I always carry in order to protect my self and my family, even at home. So far no shooting has ever been required. Several years ago though I was threatened with a knife by someone related to me that I really did not want to shoot.

What began as a petty and mild (in my estimation) verbal disagreement went south very quickly when the other person grabbed a carving knife and threatened to stab me. Fortunately, there was a kitchen island between us, but I'm not as spry as I once was. If he had come around the island for me, I would have had few options. None good.

I started deescalating saying anything to try and calm things down. He threw the knife down and stormed out.

I generally think about defending from strangers. To have my life threatened by family was disconcerting to say the least. Honestly, I'm not sure I could have engaged. 'Twas the stuff of nightmares.

Unfortunately, several Sigforumites live with the same reality due to ex-spouses and family members with mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, self-treating mental illness with booze or illegal drugs, etc.

I know we have at least two members where an ex or in-law tried to hire someone to murder them.

"Someone you did not want to shoot.." shouldn't that pretty much be almost everyone.



I have sort of had the opposite. There was someone who threatened a family member with a knife that I could have shot. And when I look back, some thirty years now at how this person's existence has made everyone around them miserable still to this day, I start to regret not doing it. It was a pretty clear instance and most likely been ruled justifiable. But even if I'd gone to prison, I'd have been out long ago and it would probably still been worth it, greatly improving the lives of everyone else involved.

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
I started deescalating saying anything to try and calm things down.

De-escalation, unless the situation doesn't allow you to respond that way, should also be the first choice. As several instructors I've had along the way have said (and I'm paraphrasing) "Once you decide to carry, you become the most polite person around".

I don't want to shoot anyone.

But I will if I have to.

I have had a few situations in which I did fear for my life, but I was not old enough to own or carry a firearm at the time. I had a gun and knife pulled on me a few times.

Even if I was carrying at the time, I do not think I would have drawn my weapon as I was able to talk my way out of each situation and did not think they would follow through with their threat. I sure do feel better now that I carry every day though and have the option if I need it.

There have been times I wanted to shoot her....but didn't

Dealt with a family member in the same manner. Threatened to assault me. I didn't want to shoot them, but it was close for a few minutes.

This just happened to Todd Palin.

His son came around and there was a violent confrontation. He pulled a pistol which his son took away from him and kicked his ass and was arrested.

-----------------------------

I totally understand. Have things settled down or stabilized of late?

quote:

Originally posted by markand:
I totally understand. Have things settled down or stabilized of late?

Yes, thank God. But it still makes me shudder.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
But even if I'd gone to prison, I'd have been out long ago and it would probably still been worth it, greatly improving the lives of everyone else involved.

I've told my wife several times that had I shot her when we first started dating, I'd be out of prison by now.
(we've been together for over 20 years)

Luckily, she understands and puts up with my twisted sense of humor.

When you consider 90+% of murders are by a known person and my guess is Domestic violence accounts for the majority of assaults it stands to reason you are more likely to have a violent confrontation with friend/family/coworker than with some anonymous bad guy in the street.

I pondered on SF several years ago about being in the position to kill an adult child in self defense and was trounced heavily for even considering such a “morbid” scenario.

It was after my Department had a case where adult daughter and her boyfriend killed her mother, father, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew (on Christmas Eve no less). Kids were 3 and 5.

Definitely sucks, but fact is those situations happen with much greater frequency than we would like to think.

I have yet to meet a person I wouldn't shoot, given justifiable provocation (threat to my or another's safety).

'Be nice to everybody, but have a plan to kill them if necessary.'

tac

quote:

When you consider 90+% of murders are by a known person

UCR (2011) had 12644 Homicides. 5464 were committed by an offended known to the victim in some manner. It averages about 32 percent offender having some prior relationship, not always family.

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-t...micide-data-table-10

Little bro years ago got angry with me and told me he was going to kill me. I blew it off until I got to thinking he was crazy enough to do so. I went running down to his bedroom and was able to wrestle his shotgun away from him before he could load it. My other brother and I don't talk with him and haven't in years.

I have only known five people that actually needed to be shot , deader than hell.
good for them
they are still alive

Through out my life time there have been 7 times I was totally justified to kill another. I chose not to shoot and was able to make the arrest, handle the situation psychologically, physically and with the exception of one time glad that I did not choose to kill the sob.

We make choices then have to live with them I can live with the choices I made.