Almost had to pull the trigger tonight...

So I almost had to pull the trigger tonight. I was out walking with the Mrs and my little Jack Russell. We had walked about 3 miles and we were starting the last leg back to our house. I live in a highly populated area in Hampton Roads (VA). As we turned the corner and started walking down the next street, I heard barking behind me. No big deal, I thought, because there are plenty of dogs in the neighborhood and they always bark at my puppy (who oddly enough never barks back, or at all). I turned around just to make sure though. At this point I should probably mention I had a run-in with a quite vicious Pit back in July (before I started carrying). This run in cost me a trip to the hospital. Ever since I have been pretty scared of large dogs. So I turned around and saw this dog running at me, barking. I got really scared and, with practiced speed, drew my Glock 19 and aimed it at the advancing dog. My wife saw fit to tell me to stop. (Apparently she didn't think the dog was scary. I maintain that *she* wasn't the one sent to a hospital with puncture wounds to the forearm from a dog bite). With my pistol still pointed at the dog, I gave a stay command to it, to see if he would halt his advance. It actually worked, and the dog sat in the middle of the street. I reholstered, figuring the threat was over, and gave the dog a stay command. He stayed, and I backed away slowly until my wife and I were able to turn down the next street. I was so stressed out over the whole situation I actually had to sit curb-side for several moments to calm my heart down. I figure the most important thing was that everyone, including both dogs, made it out of the situation safely.
I welcome your questions, comments, and concerns regarding this incident.

See dogs are not stupid !

davidmcbeth said:

See dogs are not stupid !

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Well I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. My Lucky is pretty smart, but I don't think he would have stopped if a stranger had told him to.

See that's why I hate Chihuahuas! Little rat dogs! LOL! just kidding.

mobiushky said:

See that's why I hate Chihuahuas! Little rat dogs! LOL! just kidding.

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You'd have had to shoot my Chihuahua, he is a vicious little thing, we keep him chained up in the back yard... kidding

Esanders2008 said:

...I welcome your questions, comments, and concerns regarding this incident.

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My suggestion is that you should have called the police. I suggest this any time one apparently threatens or actually draws their gun.

I would rather be the first person to call the police than the one explaining/justifying my actions after someone else has reported some other version of events.

My dogs are obedient but I don't think they'd listen to a stranger. I'm glad it all worked out OK.

At the same time as you said "stay" you didn't happen to notice your pup make any kind of movement of his own? Say... a quick nod, or using his paw to make a cutting motion across the jugular region? Have you considered your dog doesn't have to bark because your dog is sometimes referred to as The Dogfather?

mwaterous said:

At the same time as you said "stay" you didn't happen to notice your pup make any kind of movement of his own? Say... a quick nod, or using his paw to make a cutting motion across the jugular region? Have you considered your dog doesn't have to bark because your dog is sometimes referred to as The Dogfather?

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Haha.. My pup was walking on his leash held by his "mother" ahead of us. But that is a funny thought.

BB62 said:

My suggestion is that you should have called the police. I suggest this any time one apparently threatens or actually draws their gun.

I would rather be the first person to call the police than the one explaining/justifying my actions after someone else has reported some other version of events.

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My issue with this is that we were out late at night (not illegal or even frowned upon, but we were alone), and there were no other people around. We disappeared from the scene afterwards, because there was no one who would have called the police. (Unless that dog had a cell phone) By calling the police, I would have to break my rule of "Never talk to the police (unless you HAVE to)".

I've chased away a vicious growling dog by simply spreading my arms to appear larger and becoming the aggressor.

Personally, the dog in question would have to be either chasing down a small child or have already drawn blood before I'd feel confident in shooting it.

1) I don't care to get sued or arrested

2) An armed citizen shooting someone's "puppy" sure looks bad on the evening news

Jay Jacobs said:

I've chased away a vicious growling dog by simply spreading my arms to appear larger and becoming the aggressor.

Personally, the dog in question would have to be either chasing down a small child or have already drawn blood before I'd feel confident in shooting it.

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Would you feel the same way about a person? Would he have already had to knock a couple of your teeth out, or would showing a disposition of violence, such as brandishing a knife, be sufficient for you to pull the trigger?

Jay Jacobs said:

I've chased away a vicious growling dog by simply spreading my arms to appear larger and becoming the aggressor.

Personally, the dog in question would have to be either chasing down a small child or have already drawn blood before I'd feel confident in shooting it.

1) I don't care to get sued or arrested

2) An armed citizen shooting someone's "puppy" sure looks bad on the evening news

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In response to your edit:
Let me use the Pit attack as my example. Both the animal control officer and the VBPD officer that responded said that I would have been justified in shooting the dog to protect myself.
And we already know most media is Anti-2A anyways, and will warp the facts to sell their stories.

Esanders2008 said:

...snip.. My wife saw fit to tell me to stop.

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Not to sound harsh but I don't know of another way to put it but your wife needs to get on-board with the program. Family members need to learn that when the carrier make a decision to go to gun it's time for them to ****, it's not a time for them it give their feelings about the situation.

The last thing someone needs is the significant other (SO) adding a distraction "Don't shoot him baby!" which can cause your thinking to reset for a second (ODDA loop) or can give something away that you didn't want to "Pull out your gun and shoot him baby"

OC and CC needs to have an immediate action plan, simpler the better, "Honey if I draw my gun, you get behind me and call 911 on your cell phone"

phoenix david said:

not to sound harsh but i don't know of another way to put it but your wife needs to get on-board with the program. Family members need to learn that when the carrier make a decision to go to gun it's time for them to ****, it's not a time for them it give their feelings about the situation.

The last thing someone needs is the significant other (so) adding a distraction "don't shoot him baby!" which can cause your thinking to reset for a second (odda loop) or can give something away that you didn't want to "pull out your gun and shoot him baby"

oc and cc needs to have an immediate action plan, simpler the better, "honey if i draw my gun, you get behind me and call 911 on your cell phone"

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+1

I had a similar experience when I was only 17 or 18. Me and a buddy were walking some old tracks that cut through his dad's farm with our .22 rifles. We saw a hound dog coming down the tracks from quite a ways off, from a distance didn't look like anything unusual. But when it got close it wasn't pretty, it was emaciated, foaming at the mouth, growling and baring his teeth - really looked like a very sick dog, maybe rabid but don't know for sure. Was hoping he would go away but instead it charged toward us in a very agressive manor, he was going to bite one of us for sure. That was the only dog I've ever shot. One shot between the eyes, instant kill. We called the sheriff's office and reported it, even told them we thought it was rabid, but they didn't seem too interested. I know I did the right thing, but it still makes me sick to think about it, almost 40 years later.

You certainly would have been justified, and it sounds like you handled yourself well, better than most.

This example does make the case for carrying something LessThanLethal as an alternative. When I was a kid, I carried a bottle of soapy water. It is surprisingly effective. Today, I would carry the fogging pepper spray on my weak side, and still have my gun drawn strong side. But who am I kidding. I don't walk anywhere.


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Merlin said:

You certainly would have been justified, and it sounds like you handled yourself well, better than most.

This example does make the case for carrying something LessThanLethal as an alternative. When I was a kid, I carried a bottle of soapy water. It is surprisingly effective. Today, I would carry the fogging pepper spray on my weak side, and still have my gun drawn strong side. But who am I kidding. I don't walk anywhere.


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I have been pepper sprayed before, and I can honestly say it was the most painful experience of my life. I don't like risking that a strong wind will blow it back in my face. Strong wind CAN cause a bullet to go a little left or right, but never back into my face.

Esanders2008 said:

I have been pepper sprayed before, and I can honestly say it was the most painful experience of my life. I don't like risking that a strong wind will blow it back in my face. Strong wind CAN cause a bullet to go a little left or right, but never back into my face.

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True true, and certainly a consideration. Another thing I forgot to mention, since dogs have X,000 times more sensitive noses than us, can you imagine how it affects them? I mean, if it is possible to drive an animal to the brink of suicide, that has got to be it.




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Esanders2008 said:

In response to your edit:
Let me use the Pit attack as my example. Both the animal control officer and the VBPD officer that responded said that I would have been justified in shooting the dog to protect myself.
And we already know most media is Anti-2A anyways, and will warp the facts to sell their stories.

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Point taken and I don't necessarily disagree. I was just saying what I'd do.