When have you come the closest to shooting someone?

[gnihcraes]

heck yeah, people tend to sneak up on you while you are busy shooting. Always try to take a friend who keeps an eye out and is armed while the other is shooting.

[Jer]

That said... Hey don't discount what a retarded girl can do...I've seen some f'n wacked out bipolar people that get on a drug binge, seem slow and retarded one second and will try to rip your head off (not a euphemism) the next. Who knows if she has some lost-custody case in that school and is going to snap the moment she sees the kid. Psych patients can do some unbelievably unpredictable things that you never see coming. Usually it's really funny, but sometimes it's quite dangerous to themselves and anyone around them. Not saying this chick needed a piece pulled on her, but at least contacting LEO about it if the guy felt something was wrong was a good response.

Stop following me around the internets Ralph!

[Caliber357]

This is a good thread - brings things a little closer into perspective, I've enjoyed reading it. It's good to be reminded of the realities and responsibilities that carrying a weapon entail.

Only encounter I've ever had was parked at a burger drive-thru up in Englewood. About 10:00 at night with my girlfriend. Punk-ass kid with baggy clothing waiting on the other side of the restaurant for someone to get off shift or something - clad head to toe in red colors. I guess it offended him that I made eye contact with him through the drive-thru window, because he jerked his head upwards at me and did the "what're you looking at" pose with his arms out. Then started walking around the building to where we were parked, and headed briskly toward the passenger side where my girl was sitting. Couldn't see one of his hands behind his back. I didn't feel the situation was at a point to justify actually drawing on him, but I wanted to be upfront about my mind-set. So I pulled my Para .14 (stainless steel makes a pretty glint in the parking lot lights. :-) ), chambered a round, and set it on the dashboard with my hand casually on it. (Not pointing at him, but in clear view.) He stopped, smirked, looked around with an expression that was supposed to mean "what? I wasn't coming over there - just wanted to make sure the menu board was in good working order, my good man."

And the fries were soggy... So not worth leaving the house for. :-)

[Bailey Guns]

Few things say, "You better gitcho bitchass back on outta here" like a 14 round 1911. Apparently he knew that.

[Hannu]

Training is what get's you through them. The act of intentionally pointing a loaded gun at someone will affect you for life.

+168

How that kind of happening will affect you, is affected by 2things : your mindset and your training. With proper training, your mindset has alot better changes to handle the aftermath. With training, your changes to survive without mental or physical injuries are very much better.

Of course, it is impossible for some people to get the right mindset in any situation.

I might have got better training than many. At least it is the way our instructors wanted us to think I was probably quite lucky anyway, as my experiences made me[b]much[/b] more peaceful and calm. I did not got bad permanent injuries, which may have had something to do with it.
I would probably not be nearly so nice and peaceful guy today, without certain experiences.

I was thinking, if I should share my experiences or not. Places or other details about where and when probably do not tell you guys anything. That is why I do not include details

Closest thing, I would say it was really close. I can remember it like it happened yesterday. It was in duty, long time ago and far from here.
I was in position with a rifle. 7,62x51 with a fixed silencer, shooting 70gr alucore short range bullets at about 4200 fps. Pretty bad ammo, if you shoot somebody to torso close range, it looks like he has got contact shot from 12 ga. I knew, if I have to shoot someone to center mass, it is almost certain killshot, even that incident happened in a city near a big hospital.

I am watching a door about 40 yd away, if somebody is coming out or not. After about 3,5 hours door opens and a BIG guy comes out with short AK carbine on his shoulder.
He starts walking around and starts yelling to my colleagues, but it is unlikely he could see me. I put my scopes reticle to certain place in his upper torso, when he is at about 60 degrees angle to my position. I can see his beard is pretty long, he has old camoflage in bad condition etc.
He is handling his carbine, but it stays on his shoulder.

The following happens probably in few seconds :
Suddenly the carbine drops to his right hand and immediately I get a message to shoot. I am little confused, as I can see from the scope that I can not hold the rifle steady as in training. However, as the range is pretty short, I do not have difficulties to keep the reticle in the correct area.
I have made a mental decision to shoot, safety has been off for a while and my finger is on trigger. But, as suddenly as carbine dropped to his hand, it drops to the ground. He then raises his arms up slowly. Thanks to training, I am able to take my finger off the trigger without firing.
When I can see my colleagues to take possession of the big guy, I realize my work is over and I feel pretty dizzy. Then I find out, that my heart is pounding probably 200+ times a minute and I have not been breathing for some time.
At that point I realize, why sniper rifles usually do not have very lightweight triggers. Earlier I was bitching to my officer in charge that I want to adjust my rifles trigger way lighter, but I stop bitching after that.

Just my 2 cents

[Irving]

Now that we've had a pretty strong influx of brand new members (including LEOs), I thought it was time to bump my most favorite thread.

[BigBear]

The act of intentionally pointing a loaded gun at someone will affect you for life.

I don't feel that way. I've done it (drawn down) and I have no second thoughts about needing to pull that trigger if it comes to it. If you're stupid enough to make me draw down on you, I have no problems ending your life.... Why does everyone say that it'll change your life? I feel like I would have no problem carrying out the task.... "The emotional trauma" etc... I don't buy it.

So am I messed up, cold blooded, etc? Maybe I have a very strong survival instinct? Too many video games? Trying to be a desktop commando? Time to see a pysc huh?...

[Irving]

You didn't even point your gun at anyone...

[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.