[acparmed]

I'm creating this thread as a poll. I want to know how many people here have ever had to use their CCW in defense of themselves or others.
Do not post in the positive if you have had to as a LEO or in some other official capacity, only as a civilian possessing a CCW Permit.

You may explain the circumstances in your post, but I'm looking for one of the three answers.

 

[Bud White]

I havnt thankfully thought i was gonna have to at least show it the other night but that didn happen either im glad

 

[vampireglider]

Had to display (sort of)

I posted about this incident under "Reason for Carry" Thread, Jan 4th. I wish I knew how to link to it.

Best/stay safe

 

[rocky]

No luckily , I have not.

 

[P95Carry]

No - and will be well happy if it stays that way. Bit like hoping, even tho a vehicle is insured, it's way better never to have to claim. :smile:

 

[KC135]

Do not quite understand the contex of "use".

Nor the contex of the word "civilian". I am a citizen, and if you mean 'non police' ok, but that is not what Webster's says.

Don't like to nitpick, but again on these polls, care in the questions will make the results much more meaningful.

Sorry if I offend.

 

[acparmed]

Do not quite understand the contex of "use".

Nor the contex of the word "civilian". I am a citizen, and if you mean 'non police' ok, but that is not what Webster's says.

Don't like to nitpick, but again on these polls, care in the questions will make the results much more meaningful.

Sorry if I offend.

By "Use" I mean that you had to fire your CCW at a predator with two legs.

The use of "civilian" is meant as a citizen, not a sworn LEO.

No offense taken.

 

[Euclidean]

Well to be honest, an incident on IH-35 North is what made me realize I really wanted my carry permit.

In Texas it's legal to car carry for a trip and I was going from Austin to San Angelo. I was near the beginning of my journey between Austin and Round Rock. I was in the far left hand lane, and there's a concrete barrier dividing the nortbound half from the southbound half.

Of course I also got caught in some sudden standstill traffic.

About 5 or 6 cars ahead of me, a scraggly looking guy whose face I have finally begun to forget climbed over the concrete barrier. He was walking south, towards my truck.

Anyway, he immediately goes up to the first car and grabs the driver's side door handle. I thought he might have had to get out of his vehicle for some reason.

Then he went to the second vehicle. I thought "Is this guy in trouble? Does he need help?" Contrived scenarios of a distressed soul stuck in gridlock needing immediate medical attention drifted through my mind.

Then I began to realize he was going down the line, trying to find a door that wasn't locked.

The woman in front of me was pretty smart. She slid over to her passenger side seat and pulled out a cell phone. I quickly figured she must be calling the authorities.

I reached into my camera bag and pulled out my 686. At that moment a cop or that gun was the only thing I wanted to see.

I am amazed how calm I was at the time. I didn't get nervous and jittery until I thought about it later. I simply laid the gun on my lap, finger off the trigger.

He got to the car in front of me and saw the woman on her phone. He shook that Avalon's door handle and beat on the glass with his hands a couple of times. I kept my eyes on his hands, sure that he could not enter her vehicle without using a tool of some sort.

Frustrated he came to me. I stared at him, and he stared at me. The gun was laying on my lap in plain view and I don't have tinted windows. He didn't stare at me long. He was looking at that gun. He finally looked back to me.

Finally, he hopped the barrier and started running south again. He was pretty fast.

45 seconds later, a police car came streaking down that side of the highway. The woman in front of me was off the phone and back in the driver's seat. I have no idea if she actually called the police or not, but what was I to do? Call the authorities and tell them that I don't have a CHL but I just brandished a gun at someone who didn't even touch my property?

Looking back at it I think my main problem was that I was relying on the concrete barrier as a backstop. I doubt very much I would have missed at the range of 5 feet but it still doesn't sit well with me. I also should have kept the thing out of sight until he presented some kind of tool to break into my truck with.

It was strange. I was scared but not afraid.

Then again he might have been considering drawing his own gun on me so who can say?

But at that moment I realized that if anything had gone down, I would have had to account for having that gun with me in liberal soaked Travis County. That's when I resolved to get a license in 2005.

 

[acparmed]

Euclidean-- IMO you did not brandish, you merely had it in plain sight, brandishing would have been to have had it in hand and displaying it in a threatening manner. Just having it lying in your lap is not illegal....IMHO..

 

[Bumper]

Euclidean-- IMO you did not brandish, you merely had it in plain sight, brandishing would have been to have had it in hand and displaying it in a threatening manner. Just having it lying in your lap is not illegal....IMHO..

Absolutely, I agree. And I think you did the correct thing. You said, "In Texas it's legal to car carry for a trip and I was going from Austin to San Angelo" so I doubt you would get much flack from most DPS officers. I did much the same thing when I left work one day and stopped at a stop sign leading to a very busy street. A guy on the sidewalk crossed the street and started walking up to my door. I did not have my CCW permit at that time but carried my gun according to Arizona's open carry law between the seat and console in full view. He grabbed and tried to open my door, which was locked, and when he then grabbed the window which was rolled down about two inches and started demanding something in jibberish I could not understand. I put my hand on the grip, which he saw, leaving the gun holstered. He decided that I was not a good audience for his jibberish and turned and stumbled back to the sidewalk. The situation was diffused. In Arizona that could, I believe, be contrued as brandishing but it's questionable in my mind anyway.

What's really funny is about a year later, I was walking across the street to eat lunch with 3 other people from my office. I should probably mention that I work in downtown Phoenix about two miles from State Hospital which now routinely turns indigent patients out on the street. They stay in the area so they can eat at the shelters, get medical attention and medicine at the hospitals and bully people into giving them money and cigarettes. Anyway, we had crossed the street and noticed three surly looking guys sitting on a bench drinking from a bottle (in a sack). They were all three watching us, but one walked straight to us, bumped one of the guys with us chest to chest and demanded a cigarette. He said no and tried to keep on walking. The guy reached for his arm and I shoved him off and told him to beat it. He then turned his attention to me and got pretty close. As the police department taught me I moved into an interrogation stance and got ready to fight. I raised my voice and told him to leave. One of the guy's friend's decided to come to the party so one of the guys I was with started turning his attention to the new guy until it turned out that he had come to get his friend away from us. The situation diffused pretty quickly when the Capitol Police walked across to us from our building. Someone had notified him. We continued on our way to lunch without any more trouble. The police officer told us when we got back that he made them pour out their almost full bottle of booze and leave the area before he arrested them. The guy that was causing all of the trouble was the same guy that approached my car the year before.

Fast forward another year and I am on a smoke break in the middle of an Arizona summer in the shade on the north side of our office building. One of the women from the office had also come out and we were idly chatting. One of the guys that was with me during the earlier incident was out there as well. The woman and I were both sitting on a planter box, me close to the building, she a little way out from the building. The other guy was standing. I look up and see the same surly guy coming directly towards us and made a nod towards him for the other guy to see. We stayed where we were and waited to see what was about to happen. He comes right up to the woman, grabs her arm and says "give me a cigarette". I stood up and told him to get off the property and, as before he turned his attention to me. He decided I was the person responsible for the plight of the American Indian and started cussing and pointing his finger in my face. I told him twice to get his finger out of my face. He moved closer and continued jabbing his finger in the air right in front of my face and I decided I had had enough. I took a punch at his left temple and put him on the ground. The woman took off for the lobby to summon the Capitol Police officer, who appeared before the guy could get off the ground. He told the guy to stay on the ground while he got our version of what happened. When he asked him for his version he started pointing to me and babbling about the plight of the American Indian again. He ran the guy for wants and warrants and told him the next time he saw him on the property he would go to jail. What's funny is, he couldn't explain how he got on the ground. Not sure whether I knocked some wires loose or if they were lose to begin with. We've never seen him around our building again, but I do see him time to time near the State Hospital with his paper sack.

I don't think the guy is, in reality, that dangerous to a healthy and sober adult but you never know about some of these guys.....

 

[Hotelcharlie]

Ever used your concealed weapon?

No, nor have I brandished it. Only came close one time. I had stopped for gas on the way home from work, about midnight. I went to the counter, paid for my gas, and returned to my pickup. Before I got the nozzle, a rather unkempt (that's my big word for the day, s'posed to use it in a sentence 3 times) young man, 30'ish started toward me mumbling unintelligibly. I put my left hand out and told him, "That's far enough, what do you want?" He mumbled something about being out of gas and needing money, and started toward me again. He was about 15 feet away ( I know, too close already) and I told him not to come any closer and swept my shirt back and put my hand on my weapon. About that time a young woman pulled in and he immediately went to her window, but she just drove off. He wandered around the station and out of sight. I don't think he ever noticed that I might have a weapon.

 

[OKIE9MM]

I was working for a courier service that picked up canceld checks and mail from banks. Although we didn't carry any cash a few drivers had been held up. I was coming out of a bank after hours (about 7:00 PM) and had just finished putting my bags into my truck when I noticed a man walking straight at me about 15 yards away. I began to back up and he reached the front of the truck as I reached the rear quarter panel. His hand went behind his back and he withdrew a knife. Everything went into slowmotion. I don't really even remember drawing my gun but I remember how big the front sight looked. The only thing I could think to yell was NO! I guess the sight of a determined man with a cocked and locked .45 was an unplesent surprise because the guy yelled "SH**", turned on his heals and ran like I've never seen anyone run before. I called the police and when the arrived I was pretty shaken up. It's not every day you come that close to takeing a life. They took my statement and laughed and said "it will probably be a while before he tries that again". I never heard from the police, I guess he was never caught. I realized that day that I will never again be unarmed, because you just never know.

 

[Barry in IN]

Coming up on 22 years with CCW permit, have drawn once, and did not fire.

 

[rfurtkamp]

I was in the middle of an aggravated assault and multiple felony incident on Friday night - it's why I haven't been around here much the last couple days as I reviewed both what I did wrong and what I did right. Much more of the latter than the former, so I appear to be learning.

In my state, I can intervene to save another from bodily harm, stop a felony in progress, etc. and face no legal jeopardy - so I'm a little more fast and loose than many of you may be. No shots were fired. Everyone went home. I was presented with 'shoot/don't shoot' about a dozen times during the encounter as the perp kept coming back trying to make moves towards me as I waited for the police for nearly 25 minutes. Eventually, he realized that he wasn't going to get close or get the gun, and his intended victim was guarded by someone willing to go all the way - and fled the scene in his motor vehicle.

I'm sure I'll discuss it more later - I'm still recovering from the incident and I'm a little fried still. It's the first time where I had an actual choice of "watch someone get beat" or intervene with potentially serious repercussions when the person in question wasn't a friend or family member. What made it worse was I don't even particularly like the woman in question who was being assaulted, but there are certain principles that I guess I picked up somewhere that come into play above personal preference. I don't have any regrets other than things I might have done a little differently, but I didn't pick the time nor the place nor the event, and it's a reminder that ultimately in such situations that we never do.

 

[TravisABQ]

You stuck up for someone you really don't like all that much.

Now that's principled!

Personally, if a bad guy sees you are armed, and is still trying
engage in assault rather than leaving immediately, I would think that in
itself is reason enough for shooting him down.

Glad you are ok.

Watch your back, he'll be looking for you.

--Travis--

 

[rfurtkamp]

I didn't have a clear enough shot during the assault that I felt comfortable taking it. If I had one, I would have. I wasn't going to shoot the person I was trying to save unless they were about to lose their head or something where it was "now or they definitely die."

By the time I had one, I was concerned about getting the woman to safety and having to start shooting jeopardized all that.

And yes, I know he will - happened in my apartment building so I'm a target for quite some time and moving isn't an option because my old lady is going to college and we're perfectly situated.

Hopefully the perp will learn his lesson. I doubt it, but this adds another reason to the pile of why I don't EVER leave without a gun.

 

[WyattEarp]

I was in the middle of an aggravated assault and multiple felony incident on Friday night - it's why I haven't been around here much the last couple days as I reviewed both what I did wrong and what I did right. Much more of the latter than the former, so I appear to be learning.

In my state, I can intervene to save another from bodily harm, stop a felony in progress, etc. and face no legal jeopardy - so I'm a little more fast and loose than many of you may be. No shots were fired. Everyone went home. I was presented with 'shoot/don't shoot' about a dozen times during the encounter as the perp kept coming back trying to make moves towards me as I waited for the police for nearly 25 minutes. Eventually, he realized that he wasn't going to get close or get the gun, and his intended victim was guarded by someone willing to go all the way - and fled the scene in his motor vehicle.

I'm sure I'll discuss it more later - I'm still recovering from the incident and I'm a little fried still. It's the first time where I had an actual choice of "watch someone get beat" or intervene with potentially serious repercussions when the person in question wasn't a friend or family member. What made it worse was I don't even particularly like the woman in question who was being assaulted, but there are certain principles that I guess I picked up somewhere that come into play above personal preference. I don't have any regrets other than things I might have done a little differently, but I didn't pick the time nor the place nor the event, and it's a reminder that ultimately in such situations that we never do.

Wow, that's crazy. Luckily nothing serious happened and you're ok. Like someone said, keep your eyes open & watch your back.

take care.

 

[Zach S]

By "Use" I mean that you had to fire your CCW at a predator with two legs.

Oops, voted before I saw this...

My dog was leashed in the yard, a neighbors dog was loose and in a "standoff" with my dog. Gun in hand, I yelled at the other dog and told it to go home. It did.

 

[ExSoldier]

In the twenty six years I have been a CCW permit holder in three states I have had to draw six times that I can remember, but have never fired. One of those was as a citizen backup to the US Army after hurricane Andrew. The 82nd had M16s but under posse comitatus, no ammo. A mob got out of hand waiting for ICE and WATER and they started to go after a soldier. Couldn't let that happen, so I drew a Glock M30 45ACP and cool returned. I think the kid I was backing wet his pants and he was stammering as he thanked me, but I just told him to find a GUARDSMAN who all were cocked and locked and I melted into the crowd.

Once my wife and I were traveling in the center of the state returning from a vacation with our young daughter. Stopped in Lake Placid at midnight for gas and a pit stop at a 7-11. I pumped gas and the girls dashed for the bathroom. The 145 pound dog was asleep in the back of my 4x4 Explorer. Sleeping right on top of my Sam Andrews Monarch rig shoulder holster and my 1911. Hey, it was midnight in Lake Placid, not midnight in Miami. So the OLD beatup van cruises in and these two salty looking punks wearing gold grilles and dreads scope the place out. They circle all the pumps and STOP to read ALL of my bumper stickers. LIFE MEMBER NRA, NRA Instructor, GLOCK Sticker, 2nd Amendment Ain't About Duck Hunting...that kind of thing. So these two guys slide into a space in front of the store and meet my wife as she exits the store but my kid is still inside. I'm wearing my Banana Republic vest (it normally hides my carry piece) but my kid is still inside the only other pwerson inside besides the old lady at the register is a kid of about 16 who sees the pair come in. He grabs a bag of chips, runs to the counter, tosses a five dollar bill onto it and yells KEEP THE CHANGE as he vanishes into the night. My kid is still in the bathroom, the old lady is clueless and I'm unarmed. But THEY don't know that. I am wearing the unofficial uniform of the CCW (vest) and there's those vexing bumperstickers.... I keep running thru scenarios in my mind: #1 I'm armed and something goes bad and maybe I have a fighting chance and then there's the alternative. Kid FINALLY comes out and I send her to the car. I still can't leave because then the old lady will be toast. So I put on my best "You've-Been-MADE" GAME FACE and just stare at the two until they just leave. I'm shaking like a leaf as I buy a cola and go out to the truck where my wife is holding the shoulder holster for me to slip into. I do so and feel MUCH better. The guys are nowhere to be seen. My wife is worried that they may be just around the corner waiting to pounce on the old lady so she makes me play DICK-FREAKIN' TRACY and creep around in the truck to make sure they're not luring. THAT lasted about ten seconds before I determinerd that they weren't in sight and I went to a pay phone and called the lone cop car in the area. It was an important lesson and I learned it well. It's been about seven years and I would rather feel comforted than comfortable as Clint Smith says.....I feel like my Angels were working overtime that night......

 

[KarlPMann]

I have carried a firearm since I was 19 years old. I was in the navy, and stationed in Orlando, Fl. at the time. I had literally just entered the state returning to duty from being home on leave. I picked up my car while home, and my brand new pistol that was given to me by my sister. Florida law at the time allowed off duty military police to carry at the age of 19. I had my base permit so I put the gun in my door panel as soon as I crossed the state line. Within the hour I was run off the road by a truck (hit and run). I followed him for 80 miles before he decided to make his move to be rid of me... He got out of his truck and came at me with a tire iron. I stepped out of my car and drew the gun from the door as my passenger ran inside the gas station we stopped at and asked for help. They called 911 and the Fl. State Trooper that had just left returned. After the investigation, the truck driver was arrested and charged. He was realeased on a PR bond on scene. I thought I was screwed bad! I mean I'm carrying for the very first time in my life and this happens. I told the Trooper and he just laughed and said, "this is Florida, we're pro gun!" I liked Florida that year.

Since then, almost 25 years now, I've only used it one other time. I pulled my "backup", a knife, on somebody that attacked me. My Colorado permit at the time covered knives as well as guns. He went to jail on too many charges to list including parole violations, DUI, DUID, assault, assault on two cops, bench warrant too...


Karl.