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Have you ever had to?

7K views 57 replies 34 participants last post by  Brevard13 
#1 ·
My wife and I discuss guns often. She is fine w/ them as fun, plinking, sport or hunting, but is afraid of SD purposes as she feels drawing a pistol may/will escalate the problem. My opinion is that the situation needs to be dire before I draw and leveling a weapon MAY disperse the tension w/o shots fired. Now I am beginning to doubt myself as I figure if I need to come to bear, lead is flying. I am comfortable w/ defending myself and my property w/ lethal force. I am asking w/ all due respect and discretion, how many of you have had to come to bear and NOT have to fire a round? I am not sure if I phrased my question well, but I wonder how many times "I have a gun"..."I will shoot you"..."got out of my house or I will shoot you" works in lieu of lead.
 
#3 ·
If you cannot reconcile the taking of a life if the circumstance presents itself, then you have no business attempting to employ a firearm in the task, be it SD/HD or CCW. You will be under more stress to becoming a victim through hesitation or victimizing an innocent by not placing your shot under duress.

Think this out carefully and deliberately before you make any decisions on an individual basis. It is NOT a "couples" type of decision. What happens after that then may have to be worked on in a "couples" manner.
 
#4 ·
If you cannot reconcile the taking of a life if the circumstance presents itself, then you have no business attempting to employ a firearm in the task, be it SD/HD or CCW. You will be under more stress to becoming a victim through hesitation or victimizing an innocent by not placing your shot under duress.
If I may copy your post and change one word....
If you cannot reconcile the taking of a life if the circumstance DEMANDS, then you have no business attempting to employ a firearm in the task, be it SD/HD or CCW. You will be under more stress to becoming a victim through hesitation or victimizing an innocent by not placing your shot under duress.
 
#5 ·
All good stuff! Thanks! I think the only issue is that I would have ZERO problem taking a life if there were ANY chance it could mean my or my families life or well-being. I am also sure that my wife does not have a problem w/ that. The issue arises if I do need to act in such a manner, there is no guarantee that I am walking away. We both study Tae Kwon Do and both realize, no matter how good you are, there is always somebody better faster and stronger. I have come to terms with the ramifications of pulling a trigger and it could mean anything from my death to jail to lawsuits to simply some self doubt. She is not sure that throwing lead is safer than evasion.(and yes, we do have egress planned and practiced).
 
#8 ·
A teenager stealing booze can quickly become a thug with a bat/knife/gun. Many may remember my explanation regarding drawing and NOT firing, but in case you missed it, here's the short version of the lesson I learned.

Being presented with danger and your response to it is not an ON/OFF situation. It's dynamic throughout every fraction of a second of the incident. I've cleared leather before, didn't have to shoot because the situation changed. A crow bar wielding A$$hole one second, can become a totally compliant glob of blubbering wussy the next.

I will say that the situation does have to present a VERY clear danger to someones life and limb before even considering un-holstering (it did in my case). If it doesn't, you'll pay the price for drawing your weapon, either legally or emotionally, if you do pull the trigger.

I've changed my viewpoint over the years a bit. If danger is approaching, I'm not going to wait for the very last second to try and deploy my weapon, nor am I going to walk around with my hand on my gun all the time. My new viewpoint, BE AWARE of your surroundings, see danger before it becomes danger. Something as simple as crossing the street, waiting for things to pass, or simply not being there are far better options than having to present/use your weapon.

Either way, if you carry a gun, practice with it... A LOT! Take some formal defensive pistol training, it's worth every penny, and then some. The mental part of the equation? Well, that's each individuals cross to bear... but I do know I'd have a damn hard time living with myself if someone harmed a loved one and I stood there doing nothing to prevent it. That's my justification, yours may vary.
 
#9 ·
America is just very afraid. I can tell by the way a lot of you talk. The way you solve the problem is to pull out a gun and well I don't think that's right. If someone hasn't seen 'Bowling for Columbine' (the film) yet I suggest you watch it.

It's an ambiguous subject because i understand its for self defense but i just feel America has over done it.
 
#10 ·
I don't believe that using a gun to diffuse a situation should be part of your plan. Bringing a gun into a situation that doesn't involve your intent on actually using it puts you in greater danger. It may turn out that way, but if your bluff is called, either you're dead or you've armed a criminal.
 
#12 ·
America is just very afraid. I can tell by the way a lot of you talk. The way you solve the problem is to pull out a gun and well I don't think that's right. If someone hasn't seen 'Bowling for Columbine' (the film) yet I suggest you watch it.

It's an ambiguous subject because i understand its for self defense but i just feel America has over done it.
If you get your 'information' from Michael Moore films, then you are probably too ignorant of the actual facts to have an intelligent discussion on this subject. If you will examine some statistical records, you will find that concealed handgun licensees are the most law-abiding segments of the American society. You will also discover that the states with the highest numbers of licensees have the lowest crime numbers.

Just because we don't depend on the Mounties to show up in time to save our asses from the dregs of society, it is not necessarily because we are more afraid than Canadians. It just means we are less tolerant of those members of society who mean us harm.
 
#15 ·
America is just very afraid. I can tell by the way a lot of you talk. The way you solve the problem is to pull out a gun and well I don't think that's right. If someone hasn't seen 'Bowling for Columbine' (the film) yet I suggest you watch it.

It's an ambiguous subject because i understand its for self defense but i just feel America has over done it.
I can understand how you might think that. There are probably some people in America who have overdone it. There's a small segment of our society who enrich themselves by stoking the fears of others. There are people who listen to them and arm themselves to the hilt in preparation for the end of the world as we know it.

I'm not like that. The FBI or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms will never storm my home to confiscate my cache of weapons. I won't shoot up a military base or try to break into the Pentagon. In other words, I'll probably never make the news because the people who report the news never seem to care to report about RESPONSIBLE gun owners.

So you get a steady diet of the idiots, the stupid, and the irresponsible..and you form your opinion based on that.

It's unfortunate. I'm not like that. I'll go out on a limb and say that most of the members of this forum aren't like that.

We're not walking the streets of Dodge City looking for a gunfight.
 
#16 ·
Really, a lot of interesting answers and opinions and I appreciate that. I know that real life experiences are personal and not about bragging rights, so my question is "have you ever had to". You can answer yes or no...or relate the account. I am seriously wondering what % of carries have had to fire their weapon in self defense...outside of military or LEO duty. Hope it is not too personal...just curious.
 
#17 ·
If you get your 'information' from Michael Moore films, then you are probably too ignorant of the actual facts to have an intelligent discussion on this subject. If you will examine some statistical records, you will find that concealed handgun licensees are the most law-abiding segments of the American society. You will also discover that the states with the highest numbers of licensees have the lowest crime numbers.

Just because we don't depend on the Mounties to show up in time to save our asses from the dregs of society, it is not necessarily because we are more afraid than Canadians. It just means we are less tolerant of those members of society who mean us harm.
+1. You pegged it, Michael Moore, and all. The point about MM was the first thing that crossed my mind when I read Bowling for Columbine. Who in their right mind believes anything that comes out of that infested rats pie whole anyway?
 
#18 ·
Really, a lot of interesting answers and opinions and I appreciate that. I know that real life experiences are personal and not about bragging rights, so my question is "have you ever had to". You can answer yes or no...or relate the account. I am seriously wondering what % of carries have had to fire their weapon in self defense...outside of military or LEO duty. Hope it is not too personal...just curious.
To answer your question directly, I've never. I served in the US Army from 1966-1970 and never fired a weapon other than on the shooting range. I drove a taxi (at night) in New Orleans for two years without encountering a problem. I didn't have a gun at that time either.

On the other hand, I have had renter's insurance everywhere that I have ever lived. It covers me for full replacement value in the event of fire or theft. In over forty years, I've never filed a claim.

It just takes once.
 
#19 ·
If you get your 'information' from Michael Moore films, then you are probably too ignorant of the actual facts to have an intelligent discussion on this subject. If you will examine some statistical records, you will find that concealed handgun licensees are the most law-abiding segments of the American society. You will also discover that the states with the highest numbers of licensees have the lowest crime numbers.

Just because we don't depend on the Mounties to show up in time to save our asses from the dregs of society, it is not necessarily because we are more afraid than Canadians. It just means we are less tolerant of those members of society who mean us harm.
Bisley have you seen the film or not? I dont believe michael Moore presents his films with false facts, if anything his films are biased so the facts are still true but we only get to see his point of view, but he has on that particular film a statistic saying something like the states has 11,000 gun homicides each year and every other country has a few hundred at most, and they thought that it was because the states have more guns, but then they said Canada has almost just as many. So like its up to you whether you believe that or not but if it is true it contradicts what you said in a way.

I like the idea (someone else mentionned it sorry i dont have the name of quote) that if someone does break in or what not you bring out a gun in hopes to scare them away but not with the intention of killing or even hurting them. But i read some posts saying that oh if someone breaks in, im pulling out my gun with the intention of pulling the trigger

And Bisley I'm not trying to be condescending or anything dont take what I say as an offense
 
#20 ·




you're right... we have nothing to worry about.
I think the first one you can tell right by how the reporters and police chief whoever talk that they blow it out of proportion, obviously its a serious issue, no doubt but taking over america? anyways the solution here is not to give people in the drug industry firearms to shoot people that they owe money for drugs. so I don't think this is even a valid discussion point for this tread.

On the other hand the second video is probably a perfect example of what were talking about. Scary stuff I see why people would want protection, (guns) But it brings up i think another important point, of how the United-States should maybe banned all these assault rifles or just some better system, I know the U.S. are able to purchase a lot more firearms than Canada and maybe thats part of the issue, by eliminating that maybe you could eliminate more violence?

I hope that not everyone on the forum is against me here, im hoping you guys understand my point of view thats all.

one last thing, can someone tell me how the gun laws work in the States, what do you have to do to own a firearm and are there different classes so on so fourth. Thanks.
 
#22 ·
...anyways the solution here is not to give people in the drug industry firearms to shoot people that they owe money for drugs. so I don't think this is even a valid discussion point for this tread.
Was it Michael Moore who told you that we issue guns to drug dealers?

What is it that compels 'liberals' to always attach the blame in exactly the wrong places? It is ridiculous to blame inanimate objects for murder, as if they had minds of their own, that compel them to take human lives. You are giving the instruments used in conflict supernatural powers...do you also believe in ghosts and witches?

Here's some news for you: people get murdered with knives, baseball bats, and motor vehicles, every day. Do these objects also have this supernatural ability to select innocent humans for destruction?

The proper use of a self-defense firearm is to enable a weak person to protect himself from a strong person. Why are you opposed to that? I suppose that Canada is so much more civilized than the US that you can simply not even conceive of being attacked. Congratulations with that, and good luck for the future, because you are out of luck if some evil bastard goes through the victim selection process and it spits out your name.
 
#23 ·
I think the first one you can tell right by how the reporters and police chief whoever talk that they blow it out of proportion, obviously its a serious issue, no doubt but taking over america? anyways the solution here is not to give people in the drug industry firearms to shoot people that they owe money for drugs. so I don't think this is even a valid discussion point for this tread.

On the other hand the second video is probably a perfect example of what were talking about. Scary stuff I see why people would want protection, (guns) But it brings up i think another important point, of how the United-States should maybe banned all these assault rifles or just some better system, I know the U.S. are able to purchase a lot more firearms than Canada and maybe thats part of the issue, by eliminating that maybe you could eliminate more violence?

I hope that not everyone on the forum is against me here, im hoping you guys understand my point of view thats all.

one last thing, can someone tell me how the gun laws work in the States, what do you have to do to own a firearm and are there different classes so on so fourth. Thanks.
America is capitalized by the way.

Referencing the items in bold...banning firearms does one thing really well... it keeps guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. Do you really think a criminal, the person who's going to break the law anyways, cares about a ban on guns, or the legality of owning one? If you do, you've obviously never had a run in with a criminal. How did bad people kill/rob/steal before guns? That's right, with whatever was available. So, if they banned guns, I'm sure that all the criminals would suddenly follow the law and turn them in... right? :roll:

As far as people being "against" you, you do realize you're advocating banning of guns on a GUN FORUM, right? Probably not going to get too many people agreeing with your point of view.
 
#25 ·
I think the first one you can tell right by how the reporters and police chief whoever talk that they blow it out of proportion, obviously its a serious issue, no doubt but taking over america? anyways the solution here is not to give people in the drug industry firearms to shoot people that they owe money for drugs. so I don't think this is even a valid discussion point for this tread.

On the other hand the second video is probably a perfect example of what were talking about. Scary stuff I see why people would want protection, (guns) But it brings up i think another important point, of how the United-States should maybe banned all these assault rifles or just some better system, I know the U.S. are able to purchase a lot more firearms than Canada and maybe thats part of the issue, by eliminating that maybe you could eliminate more violence?

I hope that not everyone on the forum is against me here, im hoping you guys understand my point of view thats all.

one last thing, can someone tell me how the gun laws work in the States, what do you have to do to own a firearm and are there different classes so on so fourth. Thanks.
your missing the point.... but you have the luxury of not having worry about drug cartels invading your country. You have the United States as a buffer zone. Mexican drug cartels hire gang members, gang members kill, rape, kipnap, driveby shootings and break into homes everyday... so the 2 are connected. People in law enforcement will confirm this.

Every country has their issues, for example.... Canada chooses to slaughter millions of baby seals every year by clubbing them to death. We choose to protect ourselves from violent criminals who try and inflict their violent will upon us. It's too bad baby seals can't arm themselves...

Now, as for Micheal Moore... He uses the misfortunes of others to get rich... very rich as a matter of fact. My hope for people like him is that they live a very short life, and by gauging his current weight and eating habits... he'll either have a heart attack or stroke and he won't be here much longer anyway. I have a big problem with that POS and refuse to watch his one sided propaganda. He would make Joseph Goebbels proud.

*See Signature*
 
#26 ·
To all of you macho muscle flexers...

...it's easy to talk tough, but the fact is that if any one of you shoots someone in your home...unless you can prove with 100% certainty that they were acutely and directly attempting to kill you or your family members, you will be living the next 25 to life in an orange jumpsuit and picking up trash on the side of my road chained to the guys on either side of you....which may not be the worst thing ever....this place is full of trash and looks like crap.....so fire away.
 
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