Have you ever had to use it?

[DonNikmare]

We talk/write so much about so many different holsters to carry concealed, so many different training techniques for self defense, etc. etc....
There seems to be an army of well trained, armed, and ready gun owners here in the USA, which gives me comfort if things dramatically change and this country is ever seriously attacked.
Putting all wild scenarios and paranoia aside...

Have you or someone very close to you ever had to use a handgun or other firearm for self-defense?

If so, please share the situation if you comfortable with doing so.

(By "use it" I mean unholstering it, showing it, referring to it, etc. not necessarily pulling the trigger. I'm pretty sure not many who have actually pulled the trigger would care to share anything about it here.)

Why am I asking....
1. Desire to learn from others' experiences
2. Considering getting CHL and wondering if it is really worth the responsibility, the hassle, and the cost.
3. Curiosity

Nik

links to old threads if they exist on this topic are welcome

 

[SMLE]

In twenty years, I've had to draw only once. But I was darn glad I had the pistol that night. A friend and I were driving home late one night and at one point we pulled up behind another car a ta stop sign. A black male opened the passenger door and yelled something at us. I could not understand what. He got back in the car, the back up lights came on and they hit us. Then the black guy and a large Indian got out and walked back down either side of my car. My friend and I thought we were in the middle of a "bump and rob" act. We both drew our 1911s and when the big Indian got to my door, I aimed the pistol at him, dropped the safety and ordered him to back up. He did so, and got VERY co-operative. There was no damage to the cars and when he jumped back into the other car and left, I let him since no felony had been committed. When the cops showed up, they knew the black guy. He was a male prostitute. What he had yelled , he claimed, was for us to call the cops. It seems that the Indian had hired him for sexual favors then refused to pay.

I know this. While I was looking over the sights at him, I had absolutly NO DOUBT I could have pulled that trigger if he had not backed off and become compliant.

 

[stv]

There's an excellent thread on the same topic here, including a very hairy encounter by QuarterBoreGunner.

 

[Snowdog]

Nothing fancy, just tooling around town on my old 700cc Virago (my first bike), taking all the roads I've never taken to become more familiar with my bike and prospective shortcuts.
While turning around on a country road, a stray (or loose) German shepherd got way too close and too fast for comfort in a less-than-playful manner.
So I pulled my K9 from my Bianchi bellyband and pointed it at the dog, believing he would latch on to my leg before I could position the bike to speed off. If you aren't familiar with GSDs, they can move!

Fortunately stopped about 5 feet away, giving me an odd "so what do we do now" look.
Revving the throttle while in neutral seemed to further undermine his resolve.
Putting away the K9, I put the bike in gear and sped off with the dog giving chase (but the bike's faster ).

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to shoot it as I have a GSD of my own; they're great dogs!
I think this particular GSD was just a professional car chaser.

A GSD is a great dog, but scary if it's not yours. Here's my GSD showing his contempt for my squirt gun (but he's friendly and playful, really!)

More as a preemptive strike, a few years ago I shot a seriously pissed-off tom cat at a friend's farm at the owner’s request (it had injured his daughter's cat and attacked his wife twice). I used the K9 with 115gr Triton Quik-Shoks, ruining the hay bale he was perched on. No more bad kitty after that. I also got a taste of how loud a K9 is without hearing protection.

On a more serious note, I've never drawn my K9 on a person and pray I'm never in a position that requires that.

 

[GD]

I did last night.
Scenario: Wife comes running in the house. Outside is a skunk running around in circles with our cats in danger being in the proximity of a possible rabid skunk. Since this is 2 hours before sunset and it is acting weird, there is a strong chance it is rabid. The skunk is dispatched with two shots from a .22 buckmark. Family and cats are now safe. Chaulk up another defensive use of a handgun.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

In peace time~only pulled it once. Didn't have to fire.

In war time~Well, you know. I was young. I wanted to live.

KR

 

[OF]

In addition to all the other threads on this subject which can be found using the 'search' function in the upper right hand corner, there is a currently active thread HERE.

The original poster there ("The Rabbi") seems to be of the opinion that bad things don't happen to people, so if we could post our experiences there it would, I'm sure, assist in his 'research' on this topic.

- Gabe

 

[SMLE]

GRD

he original poster there ("The Rabbi") seems to be of the opinion that bad things don't happen to people,

I get the impression he is of the opinion that bad things don't happen to the majorityof people who carry, which I think is true. I've carried for 20 years and only had to draw once. I don't get the impression that he is fishing for rationals against carrying, just looking for a realistic idea of how often carriers actually have to resort to their guns. Just like the starter of this thread.

 

[mountainclmbr]

I posted my reply there.

 

[LiquidTension]

http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=126319&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Scroll down to RoadRep's post.

 

[Ky Larry]

I used a Ruger Black Hawk .357 to make a person with a straight razor leave me alone. A careful,close up examination of the bore of my revolver helped this person rethink their interpersonal relationship patterns. He chose to vacate the area post haste.

 

[cool45auto]

Never have.

In war time~Well, you know. I was young. I wanted to live.

Well said KR.

 

[Nightfall]

Yes! One time I was at a shooting range, and out of nowhere these strange, orange alien saucers made of clay started attacking! I did what had to be done. None survived...

Sorry, couldn't resist. Just wanted to be silly.

 

[Ala Dan]

Back in the 70's I carried a S&W 6" model 19 as a
reserve deputy sheriff in a major Alabama county
sheriffs department. About 0200 hrs in the early
AM, we proceeded to chase a vechile at speeds
exceeding 100 mph, for a distance estimated
to have been seven miles. Once we got the car
stopped, the occupant hit the electric locks on
the vechiles doors and locked them tighter than
Dicks hat ban. I was driving, so I approached
the vechile and ordered the suspect out of the
car; at which time, he simply slid down further
into the seat and placed his right hand into the
console. When I saw this, I took one step back
drew the 6" S&W model 19 from its duty rig and
pointed it at the drivers side window, in line with
and behind the drivers left ear for fear that I was
about to be shot! For some unknown and still
unexplained reason, the perp decided to call the
dogs off; turned his interior light on, unlocked the
doors, and threw his hands into the air. At this
time, I reholstered the model 19 approached the
drivers door and removed the driver; who was
the only person in the vechile. After administring
a field sobriety test, the young man was placed
under arrest for DUI.

Case in point, all is well that ends well. About a
month later at court, the lad plead guilty to DUI
and was fined $174 + the cost of court. When
exiting the courtroom, the offender came to my
partner an I and apologized; thanking us for
saving his life or the lives of others!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[ID_shooting]

I the civilian world I have only drawn twice and fired once.

Non-fire incident. I used to work the 3pm to midnight shift and kept a smitty 910 in my truck. I was on my home and was turning off of one street onto another and accidentally cut a guy off that I didn't see. well, I pulled off and slowed way down to let the guy by. I waved and made what I thought was the "I'm sorry" expression. Well, he went ballistic and was beside me paing me, I tried slowing down, speeding up, he just wouldn't let me alone. He kept pushing me over and alomost had me in the ditch when I nailed the binders and stopped. He pulled his car in so I couldn't move and bailed out of his car. He started shouting that he was gonna kick my a** and a bunch of other stuff you wouldn't say in church. When he got to my window he was looking down the barrel of mr 9mm. I told him I was sorry for cutting him and I would try not to do it again. I dont think he heard me cuz he jumped in his car and peeled rubber. I have had many people tell me that I was wrong for brandishing but I say, F it! That guy should't have gotten all worked up.

Now for the other one. Very similar to the above bike story, I was tooling down a country road on my bike when a greman shepard came out of a yard and grabbed my boot and pulled me off the bike. After I picked my self up the dog was right on top of me, out came mr smitty and the guy came running out of his house, I told him to get his dog and he just stood there yelling as his dog was getting all frumpy. Well, the dog jupped at me and grabbed the barrel, well, I hate the feeling but I vented the dog. The guy called the cops and when I showed him the bite mark on my boot, the bike on it's side and the dog drool on the gun he looked to the guy and told him to meek the next one in his yard. I still feel bad for the guy. not fun watching you dog die.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Just once. The woman lived. The rapist who'd been paroled from prison about five weeks earlier... Well, the less said, the better.

 

[bpisler]

About 5 years ago i was headed home from work.Setting at a red light i heard a man yelling to himself,he was 25-30 ft away when we made eye contact.He pulled a large butchers knife out from be hind his back and started to make a beeline for right side of my car.I drew my stainless security 6,pointed it at his chest and asked him to leave me alone.He turned around and went back the way he came from,still yelling and waving the knife around.I pulled into the next parking lot i could find and called the police,explained what had happened.They asked me to sit tight,a officer would contact me,after 30-45 minutes i called back and was informe they didn't find the guy and i could leave.Yes i was scared and i would have pulled the trigger if i needed to but i'am glad i didn't have to.

 

[Ryder]

I used a Ruger Black Hawk .357 to make a person with a straight razor leave me alone.

I've done the opposite. Used a blade in response to a handgun threat. Amazing how co-operative people get when there isn't any choice.

 

[Jim K]

In several years as a deputy sheriff, I drew once, displayed the gun once, and told a person I was armed once. No shots fired. And that is the best way if you can do it.

In civilian carry, I never drew or even came close to needing to.

Jim

 

[Atticus]

Several times. Once had a burglar coming through my window at 4 am. Unfortunately for him, I had just gotten home from a bar - fortunately for him, I didn't shoot him. Another time, a drunk was beating down my door looking for his cheating wife/girl friend ( I didn't know her). He sobered up quickly when greeted by my 100 lb German Shepard, and me with a 12 gauge. There were several other occassions when I was a student and pumping gas for a living.
Some nights, I felt like I was in a Sergio Leone movie - two hombres staring across a counter at each other- each with a hand in a coat pocket, or behind the back, a bead of sweat forming on our brows. That happened twice, and then I quit. The guy who replaced me was robbed almost weekly after I left. Ahh... the good ol $2.55/hour days.

 

[Grayrock]

In every issue of The American Rifleman there is a feature called "Armed Citizen" that details just what you want to know. You might see if the NRA website has a link to archives of that article.

 

[ID_shooting]

OK, how about a new twist:

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed one but for some reason, left it at home.

For me, we were out fishing inour little 12ft fishing boat. We were out in the river anchored on the down river side of a bridge in nice calm, very wide and very deep water. There had been many river boats go by us and most waved to us and slowed way down and pulled out wide away from us as they passed. Well, there was this one boat that thought it would be fun to spped up and swing in close and give me and my at the time pregnant wife a wake. Well, I was not impressed and loudly voiced my opinion of them as we were doing everything we could do to keep from beeing tossed in to the river. Upon hearing me, the a** hole whipped his boat around and acctually nosed up against our little boat. he had three guys with him and all had beer cans in thier hands. He asked what my problem was. Well duh, it's a bunch of drunks that have no respect and cant read the boating regs. He kept throttleing up and nudging up against my little boat and asking me if I wanted to go to the shore and settle this while his friends started digging out the oars and slapping them in thier hands. after what seemed like several minutes another boat came by and slowed way down, the jerk finally backed his boat away and tore off down the river. the other boat came over and asked if we were ok but we just pulled up anchor and went home. I have no doubt in my mind that if that other boat didnt come by, we would both be at the bottom of the river. Since then, I now carry a mossy 500 mariner full of 00 buck in the boat. Never thought I would see a day when you cant enjoy fishing without being harrased.

 

[IRONFIST]

I was coming home late from my regular Bouncing gig and noticied a non-resident poking around the cars in the tenant parking area. I headed for my apartment and saw that the guy stayed in front of me as I walked. He disappeared around the corner of a low wall and I had to go around the same wall a few seconds later. He was waiting for me on the other side. Asked me if I was following him. I replied that I lived here and was going to my home. He said that he thought that I WAS following him and people who did that got killed. As he was saying that last part he started reaching into his coat. I drew down on him with the SP101 .357 that had been in my hand since I left the car. I was scared to death. I told him that if anything but his hand came out of his coat I would shoot and kill him. Finger was on the trigger, sight was on his center of mass and he was less than 10 feet away. Thankfully, his hand came out empty and I didn't have to take his life. He walked a short distance away, threatened to come back and kill me and then ran off into the night. I was numb as I went into the house and called the Police to report it. Another time, at the bar I was working I had an small "interaction" in the parking lot with a gangbanger who lifted up his shirt to show he was strapped. I let him know that I was armed also and was ready for whatever might occur. He left without incident and I reported it to the Local Police, again extremely thankful that I didn't have to shoot someone, even an idiot like that. I don't ever want to badly hurt or kill someone, but I WILL make it home to my wife alive and I will do whatever is needed to do it.

 

[geekWithA.45]

There seems to be an army of well trained, armed, and ready gun owners here in the USA, which gives me comfort if things dramatically change and this country is ever seriously attacked.

2nd Amendment: Mission Accomplished.

Let's keep it that way.

 

[TallPine]

I've carried for 20 years and only had to draw once.

Well, see there - without a gun you would have only been killed once in 20 years ...


Seriously, the closest I have come was when I was about 12-14 years old. I was with my mom and grandma on I-40 in a pickup & camper after dark. Dash lights were on full bright so it was pretty light in the cab. Car with 2 guys passes us then immediately slows down to almost stopped and starts weaving back and forth across the road so we couldn't get past. I climbed partway through the "boot" between the PU and camper to get my mom's 22 semi-auto rolleyes: yeah, I know) from the camper. Right after that, these guys decided to pull over and let us by. That old six-banger chevy PU broke some records and limits from there into the next town.

I fully believe that even in the dark, those wolves observed me getting something from the camper and decided that these lambs had teeth.


These days, a .357 revolver rides on my hip virtually all the time, at home or about. Only used it to kill rattlesnakes and porcupines, plus scare off a stray dog.