Glock19Dude
Marksman
I was talking to a friend of mine in MI about how I just got my LTCH. He received his CCW (the MI equivalent to carry) about a week before. We were discussing the laws and I asked of a certain scenario that came up in his CCW class of the "what if" nature. My question was....If I am somewhere where I can legally carry and am doing so in a peaceful manner and some drunk a**hole wants to start a fight with me for no reason. (this has happened to me before) If he shows signs of aggression toward me, I wondered if I can draw my weapon and shoot him or do I have to fist-fight this drunk because he didn't produce a weapon on me, therefor I cannot use deadly force on him.
Our responses were different. I said just because he doesn't have a weapon on him doesn't mean he couldn't impose a lot of physical harm on me with his hands alone. Let's be realistic, people can kill with just their bare hands. I said I would show my gun (in the holster) with my hand on it and tell the drunk, "if you come any closer to me I will draw and shoot you" I didn't apply for my LTCH to not use my weapon to protect myself, and I sure as hell won't take a beating because of fear of drawing my weapon on someone who want's to start a fight for no reason.
My friend had said: "in our class the instructor told us you have to run away first and if the person pursues you, then you can draw and use your weapon" Run away???? WTF, I wouldn't.
I know every state has different laws regarding issues similar to this. As far as I concerned if ANYONE threatens you with violence you have a right to protect yourself /(people your with) from said violence. In MI they tell everyone to use your gun as the very last resort. I understand but I'm not going to run from someone. Just seems a little silly to me. I hope I never have to draw my gun on someone, but again, I'm not going to back down to some violent a**hole either.
Any specific laws on a situation like this? I know every situation is different from the next and it seems to come down to making the right decision at that exact moment. What are people's thoughts on this issue?
Our responses were different. I said just because he doesn't have a weapon on him doesn't mean he couldn't impose a lot of physical harm on me with his hands alone. Let's be realistic, people can kill with just their bare hands. I said I would show my gun (in the holster) with my hand on it and tell the drunk, "if you come any closer to me I will draw and shoot you" I didn't apply for my LTCH to not use my weapon to protect myself, and I sure as hell won't take a beating because of fear of drawing my weapon on someone who want's to start a fight for no reason.
My friend had said: "in our class the instructor told us you have to run away first and if the person pursues you, then you can draw and use your weapon" Run away???? WTF, I wouldn't.
I know every state has different laws regarding issues similar to this. As far as I concerned if ANYONE threatens you with violence you have a right to protect yourself /(people your with) from said violence. In MI they tell everyone to use your gun as the very last resort. I understand but I'm not going to run from someone. Just seems a little silly to me. I hope I never have to draw my gun on someone, but again, I'm not going to back down to some violent a**hole either.
Any specific laws on a situation like this? I know every situation is different from the next and it seems to come down to making the right decision at that exact moment. What are people's thoughts on this issue?