I carry a firearm where- and whenever it’s legal to do so. I’m not afraid to use it. Should I face an imminent, credible threat of grievous bodily harm or death to myself or my loved ones, it’s chocks away. Oh, I’m sure I’d be scared, adrenaline pumping like crazy. But I refuse to be a victim.
If my defensive gun use is unsuccessful, if my attacker or attackers kill me, well, that would suck. Especially for my youngest daughter. But before I shuffled off this mortal coil, I’d have the final, fleeting satisfaction of knowing I died defending myself and, perhaps, other innocent life.
Speaking of things that suck, I’m more than a little worried that I’ll shoot the wrong person.
That’s why I will never shoot someone unless they really need shooting, and I know the whole story (undercover cops are a thing). That’s why I carry a 1911 (it’s the most accurate gun I can shoot). That’s why I adjust my tactical mindset to account for diminished accuracy when I carry a snub-nosed revolver.
While not carrying a gun lowers the odds of shooting the wrong person to virtually zero, it increases the chances of a bad guy hurting or killing you and/or someone you love during an attack. You pack your gat, you take your chances. My decision to carry is based on reason, not fear.
But there is something that scares me, something that could happen during a defensive gun use. Has happened, though not to me [via wsbtv.com]:
Pedro Maldonado, 41, had just arrived home from work when his family says a man with a gun robbed him and another man of roughly $1,000. The father of four decided to take matters into his own hands.
“My dad chased after him with his gun. Went around the building,” his son, Joel Maldonado, said.
He says the thief fired two shots at his dad, one ending up in a nearby car.
As Pedro Maldonado rounded the building, he came face-to-face with an off-duty Atlanta police officer.
After hearing gunshots and seeing Pedro Maldonado running with a gun, his son says the officer opened fire, shooting his father multiple times.
“It’s something that nobody expects for it to happen. Nobody would expect something like that to happen,” Joel Maldonado said . . .
“I think he should have at least yelled freeze or something. My dad knows English. If he would have said something, stop, freeze or something, he would have stopped,” Joel Maldonado said.
OK, I’m not likely to go chasing an armed perp. But I would find it extremely galling to be shot and killed by a cop who mistook me for an armed perp. “How did your Dad die?” “He was shot by a cop by mistake.” “Yeah right.” Or “Well that’s ironic.”
Oh, the fun the antis would have! “‘Gun rights blogger shot and killed by cops during defensive gun use.” “Good guy with a gun shot by good guy with a gun.” Yeah, no thanks.
I used to be a reserve police officer in New Mexico. When I was out of uniform, I wore my badge under my shirt, ready to pop it out in an emergency. Which would [probably] stop a cop from drilling me during a DGU, but make me a target for criminals, crazies and terrorists. Is it odd that I didn’t care?