The ''hesitation factor''

Truthfully P95 I feel this is a far more important issue than how good your marksmanship is, what kind of gun you carry, or what kind of experience you have.

To boil it down to its simplest form, I have come to the conclusion that I must answer one simple question:

Is a life in danger with no hope of retreat or resolution to the situation?

I think that's a pretty simple question to answer to be honest. I admit a lot of the situations we talk about are not really cut and dried, but they all call for action. The goal has never been to shoot first and ask questions later, but people who hesitate lose.

Now it's true we can cook up situations like this:

Imagine you are trying to unlock your car at 1 AM after coming out of a long conference when out of the corner of your eye you see a large menacing figure with something in his hands coming your way.

You unclip your Surefire from your pocket and illuminate a large, 300 pound figure with a fireaxe coming straight at you. He screams "I'm going to kill you!"

You take off running but find yourself in a dead end. There's no doors to go in, and there's nothing to hide behind. You fire once to the center of mass, and your attacker stops in his tracks and starts wailing in pain, crying for his mother.

The police show up and you find out he's a 14 year old kid with a grandular disorder playing a live action roleplaying game with his friends. His axe was a toy and you couldn't tell in the dark.

Now don't you feel like an ass?

Now I ask you. How ridiculously elaborate and contrived is that scenario?

That scenario is patently absurd despite the fact it's entirely possible.

Now are there less contrived situations where a lack of hesitation can get you in tons of trouble? Of course. We talk about them here all the time.

One thing my CHL instructor said that is a grandmother's wisdom that has stayed with me was this:

Here's the difference between women and men. Women have this tendency to wrap their minds around other things and are often caught in White more often than men. My friend who got robbed in her driveway is the perfect example. She wasn't paying attention. Men have this tendency to follow their hunter-killer instincts and go towards the danger rather than away from it. It's like the man who knew there was someone in his house, charged in there anyway, heard someone in the closet, fired through the door, and killed his own daughter.* And either one gets you in a world of trouble.

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*She earlier used this incident to point out the importance of the Four Rules of Gun Safety in any situation.

My point is that:

#1. I think in all likelihood it'll be real obvious when you should fear for your life, and I think the odds of one of us actually having such a terrible encounter is a million fold greater than the possibility of some out in left field "Don't you feel like an asshole?" scenario. Hesitating in this situation will probably happen to some degree but the more we prepare ourselves the more precious seconds we can shave off.

#2. I think you can avoid a blunder by letting the danger come to you whenever possible.

I've read all this stuff on having the will to fight and they all come to the same conclusion: plan it out beforehand even though your plan probably won't fold out the way you'd like. The point isn't to construct an elaborate set of contigency plans to address every possible situation, the point is to feel fear and not panic. Fear is good, panic is not.

Overall, I try to be aware as possible. I feel awareness and avoidance are the most important things I have learned and ever will learn. I feel I'm making a reasonable effort to protect myself. I have the tools, I have the materials, I'm practicing regularly, and I hope to take some more courses this summer. What else could I possibly do without this whole thing consuming my life? And I simply pray and hope God will provide otherwise.

I do think about the legal ramifications of shooting in a defensive situation, but not so much that it would negatively effect my actions. At least I hope. I believe odds are that the situation would be a little more "cut and dry" and that the correct action will be dictated by the situation. The time to shoot instead of hesitate is when it is a "kill or be killed". If we are almost, but not quite, there yet I will attempt to diffuse the situation rather than shoot.

I agree with just about everything each of you have said with the exception of Euc's scenario, which I agree is possible and probably not all that improbable.

The police show up and you find out he's a 14 year old kid with a grandular disorder playing a live action roleplaying game with his friends. His axe was a toy and you couldn't tell in the dark.

Now don't you feel like an ass?

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No, I do not. If someone is coming at me with an axe (and it does look real) saying that he is going to kill me I will drop him like a rock. And I won't apologize for it later. If the parents are letting a 300 pound 14 year old boy run the streets at 1AM with his friends and he is foolish enough to include an adult in their "game", that is not cause for me to feel like an ass for killing him. I would certainly feel bad that it happened, but I would not say that the situation was my "fault". I was simply trying to get in my car. He caused the situation that lead to his demise, not me. :redface:

P95,

I am well known for being Mr. Avoidance. In the macho types I've known, the utterance they use, "I had to do it," is really a cover for, "I wanted to use these new hollowpoints."

In my life I've ridden, been neighbors, and lifted with perhaps two dozen people in law enforcment. Most go +20 years without firing a shot. And the kicker here is that they are looking for trouble, that's their job.

So if looking for trouble makes you a remote participant, then being an avoider reduces your chances to about nill.

You know that 'hinkie' feeling when you know something is wrong? You can tell which side of the fence you're on by your next move.

Do you reach for a SureFire to enhance a kill zone, or do you look for a safe way out?

I say this because most good bikers always look for an "avenue out," whether it's for bad pavement, a sudden stop, an Illinois driver or bad weather conditions. The reason is that in a biker vs. truck scenario the biker usually dies and trucker driver tells the TV reporter he heard a 'soft thump.'

If your aggressor is dangerous, then find a way out. You're not dangerous. You're a father. A Christian. A suburban resident. A husband. You haven't been in a fist fight since the third grade and the last knife fight you saw was during a revival of "The Westside Story."

Besides, statistics show that the average a LEO stays in uniform, even after a legitimate shooting, is for about nine months. We have a distinguished State Trooper in our neighborhood who was discharged from duties for PTSD. He didn't even shoot at anyone, he wrecked a squad-rod during a high speed chase.

We have the same cognitive therapist.

P95,
I'll weigh in on this as this is one of the factors (legal) that I've posted my thoughts on lately when presented a "what would you do?" scenario.
One thing I think that comes to mind is that shooting for MY life or that of my family is a non thought, so to speak. You can bet that if I'm confronted with a level of violence that I feel I cant overcome by any other means, I will fire. Sounds easy, right? The trick for me is to decide, in advance, what that level is. Seated in a diner, fruitcake plows thru the front and opens fire....retreat may be more dangerous as it exposes you to the incoming rounds. Cover and concealment, of course. But if retreat means exposure in the open that can be seen by the attacker, then I'll stay down and attempt a well placed shot. More than one assailant, dispaying obvious intent to do great bodily harm, and if I believe they are gonna do it, and especially if I have my wife/kids in tow, no thought required, I made that decision a long time ago. An attack so sudden I'm on the ground before I can react, means my attacker has a pretty good idea of what he's doing, or he's crazy as hell. What I mean by this is that I try not to be a soft target. I stand 5'11'', 215 lbs. I do 30-45mins cardio and 45mins wieghts 5 days a week. I've done my share of rolling around on the concrete with fellas who dont see things the way I see it. I'm no slouch. I'm not a snake eater, but I'm no pushover either. I tend to be very aware of my surroundings. And I let someone know, either by looks, body language, or verbal conveyance if their presence or proximity troubles me. So, for me to be driven to the ground, my assailant for some reason or another, has figured 'he can take me', or he's looking to get killed. Either way, that is a level of violence that I cannot allow to continue for any prolonged amount of time. Because the longer the time, the better his odds are at just being lucky. Time and distance are my friends. Also, the threat of being physically seperated from my wife/kids will result in all bets being off. Guys stroll into Pizza Palace, announce a holdup, and do their thing. Fine, lets let'em get done and get out. If they say "you, get up and move over here, and lead me away from wife/kids........well, I drew the line in the sand long ago, and now you've crossed it. Expect incoming fire. I say this due to precedence. At a Pizza Hut in Brandon a few years back, guys came in, robbed the place, led the males to the freezer and executed them. So, due to the fact that this is a documented practice, and you perform parts 1 and 2, I am not gonna let you get to step 3 scott free. Or, if someone attempts to take my wife/kids away by force, bodies hit the floor. The longer and further they are from me, the less likely to get them back unharmed (rape, torture, etc).
Where the thinking, and 'hesitating' comes in, is when the violence is not overwhelming, or when I dont know the players, or the old 'third party' quandry. Then I have to put on my thinking cap and weigh out my consequences for making a life/death decision with out all my data. And it may not be hesitating in the form of "I wont shoot", but it may be "I wont shoot now, or I wont shoot unless". Thats just playing it smart and giving some time for things to develope enough to make a better plan.
I would venture to guess that most everyone on this forum has the smarts to make the decision that would be the decision of any "prudent person in the same situation". Hindsight is always 20/20. But you gotta live long enough to have the chance to see things in hindsight.

I hope this made some sense and I am really looking foreward to the other replies.

Dan

Another aspect is trying to tie anecdotal evidence to your planned strategy.

For example, have you heard these examples of wisdom?

1.) Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread.

2.) He who hesitates is lost.

P95 mentioned 'getting older,' and I find I factor this into decisions more and more. The exception would be another person, like your wife, in immediate danger.

If it's just your personal bacon, I say, "What's the rush?" Ensconced, you are in no immediate danger and the aggressor must come to you. You pick the time, the cover, the corridor of fire, all with a reload ready and your stance solid.

Statistics say that gunfights last 4 to 7 seconds. Whoa! I'd like to live a bit longer, thank you.

There's another factor to getting older. The epithets, "wuss," or "leaker" or "paper tiger" lose their sting. There is the bold and the old, but there aren't that many old bold. Ever wonder why?

If your aggressor is dangerous, then find a way out. You're not dangerous.

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If that's what you feel, then yes, withdrawal is a very wise choice. I've now faced LEOs and legal jeopardy situations several times in my life for assisting another and been convicted twice, once for misdeanor battery when I was much younger and in a jurisdiction that didn't value someone's life, and now for "non-malicious pointing of a firearm." Neither has taken away my right to own firearms or to carry them, and I've come away a little more bruised every time - but the fact is that if it's my skin or someone else's, that little thing in me says that I'd rather take the flogging than watch someone else do it. Maybe it's a great failing in me personally.

To get back to the meat of the question, however, the time for these questions is before you step in. In my recent incident, I knew the minute I touched the Glock that the night was underway - and that there would be no winners. I went forth anyway.

I'm not saying that others should unequivocably do so. I'm not saying that in every situation I should either. However, there comes a point as I've gotten older that I'm not willing to cower in the corner and hope for the best - or run away. I will leave if the situation warrants, but if it's already escalated or it's a momentary decision, I've always been one to err on the side of action versus inaction.

In my recent real-world scenario, I was faced with an unpleasant situation: intervene and do what was right or let someone I despise take a beating that they didn't deserve. I did the former, even though it cost me a $50 fine and put another mark on my jacket.

In those unpleasant situations, ask yourself, is this something I have to do, or is it something I want to do?

If it's yes to the former and no to the latter, then take those steps and know that at least some folks will understand.

Rfurtkamp,

I am not a sworn officer. Of course, few of us would leave a LEO in danger if we could help it. I interact and do business with them every day. All of us should take steps to secure the life of someone less fortunate in a crisis situation.

The ideas of 'cower' or 'run away' are not the same. I don't cower, that's what the Glock is for. But consider a parallel situation with a burning building, and you have no extinguisher or the fire is too large for you to contain.

You're not "running away" if the danger is too great for a reasonable man to handle. Would you stay there and burn?

Same thing on the street. My wife and I use cell phones all of the time to report unattended and spreading fires, unskilled people with disabled autos or drunken behavior by drivers. That's appropriate behavior.

Did you know that many first responders also die with the victim because they rushed into the same danger? This is often the case where danger is unseen, like in a gas leak. It would have been great if a hero could have pulled victims to safety from the young boy and older man who used sniper techniques from the trunk of their car. Most likely they would have provided another target.

But what series of events caught the two snipers? A normal citizen saw the car and the license plate and got the police. They were arrested as they slept.

Technically, the citizen could have pulled his own firearm, hoped for the best, and apprehended the two. Read that sentence again and tell me how it sounds.

The Tourist said:

Rfurtkamp,
But consider a parallel situation with a burning building, and you have no extinguisher or the fire is too large for you to contain.

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The problem is that I've never met a situation I couldn't handle save for a full-scale riot. This won't be the case for everyone, but it is, as much as it pains me to paraphrase Marx, "from each according to his means."

You're not "running away" if the danger is too great for a reasonable man to handle. Would you stay there and burn?

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I'll run into the burning building if needed, yes.

Same thing on the street. My wife and I use cell phones all of the time to report unattended and spreading fires, unskilled people with disabled autos or drunken behavior by drivers. That's appropriate behavior.

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Different situations require different appropriate behavior.

Did you know that many first responders also die with the victim because they rushed into the same danger? This is often the case where danger is unseen, like in a gas leak. It would have been great if a hero could have pulled victims to safety from the young boy and older man who used sniper techniques from the trunk of their car. Most likely they would have provided another target.

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Most likely, yes. The problem is that if that situation presents itself, chances are I'll respond with the best case scenario hope. I've got training, don't flinch under fire, and quite frankly, am willing to take a risk. I know what that means - it means I may not come home that night. Some situations are worth that, others aren't.

But what series of events caught the two snipers? A normal citizen saw the car and the license plate and got the police. They were arrested as they slept.

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If I see a "suspicious" car in that scenario, sure. If I see gunfire belching from the trunk, it's a world of difference.

Technically, the citizen could have pulled his own firearm, hoped for the best, and apprehended the two. Read that sentence again and tell me how it sounds.

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As you describe it, it doesn't sound good. Brave actions rarely do when analyzed in light of a 'what if something happens to me' standpoint.

That's the difference, I suppose. Yes, I analyze that repercussions could occur - and weigh them against my skill set.

If I have a reasonable chance of success, I'm a gambling man.

What pains me about your prose is the phrase "I'm willing to take the risk." I'm getting to the age where I see younger people as a possible son, or even grandson. It's hard watching them get banged up.

I'll give you an example. All of my friends are conservative church members, cops, ********, bikers and ******* bikers. We don't suffer fools longer than it takes a Rhinelander Bullfrog long-neck to lose its chill.

However, I was the last one in this group to agree on sending troops to the mideast. My view had nothing to do with politics (I would have personally put the last three slugs in Bin Laden or Hussein), but for the cost to us in the lives of the young soldiers.

I made the comment: "Why should our best die for their worst?"

My opinion on a first-responder is similar in nature. In the few threads in which I have read your thoughts, I have no doubt you would risk it all to save someone or face a BG. How many folks do you know like that?

I've known four. In my entire life.

We have technology, trained fire and police personnal and an ugly history of first responder deaths. My view on bravery has changed.