I'm 67, never had to shoot anyone or had a fight of any consequence.  I still carry every day because the world has changed, and I am not as physically capable as I was in my youth.  I made it 67 years without needing to shoot anyone, and I pray I'll make it the rest of the way, but I still go to the range frequently to remain proficient just in case.

It sounds like to me that you need to stay away from groups of four 😂

I delivered pizza for 6 months. My last day was a setup for a robbery. It was 10 pm and my last stop for the night. I walked toward the apartment door and a teen in a coat walked past, turned, and presented a gun. He said he wanted everything. My phone, my wallet, my car keys, everything. He didn’t have a mask or anything to conceal his identity. I took it he wasn’t concerned about me giving a description. I emptied my wallet and keys from one pocket, and my CZ75 from the other. He just froze after the first shot like he couldn’t believe it. 4 or 5 more shots and he slumped forward. US Law Shield covered my case and I never saw a pair of cuffs or a court room.

I'm 23, full time college student and married within the last year. About a year and half ago, during a school night, my now wife was coming home late from work (we were not living together). She parked her car outside of her apartment, to unload a few things. She had to make multiple trips, and as she was going back and forth, she noticed a guy was watching her and progressively moving closer and closer. It would not be that big of a deal except she had to move her car. She could see the car but could not see the guy. So she didnt know if the guy was hiding in the doorway, under and awning, or in her car. So I drove down, parked my car a few blocks away in the designated parking for her building, and sure enough, he was sitting on a bench a few feet from her door. I let myself into her building. When we both came out, she was like one pace in front of me. By the time I was out, he was already out of his seat and stepping towards her. When he saw me, he just froze and we locked eyes while I got into her car. I walked her back and by the time we got there, he was gone. Crooks really do prey on defenseless, and the weak.

Love the 4 guys who pull out screwdrivers trying to hurt you and you showed your gun vs the 4 people and call you a pussy.

Situational awareness is your friend….embrace it always…

They say the wise man learns from others. This was a good lesson

Your thoughts about Wal-Mart parking lists rang true for my wife. She was leaving the store at twilight. Not quite dark. A guy sitting on a bench just outside the door stood up as she walked by and she saw him peripherally. He was walking behind her, unaware she had already clocked him. As she approached our vehicle, she noticed a panel van parked directly across from our vehicle. A guy was behind the wheel and the motor was running. She spun on her heels immediately, walked into the store, asked for the manager and he walked her out. As they were making their way to the car, both of the guys pulled away in the van. Being aware could’ve very well saved her life or an experience she would never recover from. Thanks Chris.

I'm small. 5'7 on a good day, 150 lbs. I've needed my gun twice. The first time, I was working security night shift. When I left, I always open carried to discourage the people who sometimes wait for you. On my way home, I stopped at a gas station. As soon as I stepped out, a car pulled nose to nose with mine and 5 people surrounded me, demanding cash. The ringleader stepped forward, noticeably looked at my walther ppx, then put his hands up and apologized, then popped into the car and peeled out.

I've had a couple of situation where I had to use my gun in self defense. For a little context, I'm a former state correctional officer who worked in maximum security prisons. I've also worked as an armed security contractor. I'm 6'3, 200lbs, very fit, and have some background in Krav Maga, boxing, wrestling, and MMA. I'll tell my most notable self defense story here.

I'm working night shift about 4 years ago and I just got off from work. It's about 3am and my tank is empty so I pull into the Speedway gas station about 10 minutes from my house. I get out and I'm filling up the car. No one is around when I see these two men ride up on bikes and park in front of the gas station store. They're kind of rough looking. One of them had no shirt on and they both needed a shower to say the least. While I,m keeping half an eye on them, almost finished filling my tank, I see them start walking in my direction eyes locked on me. One of them reaches into his backpack and pulls out about a 12 inch hunting knife. The other guy pulls out a small hatchet. There's still no one else around. I never said a word but I drew my Rock Island Armory GI standard 45 acp 1911 that I happened to have been carrying that night and raised it so they could clearly see what I had. I locked eyes with one of the men and just shook my head at him like "bad idea buddy". They both turned around and walked away around the corner of the gas station, leaving their bikes behind. I got back in my car, drove about two blocks, pulled over, and called the police. I reported what had just happened and described the men and their location so those guys wouldn't be laying in wait for some other potential victim who wasn't as well prepared as I was. I couldn't say how that situation would have played out if I hadn't had the gun on me but there's a damn good chance that 45 saved my life.

I've had a few other self defense situations, two with a gun, several in professional prison work where I had handcuffs and OC but no firearm, and one where a knife got pulled on me during an armed security contract I was working. No shots were fired in any of these situations.

Just came from the range. Happy Fathers Day everyone!

I'm super down for a story time series from Mr. & Mrs. outlaw

January 25th 2025 I was going to get my daughter from my parents house. I stopped at the end of my driveway to check and make sure no one was coming before pulling onto the road. Meth head (who I didn’t know was wanted for attempted ending of a life at the time) pulls open my truck door with his girlfriend and a gun pointed right at my head tells me let’s go. He put her in the front seat and got in the back seat with the gun pointed at me. Had me drive him about 10 miles away and then told me we are going to another place almost 40 miles away. I noticed he didn’t have a seatbelt on so we went from 60 mph to 0 mph hard and when he looked up my 43X was right in his face. And well I’m here to commit on this video and he ain’t. Always carry and always have one in the chamber. It all takes place in seconds not minutes.

The only time outside of Afghanistan that I thought I was going to have to shoot someone, my wife and I had went to a wedding this night, we came home and put my infant son to bed. About 2 am I woke up because I thought I heard my front door open. I sat up, opened my night stand and put my hand on my 1911. Then I definitely hear footsteps creeping up the stairs. I tip toed to the door and waited for the steps to reach the top of the stairs. I opened the door flicking on the light and put my gun in what I thankfully realized was my sister in laws face who was drunk enough to not be very shocked and said someone stole her phone. I was pretty pissed and said do you have any idea what I almost just f*cking did to you?! She replies yeah, but we think we know who took it… turns out she was whispering “it’s me” as she was walking up the stairs while her now husband was smartly standing outside because he knew a little of my back story and knew her plan was no good but she just told him I’ll be fine he knows me 😂. Funny story now but I was pretty pissed in the moment to be put into that situation

Well, I’m a musician and a designer that happens to work for a few clubs in not the best part of the city, but it’s a part of the city that I’m very used to. This happened one night in my car leaving to go home.

It was about 10:30 at night, I had just finished a meet over some artwork and was leaving the bar. I usually carry in a chest pack in the car…and then 3 o’clock on foot. As I was approaching a stoplight that the bar is on the corner of I was switching from my waist to my pack…the light was red and as I unholstered to put my carry in the chest pack a person grabbed my door handle at the same time I was lifting my firearm up to the pack, when I heard the handle move and as I turned to look what was happening I saw the expression  this persons eyes, I already had the gun in hand…and the person took off running…I’ve never seen fear in someone’s eyes like that…it was almost like they knew they shouldn’t have chosen my car but did it anyway, stupid type fear, anyway…I can’t even express how glad I am that they ran though…my goal no matter where I’m at is to just make it home…without myself or anyone else being hurt or having to hurt someone…I’m not afraid to do what I have to but I do not take pride in things I’ve had to do.

Anyway, this little incident will probably be the one that sticks in my memory the most out of all of them, and unfortunately there’s been more than a few…it’s uncanny that I just happen to be switching carry positions at the same time someone decided to attempt to carjack me and I wanted to bring it up because it goes right along with the “ Not if it will happen, but When it will happen” ideal…I know that it’s reality…and I hope that anyone reading this that thinks that this kinda thing just doesn’t occur…that it does, it will, and probably when you least expect it too…

Also, don’t to forget to say a few words about being thankful to the big guy…it may seem like he’s not present in the world today but I got home safe that night…and someone who was really desperate lived to hopefully see a better day.

Situational awareness is the way....

I'm from Brooklyn New york, I live in Texas for 10 years. And am in my 40s now. but a few years before i moved out of New York back when i was in my mid 20s i stopped at a gas station right outside of Queens. As i was coming out from giving the clerk $40 to put on pump 2, I saw this guy at the stall right across from me toss a drink at the trash can in between our cars. It bounced off the can and hit my car, blue drink splashing all over my freshly washed Jaguar. I wasn't too happy, so i said "hey, you just hit my car with your drink..watch what you're doing" Then i proceeded to open my trunk to grab a rag to clean off the liquid on my hood. Right as i was doing so, i hear the doors on his Tahoe open and two guys hop out. So now theres 3 total guys i have to deal with, the driver that was already outside, then proceeds to walk towards me. Little did he know i grew up boxing and have been in bunch of street fights growing up (pretty common where I'm from) so when he steps into my striking range I connect with a straight to his nose. As hes doing the salsa dance, his two buddies are right next to me one behind me between our cars and the other in front of me near the driver that I just hit. He swings at me i aviod his terrible punch and give him a quick 2 piece, he goes down. The one behind bear hugs me, he was a big dude. About 6'5, I'm 5'11 and while I'm not small he made me feel like a baby. he yells while holding my arms to calm down. I said "I'm good, your friends are attacking me" he proceeded to let me go and help his two pals back to their vehicle. I jumped in my car and got out of there as quick as i could. Long story short, i could of been in big trouble if the over sized guy chose to be ruthless. I should of just accepted the first drink tosser was an idiot and left but I had way too much ego back then.
Oh and side note, the gas station clerk ran outside with a baseball bat during all the commotion and yelled that he called the cops if we didn't break it up and we'd be arrested. I was a familiar with him as i always gassed up there. He told me a few weeks later when I returned that he had it all on video and watched it a bunch of times and that he was prepared to help me out if things got any worse. Shout out to that guy.

Anyone that intends to mess with this guy after getting a good look up close is a serious hazard to the rest of us.

My wife and I have had two big scares, which ironically warmed her up to the idea of me carrying consistently everyday. The first was a shootout that occurred just an hour or two after we left a big party where she’d begged me not to carry.

The second and, arguably, scarier situation was a mass shooting scare that happened while we were at the mall. Kids came running into the dressing room area of the store we were in screaming about someone shooting. I got my wife behind me in one of the rooms and stood at the door with one hand holding my shirt and the other ready to draw. Thankfully, it was a false alarm, but it scared the both of us so much that we never got anywhere unprepared anymore, not even to a family gathering or around the corner to the grocery store.

It’s also important that your woman or people you’re with don’t antagonize or put you in bad situations too