Has anybody here actually had to use their weapon?

[Ronin13]

I've never actually had to draw, but I have had to "show and tell" once when a guy came up on me in the Highlands. I was walking from my car to a friend's car to give them directions to a mutual friends house and a stranger approached me from some side street and said "Nice beemer, mind if I take it for a joyride?" His intention sounded anything but joking and I immediately retorted with something like "I don't f***ing think so, bub." He continued to approach and that's when I realized the situation wasn't going to go in a great direction. I felt no adrenaline either like the OP stated (call it combat training, confidence, what have you). As soon as he got just outside of about 6 feet I lifted my shirt showing that I had my Springfield 1911 on my hip (not quite broad daylight, but the sun was still above the horizon). "I'm gonna have to ask you not to come any closer." He stopped dead in his tracks and decided his life wasn't worth losing over trying to muscle a new car out of me. After he left I turned to my friend and say what I always say when a situation gets slightly hairy "Woo, that puckered up my butthole!"
If I ever have to draw I'll be following the Secret Service rule: Never draw your weapon unless you absolutely intend to use it.

[Cameron]

Is it just me or can anyone else see the news article if the OP had shot the guy.

Local residents fed up with intoxicated youths trashing their streets as the local dive bars empty, knew it would end in tragedy!

A local man was shot and killed on his front lawn yesterday evening by patrons of a local dive bar. Neighbors say they heard the man ask the youths not to kick the garbage cans in the neighborhood and a verbal altercation started. The man's wife and 2 children, testified that their husband and father went to quickly investigate that his property was not being damaged, fearing that the three youths might be intoxicated, aggressive and as they obviously outnumbered this father of three, Mr X took his son's little league bat. Little did Mr X know that he was about to be the target of premeditated murder as he was ambushed and was shot several times in the back!

Mr. X was a devoted father and husband and had twice received a certificate of good citizenship from the city once for rescuing a trapped elderly neighbor from her burning home. He was also a volunteer firefighter and coached his son's little league team for the past four seasons...

I have to say from your account, you are very lucky that it was not more serious. If some shit head was kicking garbage cans in my neighborhood and then cussed at me when I told him to stop. I definitely would have come down to have a talk and I certainly wouldn't have been armed with just a bat, and if some punk tried to flank me with his hand on a gun we would have found out who puts in more quality time in at the range...

I would strongly suggest that you an your friends really think about the consequences of your actions. Kicking cans late at night is idiotic and immature behavior, then to stand there and cuss out the home owner who calls you out on it and even get ready to shoot the guy is completely stupid and potentially criminal.

You should have told your friend to apologize and quickly left before the homeowner came out. I know half a dozen guys in Denver if you had tried that shit on their front lawn it would have gone down very very differently. Count yourself lucky that you are not in hospital or jail this morning, and really think about what you are doing.

Cameron

[ghettodub]

Is it just me or can anyone else see the news article if the OP had shot the guy.



I have to say from your account, you are very lucky that it was not more serious. If some shit head was kicking garbage cans in my neighborhood and then cussed at me when I told him to stop. I definitely would have come down to have a talk and I certainly wouldn't have been armed with just a bat, and if some punk tried to flank me with his hand on a gun we would have found out who puts in more quality time in at the range...

I would strongly suggest that you an your friends really think about the consequences of your actions. Kicking cans late at night is idiotic and immature behavior, then to stand there and cuss out the home owner who calls you out on it and even get ready to shoot the guy is completely stupid and potentially criminal.

You should have told your friend to apologize and quickly left before the homeowner came out. I know half a dozen guys in Denver if you had tried that shit on their front lawn it would have gone down very very differently. Count yourself lucky that you are not in hospital or jail this morning, and really think about what you are doing.

Cameron

Agreed that you have to really be careful and not do stupid crap to piss people off.

[Bailey Guns]

Is it just me or can anyone else see the news article if the OP had shot the guy.



I have to say from your account, you are very lucky that it was not more serious. If some shit head was kicking garbage cans in my neighborhood and then cussed at me when I told him to stop. I definitely would have come down to have a talk and I certainly wouldn't have been armed with just a bat, and if some punk tried to flank me with his hand on a gun we would have found out who puts in more quality time in at the range...

I would strongly suggest that you an your friends really think about the consequences of your actions. Kicking cans late at night is idiotic and immature behavior, then to stand there and cuss out the home owner who calls you out on it and even get ready to shoot the guy is completely stupid and potentially criminal.

You should have told your friend to apologize and quickly left before the homeowner came out. I know half a dozen guys in Denver if you had tried that shit on their front lawn it would have gone down very very differently. Count yourself lucky that you are not in hospital or jail this morning, and really think about what you are doing.

Cameron

First of all, he didn't say it was late at night. Second, I don't think it was a trash can he was kicking. I assumed from the context of the story, maybe incorrectly, it was something like a soda can...not the guy's trash can.

Then you have the nerve to chastise the OP for what his buddy did and how "stupid and potentially criminal" his behavior was and in the next breath talk about confronting someone for basically the same thing?

So you're willing to confront someone after arming yourself with a gun over that person kicking a can in the road. And then get into a gunfight if the persons you confront take steps to protect themselves or talk back to you. And yet the other guys are stupid and need to think about their behavior.

Yeah....I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that.

[Byte Stryke]

First of all, he didn't say it was late at night. Second, I don't think it was a trash can he was kicking. I assumed from the context of the story, maybe incorrectly, it was something like a soda can...not the guy's trash can.

Then you have the nerve to chastise the OP for what his buddy did and how "stupid and potentially criminal" his behavior was and in the next breath talk about confronting someone for basically the same thing?

So you're willing to confront someone after arming yourself with a gun over that person kicking a can in the road. And then get into a gunfight if the persons you confront take steps to protect themselves or talk back to you. And yet the other guys are stupid and need to think about their behavior.

Yeah....I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that.

and then there is the fact the man left his residence and his property line to confront someone after having initiated a verbal confrontation.


edit: and Yes, I am in agreement that deadly force could be seen as justified against an aggressor with a baseball bat. I believe that is included in the "serious bodily injury" section.

[stevelkinevil]

and then there is the fact the man left his residence and his property line to confront someone after having initiated a verbal confrontation.


edit: and Yes, I am in agreement that deadly force could be seen as justified against an aggressor with a baseball bat. I believe that is included in the "serious bodily injury" section.

A baseball bat absolutely qualifies, had this been an off duty police officer he was dealing with we would have all been reading about it in the news today if you catch my drift.

[Ronin13]

edit: and Yes, I am in agreement that deadly force could be seen as justified against an aggressor with a baseball bat. I believe that is included in the "serious bodily injury" section.

Easily explained to LE, especially when he has more than 1 witness... "I feared for my friend's life and thus used necessary force to prevent serious bodily injury." Open and shut... I too have seen what damage a bat can cause to the cranium, it is not pretty. Even if you survive the initial blow there can be extensive damage and long term injury. I have a very delicate case on my hands when it comes to self defense... I suffer from Cervical Spine Rediculopothy (I had a neck injury that led to the surgical removal of one of my C-spine discs and now I have "equipment" connecting two of my vertebrae), TBI and PTSD, I have a very viable reason to defend myself from potential serious bodily injury, one wrong move and I could be either dead or paralyzed and I have every right to prevent this from happening caused by any altercation.

[Byte Stryke]

Easily explained to LE, especially when he has more than 1 witness... "I feared for my friend's life and thus used necessary force to prevent serious bodily injury." Open and shut... I too have seen what damage a bat can cause to the cranium, it is not pretty. Even if you survive the initial blow there can be extensive damage and long term injury. I have a very delicate case on my hands when it comes to self defense... I suffer from Cervical Spine Rediculopothy (I had a neck injury that led to the surgical removal of one of my C-spine discs and now I have "equipment" connecting two of my vertebrae), TBI and PTSD, I have a very viable reason to defend myself from potential serious bodily injury, one wrong move and I could be either dead or paralyzed and I have every right to prevent this from happening caused by any altercation.

absolutely.

I think you have endured more than enough to have to worry about some jack-hole playing tough guy.

[CrufflerSteve]

The disparity of force is a big issue in the less clear cut cases of self defense. From having seen how easy it is to get a TBI (Traumatic Brian Injury), a baseball bat only differs from a gun in that is has shorter range. If someone comes at you swinging one fire a warning shot into his center of mass.

It helps me that I'm older and have a chronic arthritis. My doctor would certify that I could be beat up by a rabbit.

I've never had to draw a gun but I did open a holster once. This is an old thread so I might have mentioned it once. I was collecting rocks along a road in south New Mexico about 10 years ago. It was west of Columbus, the town Pancho Villa invaded, and probably just a few 100 yards from the border.

A junker car with about 5 low life looking young guys came at me in a scene out of Treasure of The Sierra Madre. "Senor what are you doing out here by yourself?" Real creepy. Rude gestures from them and some Spanish words which I'm sure my dear departed Mom ever did. I turned around to show my S&W 586 and unbuckled the holster with my hand on it and they did a U-turn and burned rubber away. It was actually loaded with snake shot but I did have two speed loaders next to it with hollow points.

Steve

[mcantar18c]

I find his story completely plausible. Although, I would've had a hard time not ventilating that turd if he was starting to swing a bat at my buddy's head. Of course, when you're actually there you can "read" things much better than you can through "reading" it afterwards. So I understand.

I was about to make my move... in motion going towards him... when he stopped his swing. As I said I was standing at his 2. Plan was when he swings, jump to my 11 or so so that I'm behind him while grabbing and pushing his swinging arm down and to the right, hook my left arm around him and get him in a sleeper hold and choke him out till he passes out. Then get in the car and get the hell outta dodge.

quick post for now-

I have transported two baseball bat + head, patients. I would have thought more seriously about drawing that weapon. A baseball bat can kill you. It can very easily ruin the rest of your life if it makes contact with your skull. One swing. I have lost enough fights to not take chances and never overestimate my own skill, be careful! Up close, if he is fast enough, I would have given him the edge in that fight, at striking range, a gun in the holster looses to a bat in the hand, and if he swung, its one on one. I don't want a "and X from the forum got killed by an old idot with a bat" thread.

I know... a bat is an impact weapon, and impact weapons can definitely be lethal or cause TBI. Last night I felt that it could have very easily be handled hand to hand, but looking back on the situation (if the same thing ever happens again), I think I just might draw on him when he approaches and leave it at that.

It sounds like you did well mcantar18c. I've got a buddy that runs his mouth too much when I'm around knowing that I'll have his back. It's gotten us into a couple of interesting situations but fortunately no one's been hurt.

The only thought I had was whether or not you could have made an honest attempt to retreat. It sounded like there was an opportunity to remove yourselves from the situation while the homeowner was approaching you but of course I wasn't there so I'm not going to say you did the wrong thing by allowing him to approach.

The car was about twice as far from us as he was, locked, there were three of us that hand to get in through 2 doors, and starting the car takes time.
First thought being he's coming towards us with a shotgun, and seeing he isn't aiming it at us yet, I figured I'd be better off taking it head on and not turning my back on him or giving him time to act while I'm preoccupied. Not to mention, a vehicle is a bullet magnet.

Is it just me or can anyone else see the news article if the OP had shot the guy.



I have to say from your account, you are very lucky that it was not more serious. If some shit head was kicking garbage cans in my neighborhood and then cussed at me when I told him to stop. I definitely would have come down to have a talk and I certainly wouldn't have been armed with just a bat, and if some punk tried to flank me with his hand on a gun we would have found out who puts in more quality time in at the range...

I would strongly suggest that you an your friends really think about the consequences of your actions. Kicking cans late at night is idiotic and immature behavior, then to stand there and cuss out the home owner who calls you out on it and even get ready to shoot the guy is completely stupid and potentially criminal.

You should have told your friend to apologize and quickly left before the homeowner came out. I know half a dozen guys in Denver if you had tried that shit on their front lawn it would have gone down very very differently. Count yourself lucky that you are not in hospital or jail this morning, and really think about what you are doing.

Cameron

It was a crushed soda can laying in the middle of the street. I don't consider kicking something like a can, rock, etc. in your way while walking "idiotic and immature behavior."
And if you approach myself or a friend in my presence, after cussing at us and calling us this and that, while openly armed, all for kicking a can in the street... you're gonna be in deep shit (we ain't the group of punks you think we are). Especially if you think "putting in more quality time at the range" is gonna help you at all, there's a difference between shooting a gun and fighting with a gun... although we're getting into another discussion here.