The fighting mindset, do you have it?

[flintknapper]

I thought first, of posting this in the Ladies Forum, but...the question really needs to be asked of everyone.

Have you given serious thought to whether or not you could employ deadly force against another person? Its not a "legal" question I'm asking, but one that involves the physical act of defending yourself against a deadly threat.

Have you reconciled with yourself any moral issues you may have, and determined that you WILL act..(under certain circumstances). Most men I talk to, are quick to say that they would, but.. I wonder.

Some... women (not all) have expressed concerns about it.

Your thoughts?

[HighVelocity]

100%. A threat is a threat and will be handled with the most efficient means at my disposal. The safety and security of loved ones and myself takes priority over all else. If I go down I'll will be fighting with everything I've got until my last breath.

[seadawg221]

Both myself and my wife would have a hard time NOT defending ourselves. We both have a tad bit of a temper so I don't think it would take much at all.

As a matter of fact when we first got our CHL's we practiced these words "I will only use my weapon in situations of threat and NOT IN ANGER"

[txinvestigator]

I thought first, of posting this in the Ladies Forum, but...the question really needs to be asked of everyone.

Have you given serious thought to whether or not you could employ deadly force against another person? Its not a "legal" question I'm asking, but one that involves the physical act of defending yourself against a deadly threat.

Have you reconciled with yourself any moral issues you may have, and determined that you WILL act..(under certain circumstances). Most men I talk to, are quick to say that they would, but.. I wonder.

Some... women (not all) have expressed concerns about it.

Your thoughts?

Great question. I ask this in all of my CHL and Security classes. I have had people decide that carrying a gun was not for them.

[Crossfire]

Great question. I ask this in all of my CHL and Security classes. I have had people decide that carrying a gun was not for them.

I do the same thing in my CHL classes. And, at the end of the day, I usually have at least one person who decides not to carry after all. And, so far, it has never been one of the ladies.

[quidni]

For me, I think it may depend somewhat on the situation. I don't "do" malls unless I absolutely have to, & try to be alert after dark when I'm out running errands. I know I can still be surprised, but....

I've rehearsed in my mind over and over what I'd do if someone got in the truck with me without my direct invitation. Would I be able to follow through? I don't know, and won't know, unless it actually happens.

However, as I told a friend of my son's, once, when she and her cousins were at the range with us, "Someday, God willing, I'll be a grandma. And that means I'll have grandkids sleeping over sometimes. And Heaven help any jerk who breaks into my home and threatens to hurt my babies!" She was a bit ambivalent over the idea of guns in general, and women with guns in particular, but she understood the idea that a woman has the right to defend her kids. It was, however, a new thought to her that a woman could use a gun to do so. (And she did quite well with the pistols afterwards, too!)

Add children into the equation, and I think a lot of folks will find that they're capable of doing what needs to be done.

[jbirds1210]

Good question. I have thought about this questions over the years and come up with an answer that satisfies my inner self.
I work hard at being a good person to my family, neighbor, friends, and enemies. In return for this I only want to be left alone to live my life peacefully with my family. If someone tries to deny me this liberty, I would not have a problem using force to prevent them from accomplishing it. I am not above a good old wrestling match and if the situation escalates to the point of deadly force I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would use it. I have had to use force with people in the past....thank God it was not deadly.
Jason

[nitrogen]

Having been a crime victim once, I will never be one again.
If someone's threatening me or my family, Absolutely, 110%.

[flintknapper]

Add children into the equation, and I think a lot of folks will find that they're capable of doing what needs to be done.

This is consistent with responses I have gotten from women (with children).

There seems to be a common thread that if "you get between the mother and her cub" then all hell is gonna break loose, no doubt about it!

Surprisingly, some have expressed concerns as to whether they would do the same for themselves. I am glad that you have given the matter some thought. It amounts to "mental" training. IMO, this is more important than simply being armed. In fact, you are not effectively "armed" unless you are willing to use your weapon, and are somewhat proficient with it.

It really doesn't matter how big your gun is, how many rounds it holds, how accurate it is, or how much it cost.......if you're not willing/able to use it when its needed.

Naturally, every person should decide for themselves what constitutes a threat that they will act against. For me, its when: "the consequences of an attackers actions are no longer acceptable".

I believe women (in general), possess more natural compassion, and tend to be more "long suffering" than men. I pray that they never let these otherwise admirable qualities, endanger their lives...by causing them to hesitate. Same goes for men.

Practice mentally your "mindset", in the same way you practice physically... your "gun skills". Both will be needed if ever the day comes that you are forced to pull your weapon.

To those who have already thought it out: Good on ya!

If you have not: Get started!

[longtooth]

This mental practice is at least as important as the physical maybe more so. All the physical skill & practice are useless if the mind will not do it when the real threat comes. The ladies at my house decided before they got CHL that they would not be a victim. Will not go anywhere ordered. Will not do anything ordered. They will both fight.

[Chris]

I thought first, of posting this in the Ladies Forum, but...the question really needs to be asked of everyone.

Have you given serious thought to whether or not you could employ deadly force against another person? Its not a "legal" question I'm asking, but one that involves the physical act of defending yourself against a deadly threat.

Have you reconciled with yourself any moral issues you may have, and determined that you WILL act..(under certain circumstances). Most men I talk to, are quick to say that they would, but.. I wonder.

Some... women (not all) have expressed concerns about it.

Your thoughts?

in a life or death instance, human instinct pretty much takes over. there are situations though, where you have time to second guess whether or not deadly force is the most appropriate action; not whether you would or not.

i have had my pistol pointed at a lot of people, and it is a sickening feeling. many times, there was no question. other times, i felt like i just flashed my hand and it was all a bluff.

i remember once, i pulled my gun on an advancing person somewhat larger than i. he was already bloody from a previous fight. i felt like the presence of my gun and my orders would be enough, but when he kept coming at me saying "go ahead and shoot me," a million thoughts went through my head. at that point, i felt like i had just been called on a bluff. i ended the situation with a blast of pepper spray from my other hand, and a jab to the chest with my pistol barrel. that gave me the time i needed to holster my gun and get my hands dirty.

as i said, it's not whether you would or wouldn't, it's the questions that start coming up as the situation is going down. how many people practice dropping to a knee and shooting? say you're in a crowded area with people just behind your target. you will definitely take notice of them and that will cause you to start contemplating the best course of action. dropping to a knee lets you direct your fire upward avoiding people behind the target. it also makes you a smaller target. and would you just shoot, or would you shoot as you seek cover? wyatt earp may have had the nads to stand there and shoot it out, but my butt is dashing for something to hide behind. say you shoot at someone advancing and they actually make it to you. now what? in a heart shot, it still takes about 90 seconds to bleed out.

whether you would or wouldn't is almost an irrelevant question considering the totality of the situation.

[sensei]

I have seen man's inhumanity to man firsthand. I have seen men brutally murdered, tortured, women raped, children held as hostages and then murdered. People forced to do things that were totally against their will and their believes.

I made a decision in 1967-1968 to defend these people and if possible give them the right to choose for themselves how they would live. Didn't work out as I thought it would. But it gave me a chance to examine myself and develope my future believes, opinions, and actions.

I would do about anything not to have a confrontation with anyone else. I will back away if at all possible. I will turn and run if you will let me. However, If you mess with me, my wife, my children, or my grandchildren and I feel you are attempting to do them harm, and there is no other alternative, I will kill you dead on the spot. I will worry about the legal ramifications, which I'm sure will follow, later.

I study the Scriptures everyday. I believe what they say. There are many examples where the Lord either caused or allowed people to protect themselves and their families. He is a just and kind and fair God. He would expect nothing else. We are taught to be in the World not of the World. I pray for this ability everday.

I don't try to force my believes on anyone else. I would encourage each to study the Scriptures for yoursef and make up your own mind.

There is no denying this is a cold cruel world. There are just to many crazys out in the world today. I couldn't live with myself if I allowed my wife, children, or grandchildren to suffer these atrocities because I was not willing to protect them. Even to the death.

I'm certainly not trying to represent myself as anything other than just a poor, dumb, regular guy just trying to survive in the world as we know it today. This is how I feel.



Ray

[flintknapper]

I thought first, of posting this in the Ladies Forum, but...the question really needs to be asked of everyone.

Have you given serious thought to whether or not you could employ deadly force against another person? Its not a "legal" question I'm asking, but one that involves the physical act of defending yourself against a deadly threat.

Have you reconciled with yourself any moral issues you may have, and determined that you WILL act..(under certain circumstances). Most men I talk to, are quick to say that they would, but.. I wonder.

Some... women (not all) have expressed concerns about it.

Your thoughts?

in a life or death instance, human instinct pretty much takes over. there are situations though, where you have time to second guess whether or not deadly force is the most appropriate action; not whether you would or not.
whether you would or wouldn't is almost an irrelevant question considering the totality of the situation.

Thank you, for your perspective.

As you point out, there is so much more to a possible "gun fight" than first meets the eye.

The purpose of my question however, was to cause each person to examine "beforehand" the idea that he/she might actually employ deadly force in defense of themselves. "Human instinct" may take over, but will that instinct result in the proper action? I have observed human instinct to be Fight, Flight, or "freeze".

I am not suggesting in any way when or where fighting might be appropriate. Clearly, the "totality of a situation" dictates for each person several things: Whether you are justified, whether force should be escalated, de-escalated, etc...

I understand all too well that threats/fights are "dynamic" and that circumstances change during the course of one.

Still, I think everyone is best served by having given serious thought to the matter... and determined for themselves that (in the worst of circumstances) they would protect themselves.

Gotta go to work! Rats!

[bauerdj]

I have given this matter a fair amount of thought both before and since obtaining my CHL. I do not think I would have any problem in a clear cut me (or us) or them situation. The problem comes in deciding when use of deadly force is the best or only choice. Somewhere else in this forum it was also brought up that deadly force being legal does NOT necessarily mean it should be used, obviously any lesser option is preferable if it will serve the purpose. That said, I believe my decision to use deadly force would come quicker in defense of my family then of myself. Being a bit older and having some physical linitations could also push me to the deadly force decision quicker then some others in better physical shape who might have more of an option of lesser physical force or flight. In another words, when are arthritic and slow as I have become other options are less available; flight at the speed of a speeding snail is not very effective!

[anygunanywhere]

No matter what it takes...beyond all doubt. It will happen if the circumstances develop.