There’s a bunch of talk about Robb’s post on Condition 3
Condition 3 not a good idea for carry. Also there is never a race to get the gun back into the holster.
I’d like to add this bit of advice. If I’m ever in need of a gun to defend my life, I’ll be calling the cops as soon as I feel the fight is over. This leaves me in an interesting scenario. I called the cops because I feel I was in the right for whatever I did, and therefore felt I was in grave danger. I want the cops to show up so I can let them do their investigation, and I can begin making my legal case in the event they feel the need to charge me with a crime.
While waiting for the cops I was in what WAS a dangerous situation, and “backup” (in this case the cops) are not yet on scene.
KEEP THAT GUN IN YOUR HAND! Keep it at low ready, but have it ready. It could be the bad guy’s re-enforcements will show up first, and not be happy with you.
When the cops show up throw the gun on the ground and put your hands in the air. Your carry gun should be drop safe, so this isn’t an issue, further you shouldn’t be carrying a gun that you aren’t willing to let skid across the pavement. Lastly, one of my biggest fears is that I’ll meet my end by having a police officer disarm me using bad gun handling. Some cops are gun wizards, others just shoot enough to pass the annual qualifier, and the only handgun they’ve ever handled is the one issued by their department.
I practice really hard not to sweep my vital organs and keep my finger out of the trigger guard when I work on my pistol draw…does he? I think we can easily envision how somebody could sweep you and ND during a disarm. Better to let them handle the gun AWAY from you, than deal with your holster and cover garments.
Just my 2c. What do you think?
I’d rather not have a gun in my hand when the cops show up if I can help it. Because then the same Officer Dopey that you’re worried about ND’ing into you while disarming you will be pointing his gun at you as he steps out of his cruiser, and he just might twitch wrong when you move to drop the gun (or even if you already have), because seeing you with gun in hand has made him decide that you’re a bad guy until proven otherwise. And that’s if he doesn’t just start shooting because “OMG he’s holding a gun!!!”
On the other hand, pulling up on a guy with his gun holstered, hands up, and who is cooperative* and compliant, will help reinforce the image of self-defense – especially if the dispatcher didn’t relay that information.
This is actually another reason I prefer to carry a gun with a safety: If I have to use it for it’s intended purpose, someone I don’t know** will eventually be handling it while it’s both loaded and in close proximity to my body. They will have to deliberately switch the safety off before they can shoot me with it.
* Within the bounds of good legal sense, of course. Cooperative doesn’t mean “Tell them everything before talking to your lawyer.”
** Probably. I do know a lot of the local cops (and many of them know that I carry) from working EMS.
I have spent a great deal of time thinking on this exact issue. There is no way on earth I am holstering my gun for a variety of reasons, but here is the biggest…focus.
Many times people are on task during a crisis, but once it is over they fall apart. I am a great example of this. To be honest, I wasn’t all that scared when I was being attacked. Separate issue, I was an idiot, but the point is afterwards I lost it and it was months before I pulled it together.
If I am forced to defend my life by shooting a bad guy and then I holster and call the police, how long before they get there? How long does my mind have to “relax” and start to freak out? The shakes, the replaying of events, the doubt etc… Not good.
If I have my gun out, low ready or otherwise, I am focused on the task at hand. I have trained for that. Police show up, I drop the weapon(if I am the one calling 911,I will be informing them what I am wearing and that I have a gun) give my very brief statement, positively assert my 5th Amendment Rights, shut up and then call my lawyer.
That is a GREAT point that I missed. Let 911 know that you are armed (and permitted where applicable) and give both what you’re wearing, and your full description. Height, weight, race, hair color and length, location of hair if you’re a guy with a beard or mustache. Make sure the responding officer knows that when they see a person with a gun, that’s the person who’s on the phone with dispatch.
And while not exactly a mistake, given that he was on the non-emergency line, don’t do what George Zimmerman did and hang up! Keep that phone running!
If ever I need to inform the officer or anyone else that I am a guy with a mustache or beard, you have my permission to shoot me.
I hope we know each other long enough for that!
You can point out that I have copious ear and nose hair, and that I’m wearing my pants around my ribcage! 😀
Perfect!
and the only handgun they’ve ever handled is the one issued by their department.
I was disarmed by the Po Po one time and he muzzled with my own sidearm. I left home in my work car and left my ID and wallet behind. Got stopped for speeding. Po Po was going to do a Terry so I advised him that I was armed. I lifted my shirt to reveal the firearm for him. As he removed it from the holster, he pointed it at me (I don’t think intentional). He asked me if it was loaded to which I replied “doesn’t do much good if it’s not loaded”. Then he muzzled me again while trying to remove the magazine. I informed him then if he shot me and I survived, I would shoot him back. Simple traffic stop turned into a pissing contest. Here’s a tip to piss off the Po Po when he’s being a butthead. “I didn’t realize your department promoted rookies to Lieutenant” and “You must live a hard life, being Barney Fife’s dumber brother and all”. Personally, I don’t advise escalating the situation but sometimes the 5-0 has to be called out.
About the re-holstering. I had a problem one time getting my sidearm back into the holster. After fumbling around with it for a second or two, and not wanting to take my eyes off the situation, I just stuck it in my back pocket.
Yeah, getting swept with a live gun is no fucking joke. When its your own gun that Chief Wiggum never qualified on (and he’s lucky to hit the barn from inside with his own Glock!) its a nightmare! Not smart to escalate, but I can’t chastise you too much as he deserves to have his badge shoved up his ass for that!
Also while Mexican Carry isn’t a great option for your daily carry, for a quick way to free your hands or conceal a gun on hand, its not THAT dangerous if you’re careful. Same with back pockets!
If I am confident that the immediate threat has been dealt with, I will scan the area and reholster. Then and only then do I make the phone call. I don’t want to be making that phone call with a gun in my hand. I will not reholster as long as the bad guy could potentially pose a threat to me. If I am not confident that he is no longer a threat, he might just need another round.
I absolutely agree the A Girl. Give all pertinent information to the operator. And when those lights and sirens pull around, your gun should either be in your holster or on the ground. Have it out of your hands before they exit their vehicles. Even if bad dude has some kind of backup, it has now become the cops job to deal with.
This. Even if you tell the dispatcher what happened, give a description of yourself, make sure they know you are armed and the victim, and the dispatcher actually relays all this to the responding officers, if you have a gun in your hand when they pull up they will be pointing their guns at you as they are getting out of their cars. Most cops will actually order you to drop it and give you time to comply before they start shooting, but what if you end up with Officer ‘Roid Rage or one of his clones?
There’s a good chance they’ll have their guns out anyway if you actually had to shoot someone, but it’s better if it’s not in your hand when they pull up. In the holster is best, because it’s both under your control and still readily accessible if you suddenly need it again before they get there, but if you’re not comfortable holstering it at that point then on the ground at your feet is second best.
If you have Officer Roid Rage as your responding officer, you’ll be lucky to survive the encounter no matter WHAT you do.