The HuntChat Armed Citizen Poll

[muledeer]

Never had to and I hope I never will. I carry concealed most of the time because I deal with alot of strangers daily (subdivision sales). I use to carry at my sales meetings of over 100 agents but quit when one gal patted me on the lower back and felt my Beretta. She said "is that what I think it is"? I said yes and pulled her to the side and showed her my permit. Fortunately she didn't freak out. That would have been embarrasing
muledeer

[TreeDoc]

but muledeer...you told me you ALWAYS carried a crossdraw inside the pants holster. Are you sure that was a Beretta she was pattin' down?

[muledeer]

Location, location, location
muledeer

[Brno22h]

About thirty years ago while on a 4WD trail in Kalifornia, about five miles from the nearest road, I had this wierd looking guy come out of nowhere carying a hatchet. He had bright orange hair, and a large purple scar across his face. My girlfriend and I just watched him stagger over to our jeep and jerk open the door. I might add that his stagger was not from an injury, as much as from what he had been drinking. Although I did not have a permit to cary the thing, I always kept a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Magnum with us while off road. As he pulled open the door, I pionted and cocked the .44. He almost turned himself inside out backing up. He dropped the hatchet, and we never saw him again. I still have that hatchet.
John

[muledeer]

Welcome to Huntchat!!
Your experience is why I always carry a weapon either in my vehicle or on my person.
muledeer

[carl]

Thanks for sharing.If you wouldn't have had your 44 you may not be here to tell us.

[Critch]

Very recently in St Louis, I had to go out to the van at 2AM. I carried my keltec P-11 with me. It was very cold and as I got to the van I noticed 4 gangbangers coming at me across the parking lot off of Grand Blvd. One of them stated yelling, "Hey, we want to talk to you." I pulled my pistol out of my coat pocket where they could see it and I told them to "Move on". They did.

[Mickey Rat]

First, I think that we need to ad another choice: Was armed and that knowledge got me thru a bad situation.

Having a legally carried firearm makes a difference in how you handle a situation.

If you are verbally threatened by and individual that is bigger/stronger than you (I was), having the firearm gives you a confidence in the outcome of the event. You KNOW that if it comes down to it, you will be walking away from the confrontation and the other guy will be carried. This confidence allows you to remain calm enough inside (not having to worry about personal survival) to humble yourself or whatever is required to ease out of the situation. This is not cowardace, this is common sense. There is no need to shoot someone for scaring you half to death. A woman will certainly benefit from this added confidence. An attacker often is put off by a victim that doesn't respond to a threat with fear.

Always remember "Nobody rapes a 38".

[papi]

never fire a warning shot. court can percieve that as provoking on your part.you also stand the chance of the bullet going somewhere and hitting someone

[Mickey Rat]

If you ever have to fire your weapon, remember that you testimony to the responding officers will often determine wheather you are charged or released. Don't let your mouth run away.

He threatened me and I shot his ass dead where he stood.
(Not a good ideal)

He verbally threatend me, then made a movement that appeared to be drawing a firearm out of his coat. At that point, fearing for my life, I drew my weapon and fired. (Better ideal)

[skeeter@ccia.com]

#1. Never draw without intent on pulling the trigger if needed.

#2. Never point a unloaded shotgun or handgun at anyone ever.

#3. Never show any sign you have a hidden gun. Now it isn't hidden and you can be at risk of loosing your concealed to carry permit and now days, is the law on your side?

#4. If you do pull the trigger.....make it a one sided story in the end.

All advice from a relative having been from patroleman to Judge.

All in all ..some very interesting stories...

[papi]

you have to conceal the gun. that is why it is called a concealed carry weapon.you are not allowed to carry it in the open.you should never point any weapon at anyone at any time.just because you pull it does not mean you have to use it.by doing that you can over react and shoot when not nevessary.you had better tell the truth before you get caught in a lie.this comes from a retired cop who has actually investigated these things

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Would a kitchen knife in intruders cold hand be a lie?...How about just not telling the whole truth..sounds better since most of us were taught long ago never lie. But how can you sit in court and take an oath and have a law officer take same oath and lie through his teeth and win the case without learning something there?...cheaters never win?...ka...Then again we aren't talking of something those like CSI would have to get involved in...so..how about if they followed you foot prints to the kitchen knife drawer with blood tracks?..well...sir..I seen the knife in his hand and just checked to see if it was from my drawer before I called you...?

[papi]

you stated that you saw this yourself.why did you just sit on your hands? why did you not say something?i assure you that if you get on the stand lying a atty will find you out and make you look like a idiot.where in the world did you come up with not to conceal a gun?you will have you license pulled if it is visible. it is to be concealed and out of sight,
common sense and watching what you say to the investigating officer.many change their stories without realizing it.it shows up when the atty questions you.you can tell a lie that sounds plausable but the ballistics prove it wrong.there are many factors that can get you in trouble.
if you breaks into your home and is leaving,you can not use deadly force. the courts state that the threat is gone if he is leaving.now on the other hand one could say you felt threatened bu just his being there.the burgular could always make a sudden movement that you preceived as a threat.texas laws alllow you to use deadly force to protect your property.not all states do this.a few years ago a man caught a man breaking into his car.he did not own a gun so he went and got his compound bow.the guy started towards him and got shot. the guy died. he was no-billed by the grand jury.on another occasion a man saw a woman being assaulted in her car.it was her estranged husband.the guy shot her and took off in his car.the witness had just returned from the gun range and a scoped 44mag revolver.he shot the guy trying to leave 2 times.he was justified . the law here states you have the right to use deadly force to protect another who is in immediate danger.he had to go to trial and was not no-billed by the grand jury.he was finally cleared but it cost him money.
you are blatantly wrong to tell the people to lie. investigators have seen too many things happen not to know a lie.i know this from being a officer for 25 years.just because you have a gun does not mean you know when to use it unless trained. many tin]mes just the appearance of the gun escalates the situation

[skeeter@ccia.com]

papi..believe it or not we are on the same track..I think maybe my point was taken wrong a few times here and if you would have read what I wrote above before leaping ..I was pointing out first of all your weapon is no longer a concealed one if it is visable even through the buldge in your shirt if it suggests you carry or if you flash it just to scare someone. This action can lead to loss of CC...correct? Pull it if needed and I have done so in the past...after the talk stage didn't get anywhere and his beer muscles started talking too much.(used other means to defuse the sitration) .I was kind of letting off steam when saying about lie on stand...which by the way I did not sit and let him get away with it either nor do I remember saying that...on 3 seperate times during the hearing, the judge interupted me and reminded me he has the badge not me and that makes him right. I even pointed out the written law he violated all 3 times but the badge made the officer right and me wrong..above the law .kind a kangaroo court thing....sure you couldn't shoot someone in the back if they were leaving..how could they be a threat if running from you?...My point is this ..do not rely on the courts to handle every situation and expect to get off with anything ...guilty or not...you are right. ..the lawyers could twist things to their advantage and make ya look like a butt...after all ..isn't that their job?....Now I was raised to never tell a lie and I don't but there are those times when the whole truth isn't needed either....sometimes ya just have to cover your own hams...ask OJ...was he honest?...Is he free?