When do you feel most vulnerable?

[bolesic1]

I used to feel really vulnerable when sleeping for the following reasons (similar to the guy with the CPAP).

I am a very light sleeper, I mean I wake up when someone walks past my ground floor apartment outside. My upstairs neighbors are quite loud, so to get to sleep at night I need to sleep with ear plugs in. 33 decibel reduction, I mean it's like sleeping in a coffin in the ground.

So I got all paranoid, I mean I had a gun 6 inches from my dominant hand, but I'm dead to the world, anyone could break the window in the other room and come in to steal stuff, slit my throat, whatever.

Solution? The same one used for thousands and thousands of years, a dog. I adopted an adult rat terrier (looks like a big chihuaha with huge bat ears) that sleeps right next to me. He also has the bark of a MUCH bigger dog, like doberman size. The biggest plus is that he never barks unless someone is at the door or something is amiss. So I basically have a well-trained burgler alarm I can hear with earplugs on. The cost is low and he's fun to have around.

Also, the 2-3 times he's barked at night so far I jumped 3 feet in the air with a full-on adrenaline dump. If you aren't expecting it a dog's bark is seriously "alarming", as it were.

 

[LightningJoe]

I never actually feel vulnerable. Generally, people don't screw with me. I probably should be more vigilant, but I just don't think like that.

 

[Pro_Gun]

Followup

I ride a motorcycle also. (Harley Road King) Other than threats from other moving vehicles, I don't feel that vulnerable riding. I carry when I ride and practice riding with a single hand. I could pull my 1911 and get off a few shots if necessary. Its on my hip, or my Glock 27 and it stays secure in the holster no problem.

I carry because I'm not getting any younger, have a stress fracture in my lower back from work, have had a heart attack (small one) and a small stroke but feel pretty good with the heart meds etc.

I am afraid I couldn't fight my way out of a problem to protect me or mine for very long considering. Don't know how the court would view it but I would consider it a threat on my life if a small gang, maybe even one person, were to threaten me armed or not. I pray I won't have to shoot if the problem ever arises and that pulling the weapon will do the trick if the threat continues. But you gotta do what you gotta do. (kinda between a rock and hard place)

I am more afraid for the wife, she isn't anti or anything and has even shot with me in our younger days, but has tunnel vision. No awareness at all. I have a loaded SP101 in the gun cabinet for her but she won't carry it or anything else.

A victim waiting to happen.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I always get that creepy feeling when I come home late at night and get out of my car to walk to the front door. I park in a port, and there is a structure right behind it where a bad guy could be hiding. That's why, in that situation, I put my hand on my .45 before I open the door. I used to have a car that would leave the headlights on for a minute after the engine stops, but currently don't have a car that does that. Get out in total darkness, but I always have a little flashlight with me, so my left hand holds that, and my right is gripping the gun in the holster, while I look in every direction, then proceed. Sounds paranoid, but I bet paranoids are less likely to be jumped in the dark.

 

[45+]

My worst moments come when visiting my mother-in-law in the hospital, sometimes during the evening hours. Hospitals and nursing homes can elect to post in Texas making it illegal to ccw there. I have spent more time without my usual handgun(s) while visiting her than at any other time since I got my permit, and there are a great many folks that draw my attention while on their premises. Hopefully she will be out of there before long and this will not be an on-going issue.

 

[SiG Lady]

Vulnerable is where you least expect it...

...but I try to remain extremely vigilant, even in the most seemingly innocent situations. And I thought I was the only one who felt vulnerable when hauling groceries in or out... that "leaning into the car at an awkward angle" thing. Oh yes, been there, thought of that. Just this morning, in fact.

I just practice the scan-and-search thing WHEREVER I am (even when I'm NOT 'doing' groceries) and that's sometimes the most/best I can do. It's better than NOT doing it.

I feel disturbingly vulnerable while sleeping. It's far more comfortable to wear light sleepwear (instead of street clothes) while sleeping, but I feel vulnerable when NOT in street clothes and placing myself in that kind of vulnerable situation. But obviously I can't stayed fully clothed and fully awake for years on end, right...?

Some days I don't feel vulnerable at all. Some days it's wall-to-wall vulnerable. Mostly it's somewhere in between and I just keep lots of space between my physical person and everyone/everything around me. So far so good.

 

[Manedwolf]

Anytime I HAVE to go down into MA, which I avoid doing at all costs.

It's too dangerous, and I have to be completely unarmed.

 

[jeepmor]

You are the most vulnerable

When entering or exiting your car. (car seat example is the worst due to time in the vulnerable zone)

When using a public restroom.

I don't worry about these two typically because I am rarely in the type of congestion that brings about a that kind of paranoia. But then again, I'm a biggish guy at 6'2" over 200lbs. I sense some peoples' unease at times because my size intimidates them no matter my mannerisms.

I guess I've become accustom to this and just don't feel vulnerable in social settings much. I feel more vulnerable when I'm standing on a cornice, snowboard strapped on, comtemplating making it through all those rocks at 30mph.

jeepmor

 

[GRB]

I usually don't feel vulnerable because I try to stay vigilant. When you are not vigilant you are most vulnerable. Of course you are vulnerable at any given time, especially in a regular day when you interact with other folks, for example just walking down a busy street. Anyone in the crowd could hit the plunger and blow you up, or anyone could pull a gun and shoot you in the back, or anyone could drive up on the sidewalk and try to kill as many pedestrians as possible, or a meteor could fall on your head.

The best thing to do to avoid all of those, except maybe the last one, is stay alert.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

On my motorcycle.
I don't carry often on the bike since I feel that a wreck and the resulting torso trauma could be made worse by a handgun.
People are always pulling over on me, cutting me off, and generally not paying attention.
Generally, if you have time to be outraged or pull a gun, your life wasn't in danger - you're just filled with anger and indignance. But, if you get through something and have to pull over with the shakes, then you were in danger.
So, I feel most vulnerable on my bike or while I'm putting on my gear (ATGATT).
I have a buddy (old skool harley rider - not yuppie wanna-be or Orange County choppers watcher) who keeps a selection of rocks duct-taped to his frame for people who cut him off.

 

[PILMAN]

I'm a bit paranoid going to the mall as the parking lot is big, also the entrance where all the hooligans hang out and the malls bathrooms (lots of "looking for sex? call 555-5555" written on the wall.)

My neighborhood I feel pretty safe but sometimes when i'm walking near the trailers I get pretty paranoid. The area I work, some parts are bad and a lot of drug dealers. Also going to ATM machine at night or the gas station there are a lot of illegals and I don't trust them for a minute, I always feel like i'm going to get robbed at the gas station for some reason.