To shoot or not to shoot. That is...oh, you get it.

[Playboypenguin]

This has been covered before to one degree or another. It was brought up again in a recent thread and deserves to be covered again.

Which of these statements most fits your philosophy when drawing your gun?

1. Never draw until the last second when there is no other option but to fire immediately.

2. Draw your weapon as soon as a threat reaches a sufficient level and only fire if threat continues.

3. Always fire your weapon if you ever have to draw it...period.

4. I will draw if I have to but would never fire my weapon.

My personal philosophy is to never draw until the threat has reached a critical level; but if you wait until there is no other option than to fire, you have made a serious tactical error.

I believe that pulling my CCW is my next to last resort...firing it is the last resort. I am a civilian engaging in the act of self defense. I am not a samurai warrior.

 

[KMO]

OK, so if you're placing yourself in category #2 above, I'll concur with that too.

 

[Playboypenguin]

Yes, I am a #2 type of person.

 

[MagicMan]

#2

 

[Rant Casey]

In a defensive situation like being robbed at gun point, their gun is being deflected and mine is coming up and there will be no "freeze" or "stick em up". All they'll get is 3 shots point black from the hip, putting distance between us and firing off the remainder of the rounds in their chest until they drop. Quite a bit of my CCW training is done like that. Other situations warrent different responses, if my life was not in immediate jeapordy or the lives of others, my answer would be a lot different. Someone with a less lethal weapon like a bat or a knife that is a reasonable distance from me would get a warning and I would fire only if I felt my life was in danger and they continued to advance towards me.

 

[tplumeri]

Yep, been done before, but still a valid question.

Draw your weapon as soon as a threat reaches a sufficient level and only fire if threat continues.

I have to go with that. too many folks out there with the "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality. or at least thats what they say...
I'm in the minority of folks here, i dont carry ANY of my pistols with one in the tube. gives me that extra 1/2 second to decide if i'm gonna take another life.
they say that only 1% of folks that carry have actually every fired at another human being in self defense. not to sidetrack your thread, but weve got over 6000 "members", how many of you have fired your CCW in self defense?

 

[Playboypenguin]

not to sidetrack your thread, but weve got over 6000 "members", how many of you have fired your CCW in self defense?

Hey! Start your own thread, poozer.

BFTR, I have drawn my CCW once never fired it. I have fired a gun in self defense, in the line of duty, but not my civilian CCW.

 

[huchahuchax]

I would say I'm a #2, but I study philosophy on a regular basis and have to ask what does "sufficient" mean? Who's philosophy are we going by? (I'm a Nietzsche fan myself).

 

[Rant Casey]

You say you don't carry with one in the chamber, but what if your life is dependent on having a gun ready like in a deflect / fire situation? Seconds count.

As far as firing at someone with a ccw, no never have and hope to never have to do so. I have unfortunetly fired a large surplus of 5.56 at other human beings overseas and I'll tell you one thing, my weapon was loaded. It just seems like a saftey that could cost you your life. Use your own judgement, but why hinder yourself?

 

[Scattergun Bob]

Hi Playboy

I would like to believe I am a #2 kind of guy. That said, there are issues to address.

1st - as defensive based shooters responding to threats, we are already out of time in a way. Don't underestimate that 2/5th second reaction time, it puts us way behind our enemy. In the academy it was drilled into our heads that the best draw was the gun already in our hands / on the other hand I think you and I live in the same state and the state frowns on civilians brandishing. it is a very sharp sword edge to walk on.

I am sure others will address more.

Of the options you have presented, # 2 is the most usable for me.

Good Luck & Be Safe

 

[nate45]

I concur

2. Draw your weapon as soon as a threat reaches a sufficient level and only fire if threat continues.

PBP the Yankee Marshall

"Don't make me draw down on you varmint"-PBP

 

[huchahuchax]

That "Wonder Woman" doll is the shiznit!

 

[Playboypenguin]

PBP the Yankee Sheriff

It is "The Yankee Marshal" not sheriff.

That "Wonder Woman" doll is the shiznit!

It is not a doll. It is an animation maquette.

 

[nate45]

It is "The Yankee Marshal" not sheriff.

Sorry for the unintentional demotion.

 

[Playboypenguin]

what does "sufficient" mean?

That would open to each person's discretion. You might want to make sure to set your standards high though, since you will most likely be held accountable by a jury.

I myself would have to have reason to believe someone possess both the desire and the ability to do me serious lasting harm and be acting upon that desire.

 

[nate45]

Sufficent

I believe that pulling my CCW is my next to last resort...firing it is the last resort.

Exactly, look at the weapons most of us have, the ammunition we load them with, the range practice we do.

If we ever fire our weapons its probably going to be more than a trip to the hospital for the BG.

It is a deadly serious event, I've drawn my pistol twice over the years with the intent to use it and thankfully I did not have to, its presence was enough. I hope I never have to draw on a human again the rest of my life. I look for new ways to avoid trouble all the time.

 

[huchahuchax]

That would open to each person's discretion. You might want to make sure to set your standards high though, since you will be most likely be held accountable by a jury.

I hear ya.

 

[tplumeri]

Hey! Start your own thread, poozer

poozer?!!

 

[KMO]

Rant Casey wrote,

Someone with a less lethal weapon like a bat or a knife that is a reasonable distance from me would get a warning

...and then wrote,

You say you don't carry with one in the chamber, but what if your life is dependent on having a gun ready like in a deflect / fire situation? Seconds count.

My local CCW instructor provided an excellent illustration for a class on this very subject. He wanted to point out the fallacy of thinking that a knife held by the BG somehow gives a time advantage to the armed home defender. While our "good guy" was giving verbal warnings from 20 feet, our instructor illustrated that the BG was able to cover that 20 feet with his knife in under 2 seconds, even faster if knows how to throw the thing. The point...don't be fooled by TV/movie scenes that illustrate poor decisions about warning time. Seconds really do count, and a defender must think this out in advance. 20 feet is no great distance.

 

[DMacLeod]

#2. If it happens (I truely hope it never does) , safety would be dropped upon completion of draw. Finger will be on trigger....then it is up to the BG.