Close Encounters

[unique]

We carry guns with hi capacity magazines in case of a prolonged gun battle or multiple attackers.  We practice shooting weak handed in case our strong hand is disabled.  We're ready for the “big one”.
It seems to me though, that 99.9% of us will never shoot a gun in self defense.  90% of us will never even draw a weapon.  I'm not suggesting we don't need to carry, but I am suggesting that it might benefit us to know how a “close encounter” might really happen.
I've been carrying a gun off and on for forty years now and in that time I've had four “encounters”.  The first one was what you might expect actually kind of boring, the second, well let's say it was odd.  The third even “odder”, and the forth, well that one still puts knots in my stomach even after over twenty years.  In that one I almost killed someone who, as it turned out, was just plain stupid, or more accurately, stupid drunk.
In any event, they weren't like anything I had read about or could even imagine.
I'd really like to hear what first hand experiences others have had, and I really think it would help all of us prepare for the “unknown”.
Here's my first, I'll post the rest as replies to this topic.
It was the in the middle of the winter and I was working the 3:00 to 11:00 shift at a company in the inner city.
One night we were in the cafeteria, one of the night security guards and I, just taking a break.  One of the workers there was obviously a drug user and very strung out that night.  For some reason he decided to take his anger out on me.  He came to our table and started calling me names and saying things like “you're really a jerk” and I, being more than a little cocky back then, just agreed with him.  The more he called me names and the more I agreed with him, the madder he got.  Finally the guard broke it up and we left, I didn't think any more of it.
Walking to the bus stop that night, he stepped out if the shadows, he had a knife.  What he didn't know was I had a derringer in my mitten (mittens are not very manly, but a great way to carry a derringer).  When I didn't cower, he really got confused, but we talked and I managed to calm him down.  Finally he decided I wasn't such a bad guy and walked away.  While I didn't “need” the gun, having it gave me the confidence to work through the situation, I knew I had an option if talking didn't work.

[saltydogbk]

In martial arts we learn that the best defense is to just walk away... avoid the conflict.  I hope I never have to use either my empty hand technique or my hand full of kick ass option.

[unique]

Yeah, I was young and cocky, hope I'm smarter than that now.
Art

[unique]

My second “close encounter” was a bit odd. I was still working the 3:00-11:00 and taking the bus.  After leaving my stop, the bus went to what the drivers called the “last round up” at Main and Clinton.  I usually was the only passenger, and I sat up front across from the driver.  When we reached Main and Clinton, the driver opened the doors and we waited until it was time to leave.  That night a middle-aged black man rushed onto the bus and crouched down between the driver an me.  When writers say “his eyes were as big as saucers” I knew then what they meant.  He was shouting something about they were after him, they were going to kill him.  The driver got a look of fear on his face, said “I'll go get some help” and took off, leaving the two of us alone, the bus door open. So there we sat, my new “friend” happy to be sitting on the floor next to me while I kept looking out the bus windows wondering where his “friends” were.   Several long minutes later the driver came back with the police and they took the man away.  Again, I didn't need a gun, but it was really reassuring to have one
My next encounter was probably the strangest.  I was working as building manager for a small company that owned an old five story building in the inner city.  Part of my job was to respond to burglar alarms.  It took me close to a half an hour to respond, so usually the police had come and gone by the time I got there. 
This time I got there and as usual, checked all the exterior doors to make sure they were locked, then went in the front door and proceeded to search the building.  I searched the upper floors first, since we rented spaces out and most of the alarms came from tenants not following procedures.  After checking the upper floors I checked our own area.  I was walking through the production area when I spotted movement.  The lights were off except for a light at the back staircase, the only illumination there was came from the street lights outside.  Whoever it was didn't see me, so I just drew my gun and waited in the shadows for him to walk into the light.  He either didn't have or wasn't using a flashlight, and was just wandering around, picking things up and setting them back down again.  As he walked towards the light I was ready.  In the light, I discovered it was a city policeman.  He still hadn't seen  me, so I holstered my gun and called out to him.  Seems he was a little slow in responding, found the front door open and decided to “investigate”. 
Another lesson learned.
My first encounter taught me not to mess with people I didn't know, just be polite and walk away.  This one reminded me that I wasn't the police, when I saw movement I should have just gone back downstairs and called 911.  But I was young and like so many people I've encountered over the years, when you carry a gun it's all too easy to start thinking your like a cop, and that can get you into serious trouble.

[Swamp Yankee]

My first time  bringing a weapon up and aiming it at some one was in the Philipines three days before they ousted Marcos. I was guarding and Ammo Depot and we where on allert status. All day we where putting out set fires on the perimeter and there where reports of rebels in the area. It was 10pm and I noticed movement outside the perimeter our orders where to challenge every one no one was to be out there per the General . Could barely make out the figures due to stupid military logic . All of the lights around the place faced in to it not out. Any way pulled up on them locked and loaded made them halt and the other guard  went out to then to identify them. It turned out to be the CO and 1st SGT.  Second time I did  not have to draw got between two men that where trying to beat each other with hammers they where a little confused as to why I had stepped between them and they stopped fighting.  Unfortunately when a police officer arrived( After 30 Min. Station was only a 1/2 mile down the road from this location) a large crowd had gathered and while the officer was questioning the primary the other one took of on a bicycle. I tried to catch him on foot  but could not so the officer took off after him in the car but lost him and when he left the other guy jumped into a passing car and took off.  A total fiasco.  Main reason for carry is it is to be used only when absolutly required. I worked in the projects in Bridgeport CT for 7 years had a lot of confrontations but never had to draw on some one. Always walked away when prudent

Mike Mc

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[tombogan03884]

Mentioned it before on another thread, but one time some guy grabbed for the door handle of the car while my then wife was driving with our son and I in the car, I had sight picture before I realized I had drawn, That was as far as it went, we kept on going. But she never again called me  "paranoid" for carrying.

[Rastus]

Mentioned it before on another thread, but one time some guy grabbed for the door handle of the car while my then wife was driving with our son and I in the car, I had sight picture before I realized I had drawn, That was as far as it went, we kept on going. But she never again called me  "paranoid" for carrying.

You did the right thing.   It would be a very tramatic experience for the family if you had dropped the hammer on him.  No doubt you would have done a different right thing had he persisted, as well.

[tombogan03884]

You did the right thing.   It would be a very tramatic experience for the family if you had dropped the hammer on him.  No doubt you would have done a different right thing had he persisted, as well.

 Thats putting it MILDLY, I would have had to shoot across in front of my wife, and I KNOW she would have had a conniption.

[Rastus]

Thats putting it MILDLY, I would have had to shoot across in front of my wife, and I KNOW she would have had a conniption.

By the way, I've been using that "head down butt up" saying thing of yours around work.  You don't mind, do you?

[tombogan03884]

By the way, I've been using that "head down butt up" saying thing of yours around work.  You don't mind, do you?

Not a bit  I heard it somewhere years ago.