Expert: Chris Wagoner - 8/10/2008

Question
QUESTION: I recently started to occasionally carry a pistol for personal protection, and I would like to know what the best way to 'defuse' a situation where someone attempts to mug me and I end up holding them at gun point till police arrive and the man claims that I'm trying to kill them.

I do know its an extremely stupid to turn and face an officer with a loaded weapon, on the other hand I am not about to lay a loaded gun on the ground where the perp can pick it up and shoot both me and the officer.

Thanks for any info you can send my way,
Art

ANSWER: Hi Art,

Good question. If you are a concealed permit holder and you have to hold someone at gun point until the police arrive, make sure you are standing at least 20 or so feet away from the suspect when the police arrive.

In other words, do not stand close enough to the suspect for them to grab you or your weapon when the police ask you to lay it down. When the police arrive listen and do exactly what they say. They will have their guns drawn (since they see yours) and they should be covering both of you. And they will tell you to put the gun down, lay it down and step away as they tell you to.

You will be handcuffed and searched, until they find out what was going on. Tell them up front as quickly as you can, you are a concealed permit holder and you were being robbed. Let them sort it out from there. Be extra polite (even if the cops are being idiots for a bit, which they have a tendency to do when guns are involved) and cooperate fully.

Once they get it sorted out you should be OK as long as you followed the law.

I only wish more legal citizens would carry firearms. There would be a lot less crime if they did. Good for you for carrying a weapon to protect yourself and your family. I noticed you said you have started to carry it occasionally. Why only occasionally? I carry my off-duty firearm EVERYWHERE I go especially when my family is with me. I even carry to places like Church. Once you get in the habit, its like carrying your wallet. You feel funny if you forget it. People have been gunned down in Churches, McDonalds, in their cars, almost everywhere. I suggest that since you are a legal carrier and seem to have a good sense of caution and care, you carry it everywhere you are legally allowed. For yours and your families protection.

Be well....

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes I have a permit, I talked to my dad about it and he said to unload the gun and then set it on the ground, I would definantly communicate with the cops and tell them what I'm doing before I did it, any comments on doing this?

I don't carry it everywhere because usually the only places I go are school (the college doesn't allow concealed carry), the post office (definant nono there) and home, and if I go to dinner with my folks I usually won't (it is a bit hard to conceal with it being summer and everything). I do try to carry it on trips when I go out of town, and keep it along with 2 full clips of hydro-shok ammo in my desk just in case someone desides to breakin or attempts to jack my car.

Actually I do have one last question, if I do have to shoot someone, what is the usual protocol that the police follow? Keep in mind that if I shoot someone it will be within 25 feet as I can still hit what I'm shooting at, anything past that and I'll be lucky to hit anything (Its a Walther P99c).

Thanks again for the advise.

Answer
Hi again Art,

You will not be allowed to unload it or have time. The cops will want you to put it down as soon as they tell you too. Any movements that may be construed as not doing exactly what they say may result in you being shot. And thats not good. Just lay it down when they tell you. They will not let anyone pick it up trust me.

If you do ever have to shoot someone, after you shoot them and they are incapacitated, I would immediately put the weapon away where they cops can get to it easy (on a chair, in your car on the seat) somewhere they can see it.

Stay away from the person you shot, unless you want to give them first aid. And when the police get there, tell them right off you were the shooter and where the gun is. They will more than likely handcuff you until they get things straight, then you should be fine. As long as of course you were justified and within the law.

Good luck and be well..

PS: For self defense, you can't beat Extreme Shock ammo. I use the Fang Face rounds myself for off duty carry. www.extremeshockusa.com