2010 FAQ: Did you ever use your CH in self-defense?

[Beiruty]

Maybe our community is not too large, it sizable and represent decent number of TX CHLers.
In 2010, have you ever had to draw and/or use a firearm in self-defense?
It is nice to know if we the CHLers are subjected less to violent crimes than the general population. We read a lot of Crime Blotter but few are CHLers and virtually none where members on the board.

For example, Texas has crimes stats per 100,000
Yr: 2009
Pop: 24,782,302
Index: 4,506.4
Violent 490.9
Property 4,015.5
Murder 5.4
Rape: 33.4
Robbery 153.5
Ag. Assault 298.7

So if we look at the Violent crimes 490/100K and assuming we have 4k members on the forum, or some 19 members are subjected to violent crimes per year. Similarly, at least 6 are robbed and 1 is rape victim.
Of course, if we are living in big cities like Dallas and Houston, our expected victim numbers are 3X to 4X higher.

[Dragonfighter]

Not in 2010, I have had my hand on it twice but the situations both evaporated before the draw/no draw decision had to be made.

Now over years past...

[Purplehood]

If you count pulling my weapon on a burglar that I surprised while he was trying to steal my little brothers TV, than the answer is Yes.

[Beiruty]

If you count pulling my weapon on a burglar that I surprised while he was trying to steal my little brothers TV, than the answer is Yes.

property crimes`are 10X more thann violent crime. That counts as justified use of firearm.

[cheezit]

3 times in my life. all 3 at or very near a house that I occupied. this year no.

[cougartex]

No, never.

[Kythas]

Not this year. Came close last year, though. Had my hand on it but the BG backed down about a second before I was going to draw.

[gigag04]

UCR stats don't represent the life an avg CHL'er. Many of the agg assaults are family violence. A good number of our robberies are drug deals gone bad. Many of us don't frequent gas stations or ghettos at the wee hours of the morning.

I'd speculate that we are more likely to lock our cars and valuables. We are more situationally aware, and not soft targets.

The OPs question is good, but I don't think the forum would be a depiction of the statewide averages. Also, many of those members are inactive.

I haven't gone for a gun in an off duty capacity this year. I did arm bar a guy out of a bar in Austin that was wrestling with the bouncer.

[Commander Cody]

No.

[redlin67]

This probably don't count, but I am going to tell my little story anyway. My wife and I were out for an evening stroll when suddenly a large dog came charging toward us. My hand instantly went to my gun, but before I drew, I noticed the dog was wagging his tail. It was just a big puppy wanting some attention.

[bigred90gt]

Be careful of a dog wagging it's tail. It is not necessarily a sign of it being friendly, the tail wags when they are excited. An attacking dog is in an excited state of mind, therefore, it is possible to see one wagging it's tail just before it decides to take a chunk of your flesh for a meal.

To answer the question in the OP, I have not had to use my weapon in self defense this year, nor do I hope to ever have to do so.

[The Annoyed Man]

Praise God, not yet. Please God, not ever.

[TNT]

Praise God, not yet. Please God, not ever.

Amen !!!!

[denwego]

I needed to grab my shotgun and ward off a drunk who was trying to kick the door down at 4:15am a few months back (he ended up passing out and being picked up sleeping by the cops on my front stoop), but no, thankfully no need for my handgun while out and about in the world.

[steveincowtown]

Only once in 15 years. Stopped at red light, saw two young guys creeping up each side of my pickup. As he grabbed the handle of my driver's side door I put the weapon to his nose (with the glass in between). This changed his intentions very quickly. With the knowledge I have now, if that happened today, I would put the car in drive and escape.

Other than that, I have never even had to touch my weapon. Words, actions, and your changing my location are always the first choices for me.