Carry all the time , never had to pull it out , thank gawd.

However , I had cleaned one of my shotguns one evening. I had put it next to my safe to put away later. I was sitting next to it and I heard a noise at my front door. I was about 10 feet away from the door. Then I seen my doorknob turning slowly ( locked ) I grabbed the shotgun and very loudly cycled the action ( empty )

Then a heard a commotion and footfalls. Jumped to the window to see 3 guys running away from my house at high speed. Stopped that potential home invasion quickly.

I'm also a firm believer in body language and knowing how to scream hard target everywhere you go. Learned it long ago when working security.

Got tasked with cleaning up a recently purchased hot sheet notell for the new owners without creating a pr stink. Funny how being seen walking a property and jotting down plate numbers kills business.

Point being, most feral humans are seeking easy marks. Be seen as one who is alert at all times that spots trouble at a distance and acknowledges that you've seen the trouble first tends to put the ferals on the back foot.

Lots of little things. Head up and on a swivel, never hugging corners always swing wide and eyeball before advancing. When walking through a parking lot, stay out of the cars and walk down the middle of the open lanes. Pedestrians have the right of way. Have your key in hand, index finger on tip key tip if you need to unlock or thumb on button if fob. Approach vehicle from center rear to see down both sides. Don't screw around getting in or out, movement is safety. In, start and roll.

Sheep will think your odd but the wolves will recognize that you're not a sheep.

Compare those odds to those of your house burning down.

This thread jogged my memory and I do recall a time when a guy I worked with got his gat snatched.

Working US Pipe north Birmingham, a really bad area. Had an old retired navy chief as the post captain. He was a stickler for his schedule and his nickel and ivory Colt Cobra .38. He hated how I patrolled as it didn't fit his set your clock by it schedule. His patrols were scripted out to the second and he paid for it by getting jumped and pistol whipped with his own pistol rounding a corner back in the stacks.

He wouldn't listen to my reasoning that the natives were watching us like we were supposed to be watching them.

BTW, when I said "tomorrow", that was not literally "tomorrow". More like someday in the unknown future. Stuff happens when you least expect it. And by coincidence I did pull a fire extinguisher last fall for the first time ever. My zero turn mower caught fire with me on it. Believe it or not, I saved it. Probably a good analogy.

And for the record, not opposed to anyone who feels the need to carry. There might even be a piece around here somewhere I could be holding for my oldest kid, who is currently living overseas. He got it when he got out of the Marines.......was working nights stocking shelves at Walmart. Fellow employee went out for food at 2AM and never came back. Was murdered in the parking lot. Anybody who doesn't see that as a threat to worry about isn't very bright.

But I tend to avoid those kind of situations, and know most of the places to avoid when the sun goes down. I follow Omega Man rules for those that can remember what that means. Don't know if I've been lucky or good, but whatever, have managed to avoid that kind of trouble myself.

I have needed mine almost daily! The reason I have a permit to carry is so I don't have to unload my pistol and case it every time I get in my vehicle when trapping. Then get it out, load it and put it on when I stop again. Crazy laws where I live. This is just me, but if I thought I needed to carry for personal protection, I would move even farther from civilization! I know not everyone has a choice or would make the choice, but that is me.

I have had my and my families life threatened several times due to my careers. Group home director to juvenile delinquents lots of family secrets. Teacher, Coach, AD. yep threatened and seriously in all three. Police advised me to get trained and conceal carry. Wife and I both trained. Drew twice, no more needed, never hope to, carry whenever I can plus some.

I had to pull mine one time. A young guy hepped up on goofball decided to blow down the wrong way on a divided highway one night, going in between oncoming cars repeatedly. He knew what he was doing. I attempted to put a stop to it but failed. I have never felt so helpless, and knew that I was about to witness some innocent people dying a horrible death.
Fortunately the collision with two oncoming SUVs were glancing blows with no serious injuries. I pulled over next to the idiot who was looking at the front of his car, and he then proceeded to walk into the middle of the two lanes of road on his side, I hollered at him to get out of the road. (I didn't want to see someone else's car damaged by his soon-to-be corpse.)
He came strait toward my truck at a pretty good pace. I prepared myself accordingly. I figured that he may be looking for a way to get out of this pickle. I was determined that he was not going to be using my truck full of guns to pull that off.
I yelled at him to get away from my truck, ready to use some nonverbal communication (I call her Cold Steel Baby) in case he didn't listen. Fortunately he listened and walked back to playing in the traffic on his side. A minute later an off duty deputy sheriff showed up and handled the situation.
The interesting thing to me was that after it was all over, even though I was ready and willing to do what needed to be done to put a stop to this situation, I was completely unfazed. I figure that maybe I would have needed to pull over somewhere and puke or something. Nope.
The only thing that I noticed was that my ears felt hot. I guess that is where the adrenaline vents from the body.

Once

I carry every day.

I've needed it every day.

Had my hand on it a couple times, but, only needed to draw it once. German Shepherd.

I have been CCW for the past 34 years. Thank the Lord that I have never had to brandish it. At the point where I am pulling out a gun, there are going to be only seconds to de-escalate before the trigger is squeezed, if that long. There have been a few times when I have positioned myself, began to move and think about it due to the situation, but I have never had to brandish it. That being said, I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Being someone who has had death threats made against myself and family. I have pretty good sense of the situational awareness thing. Even during that time in my life I never needed to pull gun. My wife was ok with her shotgun loaded standing in corner. My son slept with a 9mm always within reach. Mostly we went into low profile mode and it all blew over.
I carry almost daily now do kinda go in streaks depending on how I'm dressed. Where I'm going.

Like most here have said better to have and not need than need not have. I've never felt I needed my cc for a human. Been couple dogs come close to taking a round.

I do think though about when Danny and I were shopping at Walmart in Springfield during NTA. I know Danny had his cc but mine was actually in lock box in my truck. Few days after we were at that store. I believe it made national news with a gun incident.
So it's all about timing and location.
Just never know.
I can say I have used the fire extinguisher I carry in my truck several times on fires.LoL
And don't underestimate the value of a 2or5lb dry chem as easily obtained weapon.

Mac

I did need the fire extinguisher in my basement and it was in my truck because the one in the kitchen had gone bad.

longest seconds working on a appliance fire with the hose from the laundry sink , water doesn't do a god job of putting out burring plastic while my son ran to get the extinguisher from my truck.

so smoke detectors and fire extinguishers work

I fully expect situational awareness and a side arm also work

so far situational awareness has let me take actions or inactions to avoid the need for the side arm

my only CCW shoots have been big boar coons in hiding places in my brothers barn , went to move some stuff and was facing down a big boar cornered I could have backed out and let it go but I cleared it with my brother and he said yeah shoot , I already had my gun and light out.

I thought I might have to with a dog once but it didn't come to it.

Good comparison.

It has to be a last resort to shoot someone. But, as in the case of the person who shot the person who was killing people in the mall, it was a good choice.

I saw a show last night where some years ago, a woman's husband was kidnapped. The kidnapper came to her door to collect a ransom. She reached into a dresser drawer pretending to be getting the money for him. Instead, she pulled a 38 and shot the man. Turns out he was a career criminal who had been in and out of prison. She was arrested and ended up doing 3 years in prison. Her husband was never found and was assumed dead. This was supposedly a true story.

Every time you renew your CC permit, you have to take a class. The emphasis always is, if you shoot someone, regardless of the situation you will be arrested until they can iron things out. One class I took the instructor said, unless the situation is a direct threat to you, it's in your best interest to walk away from all possible confrontations. If the person who killed the mall shooter had walked away a lot more people would have died that day.

I've had mine in my hand. Opponent didn't have a clue. He had already fired a handgun and had a shovel handle he planned to use on me. I found another way out and took it!

it is a decision everyone needs to work out for them something they should contemplate before the time of the need

I agree strapping on a gun absolutly does not mean your going looking for the trouble or the fight and it is the last thing you want to do to have to use it , that is a solid mind set.

where you have to figure out where your line is , is can you live with yourself if you didn't step in , are you a Dickens or a Uvalde PD. how do you sleep at night?

in WI your hunters ed from 1989 works as your proof of training , as does a DD214 so most of us need to never take a class and nothing for a renewal but your 22 dollars for your background check , card printing and postage every 5 years.

I've carried nearly every day for 41 years. 20 of those years as a Law Enforcement Specialist in the Air Force. Feel nakked without one. Only had to draw my weapon once on Active Duty, thankfully I did not need to use it. Never have drawn it as a civilian. Hope I never do.

Always have it, never needed it.