Good Guy with a Gun

[Hodor]

So, I was chatting with a coworker who is a big second amendment guy. Owns several guns and has a cc permit. He always carries even in gun free zones.

I found his take on what he'd do in response to a bad guy with a Gun very surprising. He said he would leave to avoid being shot and only engage if trapped and attacked. He will then only protect himself.

If you had a Gun and found yourself in the vicinity of an active shooter, how would you respond?

[baldgriff]

Cap him in the knee - if I owned the gun and carried a permit.

[Piney Boy]

Cap him in the knee - if I owned the gun and carried a permit.

Ah the hollywood response.

[baldgriff]

Ahh - the truth..

Of course - I dont own a gun and dont carry a permit.

[PaleoMan]

So, I was chatting with a coworker who is a big second amendment guy. Owns several guns and has a cc permit. He always carries even in gun free zones.

I found his take on what he'd do in response to a bad guy with a Gun very surprising. He said he would leave to avoid being shot and only engage if trapped and attacked. He will then only protect himself.

If you had a Gun and found yourself in the vicinity of an active shooter, how would you respond?

It depends on the setting. In a densely populated urban setting, I would be less likely to engage.

[senorsheep]

I think most people would get themselves to safety. A lot of 2nd amendment tough guys like to think they'd confront the shooter, but in the actual situation, their survival instincts would trump their superhero fantasies.

[GwynnInTheHall]

I think most people would get themselves to safety. A lot of 2nd amendment tough guys like to think they'd confront the shooter, but in the actual situation, their survival instincts would trump their superhero fantasies.

I'm pretty sure if my family were there I'd default to getting them all to safety. I am equally as certain I'd suffer delusions of John Wayne and wade in as I have in other situations without being armed.

[nots]

I've never had, or even seen, a gun in person. I won't be much help.

[Hornsby]

Cap him in the knee - if I owned the gun and carried a permit.

Any good shooter, and ALL cops, will tell you that's a virtually impossible shot to make. As Piney said, a Hollywood myth. That's why they always teach you to shoot for the center mass, right in the chest. Harder to miss if you're really trying to bring your target down.

And nothing surprising at all about Doig's co-worker, that's exactly what they train you to do. I took the class, and what you do is to loudly warn the intruder, while retreating. Tell him/her that you've got a gun, and are prepared to use it. hopefully have already called 911, or have someone doing so. ONLY shoot in the case of potential bodily harm. It's as much a thing to avoid prosecution as to avoid a potential lawsuit.

[Gregg]

I'm pretty sure if my family were there I'd default to getting them all to safety. I am equally as certain I'd suffer delusions of John Wayne and wade in as I have in other situations without being armed.

I agree with this.

If I was with my family, I would try to get them to safety. That might mean shooting the bad guy to do so.

If I was without my family and the bad guy was actually shooting at people, I believe I would attempt to shoot him. I would be aiming for for the trunk of his body/chest.

[Hodor]

It seems pretty unanimous that we would either protect our family, ourselves or retreat in most active shooter situations

I'd be interested in hearing if you think our choice of action pokes holes in the Good guy with a Gun theory being used by anti gun control supporters.

[Gregg]

It seems pretty unanimous that we would either protect our family, ourselves or retreat in most active shooter situations

I'd be interested in hearing if you think our choice of action pokes holes in the Good guy with a Gun theory being used by anti gun control supporters.

I didn't read it that way. I read it we would retreat to protect our family. We would shoot the bad guy if we were without our families. That happens to be what I "think" I would do.

[baldgriff]

I dont own a gun - and never have.

When I was robbed at gunpoint while employed at a local bank as a supervisor the robber put his gun down and walked about 10 feet away from me and where his gun was. I had an opportunity to grab the gun - the thought went through my mind - my work training told me not to so I didnt.

I have not fired a gun since I was at a friends house shooting a rifle.

I have had a gun put in my face - it is very unsettling and to be honest I hope it never happens again. Why havent I purchased a gun? Well I just havent had the expendable cash to do it right - go through gun safety training - shooting range and what not. If I had the money I would be doing it....

[Fresno Bob]

I dont own a gun - and never have.

When I was robbed at gunpoint while employed at a local bank as a supervisor the robber put his gun down and walked about 10 feet away from me and where his gun was. I had an opportunity to grab the gun - the thought went through my mind - my work training told me not to so I didnt.

I have not fired a gun since I was at a friends house shooting a rifle.

I have had a gun put in my face - it is very unsettling and to be honest I hope it never happens again. Why havent I purchased a gun? Well I just havent had the expendable cash to do it right - go through gun safety training - shooting range and what not. If I had the money I would be doing it....

I wasn't there, but if given the chance, I'd think that I would grab the gun if only to make sure they couldn't use it on me (given that I thought I could get it without a struggle). Maybe I'm just not getting the scenario

[baldgriff]

I wasn't there, but if given the chance, I'd think that I would grab the gun if only to make sure they couldn't use it on me (given that I thought I could get it without a struggle). Maybe I'm just not getting the scenario

Gun 3 ft from me - robber 15 feet away.... The thought that went through my head was, I dont know if it is loaded or not and picking it up could be a lure for much worse.