My first post, and I've drawn twice. Maybe I really am an outlier. Sorry for such a long first post.
The first time was about 14 years ago when I was 21. I used to play in a rock band, and our rehearsal hall was in a VERY bad part of downtown. The guitarist and myself were putting some gear in my car (around 1am) when two guys walk up on either side of the car. My door is open and my gun is sitting on the seat (I had just put it there). The guy on my side says "gimmie your money". I tell him ok, and reach in my car and pull out my gun and hold it pointed towards the ground. I look him in the eyes and tell him “I don't have any money”. He just stands there for a second, and his buddy on the other side of my car says "get the money", or something to that effect. That guy doesn't see my gun. The guy on my side seemed stunned for a few seconds, and then says "ok man, that's cool" (or something like that) and tells his buddy "lets go", in an urgent tone. I glance over and the other guy has such a perplexed look on his face. He doesn't know what's gotten into his buddy. They walk quickly away, and we quickly get in the car and get out of there.
After it was over, I actually got scared and had the shakes. I often think what would have happened if the situation had escalated. At 21, I hadn't fully worked out the awesome responsibility of having a firearm at the ready. I'm glad I had it, but even more glad I didn't have to actually "use" it.
The second time I drew my weapon at someone was several years ago at the house we were living at the time. It was around 3am. My wife wakes me up freaking out. She is frantic telling me someone is banging on the back door. Sure enough, someone is going to town on the door leading out to the garage. We didn't live in a "bad" part of town, but it was beginning to creep our way. Someone had recently broken into one of our cars, and had stolen a radio. I wasn't taking any chances at 3am. The door had a window, and I pulled the curtain back and pointed the gun through the glass. The guy had on nothing but shorts (no shirt, no shoes, and his hands were bleeding). He sees the gun and screams "don't shoot". I ask him what he wants and he says someone broke into his apartment down the street. He asks to come in (yeah, like that was going to happen). I call the cops, they talk to me, they talk to him, and his story doesn't pan out, as I learn the next day. Turns out it was some kind of drug deal gone wrong and some guys came to even the score from what the cop tells me the next night.
Should I have pulled my weapon? I don't know. It was a split second decision regarding what to do when someone unexpected is banging at your door at 3am. I did what I thought was best at the time to keep my family safe. Thankfully, I've only shot silhouettes, and never somebody.