To those of you that carry a concealed gun:
Have you ever been in a situation where you have actually drawn the weapon in the defense of yourself or others?
I know several people that carry, but I don’t know anyone that has actually drawn it, much less used it, in defense. I would think that would be the ideal, but is it the norm? How often does a concealed weapon actually come into play?
I used to carry.
No. It was never used in any capacity at all*. I quit carrying because it was heavy, uncomfortable, and inconvenient**. I’m a staunch supporter of 2nd amendment issues and right-to-carry, but for me personally? I decided the probability of needing it and being quick enough to actually use it (in a dangerous situation) was pretty low.
It was kind of like carrying a fire extinguisher all day in case I encounter a fire.
*Only one encounter occurred while carrying. Asshole got in my face over something minor like a parking space (you know the type). I had to uncharacteristically give in and placate him. With the gun on my belt, the only action is the “nuclear option” so to speak. So one has to avoid confrontation at all costs. Hollywood would have us believe that showing an assailant your gun causes him to become docile. I’m pretty sure that’s bullshit.
**I’m not a LEO. Many places forbid carry, and I seemed to be spending lots of time figuring out whether to leave it in the car.
My story doesn’t quite fit the OP …
I’ve never carried as a civilian in the US. Never felt the need.
But I used to work for the DoD out in the Third World. When out & about in civvies I’d be armed, as would my companions / coworkers. Guns got drawn and occasionally used, typically to end what had been an attempted mugging. I was always surprised that amateurs would voluntarily choose to take on pros. But they did. And it’s not like we were hard to tell apart from the natives or ordinary tourists.
Traveling alone was discouraged, but sometimes we did it. I’ve had to persuade taxi drivers to take me where I wanted to go rather than some “better place he knew.” (read as “site where his pals could mug / kill me”).
My life is much calmer & simpler now.
No. In the 5 years since I got my CHL and started carrying a gun, I’ve never had to draw it, or even consider drawing it.
Now previous to this, I always had a pistol in the car with me, and there was one time when I came to a stop sign in town (my tiny hometown, where most doors aren’t locked) and a random dude I’d never seen before approached my window with a hunting knife in his hand. I’m a smoker and had my window about halfway down–fortunately, there was no other traffic and I was able to California-roll the stop sign and get on down the road, but I did have my hand on my gun.
20 years of Gun Ownership.
Five times displayed a firearm to prevent someone from breaking into my house in North Minneapolis in the 11 years I lived there, when they KNEW I was home. Never fired it, never pointed it at anyone.
Twice drew my gun in 14 months of working armored, to prevent myself or my partner from being robbed.
Once drew my gun in an isolated wayside rest to prevent myself from being mugged. Never pointed it at anyone, never fired it.
So yes, from a CCW position, I have drawn my weapon in self defense.
There was this one time when desperately wanted to impress Jodie Foster…
Yes.
Carried virtually 24/7 since 1984.
Never fired at anyone, but have displayed or pointed at someone to stop an attack or eminent attack or robbery.
I can only think of about 8 times off the top of my head, but I’m old and forgetful now, so maybe 10 or so.
27 years, 10 bad guys = 2.7 incidents per year.
Probably high for an average CCW holder, but the ex-cop in me won’t let things slide where an average guy might.
YMMV.
Yes.
Carried virtually 24/7 since 1984.
Never fired at anyone, but have displayed or pointed at someone to stop an attack or eminent attack or robbery.
I can only think of about 8 times off the top of my head, but I’m old and forgetful now, so maybe 10 or so.
27 years, 10 bad guys = 2.7 incidents per year.
Probably high for an average CCW holder, but the ex-cop in me won’t let things slide where an average guy might.
YMMV.
I’ve unzipped my purse to allow easy access to my weapon a few times, and I’ve moved my weapon to a cargo pants pocket or my waistband while pumping gas in questionable places while surrounded by questionable people before, but I’ve never so much as had to flash it. I’ve only been carrying for four years.
I used to live in a very rural area (22 acres, very few neighbors), and did used my concealed carry weapon to shoot a coyote that was trying to eat the baby quail on my property once.
Carrying about 4 years now and never had need to display, much less use it, and I prefer it that way. Unfortunately there are incidents reported frequently enough in the local news that I don’t have to question the need to carry.
Waves hand from the “we don’t need no stinking CCW permits” state. One of the reasons I keep my permit active is because I think the training is valuable. I get constant reminders that walking down a dark alley in the wrong part of town at 3 am is a bad idea.
That being said, back in Calif., I once woke to someone pounding on my door and swearing that he was gong to kill everyone if we didn’t open the door and give him his drugs right away. Not having drugs to give him, as well as not knowing who he thought lived in my apartment, I pushed the curtains aside with the barrel of my 12 gauge shotgun and tapped on the glass with it. The door pounding stopped and I heard feet moving rapidly away.
Since I got my permit, I’ve never had to display or use my weapon and I pray that I never will.
I shot the sheriff but I did not shoot the deputy.
Thanks for all the answers.
Seems that should be .37 incidents per year (10/27)
Not yet, and I pray I never need to.
In my home, I have been known to stand next to the door someone is knocking on late in the evening and let them hear me rack a round into the shotgun before I ask who is there. It has never turned out to be needed, though.
Some of you must lead adventurous lives. Just as a counterpoint to this (and possibly the subject of a separate thread), I’d like to say that I don’t now, nor ever have carried a concealed weapon, and in 64 years of living all over the world have never been in a situation where I wished I had one.
You and your new math. 
A few times. Never fired it, but I’ve shown a weapon before to stop a crime. It’s how must guns are used in self protection. It’s also why the stats are so skewed, because I don’t think any of those times wound up in a police report.
Nope. Never. I have no desire to ever have to, either, because if it has to come out I am in deep and dire shit.
I think that Hollywood has a pretty good take on reality, in this case.
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It is. They do however stop what the hell they’re doing.
They cuss, threaten, and bitch, but they stop swinging, stabbing, or carjacking when they see a large handgun pointed at them.