Self Defense stories

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Definitions:
http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBladeArticle/4_States%20of%20Awareness.htm

Warning Threadjack!!

I am the safety officer of a volunteer unit within the Sheriff's Office Aviation Support Division. I developed a brief for my guys that applied the Cooper Awareness States to flying. It was well accepted. As law enforcement types it was something they could all relate to and were familiar with. Some scenario driven examples illustrated how one can move in and out of the various states of awareness during a routine patrol based on the threat, whether it is weather, terrain, wires, aircraft mechanical issues, crew fatigue, ground fire, or tactical situation. Works nicely.

End threadjack. Go about what you were doing. Nothing more to see here.

 

[C420sailor]

Great advice. Even if you never plan to carry, the training you go through for a carry permit is good stuff. When you finish you will know exactly what you "can and can't" do with in the law to defend your life. My rule of thumb is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6 but staying legal is good to.

Unless you're a PA resident. In that case they check your pulse, take your money, and you walk out with your permit.

 

[PropAddict]

Unless you're a PA resident. In that case they check your pulse, take your money, and you walk out with your permit.

In FL, all you have to do is send in your fingerprints, some $$, and a copy of your military ID. Comes with reciprocity to a ton of other states, too.

 

[nittany03]

As much as I support "shall issue," this is BS. I don't know if it's a misguided "support the troops" sentiment, or whether it's because people assume that everyone in the military knows about guns. This part of CCW law (military issue with no training) needs to go. Some of the most hair-raising stories of firearms mishandling and ignorance I have heard have been from members of the military.

 

[H60Gunner]

As much as I support "shall issue," this is BS. I don't know if it's a misguided "support the troops" sentiment, or whether it's because people assume that everyone in the military knows about guns. This part of CCW law (military issue with no training) needs to go. Some of the most hair-raising stories of firearms mishandling and ignorance I have heard have been from members of the military.

I agree to a point. Most all people with military experience(and I can only speak to the Navy side) have exposure to weapons training. Most civillians do not. It is not a "support our troops" thing because this was around during the "we hate our troops" era too.

 

[bubblehead]

When I got my CWP, I did have to take a class, in addition to submitting a copy of my DD-214.

 

[wink]

I agree to a point. Most all people with military experience(and I can only speak to the Navy side) have exposure to weapons training. Most civillians do not. It is not a "support our troops" thing because this was around during the "we hate our troops" era too.

Marksmanship, weapons handling and safety are not the major reasons for the class in many states. In my state, 75% of the class is an effort to scare you from ever using a gun in self defense by informing you of the law and all that can go wrong with a use of deadly force. A class is needed to teach people not to be responsible gun handlers, but responsible armed citizens.

 

[H60Gunner]

A class is needed to teach people not to be responsible gun handlers, but responsible armed citizens.

Roger that! As long as it doesn't become a restriction/burden on ownership.

 

[wink]

Roger that! As long as it doesn't become a restriction/burden on ownership.

Gotcha. I am a strong pro gun guy. But I see it like this. You can own a car, motorcycle or bus. You can drive them any where you want on private property and in most cases off road on public land. There is no restriction in bus, or motorcycle ownership. But if you are going to drive said vehicle out on the public roads, then some sort of instruction is useful for everyone's safety. Same with guns. Go buy your favorite Glock or AR. You can protect your home, shoot it on your brother's ranch, hunt or target shoot on public land or go to a gun club. But if you are going to carry conceal down the street and in a grocery store, I think it is a good idea you know some basic tactical and legal considerations so you are a responsible armed citizen. As long as the program is "shall issue." I am OK with that.

 

[swerdna]

Background story:
Pretty sad and avoidable incident.

Some "rules" I try very hard to live by:

1) Humble yourself, be the better person, and walk away

2) Never start sh*t with a stranger; never talk sh*t to a stranger

3) Maintain your situational awareness at all times (see link, below)

I'm with FlyinRock, though, in that I operate within the Cooper Color Codes: white, yellow, orange, and red. Unfortunately, I am in condition yellow from the moment I step foot outside of my house with occasional "blips" to orange and then, back down to yellow.

This sounds like "blame the victim". If you think someone parks too close to you and you need to say something about it, just say it. There's no need to argue. But there's also no need to constantly put up with other people's crap because they might shoot you.

That's too bad the guy died. I'd of chewed the shooter's ass out and then just left. There's no need to sit and argue, it's not like you're gonna change the world.

As for the gun control, I doubt the shooter had a CWP.

 

[HokiePilot]

Gotcha. I am a strong pro gun guy. But I see it like this. You can own a car, motorcycle or bus. You can drive them any where you want on private property and in most cases off road on public land. There is no restriction in bus, or motorcycle ownership. But if you are going to drive said vehicle out on the public roads, then some sort of instruction is useful for everyone's safety. Same with guns. Go buy your favorite Glock or AR. You can protect your home, shoot it on your brother's ranch, hunt or target shoot on public land or go to a gun club. But if you are going to carry conceal down the street and in a grocery store, I think it is a good idea you know some basic tactical and legal considerations so you are a responsible armed citizen. As long as the program is "shall issue." I am OK with that.

I am the complete opposite opinion. I believe that it should be the governments job to say that you shouldn't do something not that you can. I don't think that it is the governments responsibility to make sure that you have all of the checks in the block before you do something. Instead it should be the citizens. If something happens to call that into question, the government should go back and check to see if you were not a felon and acted responsibly. Everyone should be assumed innocent until proven guilty.

I obviously think that everyone who carries should know what is legal and what is not, but that is a personal decision, not the governments.

 

[Rocketman]

I obviously think that everyone who carries should know what is legal and what is not, but that is a personal decision, not the governments.

I feel the same way.

I got my CCW paper the first year NC allowed it so my info is dated. My class was mostly about what the law in NC says about the use of deadly force. I found that info very helpful and very different from what "logic" might dictate. Every state is different even those with a castle doctrine law in place. I will defend my life and my family when I think it's needed, not when NC thinks it legal. That said, I'd like to keep my house in the process if possible.

If you keep a gun for self defense the first and most important thing you need to learn is how to use your weapon effectively. There is more to carrying and using a concealed weapon safely and effectively that just sticking a gun in your pocket. (Just ask Plaxico.) You need instruction and lots of range time. Standing in an air conditioned range and blasting away at bulls eye target is better than nothing but it's not the kind of training I'm talking about.

You also need to learn when to talk and when to keep your mouth shut if you ever have to defend your life. Knowing the law is an important part of that.

 

[picklesuit]

Home Defense With Kids

So this may come as a dumb question...I have a Remigton 870 Express 12 Ga. for home defense (I know, real original). My problem is that my son is now 2.5 and is able to get into anything, How do I stay in a defensible position when I have to leave a firearm unloaded? I sleep with a Ka-Bar under the mattress in easy reach...but that leads to the old knife in a gun fight problem.

Once someone has gained entry to my house, I have probably 12 seconds to get something, which precludes loading said shotgun and doing something with it.

The wife and I are looking for a handgun soon, but that still leaves us with the unloaded firearm around kids problem. I want to have something quickly accessible but safe around the curtain climbers (I don't want to be that guy on CNN whose kid removes his face playing with his dads firearms) How do you deal with that?

Pickle

 

[Bevo16]

I have my night stand set in a corner so that there is a triangle of space between the back of the furniture and the corner of the wall. It's a perfect spot to put a shotgun, and a 2 1/2 year old is not going to be able to move it (especially if it is loaded down with porn).

OTOH, it's a pump shotgun. You don't have to keep one in the chamber at all times.

 

[PropAddict]

Couple suggestions from a guy in a similar situation:

1. Handgun. My daughter couldn't wield a full size .45 loaded with 10 hollowpoints when she was 3. The 8 lb DA trigger pull was outside her ability envelope, too.

2. Quick access lock box. I don't know that I'd trust it to keep thieves out in my absence, but for $50 at Academy I got a metal one gun box that has an electronic keypad requiring a 5 digit code to get in. You can calculate the number of permutations there, but I'm pretty sure it'd take my rugrats a looong time to randomly get in. Fits nicely by the bedside. I practiced a few times and can open it in the dark and have gun in hand in under 5 seconds. I'm told the thumb scanner ones are even faster, but a bunch more money.

3. Training. 2.5 is maybe a little young, but by age 4, my daughter knew never to touch daddy's guns. It's no subsititue for supervision, but I think it's a key part of keeping your kids safe.

4. For the long gun route: hang it on the wall out of reach.