imported post
...to OC without one in the chamber. I know I have said on OCDO before that I preferred to carry without one in the chamber, but tonight I found out I was wrong in my thinking.
I always walk my dogs after work, and tonight was no exception. With the time change, it gets dark early, so even though walking after dark isn't the safest thing to do sometimes, I still do.
The walk was normal until the very end. I was getting ready to turn onto my road, and I was headed home when all of a sudden I heard a growl from my one dog, and I turned around to see a pit bull (or a pit bull/boxer/something bigmix)on a dead run across 4 lanes of traffic, teeth barred, headed straight for me and the dogs. I foolishly had one of the leashes wrapped around my shooting hand, and before I could transfer it to the other, thedog was on us. He was headed for my leg or my wife's little dog ( I couldn't tell). So I kicked him in the head, and that gave me enough time to free my shooting hand and grab my gun. I pulled on him, and pointed it at him and yelled at him. Lucky for me, he was gun shy, and backed off, which gave me a second to chamber a round. I stood there for about 10 seconds, pointing the gun at him, my dogs going wild barking and wrapping leashes around my feet as they were trying to get to the dog.Then I heard someonecall out, (it must have been for the dog),and the dog turned around. He ran back across the road, nearly getting hit. With it being dark, I couldn't really see which house the person was calling from, just the general direction. I should have gone across the street and found out, but I was honestly a bit shaken, and just wanted to get home. I don't scare easy, but a dog that big running at you out of nowhere has a way of putting a little bit of fear in you. My dogs have gotten out before and run over to a neighbor's house before, so I know sometimes dogs get loose, and owners can't really help it.This was a little different; I didn't know this dog, and pit bulls, or whatever pit bull mix this was,aren't really known for being friendly to strangers and other dogs.
So that's the long version of what changed my mind, thinking, and habits of how I carry. I will be carrying with one in the chamber at all times now. You other folks can do as you like, but I guess it took a first hand experience to change my thinking. It was a really helpless feeling knowing that I still had to chamber a round before my gun was anything more than a really expensive hammer. It turned out fine, thank God, but I'm not going to let myself feel that way again, if I can help it. But what do you folks think, was I wrong for pulling before the dog did anything? I felt like I was in danger, and it seemed like the correct thing to do. But there again, I've never had to pull on anyone or anything other than a target before. Let me hear what your thoughts are.
...to OC without one in the chamber. I know I have said on OCDO before that I preferred to carry without one in the chamber, but tonight I found out I was wrong in my thinking.
I always walk my dogs after work, and tonight was no exception. With the time change, it gets dark early, so even though walking after dark isn't the safest thing to do sometimes, I still do.
The walk was normal until the very end. I was getting ready to turn onto my road, and I was headed home when all of a sudden I heard a growl from my one dog, and I turned around to see a pit bull (or a pit bull/boxer/something bigmix)on a dead run across 4 lanes of traffic, teeth barred, headed straight for me and the dogs. I foolishly had one of the leashes wrapped around my shooting hand, and before I could transfer it to the other, thedog was on us. He was headed for my leg or my wife's little dog ( I couldn't tell). So I kicked him in the head, and that gave me enough time to free my shooting hand and grab my gun. I pulled on him, and pointed it at him and yelled at him. Lucky for me, he was gun shy, and backed off, which gave me a second to chamber a round. I stood there for about 10 seconds, pointing the gun at him, my dogs going wild barking and wrapping leashes around my feet as they were trying to get to the dog.Then I heard someonecall out, (it must have been for the dog),and the dog turned around. He ran back across the road, nearly getting hit. With it being dark, I couldn't really see which house the person was calling from, just the general direction. I should have gone across the street and found out, but I was honestly a bit shaken, and just wanted to get home. I don't scare easy, but a dog that big running at you out of nowhere has a way of putting a little bit of fear in you. My dogs have gotten out before and run over to a neighbor's house before, so I know sometimes dogs get loose, and owners can't really help it.This was a little different; I didn't know this dog, and pit bulls, or whatever pit bull mix this was,aren't really known for being friendly to strangers and other dogs.
So that's the long version of what changed my mind, thinking, and habits of how I carry. I will be carrying with one in the chamber at all times now. You other folks can do as you like, but I guess it took a first hand experience to change my thinking. It was a really helpless feeling knowing that I still had to chamber a round before my gun was anything more than a really expensive hammer. It turned out fine, thank God, but I'm not going to let myself feel that way again, if I can help it. But what do you folks think, was I wrong for pulling before the dog did anything? I felt like I was in danger, and it seemed like the correct thing to do. But there again, I've never had to pull on anyone or anything other than a target before. Let me hear what your thoughts are.