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

Of the options, the only one that makes any real sense is #2, IMHO. And that's pretty much the way things are for me.

There might be a time when I simply draw and fire. No words, warnings or anything. But if we practice our situational awareness even a little bit, we stand a very good chance of avoiding the situation or being prepared for the criminal.


1. Never draw until the last second when there is no other option but to fire immediately.
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a) You then stake your physical ability to draw & fire against that of someone already in the act of attempting to seriously hurt you.
b) As some 91.7% of firearms incidents end without a shot fired1 when the defender displays a firearm, why would you deprive yourself of a less-than-lethal opportunity to end a confrontation?


2. Draw your weapon as soon as a threat reaches a sufficient level and only fire if threat continues.
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"Sufficient level" will depend upon the capability of the defender to respond to the threat level. An older person or one with a physical disadvantage cannot necessarily wait until the last second.

3. Always fire your weapon if you ever have to draw it... period.
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Such absolutist statements are frightening. They also assume blazing speed on the draw. In the 1.5 seconds a reasonably fast CCW draw might take your attacker may turn and flee or otherwise cease his threat. What then? Shoot a fleeing person? Shoot a surrendering subject? Can you say can of worms?

4. I will draw if I have to but would never fire my weapon.
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This begs the question of why you even have a firearm with you in the first place. Return gun to safe, work on mindset and legal understandings before carrying again.



Footnote:
1. From 1993 Kleck-Gertz study on defensive gun use.
 
I would go with # 2.

A good example is you are answering a door late at night you may want the gun drawen and your hand along your side not brandishing but more available than having to draw.

Although when I was in the military we were taught to draw, aim and fire and all three never only draw or aim because if the threat was serious rnough to draw you hd better shoot.

I think a BIG part of the reason is they didn't want young GIs playing around with their weapons realizing that if the gun was in the holster there was less chance of an NG.
 
I'd agree with #2 but I have read somewhere while doing research on a anti gun control law paper for a writing class I was taking and happened to read somewhere that 95% of crimes stopped with out the civilian even un-holstering the weapon, the mere presentation of it in a holster was enough to deter a lot of threats. I can't remember where I read it but it made me think to myself about your particular question. Personally I came to the conclusion if someone poses a threat to me where I would feel the need to show my weapon, I would not leave it in the holster. If I'm going to show a BG my firearm its going to be fixed center mass on him and he will get one warning to run a way. If someone doesn't run from a gun pointed at them they have a serious problem.

BTW I made so many good points about how most gun control laws are only punishing law abiding citizens that my Professor LOVED IT. He liked it so much, and he is neither for or against guns btw, but he kept it to show to future classes. If I can find it I will post it up, but I'm not a professional writer by any means.
 
BillCA wrote,

Such absolutist statements are frightening. They also assume blazing speed on the draw. In the 1.5 seconds a reasonably fast CCW draw might take your attacker may turn and flee or otherwise cease his threat. What then? Shoot a fleeing person? Shoot a surrendering subject? Can you say can of worms?
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Can you say, Joe Horne?
 
None of the above! I will draw my weapon at the very first sign of a threat and fire if it escalates. I'm not going to try and Psycho- analyze the BG before I ACT!! Your instincts and training will determine your actions, not a bunch of what ifs! Therefore this thread makes little sense.
 
None of the above! I will draw my weapon at the very first sign of a threat and fire if it escalates
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So, are you going to be pulling a gun on everyone that walks behind you in a parking garage or looks at you funny at a bus stop and then just see where it goes???

You statement is screaming for a little more clarification. :)
 
You totally missed the point! First, there has to be a threat, not imagined, not based on internet could be's, or what if's! When a real threat is presented, then your instincts and training will dictate your reaction.
If you still require clarification, then explain your lack of understanding of the basics CCW?
 
You totally missed the point! First, there has to be a threat, not imagined, not based on internet could be's, or what if's! When a real threat is presented, then your instincts and training will dictate your reaction.
If you still require clarification, then explain your lack of understanding of the basics CCW?
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What do you consider a threat? How do you know your perception of a threat is accurate? At what point do you decide to draw your weapon? Your first post makes it sound like you draw the very second you perceive any type of threat. Does that mean if I happen to be parked next to you in a parking garage and happen to be walking right behind you from the elevator to your car you are going to whirl around and pull your gun on me? That is a complete lack of understanding the rules of defense. At the first perception of a threat you do not automatically jump to guns drawn. You quickly analyze the situation and proceed accordingly. You are skipping a lot of essential steps. That is asking to loose your CCL and perhaps spend a nice quite time in the country jail getting to know the dregs of society.
 
#2 Draw when you perceive a threat. I draw, and release the safety upon completion. Use the drawn gun and verbal commands, "Stop or I'll shoot!", to force the perp to back down or to effect your escape. If the threat escalates, do not hesitate to pull the trigger. Don't wait until the last moment to draw, you may not have a last moment at that point.

Scenario:
A perp approaches with a gun in his hand, pointing at the ground. You draw yours and point it at his chest. He stops. "Drop the gun!" over and over. As long as he's not advancing and hasn't raised the gun, there's no need to fire. He's in your sights, if he even twitches that gun hand or continues to advance, you have him cold.
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If a perp approaches with a gun in his hand I draw and fire immediately. You are a dead man walking if you think you "have him cold." The only time you truly have a man with a gun "cold" is after he has died from the shock or wound channels your hollowpoints have inflicted or he has bled out on the sidewalk.
 
My point is that if I perceive a threat, then I will act! I'm not going to wait until someone suspicious gets the upper hand!!
So if you look or act gnarly around me I will draw! If it turns out Iv'e mis-judged the situation, then I'll apologize, but not regret following my instincts and training.
Concealed carry is useless unless you have the common sense to know a threat when you see it.
 
So if you look or act gnarly around me I will draw! If it turns out Iv'e mis-judged the situation, then I'll apologize, but not regret following my instincts and training.
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You left out the last part..."go to jail."
 
As a cover-all for most situations, I would say I fit into category #2. Obviously there could be situations that would sway my feelings, but lets hope those never come about
 
Go to jail for what! I'd rather take my chances with the law, than wait for the BG to shoot me because I took too much time to analyze his mental state.Your imagined restraint will get you killed!
 
Go to jail for what! I'd rather take my chances with the law, than wait for the BG to shoot me because I took too much time to analyze his mental state.Your imagined restraint will get you killed!
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Wow, do you really believe this stuff? Or are just a Rambo type on the internet?

You ever pull your gun on me without just cause and I will do everything in my power to see you in jail and loose your right to carry.
 
Definitely #2.

Further, no offense, but I would feel pretty comfortable with PBP having my back - both during a tense situation and afterwards, speaking with the police. Avenger, man you would get us both stuck in the pokey. At least in the States I've lived in... That, or you live a charmed life and know every judge/leo in your locale. That attitude just wouldn't work in Daytona, St Louis or Indy. No way on the west coast, where those folks have to fight for CCW rights tooth and nail.
 
Further, no offense, but I would feel pretty comfortable with PBP having my back - both during a tense situation and afterwards, speaking with the police. Avenger, man you would get us both stuck in the pokey. At least in the States I've lived in... That, or you live a charmed life and know every judge/leo in your locale. That attitude just wouldn't work in Daytona, St Louis or Indy. No way on the west coast, where those folks have to fight for CCW rights tooth and nail.
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Thanks for the vote of confidence, but you might want to find someone to have your back that would be less likely to run away at the first sign of trouble than me. :o

As for Avenger11, I think that is all an internet put on or at least bluff. Anyone that actually acted like that would either be in prison or run out of guns after people kept feeding them to them (if they were lucky enough to have them chose that particular orifice to deposit the gun into). :)
 
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