Originally Posted by
spanky
I've already stated time and time again the only time I'd ever pull mine is if I had to defend myself or my loved ones. If there is an exit closer than there is a threat then the exit is where I'm going. I'm no fucking cowboy. I just want my family to be safe and I take the responsibility to ensure that they are into my own hands. This is not to say I won't call for help because I know I will but I also am realisitic enough to know that my hand gun is seconds away whereas the police are minutes if you're lucky.
in fact, that is part of the law in TN....eminent threat i think is what it's called. if there is a way out of the situation other than the use of my gun, i am expected to try it before i am legally authorized to use dealy force.
like the bank robbery example kirk gave....if i am a customer during a bank robbery, i am not legally authorized to become a "cowboy" & start shooting the perpitrators. however, if they then start to sytematically shoot innocent victims in the bank, then i am leaglly authorized to use force to stop them from killing me or others
it's a fundamental tighrope to walk, but these are situations that you have to think about before you decide to legally carry a weapon for self defense