OK, Seriously, How Many Have Been There?

[Wabatuckian]

Folks,

I'm just wondering how many of you have actually been in shootouts.

I ask not to offend, but rather because the answers I see to some of these scenarios border on the unrealistic.

While the answers seem cool calm and logical, gunfights never are. It seems a lot of the answers given in the scenarios presuppose more time than one would actually have.

On the positive side, I see very few "Rambo" answers to the scenarios I've read. They are mostly well thought out; they just assume more time than reality allows for.

I'm going to make this a poll, simply because most times those who have been in shootouts preferred not to talk about it.

I'm just looking to see where the experience base is at, and no offense is intended to anyone at all.

Josh

ETA: To clarify some confusion, YES, it DOES COUNT if you pulled it but didn't fire. The decision NOT to fire must be made just as quickly as the decision TO fire, after all. J.S.

 

[CampingJosh]

I ask not to offend, but rather because the answers I see to some of these scenarios border on the unrealistic.

While the answers seem cool calm and logical, gunfights never are. It seems a lot of the answers given in the scenarios presuppose more time than one would actually have.

Just so it's clear from the get-go, I'm fortunate to be on the "no" side.

I think many of the "unrealistic" answers are because we would like to have a ideal plan of action. If we don't have time/ability/opportunity for the ideal plan, then we'll start removing the parts we can't do. Hopefully what's left of the plan keeps us alive.

No one wants to plan, "I'm walking through the grocery store parking lot with my wife one night, and some punk steps up with a knife, so I get stabbed in the neck because I didn't have time to draw my gun." That would be a downright awful mindset to have.

But I do think you raise a great point. It is definitely worthwhile for us to consider how to defend ourselves/our families in a given situation with a particular handicap on yourself. We won't be able to think through every possible situation, of course, but we also don't want to go into life expecting only ideal conditions without ever trying to think of alternatives.

 

[.40caltrucker]

I answered no, but when I was under attack from our neighborhood skunk it was quite a shootout. I won skunk -1

 

[bothehunter]

i wasnt in a shoot out but i was around a drive bye when i was in the army at fayettvill NC, and that was pretty scary!

 

[CombatVet]

Only in combat. That's sort of cheating though right?

 

[jeremy]

Ummm,

What about using a firearm offensively?!
Does that count?!
Not that I would know I am just a Dumb Mechanic...

 

[sloughfoot]

I have never had to squeeze enough to make the hammer fall, but I have squeezed lots of times right up to the point where the hammer would fall.

I have screwed my gun into a fella's ear several times and told him that he could very well die unless he does EXACTLY what I tell him to do. Then he got cuffed and went to jail.....

I agree with you, a lot of the scenarios presented by those who have never been involved with life or death situations are somewhat unrealistic.

The action is often quick, brutal, and instinctive. But if you are justified, you will know that too..and act accordingly.

Now, women are different, they will tend to fight you and get you into more than you want, for lots of different reasons. Mainly because they think they are exempt from the rules. It is a cultural thing. Women, especially drunk women, are especially dangerous.

Some of the most hairiest fights I have been in, have been with women. Men know when to give up, women don't.

Josh, there are no absolutes in a human confrontation. the only answer is to train, train, train.

 

[Vince49]

Only in combat. That's sort of cheating though right?

What he said. But the bullets are the same (totally impersonal) whatever the source or circumstances.

PS: Planing is good,planing is great, but experience has proven to me on every occasion (and there were many) that all plans no matter how well thought out, never survive the first shot. Repetitive practice that leads to reaction is the best survival tool.

 

[MrSmitty]

I drew mine on a guy stealing some gold from a pawn shop, he acted like he had a gun....I did, got the gold, let him go...couldn't shoot an unarmed guy. Does that count as defense?

 

[Jimbovia]

It hasnt happened, and I really hope it doesnt.

IF IT DOES......wait for it......

I hope my USPSA experience helps me make A-A shots on all 10 bad guys. Ok, I'll even take an A-B or an A-C. They still count.


Cant wait until spring for my next match. Winter is boring....and COLD!!!

 

[Donnelly]

Now, women are different, they will tend to fight you and get you into more than you want, for lots of different reasons. Mainly because they think they are exempt from the rules. It is a cultural thing. Women, especially drunk women, are especially dangerous.

Some of the most hairiest fights I have been in, have been with women. Men know when to give up, women don't.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[CampingJosh]

It's pretty much impossible to keep a "yes/no" thread interesting without at least a little thread drift.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Hi gents,

Combat most definitely does count.

After all, you're still trying to shoot the bastage before he shoots you, right?

What does being a mechanic have to do with anything, BTW?

Josh

 

[Wabatuckian]

OK, let me throw this one out there:

You have to visit your place of employment late at night. The reason is benign; you forgot something, or another reason along those lines.

You arrive, and see a huge hole where a picture window used to be.

You see someone running from the scene carrying a pole about 3 feet long.

You are armed with your choice of pistol, a flashlight, and a cell phone. The only ambient light is coming from a sodium arc lamp on the corner. It is winter, so you are dressed warmly.

You know that police response time in that area is 5 to 15 minutes depending upon the workload that night.

Using this information, decide upon a course of action.

Josh

 

[Gabriel]

OK, let me throw this one out there:

You have to visit your place of employment late at night. The reason is benign; you forgot something, or another reason along those lines.

You arrive, and see a huge hole where a picture window used to be.

You see someone running from the scene carrying a pole about 3 feet long.

You are armed with your choice of pistol, a flashlight, and a cell phone. The only ambient light is coming from a sodium arc lamp on the corner. It is winter, so you are dressed warmly.

You know that police response time in that area is 5 to 15 minutes depending upon the workload that night.

Using this information, decide upon a course of action.

Josh

So, I get to work, someone seems to have broken in and is leaving on foot in a direction away from me? Sit back in the vehicle and call the cops.

 

[bwframe]

I drew on a crazy screaming robber in a store. It was foolish of me to think I could draw and outshoot a man with a gun in his hand. On top of that, my gun malfunctioned, so I took two rounds in the back as I was retreating while clearing it.

Wounded, I found concealment while moving back and forth to avoid being hit further as the gun battle raged on. Somewhere amongst all this, I hit an innocent bystander in the leg.

The robber finally bailed. I shot him in the but on the way out the door...





















...Fenway was the robber...


















...I did a whole lot wrong and took a bit of heat for it. It was quite frustrating yet a great learning experience.
FOF scenario with Mindset Labs.

 

[sloughfoot]

So, I get to work, someone seems to have broken in and is leaving on foot in a direction away from me? Sit back in the vehicle and call the cops.

This is my choice too.

Somehow, I thought your original question was serious. I should have known better..

What is the 3 foot pole all about? How does that change anything in your wild imagining scenerio>

 

[E'villeGunner]

Does Call of Duty count?

 

[ghostinthewood]

I havn't been in a shootout but I did load a shotgun after some neighbors, who were probably tweaking on meth shot off what sounded like a .22 pistol in an argument on the street.

Luckily thats been it. No shootouts for me.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Been shot at in the middle of the night while crossing a farmers property, but I was only 17 and it was probably just rock salt. Didn't have anything to shoot back with and technically I was trespassing so I just ran.