Run Girly-Man, run!

C

Conservadude

New member
So I've been wondering ...with a conceal carry license, you pretty much lose the ability to ever get into a physical contest with anyone. Like if you saw some bum stealing someone's purse, you can't go shove him off and take the purse back ...get into a contest with him and he may grab your gun (assuming he becomes aware of it). I would guess that most bad-guy confrontations are non-gun related ...what should someone with a concealed gun do when an unarmed perp decideds to give you a hard time? Run? Maybe whimper a little? Anyone give this some thought? Seems like carrying a gun reduces you to being effective in *only* those cases that threaten immediate grave bodily harm or death...

Brian
 
3 words come to mind. Stay cool calm and collected at all times. Walk away from trouble if you can and take every opportunity to do so. Call 911 if you have to or make sure someone else does. Carrying a concealed weapon requires alot of resposibility and descretion. If he goes for your gun you grab his hand and lock it on there, move with his movement so it doesn't get yanked out, grab his throat and squeeze as hard as you can with your free hand. Thats when your primal instict to stay alive at all costs takes over.

I'm thinking out loud here anyway. I'm sure someone will chime in who has more experience or training.
 
"Hey man, I don't want any trouble with anybody. I'm sorry you're upset but I don't want any trouble." In my case, I'd add that I'm a 61 year old man with a bad back and then repeat that I don't want any trouble. Make sure you say it loud enough for witnesses to hear. Don't pull the gun until you absolutely have to.
 
Come to think of it, I've had to walk away from people looking for trouble a few times. I don't carry a weapon anyway. I wlked away or diffused the situation by talking politely and repeating the fact that I didn't want trouble. This happened once with a guy who went into a fit of road rage on me. I just appologized repeatedly for cutting him off and after about a minute of him spouting off at the mouth he finally walked away. It completely ruined my day and I stewed about it for 2 days wanting to have beat him sensless. I know I handled it the right way so I have no regrets about it now. Whatever you do, resist the urge to pull your piece unless it is the last resort for self preservation.
 
Conservadude said:
[W]hat should someone with a concealed gun do when an unarmed perp decides to give you a hard time?
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Just giving you a hard time, right? By all means, if the threat isn't lethal, try to remove yourself from the situation. If you look like a coward, don't sweat it. When you are carrying a firearm, you lose your right to defend your honor.

Sun Tzu said "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."

If the "hard time" escalates into a minor physical threat, perhaps some "less-than lethal" persuasion is called for. O.C. pepper spray often works well in this case.

Only when one is in fear for their life should one draw their firearm.

Just one man's opinion. Interested in hearing others. :)

-Dave
 
One of the Christian classes I teach is simply entitled: Meekness.

Meekness is then defined as knowing the strength/power/authority one has, and using just enough to accomplish the desired end. In other words, having the power, but using it under control.

Meekness is definitely called for in these situations: a bg or perp decides you are to be his verbal lunch, his profane whipping post for the day, or his "watch me ladies while I do in this guy" bravado act.

Pulling out the pistol, showing it, . . . or even hinting you have it will only make matters worse as you could easily be charged with assault with a deadly weapon by any overzealous DA, . . . or the bg may decide to escalate matters with his own piece.

A quiet answer, a smile, a facing him but backing away: all of these are things you need to at least try before pulling the Colt out. If he/she escalates to the life/death threat level, . . . you have done your best, . . . repeat things like: I really don't want any trouble, . . . yes I am sorry you feel that way, . . . and a tip I got recently (and had never really considered), be careful that you are politically correct. Ethnic innuendo, racial put downs, any verbal escalation on your part can hurt your case later if you have to go to court and the handgun is involved.

Anyway, . . . be meek, . . . strength under control. It'll work.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
1BadF350...it may have made you feel bad for two days (it would have me as well) but I admire you for your control. I agree with everyones post to this so far...I think you will know when it begins to get to be a lethal situation...if we stay alert...then again, we have no garantees that any of us can handle ANY situation every time. We can even the odds a bit though as most of us reading this are already.
 
I carry everywhere, I also carry OC, I am a former cop, have trained in several martial arts, and feel confident that I can handle myself.

Where my pride lies is in being able to defuse a situation and never need to resort to any use of force. I also do Executive Protection, and 99% of the time if I would have to use force I would have failed my mission.

NEVER feel bad about avoiding violence.

All that said, if my attempts fail to peacefully resolve a situation and I am forced to defend myself, I would not hesitate to do so. Just carrying a gun does not mean I have to use it to use force. I carry in a secure holster, so I can use other tactics without worry about losing the firearm.
 
txinvestigator, . . . you wrote: "All that said, if my attempts fail to peacefully resolve a situation and I am forced to defend myself, I would not hesitate to do so."

Thank you, . . . and if I may add something to what you just said, . . . I think one of the fears of many of us who are not LEO trained, etc. is the fear that we will not react quick enough, and when the stuff is bouncing off the fan blades, . . . we are in a "catch up" situation.

Once the decision to defend it made, . . . the next actions must be quick, decisive, accurate, and defensible in a court of law. And it all must be done in a "heartbeat" of time.

That is why many of us emphasize, . . . plan, train, plan, train, and when we get done planning and training, . . . do some training and planning.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
No one really answered your question. your reaction should be based on several factors. From the sound of your question you are non-law enforcement. My answer is tempered with the fact that I have been an LEO for 26 years. During an off duty incident, if the victim is not being hurt, only relieved of some property I am less inclined to become physically involved. However, I have absolutely no tolerance for thieves of any kind and usually find that I have suddenly grabbed the BG by the hair/throat/ears etc. and banging it on the closest solid object. If the victim is being hurt, there is no option. Now at 6'0" and 230 lbs when I get involved there is no mistake. I attack the BG viciously and aggressively, to announce your presence to the BG before you decide to intercede is not very smart tactically. Its all about survival. You should always carry your weapon in a secure manner, try jumping-jacks in your concealment rig. If you are the intended victim, attack, attack, attack, these people feed off of fear, any hesitation on your part will be seen by the BG as fear. That is when they get dangerous. I hope this helps while still maintaining my soft politically correct sheeplike disguise.
 
People who carry a gun for defense should keep in mind that most situations they will get into are not shooting situations, and prepare appropriately. To me that means having a non-lethal force option with me as well as the gun. Something like a kubotan, or pepper spray, or other intermediate options give you some roome between the extremes of "run away" and "shoot the sucker."
 
People who carry a gun for defense should keep in mind that most situations they will get into are not shooting situations, and prepare appropriately. To me that means having a non-lethal force option with me as well as the gun. Something like a kubotan, or pepper spray, or other intermediate options give you some roome between the extremes of "run away" and "shoot the sucker."
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Amen bro.

And Dwight55, thanks.
 
Something like a kubotan, or pepper spray, or other intermediate options give you some roome between the extremes of "run away" and "shoot the sucker."
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I find Kelly Worden's TRAVEL WRENCH is very effective for "intermediate" kinds of situations.

OnTheEdge2-TW-pic3.jpg
 
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Its a good question, and one I have often asked myself. Thankfully I really don't get in many confrontations anymore. At 6' 4" and 280lbs, most guys don't bother me initially. But I see what you are asking. Say the guy bad mouths you, you do all you can short of turning and physically running away,
(which you should do even that if it keeps the gun from coming out, the hell
with pride. Pride doesn't serve you well in prison) and anyway, the threat keeps escalating, the guy pushes, grabs you, ect, and starts beating on you.
When does it become threatening 'ENOUGH' to pull the gun. Obviously you try to fight back with whatever means you can, WITHOUT USING THE GUN. But its a fine judgment situation that I hope I am NEVER in. If he is beating you and obviously winning, and hurting you, do you pull the gun to stop him? Do you pull the gun because you are afraid if he knocks you out he will find it and use it on you?

I wish I had an end all answer, but I don't. The only advise I can give is to AVOID the situation at all costs, even if it makes you look like the biggest sissy in the world. Who cares. I know its hard to let some jerk abuse you, but its alot harder to spend the rest of your life in prison.....
 
This sort of question comes up fairly often. Legally carrying should not preclude you from any of your normal activities. However, getting involved in a physical confrontation with a purse snatcher may result in a situation where your concealed gun is no longer concealed and maybe ends up out in the open, on the ground as a result of the struggle and then you have a very complicating factor added to the scuffle as you managed to bring a firearm to a non-lethal confrontation and then lose control of the firearm.

Some people worry about not being able to get into fights and what not to defend their honor should somebody call them an ugly name, the impression being that carrying a gun means you always have to back down. Many of those folks who worry about this probably should not be carrying in the first place without the maturity to conduct themselves more appropriately.

So these questions do come up and I have to wonder how often it is that we become confrontational and heroes after we start carrying versus before we carried. One thing I have learned is that protecting somebody else's property, such as a woman's purse, but some sort of non-lethal interdiction like shoving the guy away, can readily turn into extremely nasty situations where the bad guy has no problem ramped up the situation to a dangerous or lethal situation for reasons not clear to the good samaritan at the time of the event.
 
Some good advice in this thread!

My perspective: I'm armed, trained, alert and self-confident. What do I care what some no-account street punk(s) may think or say? Their opinions and insults are worthless and meaningless. Just as well get upset because owls hoot and crows squawk! I trust my loved ones are secure enough in their knowledge of my history that they wouldn't believe any gangsta's comments, either. :D

I mind my own business, go my own way,and "do my own thing." They should feel free to do likewise, UNLESS their "thing" seriously threatens me or mine. At that point, it becomes my "business" to protect me and mine. I'll retreat if possible, warn as firmly as I can, and (as a last resort) use force.

Caveat: Plan & think ahead; determine the "line in the sand" in advance. If the subjects approach threateningly, KNOW at what point the threat becomes just cause for countervailing force, and DON'T HESITATE beyond that point.

I'm now 50 years old, and lead a fairly unexciting lifestyle; haven't felt the need to "debate" with any hoodlum-types for a whole lotta years. If someone does lead a lifestyle and have a nature that requires meeting insult with insult, I strongly urge that person to leave his/her weapon at home. We law-abiding CWP-holders do NOT want any such negative press as is sure to result. :mad:
 
Something I've noticed when I started carrying, I tend not to get into those stare-down-type situations anymore. I used to all the time, but now, almost never.

Why is that?

I think it's a couple reasons:

1) Carrying a gun has me operating on a different level than I used to. I never feel threatened anymore. It takes a whole lot more from someone before I consider them a threat that I actually have to expend so much as one brain cell on. I just don't find alot of the everyday male-testosterone-induced chest thumping to be anything more than just mildly amusing, really. Like watching children debate. It's funny when you realize it's just for show and has no meaning, no impact and they have no clue. Alot of the human debris out there is just off my radar screen now. I mean, really, what are they going to do? I have a gun for crying out loud.

2) I'm really not interested in shooting anybody. And if I get involved, even on a minimal level, with one of these knuckledraggers, it just might escalate to the point where I do have to shoot him. And that's not good for anyone.

You have to understand that alot of these slimes are like fishermen trolling for something. They just bluster about their day throwing lines out hoping to get a bite. Hoping someone is going to react or give them 'the look' and then it's on. If you carry a gun, you don't want to make this slug think you're ready to give him what he wants, which is to get into an altercation with somebody, anybody. If living the sort of life where you get to go chest-to-chest with these lowlifes is your cup of tea, you should reconsider your decision to carry a gun because your time as a free man is going to be borrowed from that point forward.

Keep your head up, but recognize the difference between a real threat and a common scuzball. If only we lived in a society where these scum knew that the normal people were armed, all this would be academic. But we don't. And if you shoot somebody as an end result of an altercation that you participated in, it will be bad for you, to put it mildly.

- Gabe
 
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Well, Brian

since you started the thread and are asking us for advice, what are some of your thoughts on the matter? Would you whimper as you ran away----in case you'd like to participate in your own discussion? I'm assuming you have a CCW and have given some thought to the matter. :rolleyes:

Nolan
 
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