Quote: (04-06-2012 11:11 AM)playa_with_a_passport Wrote:
I don’t see how having a piece would help in this situation. This is not some dark alley way or parking lot late a night. This is a moving train, multiple assailants, close quarters, crowed rush hour train. This is not a movie, with adrenaline pumping, lack of training(i.e. jerking the trigger) and tunnel vision she’s not gonna hit none of them and that’s assuming she doesn’t have an accidental discharge pulling that thing out of her fake coach bag. To put this in perspective, NYC cops hit assailants less than 38% of the time when they shoot at somebody at less than 3 yards!!!! less than 3 yards!!! We are talking about a People who carry a gun for a living and get training the average citizen just doesn't still miss when somebody is standing practically right in front of them. Therefore, the chances of a scared shitless SWPL actually hitting her intended target? practically zero. http://www.pointshooting.com/1asop9.htm
1. I'm not suggesting that she shoot them. In fact, their actions up to that point did not constitute an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury.
2. Being armed would come in handy if these thugs escalated. E.g., if while the one teen was flicking the lighter, another teen was about to throw gasoline on her (
as happened a month ago to some kid in Kansas City), then she would be justified in shooting them.
3. Everyone I know who conceal carries trains more with firearms than many police officers do, as many (most?) cops only hit the range when they have to re-qualify with their weapon.
4. Bernhard Goetz fired 5 shots on a NYC subway car that had 20-25 people in it, including Goetz and the 4 assailants. Four of those shots hit the intended targets and the fifth shot bounced off the interior of the car, striking no one. None of the other passengers was hit. And Goetz likely had very little training, if any, given that this was NYC and his possession of the weapon was unlawful.
5. Lawful concealed carry holders use their firearms far more often to ward off assailants than they do to actually shoot at their attacker. If she were cornered, simply pulling out the firearm likely would have been enough to send the attackers running.
6. Holsters - most negligent discharges by concealed carry holders occur because the person did not use a holster. No matter where one carries, be it purse (not recommended), pocket, hip, inside waistband, etc., one should always use a holster that covers the trigger guard.
7. Deterrence - as the police noted to this woman, teen thugs targeted DC and Maryland rather than VA because they know that the odds of VA passengers carrying concealed is much greater.
