Is this a trick question?

 

Feets don't fail me now.

 

Draw the weapon and go boy scout mode...Be Prepared!

Retreat not required in NC

 

I believe the current answer to a threat is, "Run - Hide - Fight."

According to "Active Self Protection," and I agree, except from a concealed position "Never draw on a drawn gun."

 

I pocket carry. So depending on the level of the threat and which firearm I would either partially draw, have it at the low ready or full two handed search/fire mode.
Run and hide is not an option at my age or required in SC.

 

I too picket carry. Although practice makes one quicker there’s only so much one can do with a pocket draw time. And to quickly move , seek cover and shoot are not much of an option for me at my age and medical condition. If I suspect any eminent threat the gun, S&W 340PD, comes into hand as quickly as possible. Again depending upon location that gun may be visible or in a place where it cannot be seen. I always worry about friendly fire as seeing me to be the threat.!! Depending upon the location simply hitting the floor and shooting prone may be the only cover possible? There are a lot of variables to consider before one can thoroughly answer this scenario. Am I at home, at a mall, at the local convenience store, in my backyard??? Recently we had an incident where a man was beaten to death by a person with metal illness while he was working in his garage with the door opened. We’re talking small, very rural, dead end street in the woods. The lone responding officer ended up shooting and killing the guy because he was so big and strong. Lots of variables to consider with this scenario.
i

 

Be Prepared !
Gary

 

Perceived threat?
Immediate body pivot into defensive stance, left arm and hand extended about 50% in a non-aggressive manner, right hand on firearm (either in my pocket or on my hip)……..I am turned sideways to perceived threat so they can’t really see what my right arm/hand is doing.
Firm verbal warnings given, yada yada yada……..the usual, except I am not retreating, because that requires I take my eyes off the threat, and I’m not doing that. If threat persists on closing distance on me with intent to assault, etc., a slight pivot to Weaver Stance while firearm is presented.
What happens after that depends entirely on the situation.

 

Kinda depends. are we talking possible robbery, car jacking, other people around, how many folks are in question, so many factors can dictate what the next actions would be.

 

so many factors can dictate what the next actions would be

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS! not enough detail. Drawing CCW on a suspected threat is unwise. Where I live that would likely be considered escalation which would invalidate the seriousness of the situation. Does this happen during a home invasion? At a parking garage? A road rage incident? Walking down the street? Getting "bumped" while walking at the mall? If you cannot retreat, you have likely had no situational awareness. Be "at the ready."

 

Please refrain from legal arguments.

The key words in the title are suspect a threat and retreat is not possible. In other words, you've done everything you can short of surrendering or drawing your weapon. If you opt to surrender, no need to read further.

However, if you choose to draw your weapon, what do you do next? Remember, you suspect a threat. In other words, a weapon has not been presented, but you suspect a person or persons are intending to do you bodily harm. In a case like this you might want to draw your weapon to at least get ready to use it. Here are two articles pertinent to situations like this.

The first has to do with accessing your concealed carry weapon: An Official Journal Of The NRA | Think It Through. In other words, you have to be able to quickly access your handgun. This article is especially important for those who declare they will not draw their concealed carry weapon unless they fully intend to shoot.

The second has to do with what you do when you have encountered a potential threat and the circumstances are such that you are justified in drawing your handgun: An Official Journal Of The NRA | The Low Ready Position. As someone who has been in this position quite a few times, getting your handgun to the low ready position quickly, yet surreptitiously, is a move that has to be planned and practiced.

You cannot separate this issue from the legal aspects. The latter can have hugely impacting effects.

 

Yes, your actions can have adverse legal effects. That is the risk you take when you decide to carry a handgun. That is the brutal truth. Don't want to take that risk, don't carry. That way you avoid those adverse legal effects. Simple as that.

 

My first and primary thought is physical harm imminent? If so the barrel is going to the needed position.
But a lot of undefined situations come to mind and I’m not reading the nra stuff to see if it’s called out.

 

Stop the threat if/when it becomes a threat.

 

I’m acting differently if it’s in my living room or the grocery store parking lot, different responsibilities, likely different tactics and risks. In my living room at 2 am less de-escalation will considered to say a parking lot.

 

It's actually happened to me a couple times. Once unarmed, the other times I was armed. First thing I did was relocate slightly to more favorable ground. The next was either readying to draw or preparing to use what little I had. I was able to conceal myself once and remained undetected. Another time I got high ground and awaited attack. Luckily the threat was empty. I think the best thing I did for all incidents was to keep thinking.

 

If I am near my car or truck, I would set off my car alarm. It might unnerve a potential criminal. Maybe even for a couple of crucial seconds to make a decision.

 

Best bet is to avoid areas where this could happen, however we all know we cannot stop going some places.

I'd say I have been in situations where I suspected threats, on emergency scenes where I unfortunately didnt have a firearm. But I did have an axe, hydrant wrench, or halligan tool, which is a formidable mind changer. Never underestimate the look of your eyes either, and how convincing your posture can be. Picture a Belgian Malinois teeth showing and that fear it puts in threats, most of the time forcing compliance without action. @maddmatter1970

I am the kinda guy that's hyper aware of my surroundings. Kind of like Denzel Washington in equalizer before he does his thing, although I dont have his percieved skills that have been inflated for entertainment. Years of being exposed to high danger, stress, situations taught me to focus, stay calm, and stay aware of my surroundings. I constantly keep my head on a swivel, on and off duty, wife says I look like a secret service agent, so I may not hear what she is saying about grocery shopping, but I'm aware of others around us. If I'm presented with an immediate threat or a perceived threat I likely already have my hand on my concealed firearm, already identified escape routes, and cover. This is actually already planned down to what side my wife stands or walks with me, as with my daughter. Already figured out what works. In that situation I'm gonna stand and defend, she is gonna egress, and draw her own CCW. Daughter in tow. If it's me and my daughter she will be moved behind me. I will face the threat.

Dont have your face buried in your phone, most today do, and are unaware of their surroundings or threats.

If it's a threat that I perceive is gonna act, I hope im not in that situation but im gonna do what I've gotta do to survive, including deadly force. It's not something I want to experience, but if I have no other option, reaction with force is better than the alternative.

Biggest thing is practice, practice, practice, go to the range and become accurate, carry, something reliable, and stay aware of your surroundings. The only time I'm not carrying is when on duty, but I assure you, I have access to it as do others with theirs, if the situation becomes that serious. That's an unwritten rule with the guys I work with, that have their own tools stored away. Sadly their have been times over the past several decades that I thought we were going to have to retrieve those tools, because of threats that were perceived as imminent. But alot of the guys I work with were former military, not cooks or mechanics, but combat infantry, paratroopers, army and marines, etc. Most have been in the sandbox several times, in gunfights for their survival. It's good to have guys with grit on your side. They don't crack under pressure. They have been through worse, I've heard their stories. They have my respect.

 

Best bet is to avoid areas where this could happen,
however we all know we cannot stop going some places.

That's an understatement.
The world has changed in the last 20 years and has become a very dangerous place.

It's been 21 years since I was robbed at gun point by four "kids" in front of my house. Shortly after that I sold my very nice house. I moved to the end of a Dead End Road, as far away as I could from any city.

Some things don't change, they just get worse.

Two years ago, a very nice lady across the street from my old house was parking her car in her garage.
She was with her teenaged daughter when cornered by a 14 yo and a 15 yo. She refused to give up her car keys and they shot and killed her.

There is no possession worth your life.

 

I’m going prone.

 

If there is no other cover that is the place to go.

 

Here is a perfect example of the presence you present to others, although in a movie, and fictional this describes what I was trying to explain, presence, strength, confidence, and no doubt you will do what you have to. This is just like a police K9 and the effect it can have.

 

Making yourelf as small as possible is always a good move when you KNOW a thing is a threat that is throwing lead from distance. Sometimes, I suppose, it would be a good move when you SUSPECT a threat but CAN NOT retreat.

Car accidents are good logic tests. Generally speaking, if your car is in motion, and strikes another car, at a minumun, the liability of failure to control can be assigned to you.

I cannot imagine a scenario where preemptive lethal force would pass the sniff test HOWEVER in the real world, how do we count potential rattlesnake victims who heeded the warning?

 

I try and avoid the bad areas. But I have to go to west Springfield Friday to winterize my best friends Harley, for his widow. Number one, I’m not shirking my duty to my brother. I also know the cops that are in charge of that part of town. Usually have the G20 10mm in that part of town as well as an M4gery.
West Springfield was among the worst in the country a year or so ago, yeah, in the middle of conservative America.

 

I am old so I carry a heavy cane or walking stick. Can even be carried on a plane.

 

I'd suggest that one does not have to run far to justify running. A short distance is enough to validate self-defense.

One doesn't need to out-run the threat, only need to run a few steps to prove he was a threat before firing.

 

OK, just being a smart ass
(Sorry)

 

Running is not in my nature... 😉

 

Thank you for your service . . .

. . . but this subject-matter shows why the legal aspect can't be completely ignored

 

I give the glory to God, he gave me the ability to do it. 👍

 

I pocket carry so my hand would be in my pocket if I suspected a threat but the op’s scenario is too vague imo. Where am I? Alone or in a crowd? Possible sniper on a roof or a possible shooter 20 ft away? A robbery or a pair of drunks arguing? Alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse?

 

Suspecting a threat does not mean it is confirmed to be a threat........... but if I am suspecting such, my suspicions are usually right on. Is the threat to take property or to take my life? Had the latter and it was a direct threat and the proverbial knife (3 knives) brought to a gunfight (5 rounds), but by 3 knives against my brothers Smith,Wesson, and I, . Everyone walked because I educated them as to the odds against them and the err of their ways. All walked away to live another day. Property, is not worth killing over neither is a threat if you clearly have the upper hand. Every situation is different. Brutalize or kill my kids or wife, they will become religious real quick.

Today, I'd 911 with my cell phone first so I had a witness listening and recording. Didn't have a cell phone in 1981. but did have 911 on the line recording when I de-escalated a situation between 2 armed parties in a domestic dispute after one had already fired a weapon in anger as a threat. I was given a letter of commendation by the police chief in handling that before the responding officers arrived. Using one's head and training and quick thinking has always helped me come out on top.

Similar to @Tacky, I don't run away... I run towards danger if it is to help prevent bloodshed or more bloodshed. I was the only civilian still standing in a Valparaiso, Florida bar in 1974 (with the responding ambulance crew and cops) after 3 leather jacketed knife wielding "fish-heads" had already gut stabbed and began stomping the guts out of the owner of the bar lying on the floor. I snuck up and grabbed them by their jackets from behind one by one and slung them hard behind me into a wall thus giving the owner time to crawl back behind the bar. Everyone else in the bar ran outside when they saw what was happening.

When the fish-heads picked themselves up of the floor and returned ready to pounce on me, I yelled "You stupid ****s, the cops are here!". I had no idea the cops had even been called, but was trying to buy time and make them think I was warning them. They turned their attention back to the bar owner who was lying on the floor bleeding out of his gut and on the phone with 911. After a about a minute of them yelling more threats at him from the patron side of the bar, the cops did burst into the bar guns raised, and the first one fired his revolver into the ceiling just like in the old westerns. I focused and pointed out the 3 standing at the bar, and the next thing was they ended up on the floor cuffed and stuffed after getting pistol whipped to the back of their skulls by the cops. I remember it like it happened just yesterday.

The next thing was a female cop came in and asked if I was "Larry" and when I said "Yeah?" wondering how she knew my name. She said I better get outside where my girlfriend was as she was hysterical. I walked out and all the people that had been in the bar earlier were all out there watching the commotion with cops and ambulances. I found my girlfriend crying and accompanied by her brother who also had fled when the $hitshow started in the bar. My girlfriend sobbingly said, "You are just too dangerous to be with and I can't be with you any more, so I'm breaking up with you." I told her, "Okay, I can't change that." and that was the last time I saw her.

I know this is not a one size fits all answer to the OP's wide open question, but my answer is "Do you". Run, hide, call 911, draw, shoot, etc. Whatever it is that YOU feel is the response YOU are most comfortable with at the time and live with the consequences of your actions.

 

Thank you for the story. Reminds me of Mark Twain's advice to always do the right thing, this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.