towards me. I had stopped 20 to 30 feet behind them. I brought up the Dan Wesson 357 I had with me, and stuck it out the window into the street lights glow. Suddenly, the need to block the road and engage me disappeared I guess, as both men spun on their heels and without a word or gesture walked back to the car and drove away. Another overreaction? Perhaps. But civilized men of good will don't block the road to ask for directions. No report was filed on that one.
Personally I am glad I didn't have to use it either time, and for the "training" I got from these incidents. I know how I'd react because it's how I did react. When it was over I was shaken and shaking, but only after it was over. The adrenaline was pumping and wouldn't quit!
I think the mere presence of the firearm, the ability to take responsibility for my own defense and the tools to do it, avoided me/us being victims and statistics.
I was willing to shoot when I thought it necessary, and now I practice with my carry gun so that "safety issue" won't be an issue. But I'm still glad it was an issue then. Just lucky I guess.
I will add that the police arrived after our second call to them to report the robbery attempt,
45 minutes after the first call. They misunderstood my wife on the first call they said, and besides, there was a homicide reported at almost the same time, and they had only one unit at that moment...When seconds count, the police are only minutes away....or maybe a few more than "a few".....no offense LEO's, but you can't be everywhere.
Nice thread, Not every legal act of self defense involves a shot being fired.
. That said, my motivation for carrying is far less to protect myself than it is to be able to defend others, which is why I find it encouraging to hear of those who've used their rights to defend not just themselves but others who were defenseless.
. I'm finding it hard to find a reason NOT to carry.
PS: I would have gladly given up the pack frame but was scared to lower the rifle to do it, talk about your "Catch-22's"...