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This reminds me of a thread in TFL (IIRC) were an anti was sayings things to the effect that she was afraid she would shoot someone if she got mad enough at them.
You need to think of these things ahead of time. And tell yourself that anger isn't a reason to use your gun. Also the gun doesn't let you act with more agression than normal; in fact, because of legal and ethical concerns you should use less aggression than normal in many everyday type situations.
You should keep the rule of three in mind (my name for it, it is based on my CCW instructor's version of Ayoob's triad) when using lethal force: 1) You (or innocent) must be in immediate threat of death or GRAVE bodily harm (Grave means more than a little oouchie or bruise) 2) No lesser means will work (ie leaving, less lethal force, etc) 3) You must be UNWILLING participant.
All three must be in effect for you to be justified in using lethal force.
When you are armed any confrontation you are in is a potentially lethal one. By bringing a gun to a confrontation you bring threat of immediate death to people your having a confrontation with.
Until this last Feb I worked as night manager at a Hotel. I carried there regularly. I dealt with many drunks and drug users (and some real cool people also, met a fairly high level Nosler employee there one night).
I suspect I was treated to most of the rude verbal comments you can think of, as are most LEOs, while on the job and armed.
I always treated people with respect even when they were cussing me out. And even when I had to call LEO and kick them out of the hotel. IF I cussed them out I did it later to friends or co workers.
This does many things. One it often solves minor problems without them growing into bigger problems. Also even drunks sometimes remember that you were polite but firm with them when they were being a stupid SOB. They will often apologize for their boorish behavior when sober. And are less likely to cause problems for you the next time they are drunk.
Also for a CCWing person, the fact that many people see you stay calm and polite while being called whatever could certainly help if you ever do NEED to shoot someone for self defense.
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I think part of the reason this thread seemed like an "anti WonderNine brigade" is that your comments make you sound like someone who isn't fully prepared to carry in public.
HAve you ever been to any get togethers? TFL or THR or such? Do you have many friends that CCW?
MAny things are easier to show or discuss in person than over a web board. And how to handle yourself in public is one of those IMO.
I was at one TFL get together that was hosted in the country (outside city limits). Did a bit of shooting at the hosts farm, he had a small pit on his property he used for plinking.
One of his more distant neighbors was a retired LEO from out East and didn't like the gunfire from our little get together. Drove over intoxicated and complained to our host (who was also retired LEO).
He wasn't very polite and threatened to come over with his gun to make us stop shooting (He would have been very outgunned, we probably had the local SWAT team out gunned by more than a little). Our host pointed out that we weren't doing anything wrong (legal to shoot on private property outside city limits, BTW this is an open carry state) and sent him home.
Little while later sheriff duputy stopped by to see what was going on. Said he didn't see any unsafe shooting and left. HE didn't even take a doughnut with him
