Soccerdad1995 wrote:This is one reason why I am not a huge fan of the "draw my gun" tactic, as opposed to "shoot to stop the threat". If I am being approached by a threat, I will try to use verbal commands and gestures such as holding out my left hand and shouting "stop". I will also likely move to put something between us if possible. But if those don't work, then I'm drawing my gun in the act of shooting to stop the threat. There likely isn't going to be a pause between the BG seeing my gun and my shot.
Yes, every situation is unique, and there is a possibility that drawing might make sense, but it opens up other potential problems.
Note that I am defining "threat" here as seeing a visible weapon, obvious disparity of force situation, etc. Not just some random guy walking up to me.
I get what you're saying, but here's my rationale...... I'm physically FAR past my prime and have some infirmities which put me at a disadvantage to a potential attacker right off the bat. If confronted with a situation where a reasonable probability exists that a gun might be necessary, I want to already have it in my hand. I absolutely agree that once you
point the gun at someone, you better be ready and willing to pull the trigger. But you can also have the gun in your hand, at the low ready, without actually lining up your sights on the bad guy; and that implies both a willingness to use the gun if necessary, AND a willingness to not use it if not necessary. Whether or not it is necessary is then entirely in the other guy's hands, and you've just offered him a choice - get shot and maybe die, or stop what he's doing and get out alive and unhurt. When you're already aiming and about to pull the trigger, you offer a cornered rat no choice but to attack you, almost forcing you to shoot him.
Take the scenario out of your home, and put it inside a local quickie-mart...... you're in the back of the store when the place gets robbed up front. Do you find concealment/cover and get your weapon out and ready, or do you leave it holstered until the last possible second? My answer is this: you obviously can't walk around all the time with an upholstered gun in your hand. It would be neither legal nor practical. But, if you
reasonably believe that there is a high probability of needing a gun, it is better to have it in your hand than not. If you are
surprised by a situation, then you do what you have to do, and that will involve drawing at the last possible moment.....when it may be too late. But if you have knowledge of an impending probability, then you
also do what you have to do. If I draw my gun with that impending probability, I still have an option to not use it if the situation defuses. I am absolutely willing to NOT shoot someone who complies appropriately to the threat of being shot if they continue doing whatever they're doing, by ceasing whatever it is they're doing and obeying my commands. I have no desire to shoot anyone, ever, but I will do so if necessary, and as a precaution against necessity, I want every advantage I can muster.....which means having my gun out
before it is needed, and trusting my instincts as to whether or not the situation warrants it. I'm not a crazy man, and I am a reasonably good judge of what is happening in front of me, and I trust my own judgement.
Substitute the word "bat" for "gun" in the above statements of mine, and it makes perfect sense. If I had no gun, and a baseball bat were my means of self defense, should I wait until the other guy charged at me to pick up my bat, or should I pick up the bat first, hoping that would deter the attack, and then actually swing it at him if it becomes necessary?
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
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