Well, have to rely on the honesty of people here. How many years have you carried a loaded rifle and/or hand gun with you? How many times did you draw your gun against a would-be attacker in that same period? How many times did it help you save and protect your family in your home from burglars? If you did draw your gun, did you shoot?
I’ll play..... Does it matter? Been carrying for 30+ years off and on. Archery hunting for deer, had to pull my handgun and shoot a sick muskrat that came after me. If he was acting normal I would have let him go.... Run into a dog once that was kind of aggressive. Luckily he didn’t stick around and I didn’t draw but was ready. Had to go out and check on my wife’s horse years ago at a rented abandoned acreage after dark when I wasn’t carrying. I was ready to leave and had gotten in the car. I had parked on the shoulder and hadn’t started the car yet, had my window down and a car had pulled up across the road. I could hear some one talking and they were up to no good. I yelled “can I help you?”...I heard them mutter something and they sped off...After wards, I realized what could of happened..... I guess when you think about it, all the innocent victims that have died from an assault or whatever over the years. Would it have turned out different if they had decided to arm themselves for the reason of self defense? I’ll bet they never thought it would happen to them...... They always say, do what they tell you to do if you are getting robbed or whatever so you won’t get hurt. Yeah right! We had 2 clerks shot in 1 night a few years ago. They did everything the guy told them to do and they wouldn’t get hurt. He shot them both in the face. They were both mothers. At some point you realize you are not getting out of this and you have no options. The old saying: “Better have and not need, than to need and not have”
Well, I've had a fire extinguisher for the 20 some-odd years I've owned houses. I haven't had to use them yet either.
I've got this life jacket in my boat. Never actually needed it because I swim quite well. Still carry it out and wear it every time though. Did you have a point? If you're trying to get a feel for DGUs here's some data: http://reason.com/blog/2015/03/09/how-to-count-the-defensive-use-of-guns Has the high/low in the article so you can see both ends.
I did so for about ten years. Seen a few burglars off. Perhaps 3 times in total. Usually they just see me and run. No confrontation of any kind occurs. I once fired a warning shot during a gypsy invasion. And since then....I haven't been robbed. Ten year crime wave has ended.
I've carried for 7 years. On one occasion I caught a guy under my shop van trying to cut off my cataleptic converter. Next to my van was his car with his young wife and child crying when I came out of my shop. I abruptly said "what the hell are you doing under my van" he came flying out from under in shock with a saw in his had. I put my hand on my gun, then he ran the back way around his car to get in and drive off. Cost me 25 bucks to get it rewelded. On a second occasion, I was fishing in a remote area about 100 yards from my truck near a bridge. I saw a biker stop on the bridge who saw me fishing down the creek. He drove off. A little later, out of nowhere, he cam walking down the creek towards me. Getting to my fishing spot involves a lot of trouble. As he was walking up on me I uncovered and exposed my gun. I wanted him to know I was armed. I stood up and never allowed him to be behind me. He asked me if I noodled the area, then he left. On one occasion, I regret not having it. I was crossbow hunting that morning and forgot my carry pistol. In the dark on my way to my blind, I distinctly heard what I thought was the growl of a panther/cougar. In my blind I pulled a big knife to have handy wishing it was my gun.
Same feeling sleeping out on a solo archery hunt. Wolf howls at night with only a bow are disturbing. Bought a handgun after I got back.
In the late 50's and early 60's I was a LEO for seven years and I carried when off duty. I've lived in Arizona now for over 20 years and have carried most of the time. I've never had to use it but there have been several occasions I was comforted knowing I had it.
I lived in another state for a couple years where I could carry. I stopped a break in of my apartment at gun point in 84, shot a mugger outside my apartment when two muggers jumped me from an elevated porch. I moved back to Ohio which did not have CCW until 04, however since I was a DOJ official starting in 90, I could carry under Ohio Law. in 90 I witnessed a street crack deal and I honked my horn at the scumbags since they were blocking the right of way. They followed me all over and I pulled into a open parking lot, assumed a defensive position with a SIG 226 I kept in my briefcase. The mopes buggered out when I drew on them and the police were unable to catch them. Those are the most notable cases where I was carrying a weapon. as a college student home on vacation, I obtained a shotgun from our arms closet as did my brothers when someone tried to break into our parents home. When he saw three of us lining him up with 12G shotguns he fled
I've carried a gun personally and professionally for the better part of 30 years, and I will leave what happened when I was on duty as a law enforcement officer off the table. As a private citizen I have had a couple of instances of drawing my weapon against criminal attack. No shots were fired, as the bad guys ran like scalded dogs at the realization they were facing an armed individual. I did find myself in a tense stand-off with the abusive soon to be ex-husband of a woman who was friends with my wife. She had left him after he'd beaten the crap out of her and my wife had helped get her out of her house and brought her to ours. The scumbag abuser showed up an hour later, knowing there was only a couple of places his wife could have gone, and he made it clear he wanted to get past me to drag her back home, and I told him it wasn't going to happen. He knew I had a gun, which was visible in a holster on my hip, and there were several tense moments where I realized he was trying to decide if he could beat me to the draw. He couldn't manage to psych himself up to try it before the local constabulary had arrived and he'd been arrested for spousal abuse... at which time they found a gun tucked into his waistband.
Nonnie, I'm 62, and I've been carrying a concealed weapon with me since I was 24 years old. But I was a law enforcement officer all those years. I drew it in the apprehension of criminals many times. But off duty, I never did. However .... - When I was a very young officer working a swing shift, someone tried to break into my house while my wife was there alone. She screamed and they left. I immediately went out and bought her a gun. - One time I pulled over late at night on a lightly traveled road to fix a blown fuse that had shut off my taillights. A minute later a pick-up pulled over behind me, and two guys got out. They didn't mean any harm, but I was not defenseless if they did. - Another time I was in a large city with my wife to go to a particular store. I had to park on a side street. Two guys in gang attire walked up as my wife and I headed on foot towards the main street. Both stopped talking as they drew close and looked us over as we passed by each other. A few steps later I turned and looked behind me, and they were both looking at us. I shot them a look, and they left us alone. I was, of course, armed. - And one time my son (age 6 at the time) and I were all alone along side a river fishing when we were approached by two young men. One, I specifically remember, had jail tattoos on his arms. They started some small talk. I answered them politely but tersely, signalling that this conversation was over. The one then looked me up and down trying to be discrete about it, but I am attuned to that kind of body language, and I knew he had bad intentions. I just stood there and looked back at him. Whatever he was thinking, he decided against it, and they left. My .38 was in my waistband, and I would have used it without hesitation if he had done something like what he was thinking. - And most recently, I was with a couple of friends at an empty boat launch area. We were going to launch our boat and go fishing. A car came down the entrance to the landing, a one-lane road, blocking it, containing 3 men. Long story short, two stayed in the car, and one came up to our truck and attempted to rob us, claiming "we have guns," but not showing one. He was stocky, and he had prison tattoos all over his arms. He was told that we weren't giving him our money. I was the only one who was armed. "Well then, we fight", he said, and walked back to his car containing the other two men and, presumably, their guns. I guess he wanted his car a little closer, so he got in and drove it down the entrance road, unblocking it. We saw the opportunity and put that baby in gear and drove right past them and out of there. I called 911 on my cell phone, and they were arrested in a nearby town about 15 minutes later. I ended up testifying to a Grand Jury on that, and he went back to prison. Prior to his sentencing, I got a call from a court official asking if I had anything I wanted the judge to know before the sentencing. I told him, "Yes. Tell the judge to tell him that I was armed. Tell the judge to tell him I gave him his life that day." Seth
. I don't use a gun. My husband shot a rat once that was a little too close to our central air system for my comfort. Home owners chasing out or shooting intruders are pretty common topics in the newspapers here. Try googling "home owner shoots intruder" and that might help you get an idea of what you might be looking for.
I carry. Have never pulled it. Unclasped the holster a few times when I thought there was danger (couple times people, once a bear). My ex saved the dog from a few rattlesnakes on hikes (she loaded for snake, I loaded for bigger stuff). I hope I can say the same when Im 90.
On many occasions discussing guns over the months on forums, often posters say they needed guns for protection but when you ask when that was needed, there's often no reply. Also, some get very defensive with such a question. So it was good to see some actual responses. I just have 2 little dogs, they're quick to bark at noises. That's my defence against burglars. Apparently, if they hear a dog, they just move on. But I live in a low petty crime area anyhow.
I live in a low crime neighborhood in a low crime town, also with two noisy dogs, one of whom is 120 lbs of Rottweiler. That's my primary defense plan, too.
I prefer to teach instead of just answer. I (or my wife) cook breakfast and lunch almost every day. We've had one fire in that time--it was minor enough to use baking soda to extinguish.
I live in hurricane country. The possibility of living in a place without telephone, power and way to communicate isn't far-fetched at all (from June to October). I need guns for protection for that reason.
A friend of mine from my LEO days went to New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Katrina. He dealt with a city where the power grid was down and public infrastructure was nonexistent and there was no way for people to call for help or backup. In the end, the veneer of civilization is very, very thin, and can be ripped away in a heartbeat. Imagine roving looters, and unrestrained gangs, and no way to call 911. That is the reality... and why having the means to defend yourself can be so fundamentally necessary.
Looters spotted in neighborhood. Thankfully, they didn't come towards my house, but the gun was out and loaded.
You are doing neither. Also educating is a subset of teaching. I'd rather teach, as it includes a whole lot more things. Education is a purely academic activity. Teaching is broader. I'd rather teach than educate.
