Pistolgripshotty
New member
I guess people don't know how to use their fist any more? Most people that I encounter that carry can't even throw a decent punch.
EDC - Will you be ready?
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Sparks1957
New member
When I was a younger man, I could certainly hold my own in that department. Age, injuries, and surgical procedures have removed that option from my toolbox.
I suspect quite a few of us here are in the same boat. A pistol equalizes the playing field for us.
Using fists isn't generally recommended, since so many times the other guy pulls a knife or gun if he is losing the fist fight.
Also, most guys I know who were good with fists were the types who were likely to engage in what the law considers "mutual combat;" mutual combat undermines self-defense.
I'm not saying it's bad to have the skills; I'm not saying there aren't times when some sort of martial arts training may be more applicable than having a gun. (In fact, I frequently recommend that CCW types should learn at least some basic retention skills, if nothing else; and, I've trained over the years in wrestling, TKD, kempo, and, for the last sixteen years or so, in aikido.)
But I am saying that, even though I have a very good defensive skill set, and I'm in pretty decent shape, I would not attempt a knife disarm on somebody if I had a pistol on me, and the time to draw and employ it.
The martial arts stuff may be legally useful in a wider array of situations, but problems that justify the use of a gun are not problems where fists (or chokes, etc) would be the best tool to employ.
Also, most guys I know who were good with fists were the types who were likely to engage in what the law considers "mutual combat;" mutual combat undermines self-defense.
I'm not saying it's bad to have the skills; I'm not saying there aren't times when some sort of martial arts training may be more applicable than having a gun. (In fact, I frequently recommend that CCW types should learn at least some basic retention skills, if nothing else; and, I've trained over the years in wrestling, TKD, kempo, and, for the last sixteen years or so, in aikido.)
But I am saying that, even though I have a very good defensive skill set, and I'm in pretty decent shape, I would not attempt a knife disarm on somebody if I had a pistol on me, and the time to draw and employ it.
The martial arts stuff may be legally useful in a wider array of situations, but problems that justify the use of a gun are not problems where fists (or chokes, etc) would be the best tool to employ.
Southern Rebel
New member
Dang, I wish I had arms that reached out to 30 feet!
Seriously, I remember two guys from my earlier workdays (many years ago) that were meaner than a junkyard dog when it came to a fight. Fast forward a few years and now one of them is dead (12 guage buckshot to center of mass by a guy that didn't want to fight) and the other is crippled up from a knife fight where only the other guy had a knife. He can still get around ok, but had serious nerve damage to one arm and would be seriously handicapped in a fist fight.
I guess the days of fair fights have passed my area by, or didn't ever exist except in school. I guess I was well-schooled by my old man. He taught me early on to stay out of other people's fights, avoid any of my own making, and when forced to fight, forget about fair and use whatever means necessary to put the odds in my favor. I guess I am a true believer.
Actually, I can still hold my own but having a pistol helps cause you never know what's going to happen. About 2 weeks ago, my girlfriend and I were walking around one of the parks here pretty late (bout midnight). We had a guy that looked like he was just sitting on one of the benches watching the lake jump up right in front of us and pull a knife on us try to rob us. I was able to get him to the ground and get the knife from him, holding him there till APD showed up. Never once pulled my gun, just didn't feel like I needed to.
Frank Ettin
Administrator
This certainly doesn't have anything to do with the subject of this thread and is pretty much beside the point.Pistolgripshotty said:
Many of us are no longer young. Some may have some disability issues. And in any case, the point is self defense, not mutual combat. The point is to be able to deal with a possible armed assailant or multiple assailants. The point is to avoid becoming a victim of violent crime.
Where I live church is about the only place I go where carrying is not allowed but I can with the pastors ok but, in the parking lot in my ride in my lockbox is my piece. When I go to my kids football games I lockup too. When I wash the cars, walk the dog, sitting in the backyard, I'm armed and ready. Once I get dressed my gun is part of my clothes, not my pjs.
My employer prohibits firearms on thier property, so 4 days a week (4 10's
), I am unarmed, not that bad, it's a secure site and a secured parking lot.
Other than that I am always armed, I am a believer. As far as being able to fight, yes I can fight if need be and have successfully defended my self unarmed before, however, It is not recommended as there is always a better figher about, unless maybe you are Chuck Norris. In my case one hit to my pacemaker and I'm collapsed in pain. Yes, I was 38 when I had to have a pacemaker installed.
), I am unarmed, not that bad, it's a secure site and a secured parking lot.Other than that I am always armed, I am a believer. As far as being able to fight, yes I can fight if need be and have successfully defended my self unarmed before, however, It is not recommended as there is always a better figher about, unless maybe you are Chuck Norris. In my case one hit to my pacemaker and I'm collapsed in pain. Yes, I was 38 when I had to have a pacemaker installed.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
All the time...If I'm in the shower, it sits on the toilet. If I'm brushing my teeth before bed, it's next to me (I have a skylight that illuminates when the light is on.) If I'm home I'm usually wearing pants all day long so it's at my 4:00 IWB or OWB.
Outside of work. 24/7 @ 3:00 OWB or 4:00 IWB.
Outside of work. 24/7 @ 3:00 OWB or 4:00 IWB.
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
In a class, a large gentleman opined that folks don't mess with him because of his side. Using a training knife, the small teacher basically 'eviscerated' him.
Oops -
I was also an expert witness in a case. Two gentlemen had an interaction over a road incident. The large young man advanced on the older skinny man to use his skill at fisticuffs. The old man took a paring knife (little thing) out of his pocket and stuck it into the young fist fighter -who proceeded to drop stone cold dead from a magic sweet spot hit.
That's why distance is your friend. Fist fists are last resorts and to be avoided.
Oops -
I was also an expert witness in a case. Two gentlemen had an interaction over a road incident. The large young man advanced on the older skinny man to use his skill at fisticuffs. The old man took a paring knife (little thing) out of his pocket and stuck it into the young fist fighter -who proceeded to drop stone cold dead from a magic sweet spot hit.
That's why distance is your friend. Fist fists are last resorts and to be avoided.
Pistolgripshotty
New member
I respect it man. It never hurts to have a good mixture of both firearms training and martial arts. But I am saying that the people I encounter depend on their firearms a little to much because in the Corps we think differently.
My understanding is that unless there is an obvious disparity in force, I'm NOT legally justified in drawing a deadly weapon to defend myself against some guy who just wants to kick my butt. I also realize that: 1) days of the old fashioned fist fight are either over or never existed, 2) There is always a tougher man than me just around the corner. Life is complicated and the situations we find ourselves in are often not simple. All that said, I'd rather recover from and old fashioned butt kicking than a murder charge due to undue use of deadly force.
You really need to get some training. You believe that as long as a guy is just trying to kill you with his bare hands you're not allowed to use your weapon??? I suppose that you didn't really want the use of your eyes that he gouged out or that arm that he broke in 43 places anyway ....
I'm not sure exactly how it's worded in Virginia, but in most jurisdictions deadly force is legal to use if you are in fear of death or serious bodily injury.
Who has control over when he stops kicking your butt? How do you know you'll be able to recover from whatever injuries he chooses to inflict on you?
I carry every day (even at home, where I take off my EDC and slip an NAA Pug into my pocket) except where it's against the law, as so many others have said ... and since I don't go to bars much, that means only for post office runs ... There are few other places where I can't carry in the great state of Texas; hell, I can take my gun into the Capitol if I want ... shedding a tear for those forced to live in less-enlightened locations ...
Fist fights are great if you're young and all your parts work; at 67, I'm not going toe to toe with anybody unless there's no other option ...
Fist fights are great if you're young and all your parts work; at 67, I'm not going toe to toe with anybody unless there's no other option ...
Transplant
Inactive
My permit is for display only it seems. The only places I truly spend much time at (college, work) both do not allow cc. Neither are very safe either. Counting down the time to move on...
Sheriff Gotcha
New member
I have just gotten into the firearms thing and bought a CZ-85 for protection for the house. Never thought I'd actually be interested in carrying everyday, but in light of recent reading and now that I actually have my carry license I'm looking for a smaller lighter double stack 9 that I can conceal better than that heavy steel framed CZ.
That being said I plan on carrying everywhere I can. Thankfully PA is a relatively gun friendly state.
That being said I plan on carrying everywhere I can. Thankfully PA is a relatively gun friendly state.