Reason to stop carrying?

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critter

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Had a friend who was into guns in a big way for many, many years. Had a CCW and carried all the time, mostly a S&W J-frame.

Three vermin in our town kidnapped a lady for her car, put her in the trunk, hauled her to a secluded place, took her out and murdered her. Used the car as a getaway in the robbery of a local branch bank-----the one my friend frequented and had just left a few minutes earlier.

It scared him. He decided that, had he been there, he would have engaged with his 5-shot J-frame and would have been outnumbered, outgunned and likely shot.

Scared him so badly, he stopped carrying all together!

Not likely my reaction. Anybody else have reacted that way? Anybody else ever been in a similar situation? I would appreciate any comments and/or insight regarding the situation. Thanks.
 
I guess everyone reacts differently to a near brush with violence. I might have rethought my choice of gun but I don't think I would have stopped carrying altogether. To me that just doesn't make sense.

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My choice also. I felt he could have chosen to not engage and hope for the best had he been there. I might also opt for a carry piece with more ammo. I guess every situation is different and every person is different. Hard to know how a situation will effect a person.
 
I would counsel him on a few issues:

1) observing instead of engaging, getting a make and model, license plate, description of the criminals, calling 911 immediately, aiding the victim in that respect

2) carrying either spare ammo, a second j-frame, or selling the revolver and carrying a small semiauto with a spare magazine, since capacity seems to be his concern

3) joining a gun club, practicing IDPA, taking a self-defense pistol course from a reputable instructor. Perhaps this will give him the confidence to hit what he is aiming at, regardless of the circumstances.

4) philosophically, how is being completely unarmed and defenseless ALL THE TIME better than being unable to provide protection to a third party in this ONE INSTANCE? As others have stated, that is nonsensical.

I understand the trauma he must have felt. But it is time to get redouble his efforts at self-protection, not abandon them.
 
I look at CCW as being sort of like insurance: better to have it and not need it (or decide not to use it), than to need it and not have it.
 
I'm not able to see the connection, but people do weird things.

Most people I know would use that as an excuse to buy more toys...

I carry a J-frame. If I ever feel like I need more ammo, I'll carry some speed loaders or ammo strips.
 
That situation may have convinced me to stop carrying my Glock 23 + extra mag and switch to carrying my G17, a Kel-tec Sub 2000 gen 2 in a soft computer case + 6 extra mags. And maybe an AUG in the trunk.
 
critter said:
Had a friend who was into guns in a big way for many, many years. Had a CCW and carried all the time, mostly a S&W J-frame.

Three vermin in our town kidnapped a lady for her car, put her in the trunk, hauled her to a secluded place, took her out and murdered her. Used the car as a getaway in the robbery of a local branch bank-----the one my friend frequented and had just left a few minutes earlier.

It scared him. He decided that, had he been there, he would have engaged with his 5-shot J-frame and would have been outnumbered, outgunned and likely shot.

Scared him so badly, he stopped carrying all together!

Not likely my reaction. Anybody else have reacted that way? Anybody else ever been in a similar situation? I would appreciate any comments and/or insight regarding the situation. Thanks.
Click to expand...


Last time I checked, 5>3.

Yes I know that individual shots are not very likely to make a bad guy D.R.T.
But it's still an advantage.
Having said that, I agree that going to a higher capacity gun is a wise move.
After all, "individual shots are not very likely to make a bad guy D.R.T."
Best of fortunes to your friend, Critter.
 
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Though I'd not stop carrying altogether, I also find myself mentally rehearsing from time to time scenarios in which I would be better off standing down than engaging. It is indeed something to be aware of, that not every possible scenario would call for active engagement. Even as a LEO with an off-duty-carry requirement, I was still not required to respond in any way that would likely be unreasonably dangerous to myself or others for whom I was responsible.

On top of that, the likelihood of such a scenario (the bank robbery) playing out again is no greater than it was before it did the first time.

The OP's former friend (I hope this isn't why they are no longer friends) does need to sort this out on his own, without judgement from others.
 
If some people question their ability to be able to make a good decision about whether or not to use a lawfully carried firearm (meaning use deadly force), especially if they're under stress and fear, and so they decide not to carry a gun?

Their choice. I'm certainly not going to dispute their decision.

Some people ought not go about armed while in public, or even own a gun. If they can realize it themselves, so much the better.
 
Your friend's reaction seems to be perfectly reasonable to me. My guess is that prior to this event he probably thought very little about how marginally useful his J-frame might be in a REAL self-defense situation, probably got little if any real training in the use of a handgun for self-defense, and practiced very little with his chosen tool (not just slow fire on the square range, but drawing, shooting with speed and accuracy, shooting while moving, extensive dry practice, etc.). The nearness of this event shocked him, and something in his gut told him that he really was a defenseless sheeple, even though he carried a gun.

This guess may be way off target...(OP perhaps you can provide more light here) but it is pretty common for people to decide to carry a gun but to not get the training, practice, or thinking about scenarios to make them effective with this tool.

Deciding not to carry is a kind of time-out. During this timeout, he can decide to take the Scarlett O'Hara approach (I'll think about that tomorrow), or he can reconsider his past decisions and decide to become less of sheeple today.

His choice. However, if chooses to think about it tomorrow, then I'm pleased that he's not carrying any more.
 
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I've have seen folks after firing a gun or taking part in an intensive FOF, decide it is not right for them. This is their choice and if reasoned, probably a good one.
 
If he is the kind of person who would rush into a 5-on-1 gunfight he might not be the best person to carry.

I have a buddy, a big hunter and former real-life cowboy who would rarely be out in the middle of nowhere without at least a .30-30 who told me he does not carry because he has a hot temper.

Mike
 
Who is this guy, professor backwards? A bad incident should reinforce the option of arming yourself is a good idea, not turn a man into a grass eater. I thought everyone knew gunfighting requires multiple players?
 
like Dirty Harry said, a man has to know his limits. Past his prime, lost his edge?

If one has no confidence in himself or his ability to react, it is his option to not carry/ not respond. Hope he doesn't get herded into a back room to be executed.

Personally, as I get older and weaker it gives me more reason to want my snub nose or my pocket pistol, not less.

Fight, flee, or flow is no longer an option when you are too weak to flee and not inclined to flow.
 
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