Could you have hit him with your CCW?

**Rockrivr1** · 07-31-2012, 08:40 AM

In the wake of the Colorado shooting and the situation in which it happened has made me start to doubt my choice of CCW. In the summer months I carry a Keltec P3AT with a laser pointer. I consider it a great summer carry piece and I'm accurate with it, at that range that is.

So here's my thinking. I put myself at the theater in Colorado. Doesn't have to be there as this could have happened anywhere. But, I'm sitting with my wife at the movies. The theater is crowded and it's dark. Suddenly the smoke/tear gas grenade goes off. The place fills with smoke fast and the shooting starts. What do you do?

If I break it down more, it's mass confusion in the theater. Yes, I pull out my CCW and look for a way out all the while thinking about protecting my wife. If you're lucky you identify the shooter and you get ready to shoot back, but where do you shoot? In the Colorado scenario he was wearing full body armor on his body, legs and head. Only a small opening for you to make any kind of an effective shot. Basically through the gas mask, in the arms or his feet. Otherwise my .380 has no chance of causing any real damage.

Then there's the laser pointer issue. In a smoky theater using a laser you may as well scream, "Here I Am!", when you activate it. So if I'm thinking at all, which I may not be in that kind of mess, using a laser would actually be a bad thing.

So I'm back to what should I do. Should I just start unloading at the guy hoping to distract him and escaping? Try to calm down enough to attempt a shot through the gas mask? Something else?

So, what do you do? This is actually a serious question. I'm not all of as sudden going to try and carry a DE in 50AE or a S&W500. Using your normal carry, where would you shoot for? Panic would be the real situation and most likely these thoughts wouldn't even get thought about. More like shoot and hope for the best.

What do you think?

**edhead35** · 07-31-2012, 08:48 AM

If I saw that dude geared up like that and all I had was a 380 I would say F my pride and being a hero, I want to GTFO. My pride was gone when I carried the 380 ;) .

You would probably be spraying and praying. As you said you brought it 380 and this dude is decked out. Try for something to slow him down enough so you can get out.
If in the meantime you get lucky and hit something vital great.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

**In God We Trust** · 07-31-2012, 08:48 AM

9 days out of 10 I carry a Ruger LCP .380 while out and about. The comfort level of the LCP has been the deciding factor. On days when I would go into the city or far from home, I carry a compact 9. I shoot well with both but I don't have much confidence in the LCP in an active shooter type scenerio.

I have started getting used to carrying a full size pistol like a Beretta 92, but they are really bulky. This is a great question to ask however. If you could pick one pistol to carry knowing that you were going to be involved in a shootout, what would it be? Carry that one!

**Mr Weebles** · 07-31-2012, 08:51 AM

He wasn't wearing full body armor. He was wearing a "tactical vest."

Regardless, even if someone is wearing full body armor it doesn't mean your shots won't have an effect. The bullet won't bounce off him like Superman, they'll cause blunt injury of some sort.

**Shovelheddrew** · 07-31-2012, 08:56 AM

First of all he had a tactical vest. He did not have body armor. No matter what, if he did or did not you dont know in that situation so it is a non issue. Even if you get hit with armor on you still dont just fumble through and continue uninterrupted. I always carry a .45. I have thought about carrying a .380 for convenience but have never made the move because of the reason you are talking about. That much lead at that speed should at least give someone something to think about. People who shop around and try to find victims that are unarmed are not the most heroic. I think he may have either fallen with one good hit or turned tail and run. That may have slowed him down enough for some others to live or bought enough time for me to exit with my family. I dont know how I would have reacted but I would hope I could have at least not trampled a nun on the way out.

**BOBKATT** · 07-31-2012, 08:56 AM

I personally find lasers to be useless compared to open sights. They take too long for me to get back on target. I imagine if I were in a situation where I was moving around or shooting between trying to cover and popping out for a couple of shots, it would make things even worse.

If I were you, I'd do a long hard comparison on how you shoot with and without the laser and see which one is really better.

**Palladin** · 07-31-2012, 08:59 AM

He's trying to kill you and everyone else, you fire at him.
My 442 has a laser, the G33 has a natural grip for 'point and shoot ' in my hand.

Would I worry about missing ? Nope. In that scenerio, throwing lead his way is going to distract him, considering the noise, panic, movement, etc., if I hit him and drop him, it's a bonus.

**highlander** · 07-31-2012, 09:04 AM

I have to admit with the pistol I carry a precise shot to a small area such as the head would have been impossible. With my wife in a wheelchair we'd be sitting ducks,so I'd say try and find cover empty the 2 mags I have try and protect my wife and my self and hope for a good out come. Though if my wife was able bodied I'd duck for cover hope the shooting stops and make for an exit. Some times descretion is the better part of valor.

**JAYNOSE79** · 07-31-2012, 09:08 AM

I don't know where I read this but it was my initial thought as well. He gave himself up to police, in my mind he was not prepared to die. If someone could have fired back maybe he would have panicked and got out of there. I know he was wearing body-armor but unless someone tests it out do they really trust it to work?

**MisterHappy** · 07-31-2012, 09:08 AM

One cannot "prep" for all eventualities....just make an educated guess as to the most likley situation(s) that one may encounter.

Personally, I've never been in a situation where a handgun on my person would have been a lifesaver, or even a true benefit. I'm not sure if there are many non-LEOs (Military "on the job" not counting) here that have been; or if so, if they've had to fire shots in anger.

That being said, the chance of the situation where you are confronted by a multi-gun armored nutjob is far, far less likely than a "Stick-em-up" on the street, which is itself unlikley, stats-wise, for most of us.

Anything can happen....but no one can be "ready for everything" at all time in all places. Carry what you're comfortable with.

Could you have hit him with your CCW?

Thread Tools

Display

Could you have hit him with your CCW?

Posting Permissions