You don't HAVE to shoot

[Glock Fan]

It also helps if there is only one story......

Now given, my point of view on this is probably a little different than most as I am an officer in a state correctional facility (max, med, and min security), and have a couple of years of LE experience from the street.

(hoping that I don't sound too trigger happy or homicidal)

Sounds like we've both had similar training. I was trained that the only time that I draw my firearm was when it needed to be discharged. Now if some guy swings on me, I take cover and draw my firearm and the guy surrenders in the process, then this is a very unique situation where I would have drawn my firearm and not discharged it.

You're right about the "one story" situation. As I stated earlier, I would have probably handled the situation a little different.

With that said, keep in mind that there are a lot of civilians who haven't had the kind of training that some of us have had. These folks should become very familiar with the laws of the various jurisdictions where they are planning on carrying their firearms. What's legal "back home" can land you in jail in a different city.



gf

[Austin]

You make some very good points GLOCK FAN, you are allright.

You really cannot go wrong with your advice on this matter.

[kwo51]

In one of Mass books he told of a man that drew his gun and the bad guys left. Only to call the police and tell them a man had a gun pointed at them.This brings up reporting the event. If you have to draw it may be good to report it.

[dancingwolf]

In one of Mass books he told of a man that drew his gun and the bad guys left. Only to call the police and tell them a man had a gun pointed at them.This brings up reporting the event. If you have to draw it may be good to report it.

I agree. Also, those sickos most probably went to find some poor soul who wasn't armed and otherwise couldn't defend himself, so reporting creeps like theae to the police may prevent further crime.

As for drawing down on someone, my weapon leaves its holster because I've made up my mind that my life is in immediate danger and the threat is real leaving me NO ALTERNATIVE but to fire to neutralize that threat. Drawing your weapon with the idea that just doing so will remove the threat may work in some situations, but I believe not firing while holding on to that hope can get you killed.

A better solution, IMHO, would be to place your hand on your weapon, openly showing this to the threat. If he leaves, fine. But at this point, your mind should be in condition red and you should have already made up your mind to draw and shoot should the aggressor trip the "line in the sand" that you've mentally drawn, such as, "if he continues advancing, I will draw and shoot."

[Landor]

Massad Ayoob has had more training them all of us together. Not really but he knows how to handle a situation. If I had three guys approach me and all three were carrying potential weapons that were out of place for the situation my gun would not be at my side. It would be pointing at one of them.

Odds are these guys have records and they were carrying weapons even though they might say they did not threaten you if they were still alive that is.

Sorry, better safe then sorry.

[MP3Mogul]

That is where we differ.

If I pull my weapon to defend my wife and I there will be shots fired. At that point diplomacy is dead and they are next.

I am sure that I am going to take heat for that post, but that is my 2 cents worth.

+1

If I made the decision to draw, I have already made the decision to fire. All 3 would be dead.

[tattedupboy]

+1

If I made the decision to draw, I have already made the decision to fire. All 3 would be dead.

Not necessarily so for me. In deciding to draw you still must make a split-second decision on whether deadly force is warranted. You're saying that you can't possibly conceive of any scenario in which merely brandishing the weapon would stop the threat?

[Slade797]

Sometimes you don't even have to show your steel.

Last time I had a run-in, a local idiot stood in front of me, telling me how he was gonna knock my head off. I had my hand on my pistol, in a pocket holster. I looked him in the eye and said, "Take your best shot." He looked at me, looked at where my hand was, and walked back to his car.

[tattedupboy]

Sometimes you don't even have to show your steel.

Last time I had a run-in, a local idiot stood in front of me, telling me how he was gonna knock my head off. I had my hand on my pistol, in a pocket holster. I looked him in the eye and said, "Take your best shot." He looked at me, looked at where my hand was, and walked back to his car.

I rest my case. Not saying that I don't have the guts to shoot someone, but it is wise to to assess the situation to determine if deadly force is warranted. Most BGs, while stupid, aren't crazy. If they know someone has a gun (whether through it being brandished or someone putting their hand where their gun is) they won't mess with them because they don't want to get shot.

[Austin]

I rest my case. Not saying that I don't have the guts to shoot someone, but it is wise to to assess the situation to determine if deadly force is warranted. Most BGs, while stupid, aren't crazy. If they know someone has a gun (whether through it being brandished or someone putting their hand where their gun is) they won't mess with them because they don't want to get shot.

To me this seems like proposing a quick-draw showdown.