Since you asked
To USP45, since you referred to me by name I will answer you. I am 68; been through a considerable amount of "stress training"; know better than to shoot into a crowd or when the "downrange" is not safe for misses: have never been forced to kill anyone; have drawn my gun and been prepared to do so more than once; been on the scene of several murders; walked a beat and drove a patrol car; spent a few years as an investigator; am no great shot but I did win the man against man shootoff (with a Model 25 revolver against the semi-autos) at Gunsite when Col. Cooper was still actively teaching; came home with the only "E" ticket awarded there. And yes, that was a few years ago and, while never great, I certainly am not as good now!
The question, as I understood it was, "could you squeeze the trigger?" I hope I answered the question asked originally and perhaps I have answered your questions also?
You can "what if" it to death or you can conjure up all sorts of extenuating circumstances (like Mikeyboy) that change the situation or validate your own opinions. You can confuse cover with concealment or paint a picture of a place you have not seen, but in the final analysis you will do what YOU think is the best thing at the time. And you will live (or perhaps die) with that decision.
While I hope that none of my loved ones are ever in harms way I also hope that if they are and I am not there to protect them that someone like Model 25 (and a few others) are.
I said earlier that I was not going to impugn anyone's motives or courage and I will stick by that statement. I do think, however, that setting up strawmen so you can knock them down is counterproductive. On Thanksgiving Day, perhaps it is appropriate to quote the famous words of Pricilla, "Speak for yourself..."
John
Charlotte, NC
To USP45, since you referred to me by name I will answer you. I am 68; been through a considerable amount of "stress training"; know better than to shoot into a crowd or when the "downrange" is not safe for misses: have never been forced to kill anyone; have drawn my gun and been prepared to do so more than once; been on the scene of several murders; walked a beat and drove a patrol car; spent a few years as an investigator; am no great shot but I did win the man against man shootoff (with a Model 25 revolver against the semi-autos) at Gunsite when Col. Cooper was still actively teaching; came home with the only "E" ticket awarded there. And yes, that was a few years ago and, while never great, I certainly am not as good now!
The question, as I understood it was, "could you squeeze the trigger?" I hope I answered the question asked originally and perhaps I have answered your questions also?
You can "what if" it to death or you can conjure up all sorts of extenuating circumstances (like Mikeyboy) that change the situation or validate your own opinions. You can confuse cover with concealment or paint a picture of a place you have not seen, but in the final analysis you will do what YOU think is the best thing at the time. And you will live (or perhaps die) with that decision.
While I hope that none of my loved ones are ever in harms way I also hope that if they are and I am not there to protect them that someone like Model 25 (and a few others) are.
I said earlier that I was not going to impugn anyone's motives or courage and I will stick by that statement. I do think, however, that setting up strawmen so you can knock them down is counterproductive. On Thanksgiving Day, perhaps it is appropriate to quote the famous words of Pricilla, "Speak for yourself..."
John
Charlotte, NC