What is your Limit?

[MoJo]

"Never start a fight with an old man, he's too old to fight so, he'll just kill you." With that quote let me say I am 63 years old and I'm not going to take a butt whippin' from anyone. I carry several guns and the quickest way to get to see one of them is to assault me. I didn't get this old by being stupid.

[HankB]

I never start fights, and in fact I'll do everything I can reasonably do to avoid a fight . . . but if someone insists on starting one with me, I'll end it using whatever means I have at my disposal.

[GOP]

I was much dumber when I was younger. I got into many a fight through my mouth and bad attitude; it's amazing i made it this far. Having said that, I grew up, and I now avoid those situations that seem to "spiral out of control."

I employ a "zone" of safety. Any perceived threat that gets within 7 yards or so gets to see the wrong end of whatever I'm carrying. As to what a perceived threat is, I guess it's something that only an individual can answer.

Some punk kid with a bad attitude, but no weapons, might get a verbal warning. A trucker with a crowbar goes right to red threat level in my book. Anyone with a blade or gun gets my CT laser centered on their chest.

You can work these scenarios over in your head, but it comes down to avoiding bad situations, keeping your senses in tuned to your surroundings, and challenging any threat before they are in position to strike. If violence is eminent, then use overwhelming violence in return, until they stop being a threat.

Oh, and to answer the question, I would not take ANY whooping before shooting.

[stevie_d_64]

You know...Maybe I am just too much of a wimp...Some may disagree, I hope!!! Some had better!!!

Am I the only one who thought that back in the day when I took my first CHL class (1996), that I thought the most interesting part of it was the conflict resolution portion of the cirriculum???

I learned more than anything else in the class from that part, and it is something that is always running around dancing in the synapsis of my thoughts...

I'll leave it at that...Because I might go into another long-winded and stupid rant if I continue...Best to let folks figure it out for themselves I suppose...

[davidtx]

Am I the only one who thought that back in the day when I took my first CHL class (1996), that I thought the most interesting part of it was the conflict resolution portion of the cirriculum???

Nope.

[GOP]

You know...Maybe I am just too much of a wimp...Some may disagree, I hope!!! Some had better!!!

Am I the only one who thought that back in the day when I took my first CHL class (1996), that I thought the most interesting part of it was the conflict resolution portion of the cirriculum???

I learned more than anything else in the class from that part, and it is something that is always running around dancing in the synapsis of my thoughts...

I'll leave it at that...Because I might go into another long-winded and stupid rant if I continue...Best to let folks figure it out for themselves I suppose...

I absolutely agree. I think that avoidance is the best policy, but the answer to the question as to how much of a butt whooping I would take BEFORE going to threat level red is simply none.

Trying to calm down the attacker, or warning him is fine. Other techniques, such as pepper spray, knife, et al. work well also, but as soon as the situation turns violent I would use overwhelming violence. Most people, in their right mind, would sooner choose another victim then deal with a well-armed, legal carrying citizen after all.

[PUCKER]

Avoidance/conflict resolution is definitely the best thing, and yes, that was interesting in the course (my first was '96 as well from what I recall)...I've said this verbatim before to an idiot looking for a fight: "Yes, you're right, I'm a big old sissy, you're the big man..." and it worked out just fine for me...walk away and live to avoid another fight another day!

Edited to add - my limit? Not gonna take any type of whipping if I can help it...my limit is none/zero. I know that all it takes is one punch in the right (or wrong, depending on which end you are on!) place to cause serious bodily injury/death. I don't want to take that chance. I like living.

[HankB]

When you're 10 years old, "taking a whipping" means a black eye, maybe a split lip, and a couple of bruises . . . unless it happens every day, you'll get over it.

When you're 30, 40, 50 or more years old, "taking a whipping" can easily mean broken bones, internal injuries, fractured skull, concussion, and death.

Avoidance is the best policy, but I will not "take a whipping" if I have any means - any means! - to avoid it.

My limit to a physical assault?

Zero.

[thankGod]

Two things decline in a man as he grows older. One is his natural male aggression. The other is his willingness to take punishment. He is less interested in the fight for its own sake, and more interested in survival.

TAM always seems capable of nicely expressing his thoughts. I am the same age as TAM (that is I think I am), and I am amazed how many of us at this stage of life share the same attitude regarding being physically assaulted. I am not going to take any physical abuse if I don't have to, I simply can't.

[blackdog8200]

I have to agree with some of the earlier posts when they say "if you carry a gun, don't get into fights." I like the Springfield Armory motto “Bring enough gun” too.

I have always thought when I am armed, I can back down; apologize even if it’s not my fault etc. BECAUSE escalating to a use of deadly force could easily ruin my day. Pride and ego get left behind when I carry. The last place you want to be in a fight is on the ground or wrestling with some guy over your gun…..it is going to deteriorate exponentially if he sees or feels it. Something else to consider, just because the guy is whipping your rear, doesn’t mean he isn’t armed, it just means he thinks he can take you without it or might still deploy it later.

I have taught my children to keep their egos and attitude in check when they are dealing with an unknown person. You never know who you might be dealing with. Years ago I had a customer wanting to “give me an old fashioned whuppin….” I was 6’3 220 LBS and I had to look up at the guy! My boss heard this and stepped between us, all 180 LBS 5’3, 59 years of him looking up at the guy and says, “Well then go ahead and start with me.”

The big guy looked at my boss, gears turning and decided to back down….the expression on his faced had fallen and he looked scared. Later when he had calmed down and my boss had left, he said he had never seen a look like the boss had given him. I explained to him the little man that had got in his face used to be a “Tunnel Rat” in Vietnam and had also beaten cancer a few years before. I guess he recognized a trained killer when he saw one.


Like I tell my kids, that guy you cut off in traffic or step on in the bar etc. just might be back from Iraq, Afghanistan, Ranger school, A SEAL, SAS or any other professional fighter or just as easy the champion knife fighter from Juarez or Dallas that has skills you don’t want to test. They might instinctively use lethal force to stop you.


To sum it up, I’m not going to “take” a beating. I might try the threat of deadly force first if the situation allows, but I will use it if necessary. I think the skill is really avoiding situations and places where you might get into a fight. The real world doesn’t always cooperate as the truck driver that was pulled from his rig during the Rodney King riots learned. But just because I have a gun doesn’t mean I’m using a ATM at night or going to a “stop n rob” at two a.m. either.


I guess "my limit" is that me and my family are going to go home alive tonight.

[Outbreaker]

MY dad brought me up with some simple rules of fighting.

1. NEVER START a fight.
2. TRY to avoid the situation and fight.
3. Once the fight starts.........there are no rules at all.....period.....because loosing may be deadly.
4. Win the fight.

Before I graduated from college I was in only 3 fights in my life. I sent 3 people to the hospital (one with almost every bone in his foot broken and I did not have a mark on me). I have been in cuffs over 2 of the fights and after the details were sorted out by the police from the witnesses they let me go and I pressed charges against the other person.

[marksiwel]

I've managed to avoid fights, maybe a pushing match in middle school, but never threw a fist in anger

[jordanmills]

If you carry a gun, and think there are such things as simple butt whippings, you are wrong. As soon as your opponent feels that gun on you, he will begin fighting for the gun and his life, and he may get the biggest adrenaline surge of his life, to boot.

There are no more butt whippings, there are only fights over the gun. Avoid them.

Need to keep thinking this one through.

If someone wants to fight you while you have a gun, you have to assume they're trying to take your gun and kill you with it. Sure, most of them won't know, and some might not even find it out, but chances are they will, and if they have no problem with fighting on the street, they have none with killing you in a fight. I'd much rather (and I pretty much intend to) always abstain from any fight that can be avoided by just walking away.

[TxDrifter]

If you carry a gun, and think there are such things as simple butt whippings, you are wrong. As soon as your opponent feels that gun on you, he will begin fighting for the gun and his life, and he may get the biggest adrenaline surge of his life, to boot.

There are no more butt whippings, there are only fights over the gun. Avoid them.

Need to keep thinking this one through.

If someone wants to fight you while you have a gun, you have to assume they're trying to take your gun and kill you with it. Sure, most of them won't know, and some might not even find it out, but chances are they will, and if they have no problem with fighting on the street, they have none with killing you in a fight. I'd much rather (and I pretty much intend to) always abstain from any fight that can be avoided by just walking away.

One of the few sayings my Mother had right: "It takes more strength to walk away a fight than it does to get into one" I have always avoided fights just because I seemed to be a target when I was much younger. The price of being the teacher's pet too often and keeping my nose in a book. I completely agree though that your priority is not only protecting yourself, but protecting that weapon. It is something officer's have always had to do as well. We accepted it as well when we decided to carry.

[sooeey2u]

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.