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The Incident that Lead me to EDC

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gfan1984

Elite
Hello everyone, I just joined the forum about a week ago, and I wanted to share some information with you all. I am 40 years Old, married, and I was in the Army National Guard back in 2003. After the military I really had no desire or need to purchase a firearm. The community I live in isn't that bad, and most people keep to themselves here. Well that changed a couple of months ago. My wife was doing deliveries at night, and she was followed, and harassed by another driver who seemed to want to drive her off the road. She was so shaken over it that she went to the police, but unfortunately they couldn't do anything to help her. At that point I realized that I couldn't always be there to help her and it also put into perspective how we both were vulnerable. I then made a decision to purchase a firearm for both her and myself. I got my CCW Permit and so did she, and I also paid to have basic safety and shooting classes for her, so she could get comfortable with handling a firearm. I carry a 1911 Springfield Mil-Spec on a suspender holster (leather one, think old detective movies type of holster on leather suspenders)
I also found a very supporting community here on this forum, and I have been looking firearm information every since. I am not sure if anyone else here has a similar story, but I hope all of you take care out there.
 
Lo-Profile said:
Police could have done something.
They just chose not to.
All depends on where you live.
Here in our town, cops are pretty good handling stuff, next town over they don't do anything unless there's usually felony charges
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After the fact, with the event past, I'm unsure as to exactly what you expect the authorities to have done, beyond starting a paper trail with a filed report. Check points? Road blocks?
 
Welcome Gfan1984!

I am on the other end of the spectrum—an old fart. When I was young and foolish, bullet proof and ten feet tall, I didn’t think much about needing a gun for self defense. Then one day at Walmart, while loading our purchases in our van after getting my wife on board, it struck me just how vulnerable we were. I had my concealed permit for convenience but rarely carried. Since that day, I very rarely leave home without at least a snubby in my front pocket. Thankfully, neither you nor your wife were harmed other than mentally enough for a wake up call, and thankfully you realized you needed reinforcement. Good for both of you! I know a few other folks who had wake-up calls like yours, some even anti-gun, who decided to go armed. It is a dangerous world, and when seconds count and you desperately need a law enforcement officer, they are minutes away.
 
Welcome. Remember that many moons ago the Supreme Court ruled that police are NOT responsible for protecting citizens ( and it makes sense-where I live it’d take a Deputy 20+ minutes to get here unless my emergency coincided with one being in my part of the county). Ultimately you are responsible for you and yours. Congrats on your action! Just be sure to practice to keep and improve your skills. Shooting skill is definitely “perishable” unless it’s practiced, and simply having a firearm doesn’t insure safety unless it can be accurately used.
 
Southerner Up North said:
Good for you in protecting you and your wife. Good for you for getting classes. Range time will be her friend.
Hopefully the police at least filed a report.
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Thank you, I want to make sure she is properly trained, there is no substitute for good training. She did file a report, but because the driver was behind her the whole time, she didn't get a license plate, or a good look at the guy there wasn't much to go on.
 
gfan1984 said:
Thank you, I want to make sure she is properly trained, there is no substitute for good training. She did file a report, but because the driver was behind her the whole time, she didn't get a license plate, or a good look at the guy there wasn't much to go on.
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Get dash cams for sure. And never participate in a road range incident. Try to extricate yourself from the situation safely until you have no choice. I'm sure I ain't telling you anything you don't know already.
 
Shibadog said:
Welcome. Remember that many moons ago the Supreme Court ruled that police are NOT responsible for protecting citizens ( and it makes sense-where I live it’d take a Deputy 20+ minutes to get here unless my emergency coincided with one being in my part of the county). Ultimately you are responsible for you and yours. Congrats on your action! Just be sure to practice to keep and improve your skills. Shooting skill is definitely “perishable” unless it’s practiced, and simply having a firearm doesn’t insure safety unless it can be accurately used.
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Yes I all got both of us membership to the in door range in our area, and I paid for us to sign up for Safety Classes and Shooting Classes at the same Range. I have given her the basics to her firearm, but I wanted her properly trained (I got training in the Army, but even I am attending the classes for a refresher), because there is no substitute for good and precise training.
 
Bassbob said:
Get dash cams for sure. And never participate in a road range incident. Try to extricate yourself from the situation safely until you have no choice. I'm sure I ain't telling you anything you don't know already.
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Oh yes I agree, but this incident happened while I was at work and she was by herself and I was at work. That was the scary wake up call. Also I wanted her to be able to defend herself, if something ever happens to me.
 
Lo-Profile said:
Police could have done something.
They just chose not to.
All depends on where you live.
Here in our town, cops are pretty good handling stuff, next town over they don't do anything unless there's usually felony charg
Click to expand...
She did file a report. Unfortunately because the driver was behind her the whole time, she didn't get an ID of the person or license plate either. Not much to do on there.
 
gfan1984 said:
Thank you, I want to make sure she is properly trained, there is no substitute for good training. She did file a report, but because the driver was behind her the whole time, she didn't get a license plate, or a good look at the guy there wasn't much to go on.
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Once basic training is complete it is backed up with range time. Glad she filed the report. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
 
This is one of the better forums as a lot of good experience and not a lot of ego like other places.

Good for you with getting training but don’t stop at one or 2 classes do a coulle a year. I am retired and was a FLETC and state academy instructor as well as on the private sector a Rangemaster Advance and trained with John Hearne, Lee Weems, Dave Spaulding, Darryl Bolke and Chuck Haggard soI still go to classes and I still pick up things.

That said I’m partial to Ramgemaster so look them up for any classes (I’ll put a link below)
As well as Gunsite and those folks mentioned.


Also what a lot of folks need to consider. While the firearm is important and gets the attention I really really recommend folks that carry a gun need to carry some type of OC/Pepper Spray as you will be in 99 cases out of 100 where a firearm is not a legal solution but using OC spray is. And if not it’s a misdemeanor and you go home with probably a small fine!

Good luck and continued success to you and your family


Home - Rangemaster

rangemaster.com rangemaster.com
 
I think the part about you having your wife get training was a good idea. Too many of us think that just because we have had years of experience with firearms, we are capable of training others in it. In my case, whenever I try to train someone in anything, I sometimes revert back into my former Infantry/Marine/Army/Commercial Diver voice. My wife had pointed out that every time I revert back into that, I become very intimidating to anyone I'm trying to instruct in just about anything. My adult son was reminded of that just a few weeks ago while he was helping me change the oil and fuel filters on my truck. He learned a lot of new words. Anyway, that was why years ago, my wife and I agreed that she should get professional firearms training. And she did. And she is a crack shot. And she has her TX LTC (license to carry). Good on you for getting your wife some professional training!
 
ECS686 said:
This is one of the better forums as a lot of good experience and not a lot of ego like other places.

Good for you with getting training but don’t stop at one or 2 classes do a coulle a year. I am retired and was a FLETC and state academy instructor as well as on the private sector a Rangemaster Advance and trained with John Hearne, Lee Weems, Dave Spaulding, Darryl Bolke and Chuck Haggard soI still go to classes and I still pick up things.

That said I’m partial to Ramgemaster so look them up for any classes (I’ll put a link below)
As well as Gunsite and those folks mentioned.


Also what a lot of folks need to consider. While the firearm is important and gets the attention I really really recommend folks that carry a gun need to carry some type of OC/Pepper Spray as you will be in 99 cases out of 100 where a firearm is not a legal solution but using OC spray is. And if not it’s a misdemeanor and you go home with probably a small fine!

Good luck and continued success to you and your family


Home - Rangemaster

rangemaster.com rangemaster.com
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Yes they have various classes throughout the year from beginner, intermediate, advanced, Concealed Carry, and others. I also just signed up for the free class on Active Shooter Response.
 
OldGrunt said:
I think the part about you having your wife get training was a good idea. Too many of us think that just because we have had years of experience with firearms, we are capable of training others in it. In my case, whenever I try to train someone in anything, I sometimes revert back into my former Infantry/Marine/Army/Commercial Diver voice. My wife had pointed out that every time I revert back into that, I become very intimidating to anyone I'm trying to instruct in just about anything. My adult son was reminded of that just a few weeks ago while he was helping me change the oil and fuel filters on my truck. He learned a lot of new words. Anyway, that was why years ago, my wife and I agreed that she should get professional firearms training. And she did. And she is a crack shot. And she has her TX LTC (license to carry). Good on you for getting your wife some professional training!
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Exactly this! I did give her the basic rundown, and she pointed out that I was raising my voice on the serious matters, without me even realizing it. Guess the old training kicked in. This is exactly why I chose to pay for professional training, they have more years of experience and they have dealt with more variations of personality and skill level.
 
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