Don't think it can't happen to you.

[MN Hunter]

Glad everything turned out ok.
Unfortunately I had a situation one time while riding my pedal bike home from work. I was on a trail that was heavily wooded. I came around a corner and went down a hill. As I was going down the hill I saw a group of teenage kids at the bottom. When I got closer they stepped out and blocked the trail. I stopped about ten yards away from them. Two of them pulled knives and the group started walking towards me. verbally threating me as they approached. Their attitudes quickly changed when I pulled my 45cal kimber ultra carry from my fanny pack and point it at them while loudly telling them to stop and drop their weapons. They dropped the knives and ran. I never leave home without having something on me.

 

[ss7mm]

Their attitudes quickly changed when I pulled my 45cal kimber ultra carry from my fanny pack and point it at them while loudly telling them to stop and drop their weapons. They dropped the knives and ran. I never leave home without having something on me.

Awesome. I always find it amusing how wanna be bad guys are so tough if there's a group of them but one on one their feathers are blowing in the wind while they run away. If it's even near to being fair they don't want any part of it.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Glad everything turned out the way it did for you.

I've had to draw and in one case fire on a few 4 legged predators while walking my dogs in the past year or so. Hence the screen name. Last March, I almost got into a similar situation with a 2 legged predator while shopping in Middletown. I unbuttoned my coat as he approached and we made eye contact. He noticed the open coat, the bare hand at the ready and apparently had the sense that he was about to make a bad decision. He turned 90 and ran while yelling to someone to also run. It didn't hit me until I was home that I was only seconds doing something I had hoped never to do.

The lesson taken from this is "situation awareness." Know what is going on around you at all times. And trust your gut. It's probably right.

 

[trebark]

Glad you were able to get out of the situation without injury to anyone. Your story is just about enough to nudge me to go take the concealed carry class that VA requires.

The point made earlier about situational awareness is a good one. Be prepared and aware as trouble comes from all races, creeds and immigration statuses.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Dang. I have been carrying mine allot latley. I cant take it to school legaly which sucks cause there was just an armed robery there last week. Id love to give you a weapon until you get your new one but I live on the other coast now.

 

[load]

usedem twice here! never fired a shot. just the sight of a 45 sentem scurrin both times. one was a home burglery were someone thought they could break into my shop without me noticing (in fresh snow) the second was 3am going goose hunting. i dont know what kind of dumba$$e$ tries to car jack someone at a gas station in full camo! 6guys ran screaming like little girls in 6 different directions when i said "NO YOUR NOT!" and displayed my 1911!gun) I had warning on this one as the 7th man wanted no part of it and shouted (prior) "YOU N!@@&*$ ARE CRAZY I"M NOT GETTIN INVOVLED IN DAT!!) and ran across the street into the dark. I mentally prepared set up a physical barrier (gas hose one side door other) and scouted an excaperoute with cover. lucky they were dumb and came from behind my truck and shell and didn't surround me.

 

[ss7mm]

Glad you were able to get out of the situation without injury to anyone. Your story is just about enough to nudge me to go take the concealed carry class that VA requires.

The point made earlier about situational awareness is a good one. Be prepared and aware as trouble comes from all races, creeds and immigration statuses.

I've had a concealed weapons permit for about as long as I can remember and I always urge everyone to get their permit. The only thing a person has to do here is go to either the Sheriff's office if you live in the county or to the City Police if you live in the city limits. They fingerprint you, do a background check and if your background check comes back clean then you're issued a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

I've always tried to be aware of my surroundings no matter where I am and I guess hindsight is always 20/20. I look at it as a wake up call as opposed to what could have been a very bad outcome and I intend to pursue the wake up call aspect of it.

 

[ss7mm]

Dang. I have been carrying mine allot latley. I cant take it to school legaly which sucks cause there was just an armed robery there last week. Id love to give you a weapon until you get your new one but I live on the other coast now.

No problem with the new weapon. I had a new one on my belt loaded up with Hornady Critical Defense rounds within an hour after it all happened.

I know what you say about the school thing as there are laws in our state pertaining to where you can not take a weapon whether you have a concealed carry permit or not and a school is definitely off limits.

 

[ss7mm]

usedem twice here! never fired a shot. just the sight of a 45 sentem scurrin both times. one was a home burglery were someone thought they could break into my shop without me noticing (in fresh snow) the second was 3am going goose hunting (i dont know what kind of dumba$$e$ tries to car jack someone at a gas station in full camo! 6guys ran screaming like little girls in 6 different directions when i said "NO YOUR NOT!" and displayed my 1911!gun)

I love it when the odds aren't stacked in their favor how they suddenly aren't so tough.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

No problem with the new weapon. I had a new one on my belt loaded up with Hornady Critical Defense rounds within an hour after it all happened.

I know what you say about the school thing as there are laws in our state pertaining to where you can not take a weapon whether you have a concealed carry permit or not and a school is definitely off limits.

What did you get?

 

[ss7mm]

What did you get?

Glock 26 w/extendsions for the mags stuffed full of Hornady Critical Defense rounds.

 

[MN Hunter]

Amen to situational awareness. best to never have to use it but irreplacable if its needed.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

My take on CC is everyone who is able to apply for their CC permit should. I did a few years ago because I moved from a county where it was all but impossible (just outside NYC). Even upstate a few countys took many months but that problem is in Albany. A few months ago, I applied in Pennsylvania for a NR CCW and was issued in less than 3 weeks. go figure.

If you don't have a CCW permit and qualify, check the rules for your county and/or state and just do it. Once you hold it; once many of us hold one, it becomes more difficult for the grabbers to take it back.

M .02 HO

 

[theflyonthewall]

When I took the mandatory class here in Missouri for my permit, one of the instructors was longtime ex-law enforcement. He told the class that he takes situational awareness to the extreme as part of his background.

He gave an example of going into a restaurant. He said when I walk in, I immediately take notice of the exits, the demeanor of the crowd, and anyone who seems "different" in their own demeanor. He said next, I take notice of everything that I could use for a weapon in case I had to empty my revolver. A fork on the table, a carving knife at the buffet, are the chairs steel or wood, etc....

He said "it seems like a lot to take in at first, but after doing it religiously for so long, I'm mentally done with it all in seconds. Then if a horrible situation develops, I'm already in action mode subconsciously."

I remember his little speech word for word almost.

I agree that he takes it to the extreme, sure. But I also know that I'd instantly feel safer knowing that he was in that restaurant with me, too.