Chim -
Just to put my "twist" and comments on your post....
<font color=blue>chances of getting the weapon in play early enough to get any shots on the target are pretty slim. </font color=blue>
and
<font color=blue>just don't have false expectations of how things will go</font color=blue>
I'll assume that Chim is referring to "throwing down" on someone/thing that is already in close proximity. In this case he is very correct. In police "self defense" cases, it often comes up just how quickly a suspect can cover a "long distance" such as 20 or 30 feet. When juries are presented with the facts of how fast someone with a knife can cover such a distance and how slow the "average" policeman draws their service pistol, the opinion often changes from "He shot him like a dog!" to "Wow - he barely had time to defend himself." (Most officers can't hold a candle to Bob Munden /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif...)
So yes, if the "bad guy" (Person or Critter) is already charging when you notice him @ 20 feet away, yes, he will most likely get to you before you can draw.
The point I would like to raise is that often in a combat situation (regardless of species) you often have some warning. Yes, if you were simply quietly walking in the woods, you would be far more conscious of your surroundings than if you're on your tractor. However you may notice something while on your tractor and indeed have some "decision time" - especially if the critter is trying to decide what to do too (e.g. if they want to "flight" or "fight." )
My point is simply that the situation will dictate whether or not you will be able to draw and prepare yourself with a firearm, or anything else, for that matter. A firearm in such a situation will introduce some additional flexibility in some areas while relieving you of flexibility in others.
Incidentally for those who may not know, PPC (Practical Pistol Competition), in which Chim participates, is a sport that was originally conceived as a combat training course, where accuracy and time from the holster are critical. Additionally, there's an extreme focus based on safety during the exercise.
I won't get in to the whole debate of "How Practical is Practical Pistol", but I will point out there schools that specialize in combat training that are not based on competition, but life survival situations using firearms. Awkward firing positions, how to clear an area, etc. are some of the things they focus on. Regardless of the "fight of flight" response typical in a high-stress situation, training can help reduce it's effects on an individual and allow them to be more effective than if they had only cursory instruction or only practice "competition style" or "recreational" shooting.
<font color=blue>Remember if you screw up with a gun, someone can die, and there's always jail time. </font color=blue>
Although I agree in principle that yes, people can get hurt or even perish, and that incarceration may be involved (Never an *always*), I think that this is a bit "over the top" and helps to instill an unnecessary level of intimidation around the subject. After all, I can make the same statement with driving a car - if you "screw up", the same thing can happen - (if it's a "screw up" - i.e. unintentional - the charge is usually "Vehicular Manslaughter" if a death occurs)
Again - All I'm saying is that this is a personal decision, and an individual should decide what to do based on knowledge and information. Don't listen to "Jane Doe" who says "Do it!" or "John Doe" says "Stay Away!" Instead approach the decision with objectivity and facts.
Personally I believe its inappropriate for others to make a judgement call as to what someone should/should not do with regards to this subject for someone they have little to no direct knowledge about.
Just to put my "twist" and comments on your post....
<font color=blue>chances of getting the weapon in play early enough to get any shots on the target are pretty slim. </font color=blue>
and
<font color=blue>just don't have false expectations of how things will go</font color=blue>
I'll assume that Chim is referring to "throwing down" on someone/thing that is already in close proximity. In this case he is very correct. In police "self defense" cases, it often comes up just how quickly a suspect can cover a "long distance" such as 20 or 30 feet. When juries are presented with the facts of how fast someone with a knife can cover such a distance and how slow the "average" policeman draws their service pistol, the opinion often changes from "He shot him like a dog!" to "Wow - he barely had time to defend himself." (Most officers can't hold a candle to Bob Munden /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif...)
So yes, if the "bad guy" (Person or Critter) is already charging when you notice him @ 20 feet away, yes, he will most likely get to you before you can draw.
The point I would like to raise is that often in a combat situation (regardless of species) you often have some warning. Yes, if you were simply quietly walking in the woods, you would be far more conscious of your surroundings than if you're on your tractor. However you may notice something while on your tractor and indeed have some "decision time" - especially if the critter is trying to decide what to do too (e.g. if they want to "flight" or "fight." )
My point is simply that the situation will dictate whether or not you will be able to draw and prepare yourself with a firearm, or anything else, for that matter. A firearm in such a situation will introduce some additional flexibility in some areas while relieving you of flexibility in others.
Incidentally for those who may not know, PPC (Practical Pistol Competition), in which Chim participates, is a sport that was originally conceived as a combat training course, where accuracy and time from the holster are critical. Additionally, there's an extreme focus based on safety during the exercise.
I won't get in to the whole debate of "How Practical is Practical Pistol", but I will point out there schools that specialize in combat training that are not based on competition, but life survival situations using firearms. Awkward firing positions, how to clear an area, etc. are some of the things they focus on. Regardless of the "fight of flight" response typical in a high-stress situation, training can help reduce it's effects on an individual and allow them to be more effective than if they had only cursory instruction or only practice "competition style" or "recreational" shooting.
<font color=blue>Remember if you screw up with a gun, someone can die, and there's always jail time. </font color=blue>
Although I agree in principle that yes, people can get hurt or even perish, and that incarceration may be involved (Never an *always*), I think that this is a bit "over the top" and helps to instill an unnecessary level of intimidation around the subject. After all, I can make the same statement with driving a car - if you "screw up", the same thing can happen - (if it's a "screw up" - i.e. unintentional - the charge is usually "Vehicular Manslaughter" if a death occurs)
Again - All I'm saying is that this is a personal decision, and an individual should decide what to do based on knowledge and information. Don't listen to "Jane Doe" who says "Do it!" or "John Doe" says "Stay Away!" Instead approach the decision with objectivity and facts.
Personally I believe its inappropriate for others to make a judgement call as to what someone should/should not do with regards to this subject for someone they have little to no direct knowledge about.
