Serious Question: Have you ever had to....

[Bandit01]

I know that this topic might seem like taboo to some. And I know that some may not want to discuss it but the reality is, some people out there had to and if you're carrying an if you're in a situation, you just might have to.

My question is: Have you ever had to use your firearm in self defense?

Personally, I never pulled it out but I did kind of flash it. I live in Charlotte, N.C. and I have a CCW Permit. Many times, I leave my office in the wee hours of the morning. Over the Summer, I'm assuming that it was probably after 2:00 A.M., I was on my way home. I drive a black Trans/Am. Since it was summer, I had the T-tops off. Stupid me, I didn't fill the tank up earlier and I didn't have enough gas to get home. The closest gas station to my office is in a not so nice area which does make me nervous (even during the day). Well, I pulled into the station and some guys were standing out front. As I pulled in, all eyes were on me. I'm not acting nervous, just pulled up to the pump and pumping. But out of the corner of my eye, I'm watching them. From the side, I saw someone sneaking, slowly walking up to me. I just eased back a little and pulled the butt of my concealed pistol out (it was in my front pants). It was enough and I know that he saw it. Afterwards, I got into the car and pulled off. Afterwards, my heart was racing heavily and I was nervous as hell.

Any experiences?

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Luckily, I have not ever had to use it or even begin to draw it in self defense. But, I am still in my 20s, I hope I stay lucky the rest of my life.

 

[Tamara]

But out of the corner of my eye, I'm watching them. From the side, I saw someone sneaking, slowly walking up to me. I just eased back a little and pulled the butt of my concealed pistol out (it was in my front pants). It was enough and I know that he saw it.

So, the cat wanted to know if you had the WS-6 Ram Air package and ask if you had any timeslips in the glovebox, and you flashed your gat at him?

 

[MrMurphy]

Nearly, twice.. didn't have to draw.

 

[sm]

I'm with Tamara on this .

Around here my Res State & Non-Res FL -permit ; does not allow me to "flash to pass" - I get into trouble if I do.

Most folks probably won't answer your question, this has been asked before. Some have indeed been "in fear of life" and defended themselves. Personal reasons for some not sharing, Legal reasons dictate others will not. Some things folks don't reveal , like time spent in a conflict or their CCW.

No disrespect intended.

 

[CAS700850]

It was when I was in law school. I was living alone in an apartment, and was awakened by a loud sound. Once awake, I heard a second, and realized it was at the front door. I grabbed my Smith & Wesson 586 and went to the front door. I came aroudn the corner to see the front door as it crashed open. There stood a male subject who looked at me, while I looked at him over the top of my Smith. He saw it, turned, and bolted. I slammed the door, shoved the couch over to hold it closed, and caled for help. They never caught anyone. To theis day, I distinctly remember the feeling of my finger against the trigger.

Funny, in the movies, the good guys always have something smart to say at that moment. I didn't say a damn thing.

 

[Gus Dddysgrl]

I'm with WhoKnowsWho. I've never come across the situation, but am also in my early 20s. I hope I never have to.

Gus

 

[mfree]

I've cleared my house before from the bedroom, that's about it. Was just really odd house settling noises that sounded like a door opening and a couple footfalls that time.

Unless you count shooting wildcats chewing on my brother's cat, but he did the shooting, I just handed him the pistol. It's his cat, after all. Or it was. We apparently had coyotes in Friendsville too...

 

[Kingcreek]

twice. neither time required shooting but the presence of a gun in my hand ended situations that could have gone badly.

 

[spacemanspiff]

pshhhaawww!!! i use mine every day! whenever i enter a room, i put my hand under my concealing garment (today its a molon labe t shirt, untucked) and grasp the weapon. with my weak hand i clench my fist and hold it against my chest to ward off anyone who gets near me with a cqb weapon in hand. i never turn my back to anyone, so i always have to shuffle around the walls of any room i enter. you can never be too careful!

 

[ALS]

Yes I have. I was closing up and had a guy walk in and pull a knife. Being I was behind the counter and armed with my Browning HP loaded with Silver Tips I wasn't real impressed with his demands for the money in the cash register. I told him to leave nicely. He looked at me like I was nuts. I was sitting there and he says I not playing. So I say neither am I now get the F*** out. So what does the idiot do he starts to come around the counter.
Well I stepped back a step or two and reached back and pulled the Browning cocking it as I pulled it from the small of the back holster and aimed it at his head. He almost pee'd his pants you should have seen his face. One of my employees in the back had seen what was going on and called the police. This idiot didn't leave he just stood there trying to talk to me. Well two police cars pull up in front of the store. This guy backs out the door and heads for his car.
The police officer walks in and asks what was going on. (gun was back in my holster). I pointed to the guy walking across the parking lot and said he just tried to rob me with a knife. This moron police officer asks why he didn't get any money. I said he brought a knife to a gun fight. This cop asks to see my gun permit and was in no hurry to have the other officer outside grab the guy.
(BTW in Pa you don't need a permit to carry in your own Business) As I'm showing him my permit I'm making a point the guy is pulling out of the lot aren't you going to grab him. Well three days later a Det. pops in and describes the guy to a tee as well as his car and says they know him. He then points out that this clown was wanted in three suburban communities as well as the city for armed robbery and they would go scoop him up. Well they never did because I checked back two weeks later and got the run around. I bet if he was a black man with a cell phone in his hand they would have had 9 officers beat him to death on the spot. Oh I forgot they already did that once.

 

[toolmaker]

Once in college, I lived in rent-controlled housing. I heard a loud banging at my front door, and went to answer it with a 2 inch Smith .22 Kit Gun behind my back (mercy I wish I still had that little fella) and a drunk asked if this was such-and-such's apartment. It obviously wasn't, and he left without incident. He never saw the little Smith, loaded with Stingers. I still remember the feeling of security I had with that little gun at my side. D*** I was a fool to sell it to pay tuition. The money would have otherwise come from somewhere,... but the little pinned and recessed Smith from 1977 would have been with me for many years...... Please someone say something to make me feel better. Thanks.

 

[Tom Servo]

My hand's gone to the butt a couple of times, but I no longer work in those areas, so these days, life is sedate.

You probably won't get many of the "so I fired two shots COM and waited for the police" stories for a couple of reasons.

First, say you were in a shooting situation. Depending on the circumstances and the state where you live, you may have to defend yourself in court. They last thing you'd need is for the prosecutor to find that you published accounts of it on the web. Look at alot of the things we debate here: very particular ammo selection, debates about relative stopping power, discussions about tactics, and c'mon, most of us have made a joke or two about a bad guy who "got what was coming to him." Harmless enough, unless you get the wrong DA. They could paint a picture of you as a chip-on-the-shoulder Dirty Harry-type just looking for a fight.

"I mean, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, why would ANY civilian want to carry a concealed firearm when the police are perfectly capable of protecting us?!?"

Such things could also serve as ammo for a civil suit further down the line.

Second, there's a distinct possibility that a few folks have been in a situation where they drew, fired, took a look around, and spotting no witnesses, simply left the scene. I've heard a couple of "friend of a friend" stories to this effect over the years. Don't know if there's truth to them, but I imagine it's happened somewhere, and I don't imagine those folks would post here, either.

 

[fastball]

I do feel for you, Toolmaker.

Hope that helps. On topic: Yes. Shots fired. Ruger 10/22. Assistant DA girlfriend not pleased. Legal reasons dictate lack of further detail. On a more positive note. I have been of service to several victims of violent crime. One with a movie contract. I doubt if I will get top billing.

 

[TonyB]

It's about 2am one morning..I open my bedroom door to see my wife,step son and daughter standing in the kitchen...my step son holding a broom in the attack position...I retrieve my weapon and go see what's up...then I see that my family has a perpetrator cornered....apparently the subject had entered my daughter's room and woke her up...she screamed and the sucker ran....now we had him cornered...I pushed my family asdie and said"let me handle this..."I drew down on the bastard..no way was he going to invade MY home and threaten MY family...I shot once with my trusty revolver and hit him COM..he stumbled and I unloaded the rest of the chambers....he fell to his death.....after a few seconds my family and I had realized what just happened...we looked at eachother and laughed........you see the perp was a red squarrel and the weapon of choice was a Croosman pellet gun...that's the closest I've come ...thank God....

 

[spacemanspiff]

dude, how did you know that squirrel wasnt a mutant ninja zombie squirrel, ready to pop back to life since you didnt shoot its head off?

you really shoulda used a 3 inch magnum 12 gauge slug. anything less and you just dont love your family.

 

[TonyB]

I stand corrected then...always use more than enough gun.......although I did hang his lifeless body from my portch as a warning to all other rodents hell bent on my family's destruction....

 

[dustind]

I have had to pull a knife a few times.

You should do a search, no one seems willing to retell their stories.

 

[DigMe]

TonyB,

Maybe you were never taught this in english class but the number of periods at the end of your sentences doesn't have to equal the number of words in the sentence. One will do it.

brad cook

 

[entropy]

Bandit01, you should do a search anyway, there are plenty of such stories here, including mine. I just don't like retyping it all the time, I sure that's the case with most.

 

[Standing Wolf]

One of these days, I'm going to have to write my tale.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Yes, as a police officer, and yes on two occassions as a private citizen.

Best.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

Haven't yet. Hopefully never will. By the way folks, brandishing can get you in DEEP doo doo. If you don't understand why, take the safety course again and pay attention this time.

 

[Smoke]

Nope. Never.

Look for Quarterboregunners tale on the matter. Sobering reading that one.

Smoke

 

[sm]

To answer the original question - Yes.
I was a kid the first time.