I've been involved in two situations where I have actually felt that I may have to fire on another human being.
The first time I was working armed security and was in a parking lot directing traffic. I had stopped the line of vehicles to allow a vehicle carrying a guy we had just trespassed from our property to pull out and leave. When the vehicle started to pull out, instead of pulling out and turning into the traffic lane, it kept coming toward me. I started backing up and drawing while yelling STOP! as loudly as I could. I had my sidearm at low ready and had already started to bring it up to gain a sight picture when they started turning away. I lowered my weapon and waited until the vehicle had exited the parking lot before reholstering. I still remember how many gold teeth I could see in the driver's mouth (3). Luckily, there were two local LEO's assisting and I looked around to see them reholstering about the same time I was so there was no need to call.
The second time, we were living in an OK neighborhood that was about 6 blocks from a not-so-OK neighborhood. I was staying up late in preparation for working 3rd shift the next night and had let our dogs out. I thought they had both come back in. I was sitting on the couch watching TV when I heard the front door start to open. I knew both dogs were inside and my wife was in bed, so whoever it was didn't belong. I grabbed my pistol from the top of the entertainment center, faced the door and started shouting at whoever was on the other side of the door (I was on the backside due to the arrangment of the LR) to " Get the F*^& out of my house" . I looked down just in time to see my dog peeking his head around the door looking scared to death. My wife woke up when I started shouting and I told her what was going on.
Both times, I could feel the effects of the adrenaline (pounding heart, sweating, shaking hands). Now, when I shoot IDPA I can still feel the same symptoms, just on a milder scale after each stage. when I haven't shot in a while, it is a little more noticeable.
W