how many times have you actually drawn your gun?
Three.
What kind of situation made you reveal your firearm?
Fear for my life. The third time, fear for my and my child's life.
One might ask how it could be that one man could be in fear for his life to that extent three times. I have a job that takes me into dangerous areas. I have never had to draw my gun in those areas. The three places I have had to draw my gun were my own home, my own property, and a Wal-Mart parking lot.
I have had to fire my gun to preserve my life once as a civilian. I am including it in the number. I do not wish to discuss that incident on an open forum.
I'd really like to get an idea on what is approriate and what is not as far as acting with your carry firearm.
What is appropriate is rife with opinion and speculation. Know what is
legal in your state, and then form your own boundaries within those limitations, not to exceed them. Realize that when you draw your gun you will likely have to use it. Drawing a gun does not diminish a conflict, it escalates the conflict dramatically. Not everyone will back down from the muzzle of your gun. It is not a magic talisman to protect you from evil.
If you fire your gun, the act can never be taken back. There will be consequences, whether you kill or not. You will suffer legal, social, professional, financial, mental and spiritual consequences. You must live with those consequences for the rest of your life. If the use of the weapon was legal, and you, yourself, can live with the consequences, then nobody has a right to say the use was inappropriate. Nobody.