When have you come the closest to shooting someone?

[BigBear]

But what is the big emotional trauma that everyone always insists on?

[Irving]

I've never ended anyone's life, so obviously take what I saw with a grain of salt. I remember with your story the first thing I asked you is why you didn't shoot at the guy holding a knife out to threaten you. Instead, you just played it cool, and because of your actions, all three guys and yourself walked away unscathed. Knowing how that situation ended, and how now a year later it is no big deal, do you think that if you killed one of those guys, that you'd ever look back on your actions and wonder if you did the right thing? From the way that I read the story, it could have gone either way for those guys, and they are lucky to have messed with you, and not someone who got scared, panicked, and pulled the trigger. I think the issue is revisiting irreversible actions and asking yourself, "Is there anything I could have done to prevent those ultimate results?" Of course you won't feel any emotional effects of what happened in your situation, because nothing really happened. You had the most story book ending possible of such an encounter. That's not meant to be snarky either, you should be very proud of that.

I wasn't able to verbalize my thoughts as well as I would have liked, but take it for what it is worth. It is often human nature to second guess your actions.

[funkfool]

Somewhere Ayoob has written a pretty good article/chapter on it...

Not exactly the same as civilian effects... but:

http://www.killology.com/print/print_psychological.htm

This...

It is often human nature to second guess your actions.

[KevDen2005]

I read a good number of these and am sorry that I haven't read them all. I have been in a number of situations where I could have justifiably shot someone. For those of you that have seen combat and actually shot someone this is probably a whole different ball game. Also, I have not shot anyone in the line of duty.

The scenario as follows:

I was responding to a "shots fired" call, with only one call. Usually real gun shots will get several calls or no calls. Also people often mistake fire works, back firing cars, loud crashes, etc for gun shots. However, I make it a point to not be complacent.

I was the first officer to arrive in the area with two more coming. The car I was driving was an older car that had an older style gun rack and therefore my AR15 was in my trunk (cruiser ready-full magazine, no round in the chamber). I pulled into the neighborhood and thought to myself that I am going to a "shots fired" call so I stopped, popped the trunk, pulled the AR out, put a round in the chamber, and put it in the seat next to me. I then pulled onto the street that the house was on that I was going to. I blacked out and as I am getting ready to park several houses away to try and sneak up on the house I see a figure run across the street. I see two more figures also running across the street behind the first one, leaving from the house where I was going to. I then turned my headlights back on, and put my spotlight on the two figures that were running after the first one.

This happened so fast that I did not have time to grab my rifle, I hopped out and, drew my gun, and started yelling at the three people. The first person, who was missing a shirt, covered completely in blood, and had major head trauma laid down first. The other two males, wearing all black, going after the guy started coming towards me. I yelled again for them to get on the ground and I started moving back and left, still have the closest guy at gunpoint and trying to watch the other two. The closest guy was about 5-7 yards from me, and I wanted to create a little distance. I thought to myself that these guys are going to stop and i put my finger on the trigger and was getting ready to shoot. I yelled again to get on the ground and they complied. I was prepared to fire on him immediately after that third verbal command, but as I was yelling he was getting on the ground. The other guy that was with him got on the ground as well.

I was alone here for about 15-20 seconds, in my mind, could have been more, could have been less, I will never know. My partner showed up and we held the three at gun point until other officers arrived to help. Of the two guys in black, the first guy had brass knuckles, pepper spray, and a knife on him, the second guy had a taser and pepper spray that we pulled off of him. The gun they used and failed in using to kill the first guy they ditched and we found it later.

That is the gist of it really. Like I said, not the first time and it wont certainly be the last time, but it sticks out the most to me. I thought of when I just had a CCW before I was an officer if I could have handled that situation as calmly as I did, ready and prepared to shoot, and I am not sure that I would have. Sad to say, the more times this happens the easier it is to handle and work through.

[DOC]

I almost shot my maid this morning when she woke me up to tell me she was prego again. J/k
The closest I've come to shooting someone I didn't have a gun. Or I would have shot the crackhead and raped his GF.
ETA: He ran me over with his car and I was dragged for 40 feet under it. 25 stitches on the back of my head more on my back and buttox not to mention the road rash and bruises to the bone. And ever since then I have had back pain like a 90 year old wrestler. Yeah, if only I could have shot his ass I wouldn't be in pain and almost killed and the gene pool for the human race would be better off with out him.

[Mick-Boy]

The closest I've come to shooting someone (that doesn't involve an active war zone) was probably when I was about 13. I was pheasant hunting with my Dad and some men he worked with. I was walking about 15 yds in front of the line (Didn't have enough bird dogs I guess..) when I had a bird flush right at my feet and executed a hard 180 degree turn. I raised my shotgun while tracking the bird and came within inches of sweeping the entire line before I realized what I was about to do and depressed the muzzle again. My dad gave me a "if you'd have shot me I'd have whipped the dog piss out of you" kind of look but left me alone to let the lesson sink in.

Lesson learned - Target fixation kills. It may be you or it may be someone else but it kills. Maintain situational awareness at all times when you have a gun in your hand.

[2008f450]

My only close call was December 2001. I was leaving the Northridge mall in CA with bags in hand. It was closing time and middle of the week so not a lot of people still around. As I was walking toward my truck I saw someone cutting through the cars toward me. He looked like a typical L.A. gangbanger with big raiders jacket and hat on. As he got into the same aisle I was walking in I reached under my coat and drew my S&W model 60. I let it hang to my side just in case. As I got closer I could see him take a deep breathe and start heading my way. I also noticed he looked up and past me like he was looking at someone or something else. When he got to about 30 feet from me his eyes got big as can be. He turned and ran off. At that point I turned and saw his partner that was approaching from behind. He was about 30 feet behind so I raised my snub to my chest and asked if I could help him. He took off in the same direction as idiot 1. Now Iknow that concealed carry is a no no in CA without a permit. Its also impossible to cet a permit in L.A. county. I am convinced to this day that if I didnt have my snub on I would have been robbed and maybe worse. When I got home and told the wife what happened she finally understodd why I carry .

[eadgbe194]

I was searching for something else and found this thread, read the whole thing and now I'm bumping it hoping for some more stories.

[TheBelly]

There's a Pizza Hut a couple miles from my house. Wife went out to getbthebcar warmed up while I paid the bill. When i went up to the front of the store, I noticed that her car door wasn't closed. There was a homeless looking guy holding the door open and asking my wife for money. I postured up and told the guy that we weren't. Note rested and to have a good night. He took one step towards me and told me I didn't need to be rude. I cleared my shirt over my G17 and tested my hand on the grip so he could see. I again told him to have a good night and please move along.

he moved along.


**I'm assuming that war zones don't count in this thread?**

[colorider]

Target at 300yds. Shooting my 22-250 on private land by the moffat tunnel. Trespassing hippie mountain biker comes out of nowhere through the trees right in front of the target. Bullet must have passed through his spokes. He didn't even stop. We chased him down and explained how close he came to being worm food. He didn't care 1 bit. Gave him 10 min to gtf off our property before he got a beat down or the Sherrif was called. He peddled his ass off the property. By private I mean he had to lift his bike over 3 locked and signed gates and fences.